Truth In Memoirs

I think for a book to be completely considered a memoir, all of it should be true. One thing that aggravates me to no end is when authors write Inspired by a True Story at the top of their novel(s). Everything is inspired by a true story. Otherwise there would be no way for the reader to connect to the authors work. Then what would be the point of the story? I think that some authors will connect their book to a real event just to attract viewers or fans of that event. Doing that, in my opinion, makes the author seem weak. I think they should be able to draw the same ideas and themes from the event, into another one made-up in their own head. That makes an author remembered.

I am not a fan bending the truth. I cannot stand when people lie, and I feel lied to when I realize that a book or a movie “inspired” by a true story has left out details or changed reality. It doesn’t make sense to make up a new story when the inspiration came from something that already happened—all you have to do is write or film it. For example, I had some friends see The Vow and tell me how it was afterwards. They loved it and they raved at how it was a true story and how lovely it was that someone would do that for their wife. We decided to research the story, and it turns out that half of what they depicted in the movie never happened. This upset all of us greatly; it seemed to cheat the audience from what they saw as something real, into something fake.

Readicide: How Schools Are Killing The Love To Read

            I think that literary books and today’s popular genre fiction books should be interchangeable. I think they all convey a message that could be taught in schools. Putting them in two separate categories confuses me, since the authors all wrote for a similar purpose: trying to spread a message through a story. Now, I personally love the classics, but I also enjoy picking up the latest and greatest at Barnes & Noble after school. I don’t find it fair to today’s authors that we don’t read their novels in school. Fair would be having an even divide between literary classics and popular genre fiction novels. And, I think, this would interest more students to explore the wonderful world of books because most of us only know what’s required to read.

            In a perfect world, teenagers would want to read literary classics. I think a lot of why we don’t [want to read] now is because it’s something we’re forced to do. Maybe if we were given options, or a wider variety of books, it would be more fascinating. But just handing us a book and telling us when it’s due makes it seem like a chore, which reading shouldn’t be. Reading should open your mind to ideas you’d never imagined. It should help you learn lessons and feel new emotions, gain tools that will help you succeed in life. It’s important that we read a variety of books, of different genres, to expand the small amount of knowledge we have now. Kids should want to read because they want to help themselves. If you don’t want to help yourself, well, good luck.

The Hunger Games Book Trailer

The Hunger Games - Movie VS. Book

Some challenges the filmmakers might face when producing this movie include: all the special effects in the arena, capturing the feel of the capital and the people, killing children and animals, as well as the many flashbacks Katniss has throughout the story. Katniss explains her feelings/actions through her thoughts, which is hard to interpret in a movie. Also the lack of dialogue could become a problem. Although special effects can be useful in re-creating the authors’ vision, nothing can compare to how our imagination views the scenes. It will be very difficult for filmmakers to satisfy all audiences' imaginations.

One scene that is essential to keep would be the killing of Rue. That is a huge factor for the rest of the book, as well as the two follow-up novels. If they were to change that, the rest of the plot would have to be changed, which would upset many viewers fond of the original story. A second scene they need to keep is near the ending when they’re about to take their own lives simultaneously by eating the berries, before the gamemakers announce their winning of the games. This provides the perfect set-up for the rest of the series and an explanation for the gamemakers emotions in the next book. The last scene they should keep is when Peeta and Katniss are on the way back to district 12, and Katniss confesses her fake love to Peeta. This, again, sets the tone for the next book and explains Katniss' conflicting feelings.

Most of the book is filled with important information to explain peoples' emotions/actions, however there can be some dull moments. I think more time should be spent on the games rather than supporting characters or secondary plotlines. I think the movie was well-done, but I found the book to be more intriguing. If I had just seen the movie I would have enjoyed it just as equally as if I had just read the book. But combining the two seemed to make the movie less enjoyable because of things they left out or changed.

13 Reasons Why Suicide Prevention Program

The Idea             

My idea is to have a society of teenagers that come together after, or while, reading the book and discuss their journey or relationship with suicide in young adults. There would be meetings held in different cities across the country as well as 24/7 online chat and a hotline connecting them with other teenagers to talk about their experiences. The novel really incorporates prevention and the aftermath of suicide, so having a society that could openly talk about both of those things would be very rewarding for young adults. Of course, the meetings would all be free and group leaders would be strictly volunteer based. In the novel, Hannah was very afraid to talk about suicide with her classmates and her teachers. Here, everyone would be allowed a word in as well as time to think and listen to the group leader about their actions. It would be a highly judgment-free zone where you could truly speak your mind. I think this would not only help promote the novel, but help promote the books message.  All Hannah really wanted was some attention, and having a hotline for people with unknown identities, struggling with some of the same issues would be very helpful for people seeking individualized attention. You could also use the online chat rooms or one on one chat with teenagers around the country.

