Welcome to your first course discussion. This activity will give you an opportunity to meet your instructor and classmates. Post a paragraph or two about who you are, where you're from, and what hobbies or activities you're involved with. In addition, respond to one or more of the following questions:
- What do you like to read in your free time?
- Do you write poetry or short stories or keep a journal? Please explain.
- What makes a piece of literature most meaningful or memorable to you?
- Do you have any advice to share about something that has changed the way you read literature?
Scoring
This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first posting. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.
My name is Sherifa Baldeo. I was born in Far Rockaway, New York. I am currently on the newspaper committee in school and my interests include reading books, reading internet news stories, and spending time with my family. In my free time, I love to read novels that deal with true events or stories that relate to reality. I also like to read romance novels every now and then. Literature that allows the reader to walk away with more knowledge and even a sense of experience are meaningful and memorable to me. A piece of advice for all readers of literature is to keep an open mind to patterns and new ideas in a work to pick up on them more easily.
ReplyDeleteOriginal: My name is Justin Eubanks. I currently reside in Far Rockaway, New York. I am looking forward to participating on the Swimming Team this upcoming season again and my interests include playing football, track, swimming, engineering, and hanging out with friends. I am also very fond of meeting new people and being able to explore new endeavors and experiences. In my free time, I like to read books that interest me including that of adventure, and or comedy. Novels that can grasp my interest and keep me attentive is always a plus. Something that makes me want to not put the book down until it is over is definitely something that I look forward to when reading. Similar to what my colleague Sherifa Baldeo stated, a piece of advice that I can give to all readers of literature is to definitely keep an open mind to what you are reading. Even though the book may seem monotonous at first, you must give it some time to fully play out. Remember, never judge a book by its cover!
ReplyDeleteOriginal:
ReplyDeleteMy name is Maggie Hennessy. I have lived In Howard Beach, New York my whole life. I have been dancing for about 15 years, and I recently have become a teacher and cheoreographer for younger children. While I don't read as much as I would like to due to time restrictions, I enjoy reading a variety of genres. (To name just a few: greek tradgedies, fiction,and poems.)My definition of "meaningful literature" is a piece of writing that leaves one questioning society/seeking for personal growth. If a piece of literature is truely meaningful it stays with you long after your finished reading the book.
Original: My name, Christian Munoz. Raised in East New York, Brooklyn, I now reside in South Ozone Park, Queens. My hobbies include playing sports, hanging out with my friends, listening to music, and reading novels. I play soccer, teach kickboxing, and used to do karate. I also love cross-country. I am passionate with all the sports that I play and those I watch. Aside from food, music is the second most important thing that keeps me alive. I'm a multitasker so everything I do involves music and something else. During my freetime I also like to volunteer at a daycare, sing for the choir at my local church, and teach kids during Sunday school. Being part of the Scholars' yearbook committee is a great experience for me because it brings back alot of high school memories and helps me see the memories of others.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy reading alot. My favorite genre is fiction and fantasy, but like music, I will read and listen to anything. Its hard to believe by those who know me, but I love poetry. Especially writing it. Ever since I was 10, I've written poetry either on paper or on the computer. I find books that aren't real to be more inspirational than non-fiction. I think people cn realte to life and find patterns more easily though fantasy. This also challenges a true reader's mind, because finding patterns and reading between the lines is part of what makes up literature.
