I forgot to mention a pretty important part of the story; Matt discovers the truth about eejits and the reality of what El Patron has done in his lifetime before the birthday party.
While taking a tour of the Opium farms with Tam Lin, Matt's Scottish bodyguard, Matt discovers a dead man on the ground. Tam Lin explains that the person is an eejit, a human with a computer chip implanted into his or her brain. Eejits are similar to mindless zombies and only obey voice commanded orders. If an eejit were told to stay it would stay at the same spot until it was told otherwise, even in the face of potentially deadly situations. Eejits are considered beasts of burden, and consist of illegal immigrants that tried to get across Opium to either Aztlán or the United States, as well as any of El Patrón's servants that had displeased him in any way. As Matt continues to grow up, it becomes very clear that despite El Patrón's favoritism, he is barely tolerated. Considered a beloved pet by some and a beastly intruder by others, he is kept ignorant of the nature of clones until a cruel joke reveals why he is different.
Long story short, the birthday party does end up being a disaster. Matt gets angry at Maria, and demands her to 'give him a birthday kiss' in front of all the birthday guests. Everyone is appalled at the fact that a lowly clone would even speak to a human girl like that. El Patron, on the other hand, is encouraging Matt, saying that he needs to stand up for himself and show who's boss. Matt immediately regrets his decision to humiliate Maria, and she doesn't talk to him for days.
The day after the party, we find that Felicia [Mr. Alacran's wife] and Tom have plotted against Matt, and trick him and Maria to go to the hospital near the house. There they find a clone on a table. But it isn't a clone like Matt, it is what a clone is supposed to be. It is described as a thing that "...rolled its eyes and thrashed helplessly in the straps that restrained it. Its mouth opened in a horrible O when it saw the children, and it screamed louder than Matt thought possible." (pg 119) This is Matt's first encounter with another clone, and the reader can now fully understand why clones are considered inferior. At the end of this chapter, Maria is too disgusted to be with Matt, and she leaves with Tom.
Maria is still angry at Matt for the episode at the birthday party, and Matt wants desperately to speak to her. He devises a plan to kidnap her dog and leave a ransom note in Maria's room. He thinks to himself that Maria would have to talk to him then. Maria's dog Furball is a tiny little rat-dog that is always yapping and running around. The only way for Matt to successfully steal the little dog is its asleep. [[in an effort to reduce the length of this post to a short novel, I'm going to skip some minor details and wrap up the story]] Matt steals some drugs from Felicia, gives the dog barely anything, and hides him. He leaves a note on Maria's pillow and waits. The dog is later found dead, and Matt doesn't see Maria before she leaves for boarding school. Years later, while the two are together, they overhear Felicia telling Tom how she killed Furball. Only then does Maria believe that Matt didn't kill her dog.
There is so much more story left, and these blogs are so annoying to keep up with!! More later.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Important Quotes #2
Here are some quotes that I think are important from the reading described in the previous post.
"Matt was so startled, he stopped crying. He realized something momentous had just happened. 'I can talk,' he murmured...'My name is Matteo Alacran," Matt said, testing his newly regained voice. 'I'm a good boy.' He felt dizzy with happiness. Celia was going to be so proud of him now! HE would read and color and count until he became the best student in the whole world, and the children would like him and they wouldn't run away." (pgs 73-74) This quote is important not only because it is when Matt discovers his speech again, but also because it shows that Matt strives to be normal. He is fed up, even at an early age, of being a clone, something inferior to the other children. What little respect he gets is because of El Patron. He wants to use his superior smarts to excel and become normal.
"The scene on the other side was completely unexpected. Creosote bushes and paloverde trees framed a small, narrow valley, and in the center of this was a pool of water. At the far end Matt saw an enormous grapevine sprawled over a man-made trellis." (pg 79) This is a description of the oasis as Matt sees it for the first time. It is an important even in the book because the oasis becomes a refuge for Matt, and it is one of the only places he feels at home and safe, the other place being Celia's apartment.
"He was in a rage to learn. He would excel, and then everyone would love him and forget he was a clone." (pg 91) This is more proof that education and knowledge is the only way Matt sees himself being loved. Without his smarts, he would have no hope that he would someday be accepted.
