Myers,+Paige

//Blog #9//- final blog! //12/5/11// //Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone: complete! It was so good; I think I could only read these books for a couple years and be completely satisfied. They're a really good mix of funny, magical, sad, and interesting. And to think, J.K. Rowling started it all on a napkin at a coffee shop.// //The first book starts out quite dismally, with a 10 year old boy having to live with his awful aunt, uncle, and cousin, but then he receives his letter from Hogwarts, the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry. Harry learns about his parents, who were killed trying to protect him from Voldemort, who left Harry the scar on his forehead. He enters the world of magic in awe, humble and shy. He chooses his friends quickly and makes enemies just as quickly. Anticipation builds throughout the book as Harry and his friends discover something hidden at Hogwarts and the importance of preventing Voldemort from getting to it.// //I can't wait to go on to the second book- I might just pick up where I left off last time, about fifty pages into the book. I know the later books(5,6,7) are going to be even more exciting, because the whole series just keeps building and building anticipation.// //If I were to rate this series on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best, I would definitely give it a 5. I think Harry Potter is an engaging read. The momentum never slows down and I believe that's what people want in a book. It's interesting without being too complicated, funny without being cheesy, and a classic without being ancient.// //I think maybe one of the reasons I really like these books is because I started reading them with my mom when I was in 2nd grade. I actually started on the fifth book because that was the one she was reading. I loved to read then and I still do!// //Comment with your thoughts about this series! Thanks for reading.//

Blog #8 11/19/11 //So this week I started feeling guilty about skipping the first Harry Potter book- it just didn't feel right! So I went to the Ericson Public Library and checked it out. I'm about 50 pages into it, and I can see that it would be easy for people to become interested in right from the start. It starts out intricately but not complicated and funny but not silly. It shows a twelve-year-old boy who's dealing with not having parents, being too small to beat off his cousin Dudley and his friends, and not special enough to have his own bedroom.// //I love this series so much! It just makes me want to curl up with some hot chocolate and read forever! If you haven't read this series, you really should. You don't even have to make a commitment to reading the whole series- just get the first one, read a little bit, and decide which side you are on: Harry Potter geek or hater?//

Blog #7 11/12/11 //Hello! Since I've finished// Emma, //I decided to reread one of my favorite series- Harry Potter. I don't have the first book on my shelf at home, so I've started with the second book- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. While these aren't going to be challenging books to read, I hope I can read them with more insight and understanding than when I was younger. I also hope to gain some perspective on why these books are so popular with so many people across the world, and also the flip-side: why so many people refuse to read them.// //I've read about fifty pages so far, and it brings back sweet memories! I read these as a kid and they make me feel comfortable. So far, one reason I think so many people enjoy the series is because J.K. Rowling didn't write them specifically for any age group- they were meant to be shared in a family and loved by all ages. And the first, obvious reason for people to dislike them is the use of witchcraft. Many religions just won't tolerate these books because of the witches and wizards and ghosts and all kinds of unnatural things. I think those are what appeal to everyone though- the unrealistic, the magical, the unreachable. All of those things that as a kid you wished could happen- that you could turn your enemy into a ferret, talk with fairies and other creatures, turn into an animal, fly on a broomstick. People enjoy reading about these things because it's something they wish or wished could happen.// //Well, that's all for tonight. Thanks for reading and comment if you think of reasons people like or dislike the Harry Potter series.//