Original:
ReplyDeleteHey everyone I'm Ellysa Smith. I grew up in South Ozone Park Queens, New York. I moved to Arverne, New York about three years ago. I am currently participating in the Yearbook Committee and chorus in school. Hopefully I will also get to continue playing basketball for a third year. Tryouts are October 25th, wish me luck. I adore working on the family scrapbook because its an art form that truly encompasses self expression. Not to mention scrap booking is a hobby that I share with my brother and sister. I love listening to music, but under one condition, I have to have to play the music really, really loud in my bedroom so that no one hears me singing. I can't hear a song without singing because every lyric has a special meaning or memory associated with it. I think that hearing a song is similar to reading in this aspect. In contrast reading books serves as an escape from life's, sometimes harsh, realities. I engross myself into a novel when I read, becoming everything I admire and dislike about the main character or author. Its difficult to focus on anything else while I am reading because I ultimately become the protagonist, experiencing his or her feelings, whether it is frustration, anxiety, happiness, or relief. I read various genres. I read romance, horror, mystery, non-fiction, fantasy, or adventure, depending on my mood. I don't write poetry or short stories and I do not keep a journal. I've tried too, but in my opinion, its hard to live life in the moment and then find the time to accurately describe it on paper so that when it is read the memory resurfaces vividly. A piece of literature is memorable to me when it takes me on a journey, sometimes a full circle, helping me discover something new about myself. My advice to a reader is that more often than not, it is necessary to read the same book more than once for an epiphany to emerge.
My name is Shinece Bissessar and I reside in South Richmond Hill Queens. I was born in the Southern most island in the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, but I grew up in Miami. I moved to New York a short five years ago where my life changed tremendously. In my free time, I love to spend time with the people who mean the most to me because, I believe that you can never get bored, tired or annoyed with family and friends. I love to make people smile. That really is my goal in life, to make every individual I come into contact with smile becuase, I believe bringing a moment of joy to a person's life can positivesly affect them for their lifetime. In addition, I adore blogging and writing poetry. Only few people know about my hidden passion for blogging and writing poetry. I find that doing these things allow me to express my emotions using a creative outlet, instead of regular cliched ways such as celebrating, or screaming or crying. I like reading, but I do not always have the free time for it. When there is an opportunity for me to read a novel, I would definitely grab books that have fantasy and romantic stories behind them. Reading romance literature builds my level of romance even though I am still considered "naive" and young. I always have expectations of every individual though I try not to becuase, I think having expectations can only lead to disappointment in one's life when they aren't met. Every novel that I read always has a lasting impact on my view of the world around me. My goal at the end of reading a novel, is not to be subjective to the author's main points, but to be objective and to continue to have an open mind to the analysis of others and the meaning(s) of a book.
ReplyDeleteTo Sherifa: I agree with every word you said. But what really caught my eye was the fact that you recommended to keep an open mind to patterns. That's precisely what I meant when I posted my comment. One must read not just what is on the paper he or she is holding, but dig deeper and analyze what is being said.
ReplyDeleteTo Ellysa: Wow. Thanks to you it finally clicked in my head. I feel exactly what you do when reading a book. I never noticed it, but I am the protagonist. I am the main character in those novels. Especially, the ones that I write. Yes, I write and I've been told i'm pretty good at it too. I guess in this case, you are what you read!
In Response to Ellysa: I completely concur on your stance of literature. It should definitely take you to another place, where you can perceive certain things in a way you never thought you would. Reading is not only a way to pass time, but a way to look at something in a completely new way. Though initially you may not see it, literature can profoundly provide a boost in apprehending complex things.
ReplyDeleteTo Maggie: Your thoughts on what makes a piece of literature meaningful are interesting. I agree that what you read should stay with you for a long time after you have read the novel. In this way, you know that the work of literature has really had an effect on you. Even more, I believe that if the novel has the ability to change a reader's perception of the world as some of our colleagues have noted, the novel has then truly meant something to the reader.
ReplyDeleteTo Ellysa:
ReplyDeleteI feel the exact same way! When I read, I feel as though I enter the world of the novel. I too often find myself taking on the emotions of the main characters. In my opinion, reading serves as an escape from one's reality for this reasoning.