"Matt was so startled, he stopped crying. He realized something momentous had just happened. 'I can talk,' he murmured...'My name is Matteo Alacran," Matt said, testing his newly regained voice. 'I'm a good boy.' He felt dizzy with happiness. Celia was going to be so proud of him now! HE would read and color and count until he became the best student in the whole world, and the children would like him and they wouldn't run away." (pgs 73-74) This quote is important not only because it is when Matt discovers his speech again, but also because it shows that Matt strives to be normal. He is fed up, even at an early age, of being a clone, something inferior to the other children. What little respect he gets is because of El Patron. He wants to use his superior smarts to excel and become normal.
"The scene on the other side was completely unexpected. Creosote bushes and paloverde trees framed a small, narrow valley, and in the center of this was a pool of water. At the far end Matt saw an enormous grapevine sprawled over a man-made trellis." (pg 79) This is a description of the oasis as Matt sees it for the first time. It is an important even in the book because the oasis becomes a refuge for Matt, and it is one of the only places he feels at home and safe, the other place being Celia's apartment.
"He was in a rage to learn. He would excel, and then everyone would love him and forget he was a clone." (pg 91) This is more proof that education and knowledge is the only way Matt sees himself being loved. Without his smarts, he would have no hope that he would someday be accepted.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
House of the Scorpion Madness!!
Well I am really lovin' this book. The only reason I put it down is because I only read at night, and it gets too late for me to keep my eyes open. So lets see, I think I'll just make a list of what happened so far since my last post. Oh and just to clarify, Tom and Maria are not siblings. Maria is the daughter of a powerful American senator, and Tom is the son of Mr. Alacran, who is El Patron's great-great grandson.
So, I left off where Matt had just gotten out of the basement and was safe back with Celia. Here's what happened since:
So, I left off where Matt had just gotten out of the basement and was safe back with Celia. Here's what happened since:
- Matt "avoid[s] leaving the safe haven of Celia's apartment for as long as possible." He is unable to speak for a very long time after he leaves the basement, and it is the mission of Celia and Maria to make him talk again.
- Maria and her sister Emilia have left for school, and Tom and his brother Steven left for boarding school soon after them. Matt is the lone 'child' (clones aren't considered children) in the Big House, and El Patron arranges to have him educated. One day Matt is introduced to Teacher. Teacher is very robotic, and Matt learns that she is an eejit. An eejit is a person with a computer chip in their brain. The chip takes away all feelings and emotions, and they can only obey orders. They look like normal people, yet they are just zombies that serve as servants.
- Matt explodes at Teacher, and finds that he actually yelled at her. He enjoys his newfound speech, and talks as much as he can the next few days.
- Tam Lin - who is the only person aside from Celia who speaks to him as a real person - takes Matt for a picnic. They traveled on Safe Horses (horses that are eejits, they stop when told to stop and only drink when commanded). They ride through the desert until Tam Lin stops at a rock with a hole in the middle of it. They enter to find a land with trees and a small pool in the center. Tam Lin explains that it is called an oasis. The oasis becomes a refuge for Matt, as Tam Lin is the only other person who knows about it.
- Felicia, Mr. Alacran's wife, is a frail woman who suffered from a nervous breakdown. She plays the piano every day, and one day is late for her session. Since Matt watches and listens to her play every day, he notices that she is late and begins to experiment with the piano. He hears her approaching and hides in the closet. He discovers that in the back of the closet there is a secret passageway that winds through the house, with peepholes that look into every room. The passageway is another secret that is shared between Matt and Tam Lin, and later Maria.
- Matt wants desperately to learn the piano. He believes that he would excel, and "then everyone would love him and forget he was a clone." El Patron gets Matt a teacher, and he learns to play very quickly. Matt is soon an amazing pianist.
- Maria loses her dog Furball. Tom is in the room and helps the two look for it, but he isn't really looking. Matt notices that he is going through the actions but not actually searching. Matt knows that Tom isn't fond of the dog, and believes that he has something to do with it's disappearance. Matt finds the dog in the toilet, and Tom is visibly upset.
- El Patron's birthday party is what closes the chapter. All sorts of rich, influential people show up, and Matt loves it, because it had developed into a celebration for him as well. Celia, Tam Lin, Maria, and El Patron are the only ones who really celebrate him, but everybody else has to grit their teeth and get through the day.
