Independent Reading (#10, prompt 18)

The book that I chose to read is called A Walk in the Woods. I think that this is a great title for the story it contained. It appears at first glance that the book would be about a nice, pleasant, easy hike in the mountains where nothing could go wrong. Then when you start to read the book, you realize that it is not exactly a nature walk. This could be why Bryson chose to call it that, to ever so slightly mislead you. If I could give it a title, I might call it An Escape into Nature. For that is what the author is doing, or at least had planned on doing.

Independent Reading (#9, prompt 17)

The plot was phenomenal, it really was a great storyline, and it was even a true story. It was very realistic, and I enjoy that. The setting was one of my favorites, the mountains. I am a nature guy, and enjoy this type of story because it is an adventure. Also, having Katz along with him on his trip, made the characterization part of the story much more colorful. There was much more interaction between characters, it would have lacked obviously if Bryson was alone. Also, Katz himself was a very amusing character and played a very filling role.

Independent Reading (#8, prompt 11)

Bill Bryson has a very interesting and fairly unique style of writing. I know that he uses humor as a style of his. I am fairly certain that I have never laughed so hard at book before, it really surprises me sometimes. Also, usually I like books with a lot of dialogue. I notice that whenever there is dialogue, and direct interaction between characters, the book is much more interesting and fun to read. Now this book does not have much dialogue, however, it is still really fun to read. It might be a combination of it being an actual story of an experience of someone's life and the fact that it takes place in the mountains, not to mention the humor.

I think his style is somewhat dry, I think it could use some color, but I also think it is still good the way it is. I am not sure that it makes it more or less effective, but it certainly adds to my enjoyment of the book.

TMD Wrap-up

How did this trip around South America on the motorcycle shape him into who he became? Include what he became and how he became that.

Independent Reading (#7, prompt 10)

I can actually make quite a few connections with this book. I lived in Colorado for a long period of my life, and I spent a lot of time in the mountains. I have a particular liking for them, and so that helps me gain a great interest in the topic of the book. So just the fact that I can visualize much better the things that Bryson is talking about because I know what the mountains are like, is one connection. Also I have never spent more than a day in the mountains outside a campground, and I do have a desire to do just what these guys are doing, there is another connection.

Just specific events and occurrences that they experience remind me of people that I know. Sometimes thinking of those people leads to other connections and memories as well. I really enjoy reading these types of books.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nu0qChRIms&feature=related

Independent Reading (#6, prompt 7)

For these chapters 6 and 7, I predicted that Bryson and Katz would have either run into Mary Ellen again, and experience some awkwardness. Or, they would find out that she died, from being eaten by a bear or something like that. In such a case, the guys would feel some guilt for ditching her, knowing that if they had stayed with her they might have been able to prevent such a thing from happening.

One of my predictions was half right. Which still surprises me, I am not used to my predictions ever being right. They did hear about her, but she was not dead. They realized that she had been making fun of them to other people. This made them quite upset, and actually gave them a little thirst to run into her again. They felt they had a little something to give back to her, for the company she provided them with.

Independent Reading (#5, prompt 6)

In chapter 4, Bryson and Katz met Mary Ellen, who they found to be quite a pest. They eventually ditched her in chapter 5, which was not the most pleasant way to part ways. So a prediction that I have in the upcoming chapters, is that they will either run into her again, which would be quite an awkward moment. Maybe the guys will take a stop to rest, and she will catch up.

Or maybe they will find out that she died, possibly from being eaten by a bear. If she had not been alone, that occurrence would be much less likely. Then Bryson and Katz will feel guilty that they ditched her.

Since she was such a unique character that they came across, it seems fated that they have not seen or heard the last of her.

Independent Reading (#4, prompt 4)

In chapter 4, Katz and Bryson met someone and actually stayed with her, and camped with her. Her name was Mary Ellen, and at first I was surprised, because I would expect you to come across many people while walking the Appalachian Trail, but I would expect them to also be accompanied by at least another person, as one probably should not hike alone. Mary Ellen was alone, and clearly needed someone else's company. So that part I can understand but as I was exposed to more of her personality, I became more and more surprised that they stayed with her. She was exceedingly arrogant and rude. "How many miles did you do today?" "About ten." "Ten? Is that all? Wow, you guys must be really out of shape." That itself made an impression on Katz and Bryson.

So, annoyed by her presence, they eventually ditched her, which was also a bit of a surprise. It seems like at least Bryson would try to come up with a more polite way to part ways, despite her lack thereof.

Independent Reading (#3, prompt 3)

I noticed how although Katz is overweight and very out of shape, he is surprisingly persistent. Given Bryson's attitude and expectations prior to the beginning of this trip of Katz, he has been somewhat impressive. At first, he seemed to have no business going for a small hike, let alone climbing the entire Appalachian trail. Yet he really does not complain that much more than Bryson. He does slack behind a little bit, but that is expected and he has yet to give up. He has made sacrifices, such as a third of the weight that he was carrying, which was mostly food. So, he can also find solutions to make it work.

