Every child dreams of a better world where all their dreams come true. But no child could want what Coraline Jones found behind the door in her parlor. Neil Gaiman's Coraline sent chills up my spine with a tale that kept me interested until the very end.
The theme of Coraline is to be thankful for what we have, and to realize that anything that seems too good to be true, most likely is. Coraline dreamed of finding a place where everything was great. She dreamed of a world where her parents were more caring, her neighbors didn't constantly mispronounce her name, and her life was full of adventure. Coraline got just what she wanted when she went through the door in the parlor of her house one night, which normally lead to a brick wall, but now lead to a world just like her own, only better. Or so she thought.
The characters of Coraline are extremely static, but that is done on purpose by Neil The world behind the door is controled by the "other mother," a seemingly perfect version of Coraline's real mother, but it turns out, the other mother has kidnapped children before. She lures the children in with a vision of a perfect place, almsot just like their own life, and she steals their souls. The other mother just creates the other characters in the world to suit her needs. They have whatever personality she gives them. Nothing more, nothing less. Very static.
Coraline is a great book, although for some this book might be a little chilling. Coraline is also a quick read. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages, however I would advise parents to pre-read this book before allowing nightmare-succeptible children to read.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
What Makes a Leader a True Leader?
What makes a leader a true leader? The question is simple, the answer can be very complex.
No matter where we look in life, we always have someone to answer to. Employees answer to their bosses, bosses answer to their bosses, and so on an so forth. But, the differences between a leader that we just answer to because we have to, and a leader which we respect and want to follow are very distinct and obvious.
A true leader is someone that inspires people to follow them. They must be bold, eloquent, and make people want to respect them. To be feared is a quality some leaders strive for, which true, does force people to serve, but as soon as the fear factor is gone out of the situation, people will refuse to follow.
For a person to be a true leader, they must be willing to listen to other people, and willing to be wrong. If someone leads with the attitude that they are always right, never doing anything wrong, they are believing a lie, and how can they expect others to believe them when they won't
even admit to the problem?
There are many qualities that are needed in a person to be a true leader, but out of them all, the most important quality is the willingness to learn. If a leader is not willing to learn, nothing will change, nothing will improve, and all being leader will have done for that person is earn them a title.
To be a leader is not for the fainthearted, but if taken seriously and done right, many people have the potential to be a great leader. If they only listen, and learn.
No matter where we look in life, we always have someone to answer to. Employees answer to their bosses, bosses answer to their bosses, and so on an so forth. But, the differences between a leader that we just answer to because we have to, and a leader which we respect and want to follow are very distinct and obvious.
A true leader is someone that inspires people to follow them. They must be bold, eloquent, and make people want to respect them. To be feared is a quality some leaders strive for, which true, does force people to serve, but as soon as the fear factor is gone out of the situation, people will refuse to follow.
For a person to be a true leader, they must be willing to listen to other people, and willing to be wrong. If someone leads with the attitude that they are always right, never doing anything wrong, they are believing a lie, and how can they expect others to believe them when they won't
even admit to the problem?
There are many qualities that are needed in a person to be a true leader, but out of them all, the most important quality is the willingness to learn. If a leader is not willing to learn, nothing will change, nothing will improve, and all being leader will have done for that person is earn them a title.
To be a leader is not for the fainthearted, but if taken seriously and done right, many people have the potential to be a great leader. If they only listen, and learn.
Julius Caesar Book Review
What really happened in the minds of the conspirators that murdered Caesar? What could have resulted from this tradgedy? Shakespeare's Julius Caesar took me back to the days of the Romans, and showed me an intersting possible story behind the actual events surrounding Julius Caesar's death.
The theme of Julius Caesar is that every action has a reaction, or consequences, and we must deal with them, weather good or bad. Throughout the play, Brutus, the main character, is constantly faced with decisions to make, and he always seems to make the wrong one. But, even though Brutus makes mistakes, he has to live with the consequences, which could even cost him his life.
Julius Caesar is set in Rome, at the time before, during, and recently after Caesar's death. Most of the play takes place in the city of Rome, however in some of the battle scenes, some characters are followed while fleeing from Rome.
The main plot of the story revolves around Brutus, a prominent man in Rome, held in high esteem by Caesar. Brutus is convinces by a man named Cassius and other conspirators to plot to kill Caesar, because they are afraid Caesar will cause the fall of the empire because he is "too ambious." After Brutus and the other conspirators murder Caesar, Mark Antony, sometimes refered to as Caesar's right arm, instigates a war between the conspirators, and those still loyal to Caesar.
Full of tradgedy, death, sorrow, suprises, fights, and conspiracy, Julius Caesar is a classic work of literature which is intersting, although some readers might find the play difficult to understand, as a result of being written in the old English of Shakespeare's time. I would give this book a thumbs up. However, some readers might grow weary of having to double back frequently to be sure they understand what is going on.