- The chapter ends with a break before dinner, and you can already tell that something bad is going to happen..
Significant Quotes #1
Okay so here are some significant quotes from the reading I described in my last post:
"The door handle rattled. Matt squatted on the floor, his heart pounding. Someone put his face against the window, cupping his hands to see through the gloom. Matt froze. He had wanted company, but this was happening too quickly. He felt like Pedro el Conejo in Senor MacGregor's garden." (pg 9) This quote is when Matt is still living in Celia's little home in the poppy fields. It is the beginning of Matt's long adventure. It is after this that he jumps out the window and the children bring him to the Big House. If not for this event, the story would not take place."The man leaned forward and whispered into her [Rosa's] ear. A look of horror crossed Rosa''s face. She instantly scooped up Matt and ran...Rosa hurried down the steps and dumped Matt roughly onto the lawn. Without a word, she turned and fled back to the house." (pg 24) This quote is the first time that the reader discovers that Matt is different. Rosa is the maid that essentially tortures Matt for three years, leaving him in solitary confinement in the basement of El Patron's house. In this scene, the children bring Matt to the house, and Rosa is treating his wounds when the man whispers something to her, and she throws him out.
"'Matt's a clone," said Steven. Emilia gasped. 'He can't be! He doesn't - I've seen clones. They're horrible! They drool and mess their pants. They make animal noises.' 'This one's different. Benito told me. Technicians are supposed to destroy the minds at birth - it's the law. But El Patron wanted his to grow up like a real boy. He's so rich, he can break any law he wants.'" The children go on talking about clones and how disgusting they are. This kind of sets the scene for the whole book, and is an introduction to why Matt is treated like he is. He is an animal, but he must be respected because he is property of El Patron, and the old man loves him. Anyone who touches Matt would be in serious trouble.
"Matt smiled. He likes El Patron instinctively. There was something so right about the way the old man looked. His eyes were a good color. Matt didn't know why it was s good, only that it was." In this scene, Matt first meets El Patron. El Patron is one of the only people Matt knows who actually likes him, and when the old man's health begins to decline, Matt is constantly at his side. This is the beginning of a very strange relationship, because there is a love between the two, but El Patron still views Matt as a clone, not a human.
"The door handle rattled. Matt squatted on the floor, his heart pounding. Someone put his face against the window, cupping his hands to see through the gloom. Matt froze. He had wanted company, but this was happening too quickly. He felt like Pedro el Conejo in Senor MacGregor's garden." (pg 9) This quote is when Matt is still living in Celia's little home in the poppy fields. It is the beginning of Matt's long adventure. It is after this that he jumps out the window and the children bring him to the Big House. If not for this event, the story would not take place."The man leaned forward and whispered into her [Rosa's] ear. A look of horror crossed Rosa''s face. She instantly scooped up Matt and ran...Rosa hurried down the steps and dumped Matt roughly onto the lawn. Without a word, she turned and fled back to the house." (pg 24) This quote is the first time that the reader discovers that Matt is different. Rosa is the maid that essentially tortures Matt for three years, leaving him in solitary confinement in the basement of El Patron's house. In this scene, the children bring Matt to the house, and Rosa is treating his wounds when the man whispers something to her, and she throws him out.
"'Matt's a clone," said Steven. Emilia gasped. 'He can't be! He doesn't - I've seen clones. They're horrible! They drool and mess their pants. They make animal noises.' 'This one's different. Benito told me. Technicians are supposed to destroy the minds at birth - it's the law. But El Patron wanted his to grow up like a real boy. He's so rich, he can break any law he wants.'" The children go on talking about clones and how disgusting they are. This kind of sets the scene for the whole book, and is an introduction to why Matt is treated like he is. He is an animal, but he must be respected because he is property of El Patron, and the old man loves him. Anyone who touches Matt would be in serious trouble.
"Matt smiled. He likes El Patron instinctively. There was something so right about the way the old man looked. His eyes were a good color. Matt didn't know why it was s good, only that it was." In this scene, Matt first meets El Patron. El Patron is one of the only people Matt knows who actually likes him, and when the old man's health begins to decline, Matt is constantly at his side. This is the beginning of a very strange relationship, because there is a love between the two, but El Patron still views Matt as a clone, not a human.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
New Book!
