Powerful Words

This post is a long time coming...

When he first penned The Book Thief, Marcus Zusak could not have known the phenomenon it would become. Set in Nazi Germany during World War II, Zusak’s novel is tragic, yet it should be cherished. While The Book Thief deals with hardship and heartache, it does so with sensitivity and insight. Zusak’s protagonist, Liesel Meminger, is a young girl whose life is changing. Her parents were communists, and they were taken away from her. While traveling on a train to her foster parents, her brother died. During the course of the novel, her foster parents hide a Jew. Max Vandenburg and Liesel establish a friendship. Adapting to her new life, she develops a need for words. Liesel longs to read; her longing translates into book thievery. In Liesel’s world, these words become very important. Liesel’s story is hard. It is not light; it is not fluffy. It is arduous. With every page, the reader is reminded of the grievous effects of World War II. It is then very appropriate that Death narrates Liesel’s tale.

Liesel’s tale is universal. While Zusak may have written The Book Thief for young adults, adults can enjoy this heartwarming story too. In fact, adults may appreciate it more. Middle-school readers may find The Book Thief too disturbing; the fear and violence may be inappropriate for young children. However, high-school students can (and should) read about Nazis Germany. Markus Zusak’s story may be the perfect combination of a history and literature study for these students. Young women may prefer to read The Book Thief more than young men because of a female protagonist. Though, these same young men may identify with Rudy or Max. As an adult reader, I loved The Book Thief. Initially, I found it hard to warm up to. However, given the chance, The Book Thief charmed me. I am almost sorry that I had never read it before; The Book Thief would have been the perfect addition to my homeschool curriculum.

The Book Thief deals with the bombing of Germany, the Holocaust, and lots of death. While it is terribly tragic, The Book Thief is very moving. Zusak’s prose is dynamic and effective. I cannot help but agree with Max, “The best word shakers were the ones who understood the true power of words” (445). Understanding the power of words is a lesson we should all learn whether young adults or not. 

The Graduation Day Cometh

When this post publishes at 9:00pm, I will be officially done with college. YAY! All that's left is making announcements, taking graduation photos, and getting the diploma framed.

When I think over all I have learned and done, I am grateful. Praise God for a wonderful four years!

Happy Thought of the Day

As mentioned earlier, I graduate this semester. Whoot! AND, it's only two weeks away. :)

WVU Brunch

Last Saturday was quite the busy day... an event at WVU, dance practice, and Jack's shower. By the end of the day, I was EXHAUSTED! But, busy days make for many blog posts. So without further eloquence...

BIG EAST CHAMPIONS

I had grand plans for a foodie post today... Not gonna happen. The biggest and bestest news always comes first.
Yep. WVU pwns Georgetown. LET'S GO MOUNTAINEERS!

Big East Tournament

LET'S GO MOUNTAINEERS!! Movin' towards Big East Champs!

Late Monday

Today seemed to be one of those days. Maybe you know the ones?
You're perpetually late?
Sound familiar?
Anyone?

Well, despite that strange, late phenomenon, today was a blessed day. I asked a good question in Italian class, had lunch with Dee -- which turned into a several hour visit. Praise God for a friend with whom to pray and share burdens -- went to Open Lab, had dinner with family, and studied the Word. Yes, a blessed day indeed.

Go Seniors!

WVU beats Georgetown 81-68. Congrats, Seniors!

Graduation Countdown

God has blessed me so much. Today, I went to the Mountainlair to figure out what I need for graduation. Graduation. Wow. It is so strange to think that I will be a college graduate in just a few short months. I'll wear my cap and gown, move my tassel, and receive my diploma. The culmination of 4 years worth of hard work is just around the corner.

I know that in many ways, I'll miss these days. Not in any way will it be a regretful sadness or longing, but my memories will be a fondness for a wonderful time in my life. It was a time of developing, a time of pursuing knowledge, a time of acquiring skills, a time of gaining friendships, and a time of growing in the faith.

I look forward to the new chapter of my life... All the adventures, excitement, fun, and responsibility that this next phase brings. Let's Go Mountaineers!

ESAME

Tomorrow, I have my second Italian exam... What's my time been like lately? Full of studying Italian vocabulary, grammar, and geography. Woohoo! Test here I come. :-)

The subjunctive will NOT defeat me. :P

End of Semester Finals

This is what the end of Christmastime finals looks like to me...

