Comments for books

For Faerenheit 451, I commented on the following people:

Abby Moimoi
Jane Lee
Stacy Park
Kathie Lee
Joanne Kim
Ariel Cho

For Ender's Game, I commented on the following people:

Abby Moimoi
Eunice Lee
Stacy Park (2)
Kathie Lee
Hannah Jang

#6 of Ender's Game

Finally, the last blog entry!!!

Topic: Setting

The hill was hollow. A deep depression in the middle, partially filled with water, was ringed by concave slopes that cantilevered dangerously over the water. In one direction the hill gave way to two long ridges that made a V-shaped valley; in the other direction the hill rose to a piece of white rock, grinning like a skull with a tree growing out of its mouth.

This was a setting that was both beautiful and disturbing to me. It was beautiful because the description sounded like a lovely place. However, it's disturbing because it's the place where Ender killed the Giant and its large bones were still there. I like the description because it sounds like a wonderland; beautiful trees, forests, lakes, everything in nature was there. However, the truth behind it is that someone murdered the Giant and it decayed. That Giant's bones were what made up half the place. It's kind of disgusting if you think about it. However, this place is a good place because it's where Ender finds peace in himself. So, I both like and dislike this setting. It also has a big meaning to it because it's where Ender changes and it also has Ender's childhood memories in the place. Though, if I was Ender, I would not like to be there because it would disgust me (because of the dead Giant). But it seems like a nice place.

#5 of Ender's Game

Topic: Passage

He reached into the cavity and took out the cocoon. It was astonishingly light, to hold all the hope and future of a great race within.
"I'll carry you," said Ender, "I'll go from world to world until I find a time and a place where you can come awake in safety. And I'll tell your story to my people, so that perhaps in time they can forgive you, too. The way that you've forgiven me."
He wrapped the queen's cocoon in his jacket and carried her fro the tower.
"What was in there?"asked Abra
"The answer," said Ender.
"To what?"
"My question." And that was all he said of the matter;

I thought this passage in the book was significant because it's the start of a new future for Ender Wiggin. He was always trying to find out if he was either good or bad. He was frustrated constantly throughout the book to find his identity. He asked himself why he's living, what he was, if he was good or evil. He'd have nightmares and angry moments because of this. In this passage, he is forgiven of what he did to the Buggers (wiping them out). They forgave him and told him that he was truly good inside. Ender finally accpets that he's not an evil murderer but a good person. He's thankful for the Bugger Queen because she forgave him, and promises her that he'll take care of the cocoon which beholds a new Bugger nation. He was forgiven, and he would do his best for other people to forgive the Buggers. They forgave humans, so why shouldn't humans forgive them? In this passage Ender finds his identity and begins a new life, helping the Buggers. He finally realizes that someone loves him, even if he destroyed everything they had. He's happy now and I feel happy for him too :)

#4 of Ender's Game

Topic: Climax

The climax of Ender's Game is definitely the battle between Ender's troop and the Buggers, when the adults tricked Ender into this final battle. This is the climax because it's the most exciting part of the story, it's the point of no return, and it's when there's a big twist to the story. It's the most exciting part because there are SO many Buggers, 1000 to 1, that you don't know if Ender and the others will survive or not. It makes to tense and worried because you think the hero/main chracter is going to die soon if he's not careful. It's the point of no return because for Ender, after this game, he is finished with Command School, and maybe even finished with being a soldier. This is the final test that Ender has to pass to become free. There's a huge twist during this part though. All along Ender thought that this was a simulation, a game. However, when he beat the Buggers, he's told that it wasn't a game, but it was real. Ender is shocked (and so was I)! Real lives were at stake this time while Ender thought it was just a game. Real Buggers were destroyed once and for all. Ender had wiped out a whole population group. The conflict between the Buggers and Humans was resolved, but Ender lived with the shame of being a mass killer, when others thought he was a hero.
The climax made me feel really hopeful for Ender. I wanted him to be free and I wanted him to stop following orders around. I wanted the adults to suffer for what they had done to Ender, a little boy that was made into a Bugger-killing machine. During the battle scene I was excited and tense because I didn't know what would happen next! Actually, I didn't really get what happened except the part that Ender blew up the whole planet, which he thought was going against the rules. However, while he thought he made the adults mad, he actually became a hero to them. I hated the fact that he was deceived, even though it might've seemed right. The adults had tricked Ender for their own good, and Ender could not forgive himself for killing so many creatures. It made me mad because the adults were so narrow minded; they never sought peace, but always war. So, overall, I was mad, frustrated, and sad that Ender, a twelve year old boy, had to go through all this and at the end was even deceived. I understand why he was so mad at them afterwards, and I would've done the same if I found out that a killing game was actually real life, and I played it. I would've wanted to sleep, hide, or run away until I couldn't think anymore and was practically dead. Anyhow, I felt really angry and frustrated during this climax. How could they do that to Ender?!