So my new outside reading book is called The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer. Apparently its the 7th grade outside reading book now, so that really boosts my self confidence in terms of reading level...but those are enriched students, so they're smart. Right?
Anyways, the book so far is really good. Its about Matt, a young boy growing up in Opium, a small strip of land between the United States and Mexico. The story takes place in the future, and the small strip of land between the two countries was established to stop the flow of illegal immigrants going both ways across the border. Matt is a clone, created from a piece of skin from the drug lord El Patrón. El Patrón is 140-something years old, and is one of the only people on earth who loves Matt.
In the future established by this book, clones are seen and treated as animals, and Matt is no exception. For example, Matt leaves his house in a field for the first time when he is six years old, to play with the kids that find his house. He jumps out the window and lands on glass. The children take him to the Big House (where El Patrón and the other servants live). One of the maids, Rosa, immediately begins to pluck the glass out of his foot, trying to help him. The father of the children comes in the room and sees Matt, and announces that he is a clone. As soon as she hears, Rosa backs away from Matt like he is on fire, and leaves the room. Matt is thrown out of the house and left there until he is taken to a room in the basement of the Big House, where he is kept and treated like an animal for three years.
Where I am in the book now, which is not very far, Matt has been saved from his prison in the basement, and is living with his original caregiver, Celia in her apartment. Celia is the head cook for the household, and loves Matt more than anything, affectionately calling him "mi vida", or "my life". Matt is given a bodyguard, Tam Lin, by El Patrón, and lives with him as well. Tam Lin and Matt have a relationship of mutual liking. Tam Lin still sees Matt as a clone, but he treats him like a human, and is kind to him.
Other important characters so far are Tom and Maria. I can't really tell if they are siblings, although I don't believe they are. Tom and Matt hate each other, and are cruel together. Glaring contests are the favorite activity of these two enemies. Maria is the fourth person who actually likes Matt. She first met Matt when he jumped out of the window three or four years earlier. The two have an interesting relationship. Maria looks down upon Matt for being a clone [it is what she has been taught], but she still enjoys his company and likes talking with him. They have a funny relationship, Maria is the only person Matt doesn't mind making fun of him, because he knows she doesn't know any better, and I think that he fancies her.
That is the summary/introduction of/to my book so far. I'm enjoying it, and I guess I'll keep you posted (in order to get my 14 posts in).
Anyways, the book so far is really good. Its about Matt, a young boy growing up in Opium, a small strip of land between the United States and Mexico. The story takes place in the future, and the small strip of land between the two countries was established to stop the flow of illegal immigrants going both ways across the border. Matt is a clone, created from a piece of skin from the drug lord El Patrón. El Patrón is 140-something years old, and is one of the only people on earth who loves Matt.
In the future established by this book, clones are seen and treated as animals, and Matt is no exception. For example, Matt leaves his house in a field for the first time when he is six years old, to play with the kids that find his house. He jumps out the window and lands on glass. The children take him to the Big House (where El Patrón and the other servants live). One of the maids, Rosa, immediately begins to pluck the glass out of his foot, trying to help him. The father of the children comes in the room and sees Matt, and announces that he is a clone. As soon as she hears, Rosa backs away from Matt like he is on fire, and leaves the room. Matt is thrown out of the house and left there until he is taken to a room in the basement of the Big House, where he is kept and treated like an animal for three years.
Where I am in the book now, which is not very far, Matt has been saved from his prison in the basement, and is living with his original caregiver, Celia in her apartment. Celia is the head cook for the household, and loves Matt more than anything, affectionately calling him "mi vida", or "my life". Matt is given a bodyguard, Tam Lin, by El Patrón, and lives with him as well. Tam Lin and Matt have a relationship of mutual liking. Tam Lin still sees Matt as a clone, but he treats him like a human, and is kind to him.
Other important characters so far are Tom and Maria. I can't really tell if they are siblings, although I don't believe they are. Tom and Matt hate each other, and are cruel together. Glaring contests are the favorite activity of these two enemies. Maria is the fourth person who actually likes Matt. She first met Matt when he jumped out of the window three or four years earlier. The two have an interesting relationship. Maria looks down upon Matt for being a clone [it is what she has been taught], but she still enjoys his company and likes talking with him. They have a funny relationship, Maria is the only person Matt doesn't mind making fun of him, because he knows she doesn't know any better, and I think that he fancies her.
