Bennett's Book Nook
Jatzael Alvarado
ALT_NATION
DOWN in the DUMPS
FAB FIVE's FAVs'
- "I used to be strong, but now I am weak." (Pg.4). We really see Cadence's struggle and her honesty, telling the reader who she was (strong in every aspect), yet later becomes (mentally weak).
- "I am all for growing." (Pg. 69). As you read the book and find out what exactly happens, you will see exactly how big of an impact these words really have.
- "...when I die, throw my ashes in the water of the tiny beach. Then when you miss me, you can climb up here, look down, and think how awesome I was." (Pg. 119). This quote demonstrates the love Cadence has for this Island, in all seriousness I feel like the island was a distraction for her and the liars. Undoubtedly, It let them relieve their stress from all the problems back home.
- "We burned a symbol to the ground." (Pg. 152). This quote defines exactly what the Clairmont house meant to the Sinclair family, it wasn't just a place of living, but it was also a place of traditions and gathering for the Sinclair family.
- "I guess that is why they've been here. I needed them." (Pg. 214). Without a doubt, out of all the other quotes in this book, this one hit me the hardest because I could truly see how Cadence felt, she knew the liars stood beside her until the very end, that she couldn't have known what happened to her if her friends (or family) weren't there for her until she finally knew what happened.
FACE to FACE (Gatwick Matthew Patil)
1. With all do respect Gatwick, do you feel like you played a big enough role in this story; was the reader able to have a meaningful relationship with you as a character of the story, or not?
- Yes, I feel like a I played a big enough role in the novel because Cadence and I created a mutual relationship in which we both felt like we were dependent on one another during the summer vacation on the island.
2. Where do you think you had your biggest impact on this story?
- My biggest impact in the story was probably when Cadence found out that I had a girlfriend named Raquel. Cadence took it a little harsh and became love sick, but eventually she got over it because she knew that her (Cadence) and I shared a strong relationship.
3. What is the best way Cadence would describe you?
-The best way Cadence would describe me is "Contemplation and enthusiasm. Ambition and strong coffee."
4. How would you describe the Liars and their impact on this story, considering that you are one of them?
-Us, the liars, we're the main group of the story and we have a lot to do with what goes on throughout the story, we don't enjoy being told what to do or what to say because we can obviously speak for ourselves. Undoubtedly, our biggest impact was that night of summer fifteen.
5. If you had to remove a character from this novel, who would you remove because you felt like they didn't contribute much to the story?
-If I had to remove a character, then it would most likely have been Thatcher hands- down because the man was only mentioned a few times and he did not have an impact on this story, at least not in my eyes.
6. Most characters have a down fall, a negative moment during the book, where do you feel negativity became a strong factor to any of the decisions you made?
-I believe my downfall came in towards then end of the book because my body was giving out; Mirren, Johnny, and I had to cross over because we were becoming way too weak and couldn't keep roaming the island.
7. Say the author chose to have this novel take place in a different setting, how would that have an impact on the story and its conclusion?
-A change in setting would have caused a huge difference in the results of this story because if we were to be in a city and not an island, then help would have probably arrived a lot faster the night of the fire.
8. Do you like the Sinclair family?
- Yes, I don't have anything against them, they are great people and after all they did take me in by allowing me to spend summers with them, however; I felt like i didn't belong there; an outsider.
9. Do you have any regrets?
- Honestly, I do not have any regrets. We chose to burn that house to the ground because we wanted to make a change and even though we burned down with it, we still came out with the victory because we were able to accomplish what we wanted in the end. A united family, not a family who fights over material objects.
10. What would have been your last words to Cadence?
- The end is only the beginning, I will always love you.
BEST SELLER
This family believes to bring very high standards and consider themselves to be one of the finest people of all. "The Sinclairs are athletic, tall, and handsome. We are old money Democrats. Our smiles are wide. Our chins are high, our chins square, and our tennis serves aggressive," is a very good example of how this family think of themselves.
