In the novel Doors Open by Ian Rankin, Mike Mackenzie is one of the main characters and also one of the criminals. Mike Mackenzie was a thirty-seven year old, hard working, highly successful entrepreneur in computer software. He sold his business because he was bored and rumor had it, burned out, and wanted a change. Mike’s friend Gerry Pearson (who helped start the business from the beginning) had left as well for Australia to enjoy the nightlife, city life and surfing.
Mike also loved art. When one of his friends, Professor Robert Gissing talked to him about an amazing crime where they would stage a heist and a selected group of paintings would be stolen from the Granton storage on “Doors Open Day” he wanted in. After the crime Mike had such a thrill. He quickly becomes tangled into the criminal underworld.
I think two of the biggest clues in the book Doors Open by Ian Rankin is when detective inspector Ransome noticed that Chib Calloway, one of Edinburgh’s most renowned gangsters started showing a lot of interest in paintings. Ransome had seen him at the National Gallery of Scotland’s cafe drinking a cup of tea and he also saw Calloway at an art auction. Both times when Calloway was spotted he was spotted with Mike Mackenzie. This was a big lead in inspector Ransome catching them.
The first quote is, “‘Ever handled a gun before, Mike?’ ‘Not since I was a kid. They tended to be made of plastic and fired caps…’”, (Pg. 93). I thought this quote was pretty funny because the way Mike said it so sarcastically and it relates to me because when I was little I always used to play around with toy cap guns. The second quote that relates to me is, “In his dreams, he was chasing the gangster on foot through the streets of a sprawling city.” (Pg. 113) because every now and then a kid my age has a dream about chasing a gangster around a city. The last quote is, “Mike had visualized their walk as something like the start of Reservoir Dogs – calm, collected, going to work.” (Pg. 123) This quote relates to me because the movie Reservoir Dogs is one of my favorite films and I my self can imagine them walking in because I’ve seen the movie many times.
By: Logan Semple
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Teddy Kennedy Blog
Multimedia did enhance President Obama’s eulogy for Ted Kennedy. Being able to see still pictures of his family as well as moving images of him sailing made it more personal. The images gave us a better idea of the type of person he was as we heard Obama talk about him and relate stories about his public and personal life. Also, having the media present with cameras panning back to the crowd, sometimes to his family and sometimes the other guests made us feel their sorrow.
Ted Kennedy had a very caring attitude towards service. President Obama shared that with us by saying he made it his life’s work “to give a voice to those were not heard” and give them “a rung to the ladder of opportunity” that they would not of had. He was responsible for numerous acts in the legislature for example, the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Ted Kennedy’s attitude towards service often came through suffering and tragedy in his own life. Obama used a quote by the poet William Wordsworth that describes this well, “As more exposed to suffering and distress; Thence, also, more alive to tenderness.” He used his “gift of time” to touch as many people as he could. An example of that was when he phoned over 177 families after September 11.
Obama was very effective in using rhetoric during his eulogy of Ted Kennedy in describing both his private and public life. Obama added humourous stories in-between recalling his life accomplishments. He used examples of his hardships and tragedies as well as his successes and happy family times. Obama also had many adjectives to describe how great of a man Teddy was. He mentioned Kennedy was “the restless dreamer of the family who became its rock”, “soul of democratic party”, “lion of the U.S. Senate” and “The Big Cheese” to his younger nieces and nephews. Obama’s final description of a man on a boat with “white mane tousled; smiling broadly as he sails into the wind”, gave us a great image of Teddy Kennedy and how happy he was doing what he loved.
Logan Semple
Ted Kennedy had a very caring attitude towards service. President Obama shared that with us by saying he made it his life’s work “to give a voice to those were not heard” and give them “a rung to the ladder of opportunity” that they would not of had. He was responsible for numerous acts in the legislature for example, the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Ted Kennedy’s attitude towards service often came through suffering and tragedy in his own life. Obama used a quote by the poet William Wordsworth that describes this well, “As more exposed to suffering and distress; Thence, also, more alive to tenderness.” He used his “gift of time” to touch as many people as he could. An example of that was when he phoned over 177 families after September 11.
Obama was very effective in using rhetoric during his eulogy of Ted Kennedy in describing both his private and public life. Obama added humourous stories in-between recalling his life accomplishments. He used examples of his hardships and tragedies as well as his successes and happy family times. Obama also had many adjectives to describe how great of a man Teddy was. He mentioned Kennedy was “the restless dreamer of the family who became its rock”, “soul of democratic party”, “lion of the U.S. Senate” and “The Big Cheese” to his younger nieces and nephews. Obama’s final description of a man on a boat with “white mane tousled; smiling broadly as he sails into the wind”, gave us a great image of Teddy Kennedy and how happy he was doing what he loved.