In response to Sherifa, I agree 100 percent with your ending note, saying that all readers should be open minded. I too, believe that having an open mind will allow a reader to fully understand the symbols and patterns in a book, that just might not make it as unique as it first seemed
ReplyDeleteOriginal:
ReplyDeleteMy name is Shevana Maharaj. I was born in St. Croix, which is located in the U.S. Virgin Islands and I moved to New York when I was three years old. I love to read books, listen to music, watch movies, and spend time with my family and friends. I am currently participating in our school’s yearbook committee and I am a tutor for my neighbor who is currently in middle school. In my free time, I love to read the classics and autobiographies. I do not write poetry, however I do have a journal and occasionally write a few stories. However, my stories do not contain an ending because usually in the middle of the story I get a new idea, abandon the old one, and start a new story. I think a journal is important to keep. It reflects your initial thoughts during that time and it shows your growth and development. I think a piece of literature is most memorable, when you become the main character. When the main character laughs, you laugh, when he cries, you cry. The piece of literature must give you, not necessarily a deeper meaning, but a connection. My advice to readers is to finish the book you start. Some books I have read are boring all throughout the story; however the ending ties everything into place and makes you realize that the book was worth reading.
Original:
ReplyDeleteHi, My name is Naomi Brouard, I am 17 years old and I live in South Ozone Park. My favorite hobbies are hanging out with my best friends, and roaming around New York City to find new places I haven't before. I am not involved in a lot of school activities, but I participate in the Scholars' Academy High School Girls Varsity Volleyball team. In my free time I usually read trilogies about mythological beings such as dragons, fairies, and humans with supernatural powers. I also read novels that involve a main character fighting some kind of monumental battle within themselves. I do not write poetry or short stories, but I used to keep a journal of my personal experiences in which i reflected on my past. The novel that was most memorable to me was Green Angel by Alice Hoffman it has so much emotion and such tragedy that it made me question: Do I really have it that bad? Should I learn how to be a better person despite my flaws? It also made me want to me more open and share more emotion with my friends to grow a stronger bond because life has many ups and downs; it is about how we grow from them which makes us truly incredible. The advice I have on literature is pick novels you would most likely related to if it is for entertainment or to learn more about who you are. Another piece of advice I have on literature is read between the lines of a novel because it has a more powerful meaning then what is just obviously stated, and lastly never judge a book by its cover it may be more interesting then you thought.
To Shevana: I agree about the whole starting a new idea before you even get to end, because in a journal so many ideas flow through your mind at the same time, its really hard to pinpoint what exactly you have to tell! I also agree 100% on the advantages on keeping a journal, it gives you time to really sit there and say "hey, i learned so much from myself". I also never really looked at literature the way you did, but it has given me newfound knowledge. As a reader you do feel the same emotion as the main character, thank you for that analysis. Your advice on literature really has me thinking, hey i should have finished that book!
ReplyDeleteTo Maggie:
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I too think meaningful literature is something that says with you long after you have read it. That literature must be able to change you. Even if it does not change your perspective it should at least be able to give you an extra insight on things. I find it interesting though, that different literature has various impacts on us. The way you look at something and the way I look at something can be completely different but we usually arrive at the same conclusion. The different path that “meaningful literature” takes us through allows us to discover more about ourselves and the world’s perspective of ourselves
Origional: Salutations , ni hao , czesc , hola, bon jour my name is Jessica Delph. I have lived in Queens my entire 16 years of living. Although I may appear clumsy and a bit reserved (which is true...most of the time), there is a broad assortment of colors in the Jessica Delph color wheel. One of my passions in life is to travel , I adore visiting other countries and experiencing different cultures. For instance, I have been to London, Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, Australia , and Tokyo those are just a few but what i draw from each place is a reminder for me that no matter how different peoplle look or how they dress, that we all share common values and beliefs that connects us all.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to traveling I also like to cook ,listen to music, boogie ride, jog, act, play piano and of course read. I do consider myself a movie buff as well. I fin myself enjoying various types of books and novels from anime to Nicholas Sparks novels. I enjoy reading plays by William Shakespeare , The Wealth of Nations and Stookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. I find these types of reading broaden my knoweldge about language and relationships also the different types of reading material can asist one in writing better.