A possible explanation for his persistence may be that it would be harder, in a sense, to give up, than to keep going. For difficulty of finding a way out, and for ruining it for the other party.

"How do you feel today?"
"Not too bad actually."
"Me neither."
"I'm going to be good today."
"Good."

So, at first he was a little hesitant that he was going to make it. Then he realized that was really not going to be able to just give up. So he knew what he had to do in order to continue.

Theme #6 - Thesis Statement

I think that the website that was most helpful was the first one. I think it broke down and explained each part of the thesis statement, and it was easy to understand.

Ernesto wanted to become a leader of the people, with the desire to help them. He had strong views and acted on them, by attempting to liberate his country. Carried away with this desire, he lost control, and disregarded his means to an end.

Independent Reading (#2, prompt 2)

I am still in the opening chapters of the book, and one thing I found confusing was the person he picked to go on this trip with him. It was a person who he had known before, and hadn't exactly been the best of friends with. Also the person was not in the best shape at all, his slight obesity holding him back. At first thought, he did not seem like the most qualified person to accompany him on this trek through the Appalachian Trail.

I guess that you really do have to have someone with you on this kind of trip, and it did not go into much detail of the choosing process. So maybe he could have waited a little longer, for someone else to come along. Then again, maybe he really was not too concerned about who it was that was going with him on this trip. As long as he had someone who could at least keep up with him.

Peru Diction Quiz

Che visited some fairly interesting places while he was in Peru. Near the time when he entered Peru, while he was in Tarata, he was experiencing nail-biting cold. They were passing pools of water that were STAGNATED. The PERIPHERY of his body was freezing cold. He then visited Cuzco, which was part DESOLATE, but where there were people, they were rather poor. I am not sure how surprised Che was at this INDIGENCE, but I was very surprised at it. He learned about a bell that was named after a Maria Anugulo, who was IDYLLIC to the people. However, the name of the bell had to be changed for reasons of rhyming slang. He met some people along the way, a surprising number of whom were BEREAVED, mourning the loss of a loved one or family member. People in Peru were not the healthiest people, and they did not have the best medical care. The health of those with diseases was becoming more and more EXACERBATED. Because of this they learned to be more FATALISTIC.

Because the language of the people in Peru was a little different than what Che spoke, their responses were almost always LACONIC. Also, when speaking with these people, they often deceived them into thinking they were someone that they were not, to try to get some hospitality. This shows that their SUSTENANCE was remarkable.

Essential Question #2

I think that Ernesto Che Guevara wanted to become someone who is known. Known for doing something that is good, good for the people. He wanted to be somebody who would do something that would benefit the people of his nation, and maybe even worldwide, and something that the people would remember him by. He had good intentions, for example attempting to overthrow a corrupt government leader, but apparently he wasn’t to concerned with the means he used to accomplish this. He didn’t exactly use the best ways to accomplish what he wanted to, however there have been much worse things done. He did have some impact on the world around him. He showed people that there are many things that you can do to be a leader, especially in politics. He also showed that there are good and bad ways to go about doing things. Che was known to have people executed, an example of one of the bad things that he did.

Independent Reading #1

I actually like this book very much and am glad that I chose it. I am four chapters in, so I have gotten a fairly decent feel for what the book is going to be like. I think that this might even be better than Into The Wild, and I liked that book very much.

One of the things that I like about this book is that it is funny. I have never laughed so hard at a book before, and I never thought that I would. There is more than just one thing that makes me laugh. It could be something that happens, which could happen quite often, because the situation is made to create funny occurrences. Or it could be something that the author, Bryson, says, since he is known as a humorous author, even if by this book.

Also, I think that the chosen topic of the book is in my interest. I liked Into the Wild, which was written about a similar topic. I have a certain liking for the mountains. When I am in them, I love it, and when I am not in them, I want to be. So having interest in the topic, or setting, makes me like the book even more.

Independent Reading Introduction

We are to pick an independent reading book that is related to the topics and/or cultures we are studying this marking period. We are then to create a new feature on your blog that will document our thoughts.

The book I chose is called A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson.

I will be making posts from the sheet of given post options every 2 or 3 days which will cover every 2 or 3 chapters.

Chile

I think that his overall experience in Chile influenced his later life. But if I had to choose one experience that did it I would choose when he was at the hospital. He saw how filthy it was and how poorly the people were being treated, and I think it kind of had an inspiration on him to do something for the people. "In La Gioconda's filthy room...people were meeting" (pg. 71). Which is essentially what he was trying to do after his trip through South America. I think that seeing an unkempt hospital does that to you, because the people in there are already struggling, so you just want to clean it up to make everyone more comfortable. So he gained the desire to become a leader, and as that, you have the opportunity to do such a thing.