The theme of Julius Caesar is that every action has a reaction, or consequences, and we must deal with them, weather good or bad. Throughout the play, Brutus, the main character, is constantly faced with decisions to make, and he always seems to make the wrong one. But, even though Brutus makes mistakes, he has to live with the consequences, which could even cost him his life.
Julius Caesar is set in Rome, at the time before, during, and recently after Caesar's death. Most of the play takes place in the city of Rome, however in some of the battle scenes, some characters are followed while fleeing from Rome.
The main plot of the story revolves around Brutus, a prominent man in Rome, held in high esteem by Caesar. Brutus is convinces by a man named Cassius and other conspirators to plot to kill Caesar, because they are afraid Caesar will cause the fall of the empire because he is "too ambious." After Brutus and the other conspirators murder Caesar, Mark Antony, sometimes refered to as Caesar's right arm, instigates a war between the conspirators, and those still loyal to Caesar.
Full of tradgedy, death, sorrow, suprises, fights, and conspiracy, Julius Caesar is a classic work of literature which is intersting, although some readers might find the play difficult to understand, as a result of being written in the old English of Shakespeare's time. I would give this book a thumbs up. However, some readers might grow weary of having to double back frequently to be sure they understand what is going on.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
What's in a Name?
My name is Crist Scott Blackwell Jr., a name made up of many parts, that have been passed down throughout my family for generations.
Crist was my father's paternal grandmother's maiden name. The name Crist was originally spelled Christ. This was not an unusual way of honoring an admired figure in the 1700s. The name was originally the last name of my first ancestor on my father's side to enter the United States from Bohemia, named Rudolf Christ. When his son was born, the "H" was taken out of the name.
Scott, my middle name, is also a family name on my father's side. Scott is my father's middle name. This name was also the name of one of my father's ancestors named after the famous general Winfield Scott.
My name has been passed down throughout my family for generations, and he has great meaning to me and my life. My name will also help me always remember the rich heritage of the Blackwell side of my family.
Crist was my father's paternal grandmother's maiden name. The name Crist was originally spelled Christ. This was not an unusual way of honoring an admired figure in the 1700s. The name was originally the last name of my first ancestor on my father's side to enter the United States from Bohemia, named Rudolf Christ. When his son was born, the "H" was taken out of the name.
Scott, my middle name, is also a family name on my father's side. Scott is my father's middle name. This name was also the name of one of my father's ancestors named after the famous general Winfield Scott.
My name has been passed down throughout my family for generations, and he has great meaning to me and my life. My name will also help me always remember the rich heritage of the Blackwell side of my family.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
"Missing" Review
Running away from home is something children do on a daily basis, although most come back. Derek, however, never came back from running away. Catherine Macphail's Missing kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book.
Maxine Moody knows her brother is gone. She just wishes her parents would come to accept that fact. Time has passed since Derek left the house one morning after an argument with Mom, and never came back. Maxine feels invisible, her parents are forever preoccupied with trying to find Derek. But, one day when a policeman tells the family they have found Derek's dead body, Maxine thinks everything will possibly go back to normal. Then the phone calls start. Someone is calling the house claiming to be Derek, and Maxine is freaking out. Is Derek really alive? Could someone be playing a cruel prank? All of these questions are answered in the Missing.
The characters of Missing are Maxine, her parents, a bully at school, Derek (maybe), and some of Maxine friends. The characters are mostly static, although sometimes we wonder if some characters might have something to hide.
Missing is set in Maxine's hometown, although the story speaks of possible places Derek might have been before he "died," which are all over the world. The author does a good job with one of the places where a phone call was supposedly placed from, a graveyard, from a phone right next to Derek's grave.
I would recommend Missing to any reader, although this book is somewhat of an easy read. This book will keep readers wanting more, never a dull moment. Missing receives a two thumbs up from Crist Blackwell.
Maxine Moody knows her brother is gone. She just wishes her parents would come to accept that fact. Time has passed since Derek left the house one morning after an argument with Mom, and never came back. Maxine feels invisible, her parents are forever preoccupied with trying to find Derek. But, one day when a policeman tells the family they have found Derek's dead body, Maxine thinks everything will possibly go back to normal. Then the phone calls start. Someone is calling the house claiming to be Derek, and Maxine is freaking out. Is Derek really alive? Could someone be playing a cruel prank? All of these questions are answered in the Missing.
The characters of Missing are Maxine, her parents, a bully at school, Derek (maybe), and some of Maxine friends. The characters are mostly static, although sometimes we wonder if some characters might have something to hide.
Missing is set in Maxine's hometown, although the story speaks of possible places Derek might have been before he "died," which are all over the world. The author does a good job with one of the places where a phone call was supposedly placed from, a graveyard, from a phone right next to Derek's grave.
I would recommend Missing to any reader, although this book is somewhat of an easy read. This book will keep readers wanting more, never a dull moment. Missing receives a two thumbs up from Crist Blackwell.
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