Laura+Martin

FINAL BLOG

I have continued to read //Vanishing Acts// and I have enjoyed it very much. Delia, the main character, has just found out that her father is being arrested for kidnapping. She then finds out that the kidnapping occurred several years ago, and it was her! She is struggling with her feelings toward her father and her husband, who is her father's attorney. She is also struggling with how she should feel toward her best friend, who is planning to write a story about all of this for the New York Times. When visiting her father in prison for the first time, she gets very upset with him, yells at him, and walks out. She then goes to see her mother, whom she thought was dead, and absolutely loves her. //I// absolutely love Jodi Picoult- her writing is captivating, and her characters are strong and well-developed. I would recommend this book to anybody- male or female, young or old. It is getting better and better each chapter, and it's very hard to put down.

December 6, 2010 blog VANISHING ACTS

For this blog, I decided to start reading Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. I was at the used book shop downtown and the lady that owns it recommended it to me. I purchased the book from her and didn't regret it! So far, Picoult has introduced the main character: Delia Hopkins. Her profession is to find missing people, using a search dog. She has a husband who is also her life-long friend, a best friend, and a little girl. She spends a lot of time with her father, who, at the end of the chapter I just finished, is arrested for kidnapping! Shocker! I enjoy the writing style of this book, and her character is easy for me to relate to because of her relationship with her friend and husband. I would recommend this book to anyone, as it has a little bit of everything. I am enjoying this novel, and I have a feeling it will get better and better!



I finished __The Silver Chair__ and have moved on to __Dandelion Wine.__ This novel was recommended to me by my Dad, and it is his copy that I am reading. So far in this marvelous creation by Ray Bradbury, each chapter has revealed a short story about the life of Douglas Spaulding, a boy twelve years old who is energetic and light-hearted. The book reveals several stories, including Douglas getting new shoes, learning about happiness, spending a summer outside, helping an old woman, and loosing a best friend. I love the characters that Bradbury develops, as well as the messages of respecting life that he gives. The message that is portrayed is about living every moment like it was the last, and valuing life and everything it offers. His writing style is captivating; it's almost like reading fantasy because of the meticulous details he includes in his writing. The storyline is interesting because there isn't really a specific "line" to the story. Each chapter is its own new story. This book is great for a creative mind- Bradbury phrases things in a way that makes the reader really think about what the imagery means. I am thoroughly enjoying this work of art, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is open to a challenging but stunning journey through the mind of Ray Bradbury.

Hello! Laura Martin here. I'm reading The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis. This book was recommended to me by my Aunt Jan. She gave it to me as a birthday present and encouraged me to read it. This novel begins when Jill Pole is crying outside of school. She is upset because she is a constant victim of bullies and misfortune. As she is sobbing, a boy named Eustace approaches and tries to comfort her. He tells her of a place "where animals can talk and where there are enchantments and dragons and all the sorts of things you have in fairy tales." They begin to discuss this magical land, but are interrupted by some of Jill's typical bullies. They run together, away from the sound of the approaching bullies, and find themselves entering a world exactly like what Eustace had described just seconds before. After being thrust into an unfamiliar place, they are greeted by a majestic lion who gives them a task. He tells them they must find a lost prince. Not knowing what that means in any way, Jill and Eustace embark on their journey, hoping that the plan will soon unfold. I am really enjoying this novel so far. I like both Jill and Eustace; they have charming personality and their dialogue draws you in to the story. So far the message of the story has not been revealed, but I suspect it will be something to do with devotion to friends and achieving goals. The story line is very interesting- though it is not realistic, it is easily believable because of the intricate details written into the text. I am thoroughly enjoying this novel, and from what I have read, I would recommend it.