Predictions

Yesterday I started the novel Where'd you go Bernadette by Maria Semple. This book is already very different from any other book I have read. The format of the book mixed, the author uses E-Mails and dialogue to convey the story. Because of this format the book is slightly confusing and hard to follow, but I am enjoying it very much. I am on page 30 of the novel and so far not much has happened but I have a lot of ideas of what will come next.

Bernadette is a mother who is very introverted. She is not a people person and she likes to stay within her own home and comforts. Bernadette lives in a what used to be a school. The house is very large, there is huge stained glass windows overlooking a hillside where blackberry plants cascade down the vast hill. She doesn't like to expand outside the box which may be why she chose to live in such a secluded area. With this being said characters are alluding that Bernadette has a back story. I get the feeling that something is not being told to the reader.

 In the E-mail from Soo-Lin-Lee Segal to Audrey Griffin Soo-Lim states "But when I looked her (Bernadette) up nothing appeared" (Semple 19).

 This is the one line that made me believe something else is going on with Bernadette. Soo-Lin googled Bernadette to see what would come up and when nothing did come up she was very surprised. I think that Soo-Lin will try to investigate more about Bernadette's life, Bernadette will then get flustered at this and try to get away because she doesn't wasn't her neighbors or her family to find out what is really going on. Bernadette could possibly be a criminal or maybe even a celebrity. The possibilities are endless as to why nothing came up when Soo-Lin googled her name. Maybe Bernadette is hiding under a false name and that is why she seems to not exist when you google her. I am going to keep reading the novel and make more predictions throughout the book. Why do you think nothing appeared when Soo-Lin googled her name?

If you are interested in purchasing the book you can find it here.

Final Thoughts

I finished reading the novel The Fault in Our Stars and I was kind of let down. Everyone, and I mean everyone was raving about this book. All of my friends loved this book, they said it was the best book they have ever read. I thought it was good just not over-the-top.

The last two lines of the book were the best part. The whole book contained high diction, syntax, and figurative language. The last two lines were both telegraphic sentences. Short and sweet.

Hazel Grace states

"I do,Augustus.
I do."

The way John Green places the lines in the text is very a interesting considering he places them on two separate lines. Instead of placing them next to each other he adds a space. This allows the reader to pause and take a moment to digest the novel. This is also an example of anaphora. The repeated "I do" makes the impact of what hazel was saying greater. I know that I felt a large personal connection to Hazel when she said these words.

I am now going to move into the review portion of this blog. Well, to be honest it was not my favorite. I predicted the ending about a third the way through the novel. I like to be on the edge of my seat in a book. This book was more slow moving than I am used to. On the flip side John Green uses a lot of figurative language throughout the book. He uses similes so the reader can get a better sense of what the author is trying to say. Overall I would give this book 3 stars just because it was so predictable for me.

Character Symbols

I am about a quarter the way through with the book The Fault in Our Stars and I am really enjoying it. I think that there are two main characters. One being Hazel and the other being Augustus. Even though I am still in the beginning portion of the novel I am going to give character symbols to the two main characters. The symbols will be tangible items that relate to the character.

I believe that the best symbol for Hazel is tape. Now I know what you are thinking... Tape? Really? When you think about it. it will make sense. Hazel is strong. She never gives up. She always pushes through the tough time that she may be in. Even when it seems like its the end she still had hope and got through it. Mow this is like tape because tape always stays together. It never crumbles and falls. It is always holding itself together, just like Hazel. Also Hazel never gets pessimistic. She is always looking at the bright side of things. I think that this is inspiring.

I believe the best symbol for Augustus in the part of the novel I am at is candy. I think this is a little more understandable. Augustus is always trying to make Hazel happy. He calls her and makes her laugh and just forget about the cancer for a little while. When Isaac is sad about his girlfriend breaking up with him Augustus is there for him to make him happier. This is like candy because candy makes people happy. It brings a smile to a persons face. Sometimes a smile is all you need.