Sunday, 27 May 2012
What I learned: Discussion - Theme
In this meeting we discussed theme. We talked about what was the theme, what does the theme say about the main character, what book shares the same theme, how does the theme affect and make you feel, and where in the book do you see the theme the most. In this meeting we both learned something from the other. Both of us had a different answer for the first question which gave us different answers to the rest of the questions. I said the theme was there is always hope where Vanessa said it was life goes on. I would of never thought of the theme of life goes on if it were not for the discussion. Again we taught and learned so much in this meeting. Each of us opened the others eyes to the possibilities of the answers and the knowledge.
What I Learned: Discussion - Character
In this meeting we discussed characters. We talked about how Ishmael`s character changed, what were the influences of his change, who influenced his change, how did where he lived influence his change, and what you would do differently if you were Ishmael. During this discussion we agreed on many of our answers, and even learned some new things while talking together. While we discussed together we got to understand the book even better than before and even taught each other different things.
Quotes
“In the sky there are always answers and explanations for everything: every pain, every suffering, joy and confusion.”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
“Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them. ”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
“...children have the resilience to outlive their sufferings, if given a chance.”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
This quote reminds me and represents the time in the book where Ishmael was put in the rehabilitation centre. He was given the chance to heal and he did get through it all in the end.
“I joined the army to avenge the deaths of my family and to survive, but I've come to learn that if I am going to take revenge, in that process I will kill another person whose family will want revenge; then revenge and revenge and revenge will never come to an end...”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
I love this quote because it`s completely true. People take revenge thinking it`s the best thing but really it`s not because it starts more conflict.
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
“Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them. ”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
“...children have the resilience to outlive their sufferings, if given a chance.”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
This quote reminds me and represents the time in the book where Ishmael was put in the rehabilitation centre. He was given the chance to heal and he did get through it all in the end.
“I joined the army to avenge the deaths of my family and to survive, but I've come to learn that if I am going to take revenge, in that process I will kill another person whose family will want revenge; then revenge and revenge and revenge will never come to an end...”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone
I love this quote because it`s completely true. People take revenge thinking it`s the best thing but really it`s not because it starts more conflict.
Friday, 25 May 2012
What Compares to this Book
I have never read anything quite like A Long Way Gone. This book tells the true story of a boy soldier and recounts his experiences through his life in Sierra Leone.
I am a person who likes to read fiction books. Ones with action, with a plot that pulls you into the book and makes you sit on the edge of your seat through the entire story. I love a book that has a plot that could never really happen in real life, one that my imagination can overwhelm me.
I never really liked reading non fiction books. I always found them boring and never really had a great plot. After reading A Long Way Gone my views on non fiction have drastically changed. I absolutely enjoyed this book and want to read more like it. Yes it was sad but it was so hopeful too.
When I look back to my reading history I have only read one thing that shared one of the themes in this book. It was called Underground to Canada. It was about slaves trying to get to Canada using the underground railroad. This book as well as A Long Way Gone both show that there is always hope even in the darkest of places.
The mood throughout the book is of horror and fear while Ishmael goes through the war period in Underground to Canada it is when the children need to get to the railroad. As the book goes on the mood becomes more hopeful and uplifting. Ishmael becomes a better person and the children reach the railroad.
Both books say that life may have challenges but we have the strength to go on and get through it.
I am a person who likes to read fiction books. Ones with action, with a plot that pulls you into the book and makes you sit on the edge of your seat through the entire story. I love a book that has a plot that could never really happen in real life, one that my imagination can overwhelm me.
I never really liked reading non fiction books. I always found them boring and never really had a great plot. After reading A Long Way Gone my views on non fiction have drastically changed. I absolutely enjoyed this book and want to read more like it. Yes it was sad but it was so hopeful too.
When I look back to my reading history I have only read one thing that shared one of the themes in this book. It was called Underground to Canada. It was about slaves trying to get to Canada using the underground railroad. This book as well as A Long Way Gone both show that there is always hope even in the darkest of places.
The mood throughout the book is of horror and fear while Ishmael goes through the war period in Underground to Canada it is when the children need to get to the railroad. As the book goes on the mood becomes more hopeful and uplifting. Ishmael becomes a better person and the children reach the railroad.
Both books say that life may have challenges but we have the strength to go on and get through it.
