Obscene Language in Novels

Personally, I do not really mind if there are bad words in novels, it just depends if it is appropriate or not. Obscene words could help make a scene in the novel ore lifelike or it could help prove a point. However, there is definitely a line between what is appropriate and what is not. For instance, when the "N word" is used out of context, I find that very insulting and demeaning. The author might choose obscene words for a specific reason, such as to portray a realistic event.

Independent Reading

I have very much enjoyed the first few chapters of Tuesdays With Morrie. It is very heartfelt and inspirational story. Just reading the first few pages has already moved me. What I like about this book is that it is a true story about a man named Morrie Schwartz who is a professor of sociology at Brandeis University who has to face the fear of death when he finds out he has Lou Gehrig's disease, an incurable illness which attacks the neurological system and causes loss of muscle control. Mitch Albom, the author, described it as "a lit candle: it melts your nerves and leaves your body a pile of wax." pg. 9 However, he keeps on teaching even though he does not know when his fate will come.
I have already enjoyed the first few chapters of this book, so I am probably going to enjoy the rest of it. It is a book that is every hard to put down.

Kite Fighting

Kite fighting in Afghanistan is a very popular sport. It is a great past time for people of all ages. However, during Taliban rule it was completely prohibited. I think that Khaled Hosseini included this subject as the main focus of the novel because it is huge in the Afghan culture and it means a lot to them. It is something that has always stuck with them in their culture throughout the years and focus on when times were bad. Also Hosseini wanted to show how kite fighting was a sense of freedom for the Afghan people.
In the United States we have customs and traditions such as baseball games and such. There has been books written about baseball and different inspiration baseball stories. However, I do not believe it is as celebrated as Kite Fighting in Afghanistan. In a sense that is all they have there. I feel as though they take more pride in their past-times then we do.

Free Write-Haiku

The Great Escape

I ran away from danger
I ran from screaming and gunshots
I ran from my life

Walk the Line

I believe that authors include powerful shocking, and even disturbing events in their texts to draw in their reader. As unsettling as this may sound, people enjoy reading about disturbing and events no matter how gory or perturbing it may be. Also, authors may include such events to prove a point or reiterate something that is happening in society. I believe it is necessary because it is their opinion on society and they have a right to do so.

To Atone or Not To Atone...

I believe that for people, atonement for past sins are possible as long as the other person forgives you. I feel as though that everyone deserves a chance to make amends for their wrong-doings.
Surprisingly, there was one time in my life that I made a mistake that I greatly regretted. (Complete sarcasm). Years ago, at my cousin's communion, my older brother was messing around with their tread mill. So, I decided to turn up the speed on the treadmill so my brother would have to run faster. I gained complete satisfaction watching my brother start sprinting and not knowing why. My older brother jumped off the treadmill because it was too fast. As soon as he jumped off, my little brother jumped on and was slammed in between the tracks of the tread mill and the wall. He was very badly injured and was taken to the hospital. He ended up getting a bald spot on the back of his head that is permanent and several bad burns.
I instantly felt terrible because I was the one who caused that situation to happen. I should have been the bigger person and not have been immature and made the treadmill go faster. I do not believe I found complete atonement with him. At the moment I apologized and apologized until his ears bled however, there was no way I could go back and change what happened to prevent for this incident to happen.

Decisions

I consider myself a spontaneous individual. So, at the most part, I just go with my gut and make my decisions without thinking about it. However, when it comes to more serious decisions, such as choosing what college I want to go to, my major, and what I want to pursue in life, several factors influence my decisions. I first think about how will this decision affect me in the long run? Or how will it affect the people around me? For me, along with everyone else, deciding on what college to attend includes those factors which greatly influences your decision.