Post 8

•          How true does a book have to be in your mind to be considered non-fiction?   Why?

I believe that a book must be 90-100% true for it to be considered non-fiction. There's no way anyone can remember a line they heard from someone word for word, so authors have to improv those types of situations. A book needs a plot line and a story for it too sell and if it doesn't have something of that nature it won't sell.

-Are half-truths okay if it’s still a good story? Does it matter if Frey or other memoirists bent the truth to tell their stories? 

Yes, I believe that half truths are okay. An author needs to sell books and maybe telling the whole truth won't sell because it's dull and boring. It is not okay for Frey because, he made up big parts of the book. I think when you alter the facts of a crash and say that you were there when you really weren't is that person crying out for attention. I think it's sad when someone has to lie about big parts of their lives. Be happy with your dull, boring lives, others wish they had a boring life.

-Is David Shields right?  Do we need lines between genres—do we need to label something fiction or non-fiction?  Why does it matter

I personally don't think it matters. Many "true" stories have fiction involved in them. Example; The Strangers a movie that was made in 2007 was considered to be a true story. The Strangers involved a newly wedded couple being murdered in their cabin in the woods. Wrong, the actual story behind that movie is the director of the movie was staring out his window and saw a group of 5 kids going up to peoples doors and knocking trying to tell people about their church... I don't think those kids killed anyone if you ask me. A "ture story" sells, a fiction story only sells when you have a big name.

Post 6

I believe that readicide is a problem in schools. Schools are creating students who have no clue what the real meaning of reading is. Schools are creating students who are growing up hating and despising the thought of picking up a book and reading it. Students should want to read. They should not feel as if reading is a tedious task. But, it has become a tedious task. Schools are assign books that students feel are “unimportant” or “stupid” because they’re old. Ok, I get that. But, why don’t schools take out things like Romeo and Juliet for a book that has a similar plot line and isn’t as hard to comprehend. Taking out Shakespeare would make English class a little more bearable. Students don’t understand what he’s saying without having to buy a translated version of his plays. Old English isn’t around for a reason, so why keep teaching it?

                 I don’t think schools should add more genre fiction to the curriculum. I think that schools should add more passion to their reading assignments. Yes, most teachers love the book that they’ll be teaching but, their students may not because of the amount of extra work that comes with reading (Study guides, book worksheets, ect.). Extra work isn’t helping this generation of students love reading because no matter what teachers do to show how amazing a book is, the students will hate every moment they have to write down what happened in every page they read. Reading should be a fun, relaxing thing. Not this “you must read chapters 4-8 tonight and be ready for a quiz tomorrow” type of reading. I know as a student, that if I’m being told to do something in that sort of tone, odds are I won’t pick that book up at all. Teachers need to adapt with their students age.

What would be difficult while making The Book Thief into a movie

One of the biggest challenges the filmmaker would encounter would be adding the side notes that we see all throughout the book. The side notes that act as a pause of sorts from the reading add detail, meaning, and depth to the reading. The side notes bring more detail to the story. I as a filmmaker would have trouble deciding how i wanted to go about adding those notes into the movie; they can't be taken out because they carry a lot of information that is important to know to understand the book.

Some scenes that must be kept are she is taking the book from the fire and it begins to burn her chest, the scene where Liesel sees all the books in the mayors house, and the scene where papa is trading his cigs for books for Liesel to read. These scenes are a must to keep because it shows what's going on in that time period and shows the connection papa has for Liesel. Without the scene where she is taking the book out of the fire and putting it into her shirt, the movie viewers and the readers who have read the book and are seeing the movie will be missing a essiental part.

A scene that I would cut would be when papa's son run's away. I would cut this scene because it has no real connection to the rest of the book.