My taste in music is just as eccentric as my taste in books, i like to listen to White Stripes, Led Zepplin , Bach, 30 Seconds to Mars, Coldplay ,Soundgarden, Kanye,Pearl Jam and The Kooks. Music is a huge part of who I am , music makes me happy and alters my mood with the melody or just catchy lyrics. A combination of the two has molded my writing skills into a medly of pure enjoyment
Original:
ReplyDeleteHey! My name is Shanice Harris, and I live in the wonderful world of Far Rockaway, NY. I went to school in Trinidad, WI for 3 years - age 2-5, and came back to NY to start elementary school. I love music, and anything that has to do with the art of music. I sing, I step, I dance...One thing people don't usually believe about me is that I play the bass guitar...I've been playing for almost two years, and I now know what it feels like to be in love =]. My bass is my heart. Aside from music, I'm also crazy about my family, my culture, and children!! I'm very involved in my church, and I love each and every thing I do there.
Honestly, I don't like to read. Something has to be really interesting for me to pick it up and read it. Writing, however, is something that I am truly passionate about. Writing is one of the many things I do which allows me to express myself in ways no one else has to understand. When I do read, what makes the literature memorable to me is when I'm done, and I feel as if I've learned something, or when I can relate what I've read to my own personal life.
To Naomi:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on reading between the lines...It's fascinating how the meaning of something could change once you realize what symbolism is behind it!
Original:
ReplyDeleteHello. My name is Paulina Materna. I was born and raised in Poland. I moved to New York when i was 10 years old. I now reside in Belle Harbor, Queens. It was very diffucult for me to adjust to everything. I had to learn a new language, i had to make new friends, i had to get used to all the surroundings. Indeed the hardest part was adjusting to school. I had no idea what the school system was like. I started off by reading books and watching television. It took me about a year to learn the laguage. As of now i am still trying to get familiar it and i know i will be better as the time goes on. My favorite hobbies are hanging out with my family,friends and my boyfriend. I have a hobby that i dont really tell about. BElieve it or not i absolutely love photography. I love taking pictures of random obejets and then figuring out what is the meaning of that specific picture. I am not involved in a lot of school activities. Im usually the quiet person in a crowd when it comes to making decisions or giving ideas. In my free time i love spending time and taking care of my little sister. Ever since she was born i absoluetly adore her and i want to be a good role model for her. I was never a big fan of reading. There was a time when i used to read non-stop and there was a time where i couldnt do it anymore because it occpied so much of my time. I mostly enjoy music. I feel like music is my only bestfriend at times. It calms me down and it helps me look at things from different perspectives.
To Naomi:
ReplyDeleteI adore how you love reading trilogies about mythological beings such as dragons, fairies, and humans with supernatural powers because it shows that your imagination is wide open but to some extent. To some people imagination is their whole world. I also absolutely love your advices. I used to always judge a book by its cover and i came to a point when i realized that a book has a more powerful meaning to it then what is just stated, as you said it yourself.
Hi guys, my name is Tara Shea, I am 17 years old and have lived in Rockaway my entire life. I find myself to be a little busier than most 17 year olds and I wouldn't change a thing. I have two jobs as of right now, them being a dance instructor and a soccer coach. I have been dancing since I was two years old and have been competing for the last 13 years. I am a proud member of the Scholars' Bowling team and plan on trying out for both the Cheerleading and Golf team throughout the year. I am a member of both the yearbook and events committee and love planning activities for the school. In my free time i enjoy eating, drawing and just hanging out with friends. I honestly love to read but as of lately I have had less and less time to do so but when I get the chance I prefer to read science fiction or mystery novels. I am embarressed to say that I am one of the individuals who like to read the last page before delving into the novel because once I start I have a hard time putting the book down because I become so emotionally involved. If I had the opportunity to read more frequently I would because reading allows an individual to step back and connect to another through their story.
