Journals 8/28-31

8/28
Even though their parents objected, Captain Ron took her and her friend on a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.

8/30
Aunt Felicia said, "Golfing is more relaxing than swimming or jogging."

8/31
Mark's father is an engineer at the Ace Farm Equipment Co.; his mother is and illistrator at Herrara Publication, Inc.


8/28
Will the new lunchline set-up succeed? Discuss.

I believe the new lunchline set-up will be a success. The plan makes lunch more organized. Rarely will someone pass another person so the lines should be fair.

8/30
Beans or franks? Discuss.

I prefer franks over beans. You can put pretty much anything on franks, but you are limited with what you can put on beans. Franks are good with or without a bun also.

8/31
What was your most memorable summer adventure?

My most memorable summer adventure was church camp. I met a lot of people and had good church. I also got a girlfiend in the duration of that week.

Book Synopsis: Misery

Title: Misery

Author: Stephen King

Publication Date: 1988

Page Count: 338

Type: Fiction

Started On: August 30, 2007
Finished On: September 18, 2007


My Grade: A-

1. Why did I decide to read this book?

During the summer I watched the movie version of Misery starring Janes Caan and Kathy Bates. The insanity and physical brutality of Annie Wilkes kept me disgusted yet interested the entire duration of the movie. After reading the book, I realized that James Caan and Kahty Bates were perfect for their corresponding parts. I saw the movie so I decided to read the book. That way I could compare certain factors that are different or similar. I like to read a book that I never want to put down and that also keeps me interested the entire time. Misery is exactly the kind of book that I enjoy reading the most(and it is more disgusting and graphic than the movie in many aspects).

2. Plot summary(avoiding major spoilers when possible).

Paul Sheldon is a writer. He crashes his car due to a snow storm and falls off the edge of a road. Paul is recovered by a woman named Annie Wilkes. Annie is, in her eyes, the "biggest fan" of Paul Sheldon's Misery novel series. Misery Chaistain is a character in the book Misery written by Paul. Annie takes Paul to her house and cares for him. Paul has shattered his legs and is in much pain all around his body because of his crash. Through many strange events involving his books, Paul is put through numorous forms of torture. In Paul's book Misery's Child, he kills off Misery. Annie is keeping Paul alive just so he can write a return novel in the Misery series. The tortures that occur and the reasons for them you will have to discover on your own. Misery is a pulse-pounding thriller with many phsychological(and physical) twists and turns. I would get lost in Paul Sheldon and Annie Wilkes' world and find it hard to leave, and I think you will too.

3. What is the setting, and why is it important to the novel?

The setting of Misery is Boulder in the duration of about half of a year. There is also a short time period in New York City. It was mostly in the winter. While in the winter, the weather was signifigant because Paul Sheldon couldn't escape on an icy road or snowy road. He was in a wheelchair, because of his legs being shattered, and he wouldn't make it very far on the slick roads.

4. Who are the main characters and what role do they play in the novel?

The main characters in this novel are Paul Sheldon and Annie Wilkes. Paul is a writer that is the "hostage" of Annie Wilkes. Paul has to right a return novel in the Mysery series in order to stay alive. Annie Wilkes found Pual Sheldon wrecked in the snow and has taken him to her house. She "takes care" of him using various bizzare and unusual methods until he gets well(so she says). Annie is a phycotic murderer whom is obssessed with her idol, Paul Sheldon.

5. What is/are the main conflicts in the novel?

Paul sheldon is held captive at the household of Annie Wilkes. Paul's leg are shattered and he cannot escape from the insane yet clever hands of Annie. He must write an entire new novel to satify the desires of his tormentor, Annie Wilkes. Paul is put through much pain and suffering by the "Goddess" Miss Annie Wilkes(read the book to find out what Goddess means).

6. Describe the climax of the novel.

I found that the climax of Misery would have to be the amputation. During most of the novel, Paul is locked in Annie's spare bedroom. Sometimes Annie would leave and Paul would try to exit his room by picking the lock with one of Annie's bobby-pins. He had made three trips in all: one to get medication for his pain, one to try and find a way out, and another to retrieve a pitcher of water and a knife to kill Annie. Annie puts her own hairs tightly on different things all around the house so that if one broke, she would know that he had been out of his room. She finds a set of the hairs broken and confronts Paul. She found the knife under Paul's matress where he had put it, and she thought that he had left his room at least seven times. She grows angrier and angrier with Paul until finally she got so mad that she cut his left foot off at the ankle with an axe. I felt that this was the climax because it had shown me how far Annie was willing to go to punish Paul and make sure that he wouldn't leave her. She was determined to have him finish Misery's Return in dedication to her.

7. What is the signifigance of the books title?

The title Misery is signifigant in a few ways. Misery is the title of the book that Paul wrote that Annie loved so much. Also, the title of Paul's book is mirrored by the misery that Paul is put through in the duration of the novel. Paul also will probably remain miserable and tortured for the rest of his life by the nightmare that is Annie Wilkes.