Logan Semple
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Blog 4 - The Juvie Three
The novel The Juvie Three by Canadian author Gordon Korman is based on the life of three teenagers, Graham “Gecko” Fosse, Terence Florian and Arjay Moran. All three boys were serving time in juvenile detention centers until one day all of the them were granted a second chance through Douglas Healy. He was in juvie for most of his childhood as well. Healy is allowed to try an experiment were he can give Gecko, Arjay and Terrence a second chance to live with him in a halfway house in New York City.
Throughout their time with Healy he sends them to do community service, to school and also therapy but one night Healy is accidentally knocked unconscious while trying to break up a fight between the teens. Not knowing what to do and scared of what would happen the boys dropped him of at a hospital. When Healy wakes up he doesn’t remember anything about the halfway house or any of the boys. The three come up with a crazy plan to just continue life as if he was still there so they wouldn’t get sent back to juvenile hall. They do everything to make it look like Healy is still there like going to school, therapy and helping with community services. Life gets a lot harder for them once Arjay becomes famous, Gecko falls in love and Terence starts to act like he did before juvie.
I think the theme in this novel is having a second chance and giving chances. The boys are given a second chance to start their life over again and not to screw it up by committing felonies that get them in trouble with the law.
The author Gordon Korman writes in third person narrative. It is very effective because we can read the book the way the author wants it to be read and also lets you know some things that characters in the novel may not.
A big issue in the this novel that is pertained generally to adolescents is second chances. Many teens are giving second chances, some use them correctly and they can change their lives and others do not and screw up a good chance to make a better life for their selves. In the novel the boys all seem to use their second chance wisely until Terence goes back to his old ways.
There wasn’t really anything that was common in the novel specifically to our English class but it is pretty common to teachers giving us (students) second chances on assignments and tests we didn’t do to well on or missed out on, as well as our parents giving us second chances sometimes.
I think the author Gordon Korman did a very good job and the only thing he could do to make the novel better is by making it longer to show more about the boys when their stories are finished.
I would definitely recommend this novel because it is funny but also serious which is a good blend and makes it fun to read. I’d say this book relates more to teens than kids, so I would recommend it to high school students that want a good laugh but also like a serious and life changing book.
There are many rhetorical terms in the book The Juvie Three and one that I found is a simile, “I can’t talk to someone who’s chained like an animal!” (Pg. 15, paragraph. 4) Another rhetorical term is repetition, “…stop, stop it.” (Pg. 187, paragraph 2) One more rhetorical term is a metaphor, “The snake eyes narrow.” (Pg. 201, paragraph. 5)
Overall this is a great book. It has serious moments but also has moments with good comedy. Pick it up if you want an amazing read by a great Canadian author.
Thanks,
Logan Semple
Throughout their time with Healy he sends them to do community service, to school and also therapy but one night Healy is accidentally knocked unconscious while trying to break up a fight between the teens. Not knowing what to do and scared of what would happen the boys dropped him of at a hospital. When Healy wakes up he doesn’t remember anything about the halfway house or any of the boys. The three come up with a crazy plan to just continue life as if he was still there so they wouldn’t get sent back to juvenile hall. They do everything to make it look like Healy is still there like going to school, therapy and helping with community services. Life gets a lot harder for them once Arjay becomes famous, Gecko falls in love and Terence starts to act like he did before juvie.
I think the theme in this novel is having a second chance and giving chances. The boys are given a second chance to start their life over again and not to screw it up by committing felonies that get them in trouble with the law.
The author Gordon Korman writes in third person narrative. It is very effective because we can read the book the way the author wants it to be read and also lets you know some things that characters in the novel may not.
A big issue in the this novel that is pertained generally to adolescents is second chances. Many teens are giving second chances, some use them correctly and they can change their lives and others do not and screw up a good chance to make a better life for their selves. In the novel the boys all seem to use their second chance wisely until Terence goes back to his old ways.
There wasn’t really anything that was common in the novel specifically to our English class but it is pretty common to teachers giving us (students) second chances on assignments and tests we didn’t do to well on or missed out on, as well as our parents giving us second chances sometimes.
I think the author Gordon Korman did a very good job and the only thing he could do to make the novel better is by making it longer to show more about the boys when their stories are finished.
I would definitely recommend this novel because it is funny but also serious which is a good blend and makes it fun to read. I’d say this book relates more to teens than kids, so I would recommend it to high school students that want a good laugh but also like a serious and life changing book.
There are many rhetorical terms in the book The Juvie Three and one that I found is a simile, “I can’t talk to someone who’s chained like an animal!” (Pg. 15, paragraph. 4) Another rhetorical term is repetition, “…stop, stop it.” (Pg. 187, paragraph 2) One more rhetorical term is a metaphor, “The snake eyes narrow.” (Pg. 201, paragraph. 5)
Overall this is a great book. It has serious moments but also has moments with good comedy. Pick it up if you want an amazing read by a great Canadian author.