Blog #6 11/4/11 //So much has happened since I blogged last week! For starters, I finished// Emma. //The book got to a point where I just couldn't bear to put it down because it was so good! I don't know where to begin, so much has happened.// //Well, Emma decided that her attraction for Frank is no more than good friendship, and she was serious. Mrs. Churchill died and Frank had to go home. While he was away, the biggest news came out- he's been secretly engaged to Jane Fairfax for almost a year! He was only putting on an act to like Emma so that no one would guess he and Jane were engaged. Jane didn't approve of the acting and it made her quite upset, so she had broken off the engagement. Then Frank came and begged for her back, and now the two were more attached than ever.// //Harriet had confessed to admiring Frank, so Emma was very worried about how she would take the news. When she told her, Harriet already knew and wasn't at all upset about it! In fact, she didn't know what Emma was talking about. Prefer Mr. Churchill? Her? They worked out the confusion and it turned out that Harriet had actually meant that she loved Mr. Knightley, but Emma had thought she was looking at Frank when she said it. This newfound attachment caught Emma extremely off-guard. Her first thought was that no one should marry Mr. Knightley but herself! I had suspected them to like each other at the beginning of the book, but it seemed as if nothing would come of it. Now as Harriet confesses all the attention she has interpreted as admiration from Mr. Knightley, Emma feels worse and worse. She hadn't realized she felt that way about him, and now she feels she is condemned to lose him because he likes Harriet.// //Mr. Knightley returns from a trip to visit his brother and Emma's sister(they are married) and comes back, arriving at Hartfield as soon as he can to talk to Emma. There is a strange tension between them, but for different reasons. Emma thinks he's going to ask her opinion of his marrying Harriet (a topic she REALLY doesn't want to discuss) and Mr. Knightley really has something quite different that he wants to share with Emma... that he is in love with her! Emma and Mr. Knightley are so happy to discover that they both feel the same way and they agree to be married. One problem that comes from this is that Mr. Woodhouse, Emma's father, doesn't want Emma to get married because it will take her away from him and he'll be so lonely. Her father's happiness is Emma's first priority, so they decide to move Mr. Knightley to Hartfield instead of taking Emma to Donwell.// //The other problem that comes from their marriage is Harriet's unhappiness. Emma writes Harriet and tells her they are to be married, and then they agree that they do not want to meet for at least a while. Emma graciously sends Harriet to London to visit Isabella to get her mind off of the issue. But surprisingly, Harriet comes back a month later, and engaged! To Robert Martin, who Emma knows she should have told Harriet to marry in the first place.// //Jane and Frank are married, then Mr. Knightley and Emma, and finally Harriet and Mr. Martin. All happy, and all civil with each other, is where the book ends.// //I'm looking forward to reading more of Jane Austen's novels because I so much enjoyed this one! It has been a really good way to spend my time and very interesting to learn about a different era.// //Thanks for reading!//

Blog #5 10/29/11 Emma //is such a good book! I can't believe how much happens in just a few pages. I've really grown to like Jane Austen's writing style.// //A few interesting things happened since I wrote last, but still no one knows where Jane's piano came from. I still think it was Mr. Dixon, but hopefully I'll find out soon.// //Unfortunately, Frank's visit to Highbury is almost over. The Westons and Emma and Frank planned a miniature ball for ten couples because Frank had loved dancing so much before. I think the Westons did it primarily because they wanted to encourage Frank and Emma's relationship. They were going to hold it in the Crown Hotel because none of them had rooms in their homes big enough for ten couples. They were just days away from the ball when Frank received a letter from his uncle saying that his aunt was sick and wanted him to come home. Frank knew that his aunt was just pretending to be sick, but he still couldn't stay. Despite that, I think I've discovered why I thought Frank was acting so mysteriously... he's in love with Emma! The day he left, he stopped to say goodbye to Emma, and I know he was so, so close to telling her and perhaps even asking her to marry him! But then his father walked in and the conversation was over. That left Emma trying to decide her own feelings for the next few days. She had always thought she was not the marrying kind, but she had to admit she had an attraction to Frank. She pushed back her feelings for the good of her father who thought she was too young and wanted her to take care of him. I think maybe Emma is afraid of being in love because it's something she's not knowledgeable about. She doesn't seem like much of a risk-taker. I really hope that her feelings will change, because it's so obvious Frank and Emma would be happy together!// //Thanks for reading!//

