The more fierce winter, the warmer story.

"Not one thing in the world is wrong." p. 132

The story was actually not my genre I like to read, but it was calm and touched my mind while reading. To be honest, at first, I had a little difficult time focusing on reading since the beginning was a bit weak, which made me read with the audio book; however, after about a half later, it became little more interesting and finished little quickly. Since the book was for young adult reader, age 8-10, the story was warm and could be strong, but for those who are already adults and have experienced so many things through the life, like me, the story could be boring and stereotypical plot. 

"Everyone's not a writer, Caleb," said Anna. "but everyone can write." p. 9

However, with the fierce winter, the atmosphere I delivered was really cozy and warm which made me miss the winter. (In fact, I hate winter. I am a summer person.) With the comfortable story, author well delivered the fact about the forgiveness and the love of life. We cannot blame anyone, when the time comes. 

Caleb's story, Patricia MacLachlan

Are you different or wrong?

"But still, everyone knows I'm different," said Joe. "What did I do wrong?"

"You're not different," Marvin said. "I mean, everyone's different. Life would be boring if everyone was the same."

"But what do I do that is so different?" Joe asked. "I want to fit in. I want the other kids to like me. What do I have to do?"

Marvin didn't know what to say. He didn't want to hurt Joe's feelings.

"I don't want to be a door key," said Joe.

"You're not a door key," said Marvin. "You're a good friend. If the other kids can't see that, then that's their problem."

p. 56-57, Marvin Redpost #6: A flying birthday cake,

Louis Sachar

Since it is written for the children around the world, it only takes only about thirty minutes for me to read the whole story. I really like the story of the Marvin Redpost series and for next six or seven days, I'm planning to read all of them.

There are two main messages that I love about: a) everyone is different and the fact of difference makes life more enjoyable, and b) we often make others' problem as mine.

Through living on earth and trying to fit in the society, we easily makes the problems belonging to others let come into our lives as our own; however, the saddest part is that we could not even notice and live the way the others kept asking for us to do. When I was young, I got so much stress and pressure to be as the "standard" people that made by the society, but I realized that there was the huge gap between the reality and the ideal ego. Every time, I live on earth, the world and everyone around me had to pick on me by the difference of characteristics and personality. I should remember that it was not my problem, but theirs, and should try not to bring that into my lovable life.

I love to give five stars: ★★★★★, especially for the message that I love and keep myself remembering through daily lives.

Having siblings would be different than imagination.

While reading the adorable book named "Beezus and Ramona" I suddenly thought that I was so blessed that I don't have any younger brother and sisters. I am an only child without any siblings, but I grew up with my cousin who is 5 years younger than me. Actually she was the pain for me not to remember for a while. She always wanted to have what I had, wanted to do what I've done, wanted to wear what I wore and so on. She seemed to want to be me. I got really annoyed when I was young and I truly didn't like her at all, but even I was so bothered though mothers were different, if under the same mother, it would be the real pain. Also if the parents showed the little favoritism, I would get so many wounds that I do not want to remember. In the book, their mother never showed any favoritism, but I could totally felt that how annoying Ramona was. Even though I got frustrated while reading the book, if I have the real one, I would die for the frustration.

When I was young, before 6 years old, before going to elementary school, I strongly desired to have any brother or sister, but now I really thank mom not to have one. I am sure when I got older, I would be little lonely being an only-child, but I hated to be annoyed and felt frustration in my younger years. I was too sensitive to get over with any type of tantrums. Having little sisters or brothers is not always pleasing and cute angel coming to the house.

Also, there was another thing I've thought of. We mostly got confused with what the really attention and care are. Humans are always asking for the love and care, but when they, the love and care, could not be fulfilled, we act differently which causing problems. When Ramona kept making the mischief, Beezus told her Aunt Beatrice. She replied this. 

"Lots of times little children are naughty because they want to attract attention. I have an idea that saying nothing about her naughtiness will worry Ramona more than a scolding (Beezus and Ramona, Beverly Cleary, p.109)." 

