Sunday, 3 April 2011

Review on The Hunger Games

Summary

We have just finished reading the book The Hunger Games by Susan Collins. This book was basically about a battle for survival. The book begins with a girl named Katness Everdeen, who lives in a place called Panem that was once know as North America, in a section called district 12. The county holds annual hunger games where a boy and girl from each district go and battle it out in an arena for a reward of a good life for their family and food. When the day of the reaping is upon them, it is a surprise to all of them that Katness's sister Prim is chosen. She stands up for her sister and takes her place in the games. Along with Katness goes Peeta Mellark to the capitol to be prpaird for the games. While at the capitol they go though tremendous makeovers,  and are trained to fight against each other. When they interview all the tributes for the games, Peeta admits to the capitol and every one that he likes Katness. At the beginning of the games Katness goes off on her own and ends up finding that the tributes from districts 1,2,3, and 4 have formed an alliance and calling them selves the career tributes. to her surprise Peeta has joined their alliance. As her journey continues she ends up making an alliance with a girl from district 11 named Rue, during the training this young girl reminded her of her own sister Prim. But when they split up to go destroy the careers food supplies, the careers stab Rue with a spear. Not wanting her death to go unnoticed she decks her body out in flowers so it will be seen all over Panem. After Katness is left alone an announcement is made that for the first time if both tributes are left from the same district, then they can both win. Her fist mission after that is too find Peeta, knowing that after the attack she led on the careers he would not be doing too well. It takes her a wile to find him but when she does, he is badly hurt and she works hard and long to heal his leg. Finally that get down to business and start working on getting rid of the rest of the tributes. While they do this they start playing the romance card and play out loving each other, a first in the hunger games. When its down to the last three, 2 against 1 the game makers set out giant, mutant dogs that were once the other tributes. They grab the last tribute, and Katness and Peeta are safe and end up winning the games. They go back to district 12 after being treated and watching the replay of the games. Once back in district 12 they are greeted with praise and move into the place where al the previous winners live.

What I Thought

I loved this book, I am normally not a fluent reader, but I can not wait to read the second and third book. At the beginning I was interested enough to keep reading, but it didn't seem very exciting as people had told me. After part 1 of the book I could not stop reading and was so drawn into it, that I ended up getting a copy myself. This was one of the best books I have ever read in school and enjoyed so much to want to read the sequel. I would recommend this book to any one who loves future, adventure, and mystery style writing. Even if these aren't your favourite, I would still suggest reading it as it has something for every one.

What I Learned

While reading this book I resized that even though this is in the future, some people do live like this, having to struggle to find food each day. I'm so grateful that I live in a country that has clean water, and food around every corner. I also learned some new vocabulary that I had heard before but can now actually use as its been put into an example that has a whole history. I also learned in this book that friends and love are really important, and can help you out in any situation weather its good or bad.

I really did truly love this book, and I would probably never of read it if it wasn't mandatory, and I'm glad that we changed books this year. I'm also quite excited to see the movies coming out in the summer!

Monday, 7 March 2011

Do you Believe?

Every one has herd of the childhood icon Santa Clause. Every December, even before you could remember you would go to the mall with your family and go sit on a man's lap wearing a red suit and with a big white beard. Going up to see him with your one christmas wish for that year, and getting your picture taken with him. Yes we all love Santa.

But what really happens to us? Why do we all stop believing? Is it because we are older and feel we don't need that kind of hero any moore, or is it we have just become too "cool" to care. Shouldn't we always keep some of our childhood with us, all those memorys on that one figure that we have end up deciding to ignore. Personally I think we should keep on believing, let that little hope of something magical stay with us, truley forever.

So Santa, could he really be real? Well how so they explain all of the stories about him, lives up north, delivers presents,has elves build toys,eat cookies on Christmas eve, and is pulled around in a sleigh by reindeer and one with a red nose named Rudolf. Can these stories really be made up and taken all over the world and passed down with any interruption between generations.

I think we just all have to face it that somewhere out there there is a Santa, even if he doesn't get to every house with every present, he still will get there for those who do indeed believe. He will always be around you no matter how old you, in whey mall you go to, on every television special that plays in December, Santa will always be there.

So on that topic of Santa liking cookies, perhaps this video below can show you how much he does like cookies and is also in advertising, another point to say he is real.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=ghxaepiyzJY


Hope you enjoy :)

Wednesday, 2 March 2011

The Reality of Reality TV

     Reality TV is one of those things that I have never really gotten in to. There have been a couple of shows like Jeopardy, America's next top model, or the Bachelor that I have watched, but never straight through from beginning to end. Even though I don't make it a habit to watch reality programming, I do still enjoy watching it.


      Some shows that are interesting to me would be American/ Canadian Idol, Jeopardy, and even Dancing with the Stars. I think the common trait between them that draws me in to occasionally watch them is the aspect of competition. When we watch these shows we can't help but pick a side, or even bet on someone winning, it helps us achieve competition with out raising the stakes in a life matter.


     Another show I enjoy very much is Wipeout. The competition to see who can wipeout as many times but still beat the clock. What I am sure draws people to this kind of programming, much like Survivor, is seeing people get hurt and have to fight to stay alive. Why people like seeing others be hurt, I don't know why? But all I can say is they do!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbRla7IxLNw


I hope by watching this Video, it will help you understand why we enjoy this so much!