ReplyDeleteHi im T.J. Volpe, Im 17 and I live in Rockaway, NY. Im orignially from Park Slope, Brooklyn NY and lived there until I was 11. I play the piano, volleyball, and swim. I love fashion and music. I also like hanging out with friends, drawing, and designing things. I hope to attend SUNY FIT next fall as a Interior or Advertising Design major. I enjoy reading fashion magazines such as "Teen Vogue" in my free time. Sadly, I do not keep a journal nor write poetry, but I have blogged before. What makes What makes a piece of literature most meaningful or memorable to me? Somthing modern and original. I love reading things that I can relate to. After taking Mr. Wong's AP English class, I am always looking further into literature and movies alike. Theres never a time in a movie when im not trying to look further than what it is surfacing as. Hopefully taking this class will expand my love for Literature.
ReplyDeleteTo Jessica Delph: I really like Nicholas Sparks' novels too. Because there so loving and entertaining to read. I must say that Sparks' movies are exactly how I imagined them and I dont know if thats a good or bad thing. And to Tara, I completely agree. Finding time for reading is almost impossible these days.
ReplyDeleteTo Ellysa and Maggie:
ReplyDeleteYou both took the thoughts right out of my head!! I could not agree more with the fact that meaningful literature is something that should stay with us after we have finished the book because the connection that we make to that novel should be so great that it stays with us. I also feel such a great connection with the characters in certain novels that I almost wish I was one of them. I find myself more often than not crying when they're hurt or laughing when they're happy. Both of your comments made me really analyze the emotional connection made when reading literature.
Hey my name is Xander McDonald-Smith, and I live in Rockaway Beach NY. I was born in brooklyn, but raised and lived in Rockaway my entire life. I love sports, thats my passion aong with politics. I have played just about every sport known to man but I stick to golf, and basketball a little. I am going to sign a NCAA national letter of intent in November with a school to play golf. I enjoy reading books about history, and politics. From the Communist Manifesto to the Conservative Manifesto, I enjoy everything. A piece of literature that means something to you or that you can connect with, is what makes it memorable. As the old saying goes "one mans garbage is another mans treasure." Works of literature mean different things to different people. Animal Farm may be a book I will never forget, but to someone else they may not get past the first chapter. I would just encourage everyone keep an open mind when reading a book, bu always question everything.
ReplyDeleteTo Jessica and Ellysa:
ReplyDeleteI also read the Wealth of Nations, I found it boring. But when you read between the lines of it and find the true meaning, or the overall picture, it is a brilliant book. I also enjoy Shakespeare plays, I have read Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar being my favorite..."et tu brute?...then fall Caesar!"
And to Ellysa I also have trouble stopping and writing down past memories and thoughts. I try to keep a journal but I guess it's hard to write down memories while living life in the moment.
My name is Shahnaj. I am from Ozone Park. I am on the Yearbook Committee. I like to play soccer with my brother and sister on the weekends. I like to read fantasy novels about supernatural elements that incorporate history and mysticism. I keep a journal and I try to write in daily but there are times when I am swamped with work that I am unable to write. I write poems that are usually about spring or something funny. I write these things for leisure or to share with friends. If a piece of literature is scary and has the effect of brining me fear before I go to sleep, it’s memorable. If a piece of literature is happy and humorous and has the tendency to creep inside my mind while I am walking home from the bus stop or on a nighttime stroll, then it is meaningful. When I read literature, I try to imagine everything that goes on. I narrate everything and I try to replay it with my imagination when I am done reading. It is sort of like a reading ritual. It helps to keep everything intact in my mind and helps me to reflect on it.
ReplyDeleteGreetings :) My name is Jalin Gibbs. I am a 17 year old young lady who currently reside in Far Rockaway. I love to cook, watch youtube videos, listen to music and spend time with the people who mean alot to me. Due to my hectic schedule with school, work, extracurricular activities, and family affairs, I have about 30 mins or less in a day to myself to read a book. Currently, I am reading the excellent House of Night series, which is quite entertaining. It is a melting pot of drama, comedy, mystery, suspense, and romance, with a dash of comedy. I am waiting for the 8th book to come out in January. I feel like the best way to read and understand literature is to find a correlation between your life and the text. It is more enjoyable, and to see how that particular situation applies to someone's life.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Marium Khan. I currently reside in Far Rockaway, New York. My interests include reading internet news stories, and spending time with my family. In my free time, I love to go out and hang out, or find something to do that will be enjoyable yet keep me busy. I'm not that much of a reader, however I prefer horror and romance novels. Besides those two genres I like literature that has reality that I can personally relate to or has certain events that occur in my everyday life. A piece of advice for all readers of literature is to keep an open mind, even though I can't (which is a bad thing).