The Fault In Our Stars Project

Attention the Fault In our Stars readers! Have you wanted to show your love for the book like I have? Have you wanted to scream at the world to read this book? Have you wanted your boyfriend/girlfriend/cat to be able to show their love for the book as much as you? Well you’re in luck. John Green the author of the Fault in Our Stars, Looking For Alaska and many other books has decided to create a merch line exclusively for The Fault in Our Stars! The line will contain his and her t-shirts that say; “Okay?” and “Okay” representing the key  term the main characters Augustus and Hazel would say to each other instead of saying the typical “forever” or “I love you”. This is the perfect gift that John Green lover that all of us must have! And it’s the perfect gift for your boyfriend or girlfriend to show that you do in fact love them without saying that cheesy three letter word (ew). Guys if you want your special someone to like you a billion times more; you will buy your special someone this shirt and you will take a cheesy social media photo of you two holding hands with you wearing your “okay?” shirt and them wearing theirs that says “okay.” Like bro, that’s major brownie points, and you most likely need them… Yes, I know, your girlfriend sent John fan mail complains about how you don’t like the book, she’s mad at you. Now buy this shirt and read the book and get those points back bro.

Now don’t think he forgot about you cat lovers out there! John has you covered. John created a special cloud costume that you can have your cats wear to the world premier of The fault In Our Stars Movie premier! Yes, that means you can have your furry friend watching the movie with you on opening night (shhhhh, this is hush hush info. John wouldn’t like me telling you that part. He’s a fellow cat lover himself. See now you got me telling you top secret information.) The costume will be the cloud from the cover. The cloud will be able to hold cat treats in the secret pocket that’s located where your cats belly would be. There will also be a not so secret pouch that you can have your fault in our stars book in. That’s my favorite pocket out of the two. John didn’t like that I misused the tummy pocket to sneak in candy to his office. John doesn’t like candy. There you go again getting information out me of me that is top secret. Well who cares because you’re his greatest fans that have their own blogs dedicated to his book so hopefully he wouldn’t mind. But since you have me telling you all these things I think it’s okay if I tell you this one little detail about the movie that is now complete. The movie is 100% accurate to the book. There are no added scenes or anything! Okay, I have now said too much. I may get fired for all this but it’s worth it. THE PEOPLE MUST KNOW! 

TFIOS

I love this book. It's a quick, fun read. The book is a typical John Green type of book, there will be a lot of emotions that young adults will be able to relate with. I like how loveable the characters are. when they go through a struggle you go through their feelings. Not all authors can do that as well as he can. If there was something that I wouldn't like about The Fault In Our Stars it'd be how powerful the book is, honestly the feelings that you begin to feel while reading this book is insane. I believe everyone should read a John Green book at one point in their lives.

What is a book?

A book is a new world. A book allows your mind too take flight into a world we may have never imagined too be possible. They're an escape from reality. They allow you to become free and without the actual book in your hand you wont be able to feel the same way. Reading from a book is unlike anything else. An author has the option too make pages have a certain texture to them. I believe that every book has different page textures because the author wants that book to stand out. Maybe if the book is a rough, and tough book the pages of that book may be thicker and more durable.  In a kindle you can't feel how far into the book you are, you can't feel the texture of the pages as your fingers play with the pages you've already read while reading the next page. There isn't that old book smell that lets those around you know that you're reading an older book that's been around for awhile. Technology doesn't belong in the reading world, I personally believe. Kindles are taking away all the things that made me fall in love with reading and i wish they wouldn't. Yes, I agree with the fact that the meaning doesn't change, but you don't get the passion that went into those pages. A book is a pizza; when it's good, it's great and when it's bad, it's still pretty good.

Why Do I Read?

I read because it makes me relaxed. Reading is a getaway from the drama of the real world. But most importantly I find reading to be fun. Reading is just like a sport if you don't like it, or if you don't really care for it, you'll just be going through the motions, barely picking up your feet because you think it's pointless. But, for those who love reading, it's because it sends them into a new world, gives them a better perspective on the world around them, and they want to be better informed. Reading for many is a love. Their drive is too finish one book and move on to the next book becuase they know that another adventure awaits. But, I read becuase I want to be able to keep my imagination alive and strong. We tend to forget the beauty of imagination as we grow up and become adults.