Connection

                “I’m sure the school had psychologists come in loaded with handouts, telling you what to look for in students who might be considering...Another pause. No. Like I said before, I can’t say it. Suicide. Such a disgusting word.” (Pg. 164) Hannah didn’t believe in saying something that she forced herself to do. With help from this teen prevention program we help students discuss and look into themselves as well as what they want to do to themselves. “…I admitted that I was at a point in my life where I really could have used any encouragement anyone might have left me.” (Pg.168) At these programs we intend to give students the same amount of encouragement that Hannah lacked in her life. Most kids struggling with depression just want to be understood. They need to feel wanted and important. With our unique approach to this rising conflict, attention and understanding will be a top priority. “A flood of emotion rushes into me. Pain and anger.  Sadness and pity. But most surprising of all, hope. I keep walking.” (Pg. 288) We not only want kids to know the warning signs of high depression and suicide but we also want them to help stop it. A friendly smile in the hallway or a simple “Hey” before class can change someone’s attitude towards the world. We fully encourage teenagers to know as much about this topic as possible, before they themselves or someone else has to suffer through the consequences.

Why It’ll Work

The idea will work by word of mouth. Teenagers socialize among each other more and faster, now more than ever before, and once they use these prevention resources they’ll become more open with talking about suicide.  In the book, Hannah doesn’t even want to say the word. I hope that with these meetings someone who would consider such a thing would be able to say the word out loud. Once the teenagers are open about their feelings, they will draw their own parents in so they too can express their ideas on the issue. Having such organized meetings as well as online services, will hopefully grow and be recommended by schools and organizations that deal with suicide prevention. The fans of the book that come to these meetings will be intrigued by how real-life experiences and the book are extremely similar. Teens will tell about some of their portrayals of the story and if they agree with some of the choices Hannah made, reflecting on their own choices. All information would be kept strictly confidential, unless you choose otherwise. This gives teens the ability to freely express themselves without fear of judgment, prejudice, or embarrassment.

A Book is a Train

A book is a train. It might sound crazy, but it’s true. A book, just like a train, can take you from one place to another. When you open a new book, it’s like hopping on something that takes you to a foreign place. You have no idea where it will take you, other than the description on the back cover, aka your ticket stub. You meet new people, new things while on this journey. You’re introduced to problems and solutions just like everyday life, just in a different setting. The excitement of staying in your new destination is so tremendous by the end of your journey, you just can’t stop. You can’t stop reading. By the end of your time on the train, you have these wonderful new experiences and know new people and things you’d never imagined before. You step off the train and feel happy, the same feeling you receive once a book is finished. At baggage claim, you pick up all the worries you had left behind when you started. However, you have new knowledge now, knowledge to keep those burdens down.

Coincidentally, Joe Meno also wrote how books can take you away. He stated that “a book is a place” and I agree with that very much. The story of a book is the most important part, although opinions on Kindles, E-books, or hard covers vary, our love for the story has never ceased throughout time. Of course, there are those who seem to think the opposite. Victor LaValle has a different opinion on how books have impacted humans. To him, books are “no more divine than a toaster” he says.  This quote offends me and books around the world. A book has as much meaning as a person. The author did put their whole heart inside of this book, not for themselves, but for someone else to enjoy. I think that’s a very important quality of a good author as well as a good book.

The war between books and e-books has officially begun. Everyone’s already taken sides and put stock into who they think will succeed. However, I think both will succeed. Is it really that hard for the two to live in peace? It’s all really based on preference. Some people prefer the touch of the pages, the way the words grace the yellowing pages. Others prefer the cheaper route, being allowed to hold a million books in the palm of their hand. I personally prefer having a real live book. It makes the story seem—real, like I’m holding it with me just inches away from my heart. But I don’t dislike people who prefer their e-readers. In fact, I live with someone who only reads off their Kindle and I still love her! I think it’s about time each side surrenders so we can live inside of our books without interruption from something with little matter.

Why Read?

I read because it gives me a way to escape the pressures of everyday life. When I’m reading, I become this whole new character inside the story of the novel that is seeing the plot line occur from afar. It lets me know that I’m not the only one with troubles or a hard time by letting me into others’ lives. When you’re holding that book it draws all of your attention to it and your stress seems to dwindle away between the lines of the text. You become consumed with wanting to know what happens to the people whose lives you’ve become enthralled with. Although the theme of these novels may be sad, the feelings you get from these novels are something you cannot accomplish from playing a video game or scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed. 

I read because I was taught at a very young age. The first book I can remember my grandpa gave to me was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Even now I’m scared to re-read that book because I was so overwhelmed when I first opened the crumpled pages and these mile-long words were spread across. I was so intimated that I never read unless I was with my grandpa. We would sit for hours and hours sounding out words and deciphering what the author meant by some of the strange sayings. I greatly appreciate the way Mr. Twain can bring the young and elderly together in one book, a book that taught me the feeling of accomplishment once I was finished. That’s why I read.