Summer Reading Blog #4

                                 The City of Ember

                                     By: Jeanne DuPrau

Contrast

When contrasting things, look closely to find all thing that are different between

them.

• How does what you are reading contrast with a novel you were assigned to read

in school and didn’t like reading.

• Contrast the theme of what you are reading with something you read last

month.

• What would be a good contrast to the setting of what you are reading?

                This novel "The City of Ember" is different from a book that I didn't like and was assigned to me from school because it is based off of something that could really happen. I'm not saying that this book is realistic fiction but it is a certain possibility. Another reason why this book is different from a book I didn't like from school is because we don't necessarily pick what kind of topic and book  we want to read. For instance, we are assigned a book called "Touching Spirit Bear" which is a book I really enjoyed. After that I was given a larger variety of books and chose "The City of Ember" which was a book I was interested in. That is the big difference. We aren't able to view the book before it's assigned so we go into a book without having an idea what is happening. 

                The theme of this book is more of a crisis and last resort, but in the other book i read last month was about love and hate and new beginnings. What the name of that book was "Of Mice and Men". Those are two completely different themes of books which is what I like to do. I enjoy going from one topic to another instead of staying along the lines of one topic with another. Although I really loved the book "Of Mice and Men" it is a major difference in theme. I also read a book called "I Even Funnier" which had the theme of funny. In the book I'm reading that is extremely different because the book is pretty serious and interesting. These are entirely different books that'll never fit in the same column.

                 A good contrast of the setting that we are reading is Berwyn. Ember is an entirely different location and the way it is much more different than Berwyn. For example, in Berwyn we all go to school until we are 23-24 and in Ember it is when they are 12. In Berwyn we have a lot of food and markets everywhere. In Ember there is barely any food and not many places to get them from. One of the key things that Berwyn has that Ember doesn't is light and power. Ember doesn't have any of that. In "The city of Ember they have a broken generator that if they don't fix in time they will have a full city black out. That is what they have many of there workers doing is trying to save and conserve the "The City of Ember".

Summer Reading Blog #3

                                   The City of Ember
                                                           By: Jeanne DuPrau



Define

When defining something, look at it carefully and identify the qualities that make it

meaningful.

• Define what makes an interesting story or poem.

• Define what is needed to make a good setting.

• Define what is needed for a reader to be able to relate to a character?

 

             What makes an interesting story or poem is a great plot. I say the plot makes a story or poem interesting because without the plot there wouldn't be a great ending or resolution. Also dialogue is always interesting because that is where you get all the great imagery from characters. The dialogue is what keeps me interested. Although, that is nothing more than a opinion people might halve the same feelings towards what makes a story or poem interesting. Another thing that makes a poem or story interesting is the title or then cover. I say the title because that is what mainly draws people in when they see nothing other than that. The cover on the other hand, brings everyone in. Without a cover or title people might not be interested on reading the story or poem.

             What is needed to make a good setting is mainly the way either the narrator or the characters explain it. The ways characters explains the book is always the best way because you get the imagery from it and feel like you are there. I guess the narrator could explain it but it isn't really the same when the characters explain it. It is all about the perspective that makes a good setting but, that is my opinion. What also makes a really good setting is some kind of plot to it. If there is no plot to a setting it isn't really intriguing whatsoever. Those are the main things that make a good setting interesting.

              What is needed for a reader to be able to relate to a character is relatable traits. I know that is rather obvious to be able to relate to a character but that is what is needed. For example if a character plays sports, has a hobby, or where the character is located. All of these option are relatable to many people already but it is not specific enough. What is needed is to narrow down the options so the character can reach out to a certain audience. Now to keep all of the traits the same but to be more specific. The character now plays baseball, collects baseball cards and lives is in Boston, Massachusetts. Now people can relate to the character and it reaches out to only a certain variety of the readers.