The main character of my story is Cadence Sinclair, throughout the story she is attempting to remember an event that took place during summer fifteen, she suffers migraines and memory loss of the incident that took place. Johnny and Mirren are Cadence's cousins, they play an important role in this story because it's who she spends most of her summers with. Now Gat, Gatwick Matthew Patil was the nephew of Ed, he showed up during summer eight and continued to attend the summer gatherings at the island. Gat and Cadence fell in love with one another from head to toe; however, there is a twist of mystery to all these emotions expressed in the book because what happened that night changes the whole dynamic of the relationship.
I love how E. Lockhart structured this book, "We Were Liars" because for me it was a nail bitter, and page by page I just wanted to read more, and more. Also, the author loves to use flashbacks as the story develops because he wants to give the reader small important pieces of the event that took place, so that the reader can keep enjoying the novel while also making him/her think or attempt to foreshadow what will happen. Honestly, I would suggest this book to those people who love getting in touch with their emotions because this book really opens up a good connection between the characters and the reader. It's an outstanding book, probably one of the better ones I have ever read!
"B" SIDES/IMPORT
A Chilld Called "It"
TOP TEN LIST
- The fight for food became a cycle. The principal’s report to Mother led to more beatings and less food for me at the house.
- I think father and I both knew the code of “the family”- if we don’t acknowledge a problem, it simply does not exist.
- I felt lower than a dog.
- I wanted to just lie down and quit, but the promise I made years ago kept me going. I wanted to show The Bitch that she could beat me only if I died, and I was determined not to give in, even to death.
- When I looked at my stomach again, I saw a yellowish-white substance begin to ooze from the red, angry slash. I didn’t know much but I knew it was infected.
- For nearly ten days I had gone without food.
- “David the Food Thief” and “Pelzer- Smellzer” were two of the playground favorites.”
- Of all Mother’s punishments, I hated the gas chamber game the most.
- I began to give up on God. I felt that He must have hated me. What other reason could there be for a life like mine?
- In time, the relationship between Shirley and Mother became strained.
BEST SELLER
Sadness, denial, mental abuse, physical abuse, these are all good ways to describe the childhood of Dave Pelzer; the author of the book {A Child Called "It"}. This account follows one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. Obviously, this is not a happy story, but it is a life changing and unforgettable nonfictional story that may open your eyes to the horror of child abuse.
In the beginning, Dave Pelzer describes his relationship with his mother (Catherine Roerva) as being a strong one. Before the child abuse took place (during the 1960s, when his family was considered "the Brady Bunch"), Dave could have described his mother as being gentle, caring, and even determined for looking after her children the way she did. However, as the alcohol started taking over her life, she became more unstable, and so did her relationship with her husband; Stephen Joseph, a firemen who worked in the heart of San Francisco. After Dave's mother began to punish her oldest child (Dave), the relationship between his father and mother grew distant. As the child abuse progressed, Dave saw less and less of his dad because his father did not want to be present at the house during the abuse of his son, this also lead to his father being less sober. The abuse consisted of the threatening of his life, sitting in a water-full bathtub for hours, touching the stove with a body part, drinking Clorox or ammonia, and the gas chamber. However, her ultimate weapon was food, she would starve Dave sometimes and force him to carry out his chores either way. These extreme irrational actions done to Dave led to the separation of his parents towards the end of the story.
I would recommend this book to all people who wish to read true events of child abuse, or any adolescent that believes his life is a misery because this story can be used as a base of comparison to make you think about how blessed you actually are to have nurturing parents. This shocking story carries a lot of emotions and very imaginable scenes. The author writes in a way that you can picture all that is going on throughout the story. I really enjoyed the story even though it made the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up, I give it a thumbs up.
In conclusion, I can't say I personally know and feel what Dave went through because I have never encountered any of those moments throughout my life, but I can say that I have been informed, informed about how far some parents go with child abuse. It's sad to know that some of these abused children don't even get to live a normal life as they become older. I couldn't imagine myself living a life if I went through all Dave and other kids have gone through, especially having a family because I would think they fear treating their kids the same way they were treated. Lastly, we should put an end to child abuse and any kind of domestic abuse in general, life would be so much better if we just all got along and treated each other fairly.