Monday, 21 May 2012
How I See Life Differently
A Long Way Gone has opened my eyes and changed how I understand the world. This book has shown me that each part of the world is different and many people are suffering all over the planet.
There are places in the world where living conditions are terrible. Food is scarce and water is unsanitary. Education is poor and medical knowledge and treatment is not the greatest. Where I live in, which is Canada we don't experience the things that others have to experience somewhere else in the world. I am also very lucky to live in a country that has never experienced war. After reading A Long Way Gone I learned that not everyone is as fortunate as I. The war started in a small part of Sierra Leone but quickly spread to the other parts of the country. War is traumatizing for adults but I read it through the eyes of a child. It opened my eyes to the condition that other children live in. Families fearing for their loved ones, people fearing that today might be their last. I could never imagine living that way.
War is not the only problem people have in the world. People need help with things that are very simple for us in Canada. Here all we have to do is turn a tap handle and fresh water comes out, In other parts in the world children have to walk miles to the nearest water source and that source may even have contaminated water but it's the only water they have. Here it's mandatory we go to school where in other part in the world kids miss out on school because they need to support their families. Poverty is a huge issue all over the world. People who don't have any money to support themselves or their family. There are a lot of reasons why people need help in the world. It takes one person to make a difference in the world. One tiny action in your life can help another somewhere else in the world. In the book Ishmael who experienced a harder way to live came through it all and is now educating others on how to make a difference and how to decrease the problems in the world. This book has really opened my heart, ears, and eyes to the suffering around me in the world.
It makes me frustrated with the people who know about these problems in the world but don't do anything to help. For example the genocide in Rwanda, I had learned and watched the people suffering in Rwanda. They had peacekeepers and soldiers there but when times got difficult they pulled out and let the innocent die. I couldn't believe hoe they could just do that. Even in the war in Sierra Leone when Ishmael got put into the government army it wasn't until two years later UNICEF came and toke Ishmael away.
People sometimes think there is nothing they can do to help, that it's hopeless, but there are things you can do to help.
After reading this book I am grateful for the little things I do to help the people in this world and what you can do too. Sponsor a child through World Vision or another organization. Join events at your school like Walk for Water or Free the Children. Knowing that I did something, even if it's small, makes me happy thinking I'm helping someone out there in the world.
There are places in the world where living conditions are terrible. Food is scarce and water is unsanitary. Education is poor and medical knowledge and treatment is not the greatest. Where I live in, which is Canada we don't experience the things that others have to experience somewhere else in the world. I am also very lucky to live in a country that has never experienced war. After reading A Long Way Gone I learned that not everyone is as fortunate as I. The war started in a small part of Sierra Leone but quickly spread to the other parts of the country. War is traumatizing for adults but I read it through the eyes of a child. It opened my eyes to the condition that other children live in. Families fearing for their loved ones, people fearing that today might be their last. I could never imagine living that way.
War is not the only problem people have in the world. People need help with things that are very simple for us in Canada. Here all we have to do is turn a tap handle and fresh water comes out, In other parts in the world children have to walk miles to the nearest water source and that source may even have contaminated water but it's the only water they have. Here it's mandatory we go to school where in other part in the world kids miss out on school because they need to support their families. Poverty is a huge issue all over the world. People who don't have any money to support themselves or their family. There are a lot of reasons why people need help in the world. It takes one person to make a difference in the world. One tiny action in your life can help another somewhere else in the world. In the book Ishmael who experienced a harder way to live came through it all and is now educating others on how to make a difference and how to decrease the problems in the world. This book has really opened my heart, ears, and eyes to the suffering around me in the world.
It makes me frustrated with the people who know about these problems in the world but don't do anything to help. For example the genocide in Rwanda, I had learned and watched the people suffering in Rwanda. They had peacekeepers and soldiers there but when times got difficult they pulled out and let the innocent die. I couldn't believe hoe they could just do that. Even in the war in Sierra Leone when Ishmael got put into the government army it wasn't until two years later UNICEF came and toke Ishmael away.
People sometimes think there is nothing they can do to help, that it's hopeless, but there are things you can do to help.
After reading this book I am grateful for the little things I do to help the people in this world and what you can do too. Sponsor a child through World Vision or another organization. Join events at your school like Walk for Water or Free the Children. Knowing that I did something, even if it's small, makes me happy thinking I'm helping someone out there in the world.
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