Ham on Rye Reading Journal

"I looked in and I liked it. There was nothing happening there."

I selected this quotation because I believe that it is a good representation of what Henry's outlook on the world is. He would rather stay away from all people in a place where he could just keep to himself. He is an extremely negative person and I would like to know how can anyone hate all people? What is their mind set? What can people do to make his outlook change?

Reading Journal on Enjoyment Reading

"I read my books at night, like that, under the quilt with the overheated reading lamp. Reading all those good lines while suffocating. It was magic. And my father had found a job, and that was magic for him."

I like this selection because I like how their are different definitions of magic. It makes me think of what "my magic" is, however I still don't know what it is. Therefore my question is, what is my magic?

Reading Journal on Play

"There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you ain't leearned nothing."

I just completed A Rasin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, and I believe that it was a simple play which was revolved around money. Walter has just lost a lot of the insurance money to a false investment, and his mom directed this statement towards her daughter. I selected this quotation because at this point in the book I believe that they sincerely stepped back to realize what is truly important, which is their love for each other.

The only question that I have remaining is how will their lives be different in this new house that they are moving into, which is located in a white community?

Dramatic Structure

Movie: Dumbo

Setting: circus
Conflict: everyone made fun of him because of his large ears, and he was also separated from his mother
Inciting Moment: when he was separated from his mother
Protagonist: Dumbo
Antagonist: circus workers & owners

Rising Action: First, Dumbo is delivered to his mom, Jumbo, by the stork. Then, the other elephants begin to tease Dumbo about his large ears. Jumbo, is mistakenly taken for as a mad elephant, in an attempt to defend her newborn son. Dumbo, with his large ears, is exploited by the circus workers, and is forced to entertain and be made fun of for his appearance. Luckily, Dumbo's friend, Timothy Q. Mouse helps him through his problems. Together, they drink an alcoholic bevergae one night and wake up to find themselves in a tree...

Climax: When Dumbo and Timothy are in the tree and fly away by using Dumbo's ears.

Falling Action: Dumbo and Timothy in the air flying.

Resolution: Dumbo is reunited with his mom, Jumbo, and they get to be together with Timothy.

Reading Journal

First off, I kicked my laptop, then my eyes went wide open, because I realized that I had fallen asleep reading my play. So, of course, now that I'm up, I read the rest of it and am now writing my reading journal...

I like this part from scene one: "You-you are a nut. Thee is mad, boy." In the midst of arguing, this is what Mama tells her son, and I like this part because although they are arguing, it still managed to make me laugh. It seems as though all they've done in act one is argue, and argue about the same thing amongst different people, but nonetheless argue about money. So, the question I have is: how could they allow this "money" problem consume all of their time and energy?

Reading Journal

Today I finished The Secrets of Boys and Cassidy's life has changed immensely over the summer. She broke up with her boyfriend who she had been with for two years, almost lost her best friend, fell in love with someone who she will probably never see again, and gained confidence in herself. The only question that I have remaining is will she get together with her childhood best friend? It would seem unlikely after the summer she had because some would consider that she had "misfortunes" with boys, however at the end when she's talking to him, there are clues suggesting that she is starting to look at her friend in a new way... I really like this quote which is the last sentence of the book because it shows that although she doesn't know everything that is to come, everything will be okay.

"She'd found out everything she needed to know."

Reading Journal

"Her tears had stopped, and her breath was beginning to return to normal. Even though she was still confused, at least she didn't feel like jumping out the window anymore."

Cassidy is extremely confused about her feelings towards her boyfriend on the eve of their two-year anniversary, because she kissed her TA. I like this quotation because although she has no idea what to do, at least she is calm and could handle it accordingly. However, my question is how is she going to react when she sees her boyfriend again?