ReplyDeleteTo Shevana:
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your "leaving you current idea" remark, because I do that ALL the time. When I use to write I would start writing, make it a page, then have a new idea.
My name is Sheniqua L. I am from the Bronx, NY. I currently live in Queens. In school, I participate in volleyball, cheerleading, step team and yearbook. My other hobbies include singing, reading, watching movies, and listening to music and babysitting. I enjoy spending time with my friends and going all over NYC with them. I love reading. I often read books about persons I can relate to or poems that send a message or inspire me. I love reading new pieces of literature so that I can discover new styles. I usually read in phases and focus on similar styled pieces. A work of literature is most memorable when I can see myself in the work. A piece of advice that i would give to readers is that all stories have a meaning and a purpose and the best part is discovering it.
ReplyDeleteTo Ellysa: I can totally relate to blasting your music. Music is best when played loud. I personally like to dance because I wouldn't do it in public. I think it just feels good to let go and act a little goofy sometimed
ReplyDeleteTo Shinece:
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that you liked to blog and write poetry, that's so cool. I also read romance novels for the same reason. When I read, I have expectations for the characters. For example, when I read about a good character that turns out to be bad I find myself saying "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?". Usually I do get disappointed at the actions of the main character because of some mistake he or she makes. I feel like I should be able to tell them, but you can't because your just the observer of their story.
To Xander:
ReplyDeleteI think I would have to agree with you and Ellysa both , going through life is an exciting safaris within itself , its tough to jot down any given moment that had become a major turning point or something that had disappoint you. Personally I view a journal as photos , just glancing at something that I wrote in the past makes me remember what an awesome or not so awesome moment I had in life. Ultimately the lessons we learn in life are good enough for me.
It looks like I'm one of the last ones on this bus. Well, my name's Yan Michael Rodriguez, and I am ecstatic about anything relating to video games, anime and music. In other words I'm a big nerd. It's actually the first two of those things that got me into the last one, as I loved listening to the soundtracks and soon enough, I started composing music myself, which I have a lot of fun doing. I'm in the high school band, but that's about it. I also like meeting new people and talking to people, and I go on forums a lot so I also know people all over the country and world that have become a big part of my life too. Anyway, I don't often read literature in my free time, but whatever I read, literature or not, is usually something out of this world, surreal fiction and fantasy, because I love stories of adventures and excitement. However, I also do enjoy reading realistic fiction that touches on society and people. Actually, if whatever I'm reading manages to combine all of those, those are my favorite. Stories that leave an impact on me are what I enjoy. I don't write poetry, but sometimes I think of little stories that I never really expand on so that doesn't really count. But one thing I've known is that everything I've seen written is a piece of the author. When I read a story, no matter how crazy or varied it is, it's a look at how the author is or feels, even if it's divided through 30 completely different characters.
ReplyDeleteHi My name is Jasbir Deol and I live in Kew Gardens, NY. I am on the Yearbook Committee as well as Student Government. I enjoy taking long walks and riding horses, especially when I'm visiting my parents. In New York, I enjoy taking the train to the city and exploring with friends and family in order to find the best places to eat and shop. I am also quite fond of reading novels, especially fiction and romance because it gives me the chance to immerse myself in someone else's life for a couple of hours. I think this ability has allowed me to place myself in more than one person's shoes and express empathy for that person. I love to listen to music and I think it is best to read a book with the music on blast because the music makes a nice backdrop. I actually do keep a journal where I write down the events of my day but i write in my journal sporadically so sometimes i won't write for a week but then I'll write four pages for one day. I think that in any piece of literature, the characters are the most captivating part because without them, that piece of iterature would not exist.