//Blog #4// //10/22/11// //This week I read much more of// Emma //and have really enjoyed what I read. In my opinion, Jane Austen is a very descriptive writer, which sometimes means it takes a few pages to reach the point of things, but I like this book a lot. I've been using an online dictionary to decipher the old-fashioned language which I also find interesting.// //So many things have happened that I don't know where to start! Jane Fairfax is still staying in Highbury with her aunt and great-aunt, and Emma has definitely decided she still dislikes Jane as much as she did when they were kids. I think Emma is probably a little jealous of Jane, but I also don't find her a very like-able person. She's very reserved and refuses to give her opinion of anything. Jane is known for her beautiful singing and her talent on the piano, and one day she receives a piano as a gift, but no one knows who sent it! Some suggest Colonel Campbell, who is like a father to Jane. Then someone suggested Colonel Campbell's daughter, who is a close companion of Jane's. Then Frank Churchill suggests that perhaps it is Miss Dixon's(Colonel Campbell's daughter) new husband. Emma and Frank both believe that Jane and Mr. Dixon are attracted to each other, so I think maybe it is a possibility. But Mrs. Weston thinks that maybe it's Mr. Knightley! I was really surprised at that, but I suppose it could be. Mrs. Weston is sure that Mr. Knightley is especially fond of Jane because of how highly he speaks of her and his kindness to her family. Who knows, maybe Jane and Mr. Knightley will end up getting married! Emma is certainly opposed to the idea, but I think it's only because she can't stand Jane.// //Emma and Frank are spending even more time together, and I think and hope that they'll fall in love. Frank seems like a really genuine, intelligent person, and I think that's what Emma is looking for in a husband. But there also seems to be something odd and secretive about Frank that I can't figure out yet. I hope it will come to light soon, because I'm anxious to uncover more of the story!// //My favorite line in the book so far was from Frank Churchill towards Emma. They had just danced together at a dinner party: "Perhaps it is as well," said Frank Churchill, as he attended Emma to her carriage. "I must have asked Miss Fairfax, and her languid dancing would not have agreed with me, after yours." I just thought that that was the sweetest and most obviously admiring thing he had said to Emma so far.// //One of the things I've found really interesting about this book is learning about the time period. Young people didn't date, or sometimes even talk much, before they were married! And many of them seemed to have been happy with their spouse. Also, people were expected to be settled down much earlier than we are now.// //Thanks for reading!//

//Blog #3// //10/15/11// //Unfortunately I haven't had much time to read since last week. I'm going to the World Food Prize Thursday-Saturday and that's taking up all my time! Plus all of the extra make-up work I have to do.// //Mr. Elton came back from a business trip with a fiancé! I was extremely surprised by that, but I guess I shouldn't have put it past him. I still have a sneaking suspicion that Emma and Frank will get married. Now that's he's arrived in town, they seem to be getting along quite well and that pleases Mr. Weston. I think Mr. Weston would like them to be married so he has a better connection with his son and more of a chance of seeing him. As for Harriet, I still think Mr. Martin would be good for her. Emma is still opposed to it, but probably just because of her own pride.// //I look forward to reading further! Hopefully I'll have more time next week.//

//Blog #2// //10/08/11//

//This is a cover of the book I'm reading. The cover of the edition I have is different than this one, but I liked this cover well enough. This book has kept getting better and better. I'm almost halfway through (the book is about 550 pages) and the consequences for Emma's matchmaking have started to unfold. Emma's second attempt at matchmaking is between her good friend Harriet and Mr. Elton, a respectable newcomer to Highbury. Emma is determined to receive his over-achieving manners towards her as proof of his affection for Harriet, but she later discovers that he wants to marry Emma, not Harriet! Emma also discovers that Mr. Elton is only interested in her because of her wealth and position in the community.// //I was almost positive this was going to happen in the book. It's one of those things you wish you could tell the characters because you see it coming before they do! I really hope that Mr. Martin will propose to Harriet again, because I'm sure they would be happy together. Harriet is very simple and wants little to be happy, but Emma has convinced her that she deserves better. I think Emma may possibly marry Frank Churchill, Mr. Weston's son from another marriage. He's coming to town to visit his father and his new wife (Frank's new stepmother) soon and Emma seems to be anticipating it. I'm afraid Emma's going to continue trying her hand at matchmaking, which I doubt is a good idea at all.//

//Blog #1// //10/01/11// //I'm currently reading the book// Emma //by Jane Austen. I decided to read this book because I enjoyed// Pride and Prejudice// (also by Austen) so much. I checked this book out at the Ericson Public Library. I started reading this book on Monday, and have read about 100 pages. I'm really enjoying this book because I love reading about the time period it is set in. The main character in this book is a young woman named Emma who lives with her sentimental, eccentric father and her governess who turns into her best friend. Emma prides herself in making the match between her governess and her new husband. Emma then declares herself a matchmaker and begins to think of prospects for her new friend, Harriet. This causes all sorts of problems when Harriet declines a man's marriage proposal because Emma says he 'isn't good enough' for her. I really love all of the characters in this story. Jane Austen captured all the funny quirks, good and bad, of people in this book. I think some of the language is difficult to understand because it is different from the language we use today, but generally I can decipher the meaning. I believe this story is going to have a great message about taking advantage of people and some good interpretations on how different families functioned back in this time period. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of this book!