The Unimaginable Awesomeness of Reading
No matter where you are brought up, there are a few things that everybody learns. Obviously learning to read is one of them, hopefully. Now that you have learned how to read, you should learn TO read. I know that they sound the same but they’re not. When my teacher asked how many people liked to read, about four hands went up. That’s not good; sadly many people have better things to do with their time.
Many people in today’s world don’t have enough time to read with all the hubbub and rushing. People just need to sit back and relax, and, no, not enjoy the show, but enjoy the book. Kids my age are more preoccupied with, Call Of Duty, and Bad Company or if you have an Xbox or Play Station. But if those no lives would take a minute to sit down with a good fiction, or intriguing nonfiction, they would see the amazing world of reading.
The world of reading is much better than reality. I find that any good fiction book can take me away sometimes, into just different dimensions. I feel like the main character, I am the main character; I could fly, if that’s what the main character could do. You will get carried away too, it is an amazing experience. Every book I read takes me from reality. If you just take my word for it, you can discover the awesomeness of reading.
“Literature brings you the magic of words and allows you to enter the minds of others—their thoughts, their feelings, their hopes, their longings, their desires. Reading the words of others can illicit compassion and understanding of yourself and those you meet along the journey of life”, says a person that I look up to and respect very much.
If you don’t want to take my words for it, then take others. Ask any librarian, or professor. I respect anybody who finds the beauty of reading. If you can just sit down with any of your favorite authors you will find what I have been talking about the whole time. The point of reading is not just school learning, but learning of both mind and body.
The Lonely World of Speak
It was a dark and stormy night… no (pause) no, that’s just not right. Speak is a truly inspiring… nope, that’s not it either. Laurie Halse Anderson is a literal genius, yep just right. Laurie Halse Anderson is a literary genius. She displays the character of Melinda so perfect that it is simply unbelieveable. She uses the main character’s feelings so utterly perfect, it is complete bliss. Throughout the whole novel Speak is just immaculate in every aspect of writing a poignant novel about a young girl and sexual trauma.
Speak is a truly Inspiring novel. The whole book is a comedy wherein it starts with normal everyday life. Melinda just started high school and does not have a good feeling about it. Thereafter the conflict arises and all of her old friends turn against her. In the first lunch period Melinda says “I see my friends-people I used to think were my friends-but they look away fast.” This shows how all of her old friends desert her. When she sees this she fully realizes that whatever happened at the end of the party, made all of her friends mad at her. After months of grouching, Heather, a new girl at school and someone who had been Melinda’s friend in the beginning of the year, gets Melinda out of her slump. She tries to regain ties with Rachel Bruin “My ex-best friend” but Rachel sheds her away.
A lot of the book is centered on shedding things away. Getting to know Melinda has led me to believe her mind is a chunk of fresh superglue. Melinda simply refuses to forget anything bad, and hangs onto the littlest things. After the summer fiasco Melinda has simply stopped caring, about her grades, her life, about everything. Hair woman, Hair woman, according to Melinda “has no face.” She seems unable to face her students. Possibly Melinda is projecting herself into the teacher. Heather is not present during the whole novel. As Melinda’s only friend she only appears in the beginning and end of the book. As people say opposites attract, Melinda and Heather are almost complete polar opposites. Melinda accepts that they are nobody, only Heather tries to make a difference and join a group. Andy Evans, he is the boy referred to as “IT” in Melinda’s mind.
Andy Evans is pure evil; he is what happened to Melinda. Andy symbolizes evil and the devil. The tree symbolizes death, as Melinda is dying inside. Although usually symbolizing life, the tree, which is introduced in art, always looks dead, no matter how she draws it. Her closet, her personal sanctuary symbolizes peace and safety. At least until Andy Evans breaks into it near the end of the year.
This novel is simply perfect and cannot be beaten by any book in the world. Anybody who has read a decent book can figure that out. Therefore I conclude that Speak is a great piece of literature and should always be kept in the minds of young adults.