Got the Studyin' Blues?

Yep, it's finals week once again... Gingerbread and Coffee are the cure. Kiri posted Beth's excellent recipe on her blog a couple of years ago. And I finally got the chance to try it! Yummy. :)

Some Random Thursday Happenings

Last Thursday was filled with lots of busy nothings...

Bored?

Coolest Carpet. Ever. Period.

More Econ... Does it ever end?

Found O'Connor at the Used book sale

Peace out, Yo?

No doubt all of you (my three precious readers... tee hee hee) have noticed that I haven't posted in quite some time. I didn't even update you on my comment challenge!! Well, life intervened; God had other plans for me.

Schoolwork (4 papers!!), Daniel's costume, Ball planning, the Ball itself, and regular life have kept me quite busy... Not to mention the Swanky Celtic Thunder concert! :-) And, this means I should have lots of blog material!!!

So coming soon:
Celtic Thunder Pictures
Maid Marian Weekend
The BALL!
Week 2 of my comment challenge
And of course... Your weekly economic tidbit

A Future Teacher & Beowulf

As a former homeschooler and (prayerfully) as a future homschooler, I often think about what I want to teach my children. What curriculum will I use - if any? What books do I want my children to read? What history to I want them to know? What should I learn more about now to help guide them later?

Do y'all think about this?

For my Adolescent Fiction class at WVU, we were assigned Beowulf. But not the one you think. :P I had the pleasure of reading the graphic novel... Here are my thoughts.

Gareth Hinds’ Beowulf could be an integral part of a multi-media English curriculum. While Beowulf is the oldest epic of the English language and is revered by many teachers, it often remains inaccessible to students. Incorporating film, music, and art (such as graphic novels) would help students to appreciate the great poem that is Beowulf.

Hind’s Beowulf follows the original poem very faithfully. Aware of the hideous monster Grendel, Beowulf of the Geats arrives at the homeland of the Danes to destroy the beast. In a heroic struggle, he kills Grendel. However, his fight is not yet over; Beowulf goes on to battle Grendel’s mother and the dragon before his tragic death. Hind’s Beowulf traces Beowulf’s journey, but his audience is quite different from the original poem’s audience. Fans of comic books and graphic novels will be entertained by Gareth Hinds’ Beowulf. Even studious, stodgy English students may find themselves surprised by how much they appreciate Hinds’ graphic version.

Graphic novels never cease to surprise me; I am a word-oriented person, yet I am always captivated by the beauty of the artwork. Imagination is a wonderful gift; readers can create their own images to go with the story. The greatest strength of the graphic novel is the imagination of the artist on the page. Even the font of the text can be inspiring. While reading, I especially loved Beowulf’s fight with the dragon. Seeing the elderly Beowulf stand up for his people really makes the text come to life.

Drawn to the battle sequences, young men are will appreciate Hinds’ graphic version of Beowulf. Young women of diverse tastes (like me) will admire Beowulf despite its gore. Visually appealing, Hinds’ Beowulf is exciting because it is new and different. Most young adults will never get the chance to read a graphic novel in the “standard” English classroom. Perhaps the “standard” English classroom needs to change.

When I was a young teenager, I read voraciously; I also watched an abundance of films. A fair part of these films were adaptations of novels I had read or wanted to read. The films inspired me to read more. Comparisons between the novels and the films made for great discussions. While the text should still be the most important element of the English literature classroom, many types of media could enhance and enrich our understanding and appreciation of the great works of literature.

So what do you think? Is a multi-media approach appropriate? Or should we stick to the text alone?

My Emo look

Before y'all start worrying about my self-esteem or guilt issues -- don't. This isn't what you think. I hardly ever take my hoodies to school in the early fall... It's too warm outside to wear them. But, the Mountainlair seems sub-zero; I FREEZE during lunch.

Having a brother comes in really handy! Daniel always takes a hoodie. Guess who wears it during lunch? I really do look like an Emo kid though. It's three times my size and black. :P

Thank God for brothers, yeah?!