Thanks,
Logan Semple
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Blog 3 - The Blue Helmet
The novel The Blue Helmet by the Canadian author William Bell is about a troubled teenager named Lee Mercer who attempts to join a notorious gang called the Tarantulas. In his first initiation mission he gets caught by the cops. Luckily his father knows one of the police officers and lets him go. Doug, who is Lee’s father, does not think it will be a good idea for Lee to stay with him because he is working two jobs and still recovering from his wife’s death from cancer. He suggests that Lee stays with his Aunt, Reena in New Toronto. This plan starts the changes that occur in Lee’s life.
While he is in New Toronto with his Aunt he decides not to go to school and just work for Reena at her café. During this time in the café Lee meets many nice people and even some strange ones because his Aunt lets people who live on the streets come in for coffee and snacks. Lee also helps Reena by dropping off sandwiches and meals at customer’s homes. Through some of the people Lee connects with he takes on a second job as a delivery boy for a pharmacy. He becomes familiar with one of the patients on the route named Bruce Cutter who he spends quite a bit of time with. Bruce eventually commits suicide and leaves everything in his will to Lee. The result of Lee meeting Bruce teaches him how to find peace within himself.
I think the theme in William Bell’s The Blue Helmet is the challenge of growing up and facing different conflicts along the way. Lee is forced to deal with his mother’s death, the rejection of his father, experimenting with gangs, moving to a new town, living with a relative he hardly knows and dealing with new people.
The author William Bell writes in the first person and reflects his thoughts and feelings throughout the novel. I think it was very effective because we got to see how Lee felt about everything as a troubled teenager that opens up.
This book definitely pertained to adolescents and what they could possibly go through and how they cope because some teens have to deal with the death of family members and also gang peer pressure.
I didn’t notice any similarities to what we have learned in English class thus far but there might be similarities in other classes, like History because in the novel it talks about a war that Bruce Cutter was a peacekeeper in between the Serbians and Croatians.
The one thing that William Bell could do to make the novel better is to make it longer or make another book just like it because I personally thought it was the best book I have ever read.
I would definitely recommend this book to other teens but no children because there is some swearing and talk of deaths.
There are many rhetorical terms in the book The Blue Helmet and one that I found is an onomatopoeia, “, lulled by the click-clack, click-clack of the wheels, I wondered if I had changed.” (Pg. 179, paragraph 1)
Another rhetorical term in the novel is a metaphor when Lee and his Aunt Reena call Lee’s bike a tank. “, parked the tank against the house, and lifted the bag of food out of he pannier.” (Pg. 29, paragraph 2)
This is an amazing book by a great Canadian author and probably the best book I’ve ever read. Pick it up if you want a good read.
By: Logan Semple
While he is in New Toronto with his Aunt he decides not to go to school and just work for Reena at her café. During this time in the café Lee meets many nice people and even some strange ones because his Aunt lets people who live on the streets come in for coffee and snacks. Lee also helps Reena by dropping off sandwiches and meals at customer’s homes. Through some of the people Lee connects with he takes on a second job as a delivery boy for a pharmacy. He becomes familiar with one of the patients on the route named Bruce Cutter who he spends quite a bit of time with. Bruce eventually commits suicide and leaves everything in his will to Lee. The result of Lee meeting Bruce teaches him how to find peace within himself.
I think the theme in William Bell’s The Blue Helmet is the challenge of growing up and facing different conflicts along the way. Lee is forced to deal with his mother’s death, the rejection of his father, experimenting with gangs, moving to a new town, living with a relative he hardly knows and dealing with new people.
The author William Bell writes in the first person and reflects his thoughts and feelings throughout the novel. I think it was very effective because we got to see how Lee felt about everything as a troubled teenager that opens up.
This book definitely pertained to adolescents and what they could possibly go through and how they cope because some teens have to deal with the death of family members and also gang peer pressure.
I didn’t notice any similarities to what we have learned in English class thus far but there might be similarities in other classes, like History because in the novel it talks about a war that Bruce Cutter was a peacekeeper in between the Serbians and Croatians.
The one thing that William Bell could do to make the novel better is to make it longer or make another book just like it because I personally thought it was the best book I have ever read.
I would definitely recommend this book to other teens but no children because there is some swearing and talk of deaths.