8. What is my opinion about this book? Why(give specifics)?

I surprisingly enjoyed this book. Surprisingly because I rarely find a book that I enjoy. The suspense never stopped and the thrills never ceased. I hated to stop reading the book at any point because I just had to know what was going to happen next(what torture Annie was going to put Paul through next). It had an erie horror behind it that disturbed me but that interested me at the same time. I give this book an A- because it was flawless and had never ending, heart-racing suspense.

Book Synopsis: The Street Lawyer

Title: The Street Lawyer

Author: John Grisham
Publication Date: 1998
Page Count: 449
Type: Fiction


Started On: September 18, 2007
Finished On: October , 2007







My Grade: A+






1. Why did I decide to read this book?

I have always heard that John Grisham is many people's favorite author. I was told that his lawyer type stories are the best ever written and it was suggested that I read one of them. One in particular was recommended to me. That novel was The Street Lawyer. My dad gave the book to me during the summer and I hadn't read it yet. The idea that I had to do a synopsis put interest in me for this book.



2. Plot summary (avoiding major spoilers when possible)?

Drake and Sweeney is a big law firm in D.C. Michael Brock, an associate at Drake and Sweeney and a man going through a divorce with his wife Claire, has just had a nerve-wrecking experience with some of his fellow associates. They were all held hostage in a large conference room by a man they only knew as Mister but was later identified as DeVon Hardy. While in the conference room, Mister requested food from a homeless shelter close by. When the door to the room was open, Mister was shot by a sniper outside the room, and the blood splattered on Michael. While this hostage situation was occurring, Mister continuously antagonized the nine lawyers in the conference for having so much money and giving very little to the poor or homeless. After this ordeal, Michael felt very guilty and had trouble just being in the Drake and Sweeney offices. Mordecai Green, a lawyer for the less fortunate, gave Michael a call one night requesting that he help him serve food at a homeless shelter. Those Michael found it odd at first, he went anyway, and he became so compassionate for those poor and needy that he was serving. While there, he encountered a homeless woman and her four children. He held one of them and became attached. A few days later, Michael heard on the TV that a homeless mother, Lontae Burton, and her four children had died in there car where they slept. Through many efforts to find out what happened, Michael discovers that a branch of Drake and Sweeney is the firm that evicted her from a homeless person apartment she was living in and paying rent for. Now working for Mordecai Green at the 14th Street Legal Clinic for those who are poor and less fortunate, Michael is setting up a case against the law firm he used to be an important associate in.


3. What is the setting and why is it important to the novel?

The setting of The Street Lawyer is Washington, D.C. There are also some scenes in Chicago and Memphis. It takes place in the winter months. This is an important setting to the story because Washington, D.C. is home to many homeless. The cold winter weather helps the reader discover how unbearable the worst months for the homeless are.

4. What are the main characters and what role do they play in the novel?

The main characters in the novel are Michael Brock, Mordecai Green, and Lontae Burton. Michael Brock was an associate for Drake and Sweeney, but now he works for the 14th Street Legal Clinic. He is setting up a case against Drake and Sweeney, the law firm that used to trust him. Mordecai Green is a man who has lived his life for the poor and needy. He is assisting Michael in his case against Drake and Sweeney for the deaths of Lontae Burton, a deceased homeless mother, and her four children.

5. What is/are the main conflict(s) in the novel?

Drake and Sweeney has evicted many poor people from a building that they own. Michael Brock must come up a case to bring to court to expose Drake and Sweeney's secrets. Bringing the case to court would raise a problem. Michael has stolen a file from the office of a Drake and Sweeney partner and is planning to use it for his case. He cannot use the file, however, because it is stolen evidence.

6.Describe the climax of the novel?

The climax of the novel is when Michael Brock finds Hector Palma. Hector is a former D.C. Drake and Sweeney lawyer who handled the evictions of Lontae Burton and her family. Hector had moved to a Drake and Sweeney branch in Chicago and is hiding just in case Michael might come looking for him. However, Michael finds him at his office in Chicago and gets the missing information from the file Michael stole from Braden Chance. This helps Michael create his case in a crippling way to Drake and Sweeney.

7. What is the significance of the books title? Is the title appropriate or would I change it to something else?

The significance of the books title, The Street Lawyer, is not a hidden meaning. Michael Brock has quit his job at Drake and Sweeney and is now working for the 14th Street Legal Clinic. The clinic helps homeless people on the streets. Therefore, Michael is now a street lawyer. The title is appropriate, and I wouldn't change it.

8. What is my opinion about this book? Why (give specifics)?

I really enjoyed The Street Lawyer. It is another one of those twisty stories that I love to read. The plot is well thought out and is relatively flawless. I never wanted to put the book down and lost a lot of sleep from it. I would find myself in the world of the street lawyer and the homeless that he serves. That is why I give this novel an "A+" grade.