When I've read about the criminal minds, especially of the serial murderer, many of them usually thought that they could grab the attention. In my opinion, high rate of crime occurred with the careless of their parents and the lack of attention. In my case, I felt sick when needing some attention or care. My parents were really busy at my younger age and I had to stay at the nursery center while my parents working. If I got sick, then my mother had to stay with me. Since then, I believe that I pretend to be sick when I want to get the attention or ask for some excuses. For good education, we, adults, have to pay more attention to the good behaves than bad. They could get confused that to scold is the attention and care, unless we don't give them enough attention and praise their good works.  

★★★★★ I am not the person who easily gives five stars, but children, especially those who have younger sisters and brothers, enjoy reading. They can sympathize with the story and laugh together. (maybe got annoyed more than relieved) 

The appearance depends on the thoughts.

"If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until it gets so ugly you can hardly bear to look at it.

A person who has good thoughts cannot every be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."

The Twits, Roald Dahl, Penguin Books, p. 7

Since last week, I started the Raold Dahl Project for a month, but I don't think it will take that long. The Roald Dahl Project is simply that I am planning to read most of his storytelling books. Now, I've read five of them. 

1) George's Marvelous Medicines, which I like with the imagination and the saying that do not be grumpy at your family, 

2) The Giraff and the Pelly and Me, which was the really cute story telling the total happy ending for all, 

3) Fantastic Mr Fox, which was really ridiculous and funny, 

4) The magic finger, which tells that do not kill animals and think in others' shoes, 

5) Esio Trot, which was the really cute love story that the old man showed his true passion toward the woman. 

Today, I read The Twits. Other five books were mostly telling the story without any specific message delivered by the author(in fact, those five were all great storytelling books giving the good message, such as being in others' shoes, loving with the true heart, ect), but this one actually have one. 

When I was young, my mother kept telling me that "smile and think happily. After 40-50 years old, you need to take the responsibility of your face which showed your thoughts, experiences and thoughts." I had no idea at that moment, but when I am getting older and older, I totally understand what she said. It was the truth that our face and the image have been kept changing and formed the impression. When I tried to think positively and be gentle, my face showed the love, but when I did not think positively and hate others, it showed the ugliness and sensitive feeling. 

Pretty and lovely are not belonging to how the eyes, nose, mouth, and body looks, but to how I think and act. 

Through this book, Roald Dahl tells two things. 

1) To have good thoughts which will shine out of your face

2) To be in others' shoes and nice to people and any living creatures around you.

★★★★★ I would please to give five stars. Short, fun, and meaningful. 

Great story, but a little bit disgusting in the beginning of the book when Mr Twit were described. 

Second half has been started

My first half year had been gone with no memories, and here I am to start my second half of 2013. In the beginning of summer break, I planned to read all the books I have, but it failed until now. I have not read anything at all, I think. Seriously, I need to do something, and I picked five books and read all together with blogposting. 

First book is "the True Secret of Writing" by Natalie Goldberg, to help my writing skill.

Second book is "the Twitter Book" by Tim O'Reilly and Sarah Milstein, to use social networking system more efficiently.

Third book is "A Sentimental Journey" by Laurence Sterne, which I really wanted to re-read to inspire on my self and life.

Fourth book is "Problem of Pain" by C. S. Louis, to nurture my religious belief.

Fifth book is "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen, planning to read all the Jane Austen's book during summer.

It seems many, but reading them in a week is not bad. Here I am, Coming back blogger!!!! 

I will use Goodreads, to jot down some ideas and quotes. Hope I can keep moving forward!

Steven Lynn, Texts and Contexts: Writing About Literature with Critical Theory, 6th Edition

Own Books #2

Steven Lynn, Texts and Contexts: Writing About Literature with Critical Theory, 6th Edition

Copyright (c) 2011, 2008, 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

ISBN-13: 978-0-205-71674-6

ISBN-10: 0-205-71674-1

1. English language - Rhetoric.

2. Literature - History and criticsim - Theory, etc.

3. Criticism - Authorship.

4. Academic writing.

5. College readers.