ReplyDeleteTo Jalin:
ReplyDeleteI agree that there needs to be a connection between your life and the book that you are reading because without that particular connection, the book seems to lose its appeal. For that very reason, it is hard for me to read some books that are old and stuffy and don't allow for a way for me to connect the book to my life.
Original:
ReplyDeleteMy name is Cherisse Green. i reside in Far Rockaway, NY. I am of Jamaican descent. I love my family and i love spending time with them. With them i feel unguarded and i have alot of fun. i am a perfectionist and when i do things i like to do them wholeheartedly and to the best of my ability.
When i was younger i use to do an excessive amount of writing. i use to reflect through means of a journal, i wrote songs, and i wrote poetry. However, as i got older i began to write less and less for personal enjoyment.
I love to read romance novels, mystery novels, and those of black interest. I find literature most memorable when i can have a connection with the novel. If a novel discusses things that i am familiar with and situations that i have been through or am going through i feel a stronger connection with the literature.
I believe that with every bit of maturity one gains and growth they experience the way they read and interpret literature changes.
To Jasbir:
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you when you say that reading novels immerse you in someone else's life. Hence enhancing your ability to identify with different people and their emotions. Reading allows people to become one with the main character/characters of the novel, therefore you feel what they feel. This is a wonderful positive of reading because it allows one to become more open minded. Being open minded is a necessary characteristic for the real world and through reading novels it is developed.
Original: Hello my name is Elizabeth Odunaiya. I was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in both Brooklyn, NY and Far Rockaway. In my spare time I love to dance, sing, and most of all hang out with my friends and family. In school I am involved with chorus and step team. My most recent hobby has become researching scholarships, colleges, and internships. I love to read mystery, non-fiction, romance, and basically any piece of literature that I find enjoyable. What makes a piece of literature meaningful to me is if it is insightful. Reading for pure enjoyment is not something that I do often, I prefer to read in the hopes of gaining knowledge that I never knew existed. I have recently discovered a love for understanding different theories that address why people of different races, sexes, and ages act and think the way that they do. It is very interesting the theories that theorist have for popular culture and how specific codes determine how each person may interpret a movie or song.
ReplyDeleteTo Yan: I find it very interesting that you compose your own music. I actually used to write my own songs in middle school and my friends and I had this dream of becoming this famous rap/singing group. It was really cool because we had "groupies", for lack of a better word, in school and everyone thought that we could make it in the music industry. However, I guess reality hit and our group slowly began to dissolve, who knows where we would be now if we continued on our intended plan.
ReplyDeleteTo Cherisse:
ReplyDeleteI can totally understand how you feel. I too used to write for personal enjoyment, but then I kind of lost touch with writing for leisure once I had to write more for academic purposes. You and I can both agree when I say that as we progressed from the 6th grade to present time, we were bombarded with essays from left to right which kind of make us take a step away from writing because we want to or because it makes us happy, towards writing because it is a mandatory assignment.
To Jasbir: Ah, I love walking and taking public transportation too because that way you can walk into something you weren't expecting and have a cool surprise. Enjoying the way from A to B isn't the same for me if I go straight there in a car, but that might just be me. I can't really read with music on though, I end up getting lost in the music instead of the book!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Alexandria Willshire and I live in Manhattan. Outside of school I am extremely busy, I work at a kids clothing store in the mall, I have an internship during the week after school, and I do a lot of volunteer work.
ReplyDeleteIn my free time I like to read frivolous fiction or scientifically based books, such as 101 Theory Drive which is based on neuroscience. I don't have any particular interest in writing on my own, though I occasionally do. As far as what makes a piece of literature meaningful I would say anything that has a deeper meaning that speaks to your person could be classified as meaningful. There just has to be something deeper than the surface that has personal significance in general.