Descent into Twilight

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. - Genesis 2:17

Unless you've been living in a cave somewhere, you've probably heard of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. The books, movies, music, & posters populate our culture. We're bombarded with images of Bella & Edward. No doubt all of you have an opinion of Twilight, whether good, bad, or indifferent... But regardless of whether your a obsessed teen-age fan or a horrified college student (can you guess which I am? :P), Twilight is in our culture. It needs to be addressed... So without further eloquence, here are my thoughts:

Girls love "love stories." Surely this comes as no surprise to anyone. Girls love Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice... we love Bronte's Jane Eyre and Gaskell's Wives & Daughters. We rejoice when Aragorn & Arwen reunite, when Anne & Gil finally marry, when Prince Charming kisses the Sleeping Beauty, some of us even wish the Pan had never left his Wendy. A girl's desire for marriage and family are God given. However, romance novels are not healthy; they make reality seem less than satisfying. Twilight is a romance novel for teenagers. The whole plot revolves around Bella's relationship with Edward. She admits it herself, "I was consumed by the mystery that Edward presented. And more than a little obsessed by Edward himself" (p.67). Bella's whole world is Edward; he is her idol. Everything in her life is in relation to him. Her thoughts, her emotions, her behaviors -- all in direct connection to Edward.

The problem with Bella is her bad example. Girls reading this novel want their existence to be for one man. And that's the problem. We weren't created to exist for each other. We live to glorify God alone. Yes, we do love, marry, and work together in marriage. But neither the husband or the wife lives solely unto the other. Other concerns include, Bella's disrespect for her father and mother & lying about her relationship with Edward.

Edward is just as beastly. Ok. Pun not intended. For a guy that's a hundred years old, he sure is selfish. Several times during the course of the novel, Edward warns Bella to protect herself... by staying away from him. "It would be more... prudent for you not to be my friend. But I'm tired of staying away from you Bella" (p.84). Seven lines later, Edward continues, "You really should stay away from me. I'll see you in class" (p.84). I'll admit I have trouble keeping up with his roller coaster of emotions. The "I want to be with you, but I could hurt you... so I'm going to follow you around, until we quasi-date, even though I could easily kill you... " is terribly shallow to me. Where is the depth of morality? The dying to yourself for the other? Edward cannot "help" himself. Is he really that noble? He gives in... but keeps warning Bella to flee. How can she flee if he is constantly around?

The immorality. Everyone has different standards for appropriate behavior in a dating/courting relationship. I'm not here to say my way is best. But, a girl being alone with a boy in her bedroom without the knowledge of her father is inappropriate! Bella and Edward's privacy was awkward to read. The level of the intimacy between them was strange considering the early stages of their relationship. (Um, wait until marriage anyone?) Excessive contact between the sexes is not a lesson we want young ones to learn.

Despite my criticism, I'll admit... I want to know how the series ends. Despite every flaw, despite every frustration, I want to know what happens. The avid reader in me craves an ending, a conclusion, a resolution. All that being said, I would not recommend this series to any young girl. The danger is too great... Meyer's Twilight is too wrapped up in the crush world to be edifying for anyone. The problems with her characters are too numerous to be a healthy read. The themes of love, obsession, and secrets are not admirable.

However, my English professor had another theory; she proposed that Twilight's central theme was self-control. James, the vampire who believes in wholly in unbridled passions, lusts after Bella's blood, and it destroys him. Edward MUST control himself not to prey on Bella; even when he drinks her blood, he does so only to save her life. Metaphorically sucking out the poisonous venom of James' philosophy of life. Maybe, Dr. Juckett has a point... Meyer's Twilight may have a message of self-control. I can certainly see it now. From the cover with the "tempting" fruit to the quotation of Genesis 2:17... yep, the message IS there. I just wish it was more clear. Having read the book myself, the message is murky and dark. I think I'll stick to books with clearer messages... rather than make the descent into darkness. The descent into Twilight.

Textbooks Galore

School starts tomorrow... Are YOU ready to study?!

Daniel's WVU Orientation

Whoot for the newest Mountaineer!

I had to share this picture of Kryptonite

Yay for the WVU Geology Department

Daniel's made some new friends...

Or maybe we found this charming group outside Armstrong

Dad and Mom (Don't they look excited?! :P)

At Lunch

In the Computer Science Lab

Bring on Sociology

My weird art - featuring Jack