Catcher In the Rye (Pages 185-214)

Finally got around to finishing J.D. Salinger's Catcher In the Rye. It was an okay book, although I don't really understand it. It was just about this guy traveling around trying to figure out his problems, and yet somehow in the end everything is magically okay because he sees his little sister Phoebe riding around on a merry-go-round. The book just didn't have any meaning or personal connections to me until the very end, like maybe the last 3 pages even. In these pages Holden is summarizing what has happened to him and the people he's met. He says that he is always asked what he is going to do next with his life, and how he has no answer to that question when people ask him. He says that it's a bad question because no one ever really knows what they are going to do until they actually do it. That quote was probably the most meaningful part in the book for me, because I can actually relate to it. Whether you thoroughly think through a situation or not, you never really know what you are going to do, how you are going to respond to any type of situation. For example, if you happen to be in a bank while it is getting robbed, everyone in the world would like to think that they would be the one to step up and save everyone, but that's just not realistic, and no one will ever know until they are actually put into that bad situation. I guess people just like to think that they have the ability to be a hero and step up whenever they want to, but the fact is that very few people probably would step up for others. On a more personal level, I am a lifeguard, and I know how to respond and act if I see someone sturggling to breathe or something. And although I know that I know what to do, it's sometimes difficult to believe that I can do it because I have not yet had to do it, if that makes sense. That's why I want to get my first save out of the way, just so I can prove to myself that I can handle the pressure and perform when it counts. I guess the book was okay, just not what I expected it to be.

To Kill A Mockingbird (Pages 259-277)

In the story, we meet a man named Mr. Raymond, who is very kind to the black people, which was looked down upon by society. They say he always carries around a paper sack, which they assumed he used to drink alcohol in. They learn otherwise when Mr. Raymond offers Dill some of his drink and Dill accepts only to learn that the drink is really Coca-Cola. He explains to the children that he only carries around the paper bag to make it appear that he is drunk all the time, which would explain for his actions towards the blacks in general. When people see the sack, they assume he is too drunk to know any better than to treat the blacks with just as much respect as the whites. A few days later, the entire black community has loads of food placed on the doorstep of Atticus' house in order to thank him for defeneding an innocent man in Tom Robinson. Although he was found guilty, Atticus tried his absolute best to protect Tom by any means necessary, and the black community respects him for that. Later that day, the children learn that Bob Ewell called out Atticus around town, spat on him, and called for his revenge in the future.
I imagine that the children in the book have a great sense of pride towards their father in that he is a truely great man, and defends a man he knows is innocent. When they hear the news about Bob spitting on their father, I'm sure they're first response is only to hate Bob more, yet they should really feel sorry for him. By the end of the book they do. Bob is a pitiful man who's life is headed south. The children realize the importance of their father to the community, to Tom, and to themselves. He reminds me alot of my own father, a great man who would go to extreme measures to do what is right.

To Kill A Mockingbird (Pages 175-259)

Scout has just found her old friend Dill hiding under the bed one night after Atticus has yelled at her. She learns that he ran away beacause his mom and dad didn't pay enough attention to him at all. When Atticus learns that Dill is here, he thinks it over and lets him stay. I think Atticus understands where Dill is coming from and gets why he ran away in the first place. Because of that, he lets the situation play out. They give Dill food and let him stay the night at their house, but not without telling Dill's aunt about where is really is. One night, the kids sneak out and find Atticus sitting in front of Tom Robinson's jail cell reading a magazine. He is there to protect Tom from an angry mob he suspects will show up sometime in the night. As the kids watch, the mob arrives including Bob Ewell and Mr. Cunningham. They have a little bit of a stand off, but not much happens besides that. Atticus convinces them to go home, not knowing that Mr. Underwood had him covered with a shotgun the entire time. This again shows how good of a guy Atticus is.
Dill running away from home and staying the night at his friend's house makes me think of elementary school when it was cool to have official sleep overs. My friends and I would go over to each other's houses every weekend and do fun stuff all night. Of course, we were little so we our bedtime was naturally around 9 or so. Regardless, we always found a way to have a good time, and I feel like Dill is only trying to do the same thing, while also searching for people who love him.