There are many rhetorical terms in the book The Blue Helmet and one that I found is an onomatopoeia, “, lulled by the click-clack, click-clack of the wheels, I wondered if I had changed.” (Pg. 179, paragraph 1)
Another rhetorical term in the novel is a metaphor when Lee and his Aunt Reena call Lee’s bike a tank. “, parked the tank against the house, and lifted the bag of food out of he pannier.” (Pg. 29, paragraph 2)
This is an amazing book by a great Canadian author and probably the best book I’ve ever read. Pick it up if you want a good read.
By: Logan Semple
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Blog 2 - Darkly Dreaming Dexter
The novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay is about a forensic blood splatter pattern analyst for the Miami Police Department named Dexter Morgan. Ironically he has another job and his other job is a serial killer. He grew up in a foster house with his foster father a police officer named Harry Morgan. Harry taught Dexter two things; one was how to kill someone without leaving any evidence behind and to kill only those who deserved to die. He only kills other serial killers, child molesters and murderers that he thinks have escaped from proper punishment. When Dexter was living in his foster home he also grew up with his foster sister, Deborah. She is also a police officer.
When a serial killer (the Tamiami Butcher), with an interesting and exciting style that impresses Dexter, starts killing Miami’s prostitutes throughout the city, he begins to send messages to Dexter. His sister Deborah, who invited him to the scene to help, uses all these murders to get out of the Miami Vice unit and into the Homicide unit. Throughout the novel Dexter doesn’t know which side to take, do nothing and watch the skill of a fellow serial killer’s work or help Deborah figure out the case. With a surprising ending the serial killer everybody has been looking for ends up being one of Dexter’s older siblings.
I think the theme of the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter is suspense. There are many gripping parts in this thriller. It could also be called dark and action themed because it’s about murder.
The author Jeff Lindsay uses the point of view of the main character to tell the story Darkly Dreaming Dexter. I think the speaking in first person narrative was very effective because it kept the story exciting and we could tell how he is feeling things much easier.
The only thing that I could think of to relate this book to teens my age and myself is when your mother tells you not to watch anything scary right before you go to bed. The same can be said about this book if you have trouble sleeping and experience nightmares because there are some really graphic parts. I didn’t really notice any connections to anything we’ve done so far.
I liked this book a lot so it’s hard to find anything for the author to improve on but one thing that Jeff Lindsay can do to this book to make it better for me is to make it longer.
I would definitely recommend this book but not for all audiences because there is a lot of murder and it is gruesome. I would recommend this to older teens, thriller lovers, people who like crime fiction and to people that watch the amazing television series.
In the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter there are some examples of rhetorical terms. A term that I see a lot in this novel is a simile. An example of this is when Dexter is thinking about a certain cop he thinks to himself, “…nobody could possibly allow a pimple like LaGuerta to catch him.” (Pg. 115, paragraph 1). Another rhetorical term in this novel is onomatopoeia, “It went thack thack against the door.” (Pg. 128, paragraph 3).
Overall I thought this book was great and definitely in my top five. Pick it up.
By: Logan Semple
When a serial killer (the Tamiami Butcher), with an interesting and exciting style that impresses Dexter, starts killing Miami’s prostitutes throughout the city, he begins to send messages to Dexter. His sister Deborah, who invited him to the scene to help, uses all these murders to get out of the Miami Vice unit and into the Homicide unit. Throughout the novel Dexter doesn’t know which side to take, do nothing and watch the skill of a fellow serial killer’s work or help Deborah figure out the case. With a surprising ending the serial killer everybody has been looking for ends up being one of Dexter’s older siblings.
I think the theme of the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter is suspense. There are many gripping parts in this thriller. It could also be called dark and action themed because it’s about murder.
The author Jeff Lindsay uses the point of view of the main character to tell the story Darkly Dreaming Dexter. I think the speaking in first person narrative was very effective because it kept the story exciting and we could tell how he is feeling things much easier.
The only thing that I could think of to relate this book to teens my age and myself is when your mother tells you not to watch anything scary right before you go to bed. The same can be said about this book if you have trouble sleeping and experience nightmares because there are some really graphic parts. I didn’t really notice any connections to anything we’ve done so far.
I liked this book a lot so it’s hard to find anything for the author to improve on but one thing that Jeff Lindsay can do to this book to make it better for me is to make it longer.
I would definitely recommend this book but not for all audiences because there is a lot of murder and it is gruesome. I would recommend this to older teens, thriller lovers, people who like crime fiction and to people that watch the amazing television series.
In the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter there are some examples of rhetorical terms. A term that I see a lot in this novel is a simile. An example of this is when Dexter is thinking about a certain cop he thinks to himself, “…nobody could possibly allow a pimple like LaGuerta to catch him.” (Pg. 115, paragraph 1). Another rhetorical term in this novel is onomatopoeia, “It went thack thack against the door.” (Pg. 128, paragraph 3).
Overall I thought this book was great and definitely in my top five. Pick it up.
By: Logan Semple
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