My only advice is to just find something you love. If its a genre, a topic, anything, get in to it and from there start to expand your reading sphere. I hated reading until I found things I loved, that I could read about, slowly but surely reading things I had less interest in became a lot less painful.
To: Alex
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on reading things you love. When you love what you read, it gives you a drive to read even more. However, when you read things that are less interesting, there should not be any pain. Sometimes the less interesting and boring stuff is useful. If you keep in mind that even if you don't like it and it is useful, the pain will go away.
Hey, I'm Christina Rocks. I live in Rockaway, N.Y. but originally I'm from Westchester, I moved to Rockaway when I was 6. I am currently working as a soccer coach, lifeguard, and swim instructor. I enjoy working because it keeps me busy, I also swim year round and play basketball. I love hanging out with my friends and going to concerts. I have not always liked to read in my free time, in fact I have always hated reading until recently. This summer was the first summer that I had actually completed the summer reading. This is due to the fact that I worked as a beach lifeguard and found myself with endless amounts of free time. I decided to start bringing my book to work and I flew through it not even realizing how much I was enjoying it. As soon as I finished it I immediately wanted to read more so I ordered some books online and continued to read in my free time. I enjoy reading books like Kite Runner and The Butcher Boy. A piece of literature becomes meaningful to me when I feel like I become part of the story and can visualize being there. When an author can use such intense details to help put you in the story, I immediately fall in love with the book and cannot put it down. I wish I had more time to read during the school year because my new appreciation for literature has made me actually enjoy reading.
ReplyDeleteOriginal:
ReplyDeleteHi there! My name is Jon Farrell, and I live in Rocakway Park, New York. I like to play and listen to music, hang out with friends, play video games, and do parkour.
When I was younger, I used to write poetry, but it's a hobby that I've happened to drift away from. I used to read a lot more then than I do now, but when I decide to sit down and read, I tend to like books that deal with adventures and/or shed light on or challenge perceptions of people. A book that leaves me feeling a strong emotion really registers with me, as does a book that challenges the way I see things.
To Justin:
ReplyDeleteKeeping an open mind is some great advice. It might be hard at first, but the more of a chance you give a book, the bigger the chance that it can have a positive impact on you. And you're right, just because a book may seem off-putting at first does NOT mean that it's not worth the effort. It's like when I read "Huckleberry Finn" over the summer: it was a bit of a chore to get used to how different the dialects were from what we speak today, but once I gave it a chance, I got used to it and ended up having a great time with the book.
Hey! I know most of you guys. I'm an intruder from the future. You all have already taken your AP's and are having the times of your lives while I'm friggin out about an AP Chemistry test I have coming up. My name is Ana Solares. The year is 2012, and it's 12:24 AM, which means that the last journal response I was supposed to send yesterday is about half an hour late.
ReplyDeleteBut I found this and I have to do this now before I lose my nerve.I wanted to comment because this is like a message in a bottle. Years later, I hope you will find this blog and see your own comments, as well as my childish one.
I want to write. Forever. It's as simple as that. That, or teach. It's too late to list everything that I do, but I am really busy. So back to writing...
I like having the ability to change someone's life, either with a word, or a string of words, written or spoken. Every single one of us has that power, and only few take advantage of it. I want to be part of that few.
I want to write a book. What the heck about,I don't know.
A few months ago, my life changed a lot. I was trying to "find myself", and that may sound trite, but it's true. I'm still trying to do that but now it's a lot easier.
Maybe I'll write about that.
As of now, I guess all I want to write is to do something worthwhile with all of your lives. Open your mouths, or just take a pen and go mad. Write what you feel. Words have the greatest power in this entire world. You can, and will, change someone's life. Sometimes, people want to hear that they matter. Others want to hear the latest David Cook joke ("What's that Chewbacca?..." if you don't know what I'm talking about, I truly feel sorry for you).
I'm not making any sense right now. Whatever.
Just don't sit on your behinds. Make an impact. Write, or if you're brave enough, Speak the words written in black and white. Change someone's life. You can do it. And you will.
I'm proud of all you guys.
- Ana