Romeo and Juliet

Since last week, I have not yet gotten The Notebook, so I am going to tell you about the piece we are reading in my English class, Romeo and Juliet. Thus far we hath read all of Act one whence we meet the brawling families and their children, Romeo and Juliet.  At a party the two young children see each other and fall in "love".  Everyone knows the story of Romeo and Juliet, the star crossed lovers that die.  The real struggle they don't know about is deciphering the text in its original form of Elizabethan English. 

Although Elizabethan English is English, we have problems figuring out what Shakespeare was saying in his play.  So far I have enjoyed the plot of the story.  There are a lot of comedic moments that are incorporated into the plot and bring light to the negativity of the plot lone that is told to us in the prologue. I can't wait to read more of Romeo and Juliet so that I can learn more about how our language is constantly changing.

What's up next?

Well, I finally finished reading my book Graduation Day, the third book in The Testing series.  I wrote two blog posts about the series already though so I don't want to bore you.  I'm thinking about taking a different direction with my books.  I have heard that Nicholas Sparks writes great books so I want to try one of those.  I am looking for suggestions since I noticed there are so many he wrote.  I have heard a lot about The Notebook by some girls I know, and A Walk to Remember's summary looks good.

I haven't read a lot of romantic types of books so I am kind of excited to switch it up.  I liked the dystopian fiction books a lot but they just weren't as interesting anymore.  The Notebook was Sparks first novel, and it took off.  That is why I am going to start off with that one.  It seems enchanting and something that will drag you into the world he created.  I can't wait to start reading!

12 Years a Slave

I am reading a second memoir called Twelve Years a slave. I am sure that many of you have heard of it already; it was made into a movie a couple years ago.  But that's not what I am here to tell you,  I'm here to tell you about the amazing BOOK that it is.  It has a strong central idea that is woven throughout the text.  Solomon, the main character who is kidnapped and sold into slavery, never gives up hope and never stops trying.  He is trying to let the reader know that even in the darkest times there is hope, and if you maintain that hope then you will persevere through to a better outcome.  He goes through many difficulties in his journey and hope is always there for him.

In Twelve Years a Slave, Solomon is a free black man in the north.  He has a family and wants the best for them. When he is offered a tempting job he accepts to make more income for his family.  He travels with two other men who are both white and when they get to D.C he is kidnapped and sold into slavery down in Louisiana. He works hard and is rewarded by his peers and master, until he gets sold again.  A different master is not pleased with his work and whips Solomon(now renamed to Platt).  But, he does not lose hope and still works hard as the days go on.  He sends word to his friends up in the North through a free man who knows that he is innocent.

Solomon with his family as a free man

Solomon as a slave

Solomon writes about a lot of things that happened to him along his journey as a slave.  He spent much of his time hoping and trying to figure out a way to escape.  Although he did not escape through the underground railroad this website offers information on what slaves would have had to go through to escape.  Their journey was tough and your comrades could die by your side but hope had to keep you going.