To Kill A Mockingbird (Pages 163-175)

I'm at the point where the trial is taking place, and it's getting intense. The second time I've read this book, I'm realizing how great of a lawyer Attticus really is, and what a good person he is also. Bob Ewell is called to the stand and Atticus makes him sign his name, then he notes which hand he writes with. He notes that Bob is left-handed, and that the bruises on his daughter's face were on the right side. Only a good lawyer would even think to bring that kind of evidence to the courtroom. He makes Scout proud with his great tactics. I'm impressed with how good of a man he truely is.
This Isn't just some Judge Judy case that Atticus is trying to win. He's trying to fight for an innocent man's life. To me, that is the greatest accomplishment one can achieve, saving another at the cost of yourself and your reputation. Atticus gives up his reputation to defend a man he knows is innocent. Not every person can say they've done that for someone. That makes Atticus a great man.

To Kill A Mockingbird (Pages 97-163)

Just finished part one of To Kill A Mockingbird, and made it a few chapters into part two. So far, nothing new is really sticking out for me from reading it for a second time. I'm connecting with a few parts of the book more because of personal experiences, but nothing new in terms of things I felt while reading it the first time. I'm remembering growing up being a major theme in this novel, and I'm seeing more and more of it with every chapter I read. Although Scout is getting into fights at school over kids making fun of her dad, I can see her growing as a person with more moral values. How is it that kids can sometimes see what grown ups can't? Scout realizes how bad it is to treat people differently because of the color of their skin, yet adults remain oblivious to the damage their doing. This also illustrates the innocence of childhood. So pure and filled with love, Scout is learning to respect others more.
This weekend we had some relatives over and we opened our pool. It's been super nice outside, so my sister and I have also started running more. We're planning to run a marathon at the end of the summer, so we better start training now.

To Kill A Mockingbird (Pages 43-97)

Just got to the part where Jem loses his pants when he jumps over Boo Radley's fence. I had forgotten about that part, but it made me laugh out loud when I read it again. It makes me think of a time we were in Ohio visiting some relatives for a BBQ at one of their houses. This was probably ten years ago now, so I was about seven. We were playing kickball in the backyard and the ball went over the fence into the neighbor's yard. The neighbors had a big scary looking dog that we thought was chained up to its doghouse. So, all my cousins convinced me to hop the fence and go get the ball. We were wrong about the dog being chained up. As soon as I picked up the ball I heard barking and started running for the fence to hop back over it. Just as I reached the fence the dog had reached out and bit me....on the buttocks. Pretty embarrassing, but I'm sure I cried alot. Then there was this big ordeal about finding out if the dog had rabies or something. I don't remember that part. But, that day was no fun. At least I got a good story out of it. For some reason, Jem losing his pants made me remember that day where I hopped a fence, and got bit by that big dog.

To Kill A Mockingbird (Pages 1-43)

I'm taking a break from Catcher In the Rye to read a book that we read last year that I liked alot called To Kill A Mockingbird. I remember this being the first book that I actually got into, well at least out of all the books we've read for school. Not sure whether it's the suspense, or the morals in it, but something about it has stuck with me since last year. Enough for me to want to read it more in depth. Hopefully the book is even better a second time around. Mr. Radley also reminds me of someone very close to me.
He reminds me of my next door neighbor who recently died from a stroke. He was always very kind to everyone, and although a little more outgoing than Boo Radley, he had the same humble atmosphere about him. I have mowed their lawn every summer for the last seven years, and still do it even though he's gone. Maybe he's the reason this book has left such an impression on me. He was everything I hope to be when I get older, he was an overall cool guy.