#3 of Ender's Game

Topic: Mood

The mood of this novel is very dark, dangerous, frustrating, and sometimes depressing. There's also a lot of violence and gory images. All throughout the book Ender had an internal conflict, whether he's good or bad. He's often sick and tired of what the teachers are doing to him, isolating him in every way possible so that he could go to his extent. They used Ender as a tool to defeat the Buggers, which was also a mistake. Everytime Ender hurts someone he was afraid that he was becoming murderous like his brother Peter. He was constantly having nightmares and gradually became hard and cold. However, inside he knew he still had some good in himself. This conflict make Ender go a little crazy and tired, which also makes him mad and easily irritated. Unknowingly killing the Buggers was a huge mistake his teachers made because this was the final blow for Ender. He didn't care about anything, the games, his family, friends, or even himself. He couldn't forgive himself of wiping out a whole nation. He only became happy again when the Buggers forgave him. This whole conflict that Ender has with himself makes the novel seems sad and mad most of the time. I guess this saddens me too because Ender's just a kid who's confused and frustrated. No one helps him at all, but everyone pushes him further to be more insane. Towards the end he's not only lonely and tired but is in despair. It saddens me that this little kid was so sweet in the beginning but eventually grows to be a monster. He was overused, and that was unfair. It's a good thing that he becomes happy and normal again in the end.

#2 of Ender's Game

Topic: Chracters

Here's a list and description of the main chracters in Ender's Game:
Ender Wiggin: He's the youngest out of three siblings, and is called "Third," which is extremely humiliating in the book's world. He was chosen to be the best out of the best to-be soldier. He is shipped to military schools and excels in everything he does. He's brilliant and years ahead of everyone at school, and at only age 11 goes to Command School and defeats the buggers. He has two sides of himself that he's unconscious of; murderous and killiing versus caring and compassionate.
Valentine Wiggin: The middle and only sister of the three Wiggin siblings. She's the only one who loves Ender Wiggin til the end and never give up on him. She's as brilliant as Ender but was too soft to be put into military school and chosen as a leader. She and Ender share a strong bond of brother and sisterhood.
Peter Wiggin: The first son of the three Wiggins. He's violent, rude, but smart and brilliant, same with his other two younger siblings. However, the temper he couldn't control and coldness he had blocked him from going into military school. He's a very dangerous person and craves for power.
Graff: Retired principal of the military school. Brings children into the school to train them to be soldiers. Always watches Ender and takes him to the extent so that Ender's full potential will come out.
Mazer Rackham: The most famous military officer who defeated the buggers in the Second Invasion. He is private teacher of Ender in Command School. He trains Ender to use his full power and strength which leads to the defeat of the buggers.

I'm not sure if I like any of these chracters. None of them seem to be "good". They all have faults in them, which is of course a good thing. Thre reason I don't like any of these chracters is because they're all twisted and dark in their own way. However, I don't hate them either. They are all brilliant and the Wiggins are extremely smart for their age. Though, I'm more on the neutral side with these chracters--no favorites.

Ender represents the people in the world who have a balance between good and bad. He has a bit of both, which makes him a good person and hero.
Valentine represents those who are all good. However, these people can never be leaders, they're too soft.
Peter represents people who are all bad. These people can't be leaders because they are too greedy, violent, and harsh. They are too dangerous.
Graff and Mazer are people who sharpen the to-be leaders so that someday they will be leaders.

We are all in one category or another. Good, bad, both, or a watcher/trainer. Which one do you think you are?

#1 of Ender's Game

I finally finished this book!!! yay :D

Topic: Free

I'm glad I finished this extremely long book, but it was actually really fun reading it. This book was much more interesting and attention-grabbing for me than Faerenheit 451. I wanted to keep reading and reading until I finished. Or maybe it could've been the pressure of having to have to read it in three days... Anyhow, it was still an AWESOME book and fitted the style of writing I like to read. Sometimes it does get a bit confusing but, trust me, it's the best book out of the list of the dystopian books we have to read.
I really enjoyed this book because it was kind of like reading Harry Potter (and I really love the HP series). It talked about chosen elite children who go to this school to be trained as soldier. I really like these kinds of books that are realated to (somewhat) schools. They talk about competitions, enemies, friends, family, and everything that goes on in a kid's life that I can relate to, in a way. The writing was also not as boring and complicated as Faerenheit. It was simple, quick, and easy to read.
I think this book is one of the only science-fiction books I like. Or maybe it's the only SF book I have read in my life. Usually I don't enjoy reading SF books because it's really confusing and hard to picture in your mind what is happening in the book. SF books are also boy-ish and sometimes boring. However, Ender's Game is one that I really had a good time reading. The only bad part about this book is that it's way too long and I think the author could've cut some unneccessary parts out. Despite all that, I recommend this book to anyone, no matter what age or gender you are :)