That is the summary/introduction of/to my book so far. I'm enjoying it, and I guess I'll keep you posted (in order to get my 14 posts in).
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Interesting Quotes from Water for Elephants!
Okay, so I need some interesting/important quotes in my blog, so here are the ones that I found:
"'You were with the Benzini Brothers? What years?'...'You were there for the stampede?' 'Sure was!' I exclaim...'That's probably the most famous circus disaster of all time.'"
I thought that this quote was interesting because a chapter back, the stampede was described. I felt like I was at the disaster, and I was a part of history [cheesy, I know] It was a very interesting twist, and I really enjoyed it.
"I reach for the napkin, and as I do I catch sight of my hands. They are knobby and crooked, think-skinned, and - like my ruined face - covered with liver spots. My face. I push the porridge aside and open my vanity mirror. I should know better by now, but somehow I still expect to see myself. Instead, I find an Appalachian apple doll, withered and spotty, with dewlaps and bags and long floppy ears. A few strands of white hair spring absurdly from its spotted skull."
This quote is one of many depressing ones said by Jacob in the nursing home. It really shows the fact that he is not comfortable with getting older, and being cooped up in his building really depresses him. He is used to the circus life, being surrounded by people and activity, and now he has to sit in his wheelchair and eat - according to him - disgusting hospital food. Another part in the book that really shows the magnitude to which he misses the 'outside world' is when one of the nurses gives him and apple, and he cries when he tastes it because it has been so long since he has had real food.
"'You were with the Benzini Brothers? What years?'...'You were there for the stampede?' 'Sure was!' I exclaim...'That's probably the most famous circus disaster of all time.'"
I thought that this quote was interesting because a chapter back, the stampede was described. I felt like I was at the disaster, and I was a part of history [cheesy, I know] It was a very interesting twist, and I really enjoyed it.
"I reach for the napkin, and as I do I catch sight of my hands. They are knobby and crooked, think-skinned, and - like my ruined face - covered with liver spots. My face. I push the porridge aside and open my vanity mirror. I should know better by now, but somehow I still expect to see myself. Instead, I find an Appalachian apple doll, withered and spotty, with dewlaps and bags and long floppy ears. A few strands of white hair spring absurdly from its spotted skull."
This quote is one of many depressing ones said by Jacob in the nursing home. It really shows the fact that he is not comfortable with getting older, and being cooped up in his building really depresses him. He is used to the circus life, being surrounded by people and activity, and now he has to sit in his wheelchair and eat - according to him - disgusting hospital food. Another part in the book that really shows the magnitude to which he misses the 'outside world' is when one of the nurses gives him and apple, and he cries when he tastes it because it has been so long since he has had real food.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Sundays SUCK
Especially this Sunday because its the last day of break, and I have this ridiculous Top Ten list that I have to write for English. poop. The only thing I have to look forward to tonight is the Amazing Race, and that's at 7 pm. I have 3 hours and 15 minutes to worry about school and finals and top ten lists and play practice. Ahh this sucks.
So anyways, I finished Fanboy and Gothgirl a few days ago, and it was overall a good book...I was pleasantly surprised. I was also unexpectedly pleased with the ending. I was predicting that the book would finish with everybody unhappy, but it turns out that only Kyra/Gothgirl turns out bad. To sum up the main points, Cal and Fanboy end their feud and become friends again, and Fanboy finally accepts that his mom is pregnant and he is going to have a little sister. At last, he starts to accept his situation at home. The step-fascist is now Tony, and his mom is no longer the nagging, hormonal tyrant.
I would recommend this book if you have spare time and want a reasonably easy read. This book is enjoyable, but its not the best I've ever read.
So anyways, I finished Fanboy and Gothgirl a few days ago, and it was overall a good book...I was pleasantly surprised. I was also unexpectedly pleased with the ending. I was predicting that the book would finish with everybody unhappy, but it turns out that only Kyra/Gothgirl turns out bad. To sum up the main points, Cal and Fanboy end their feud and become friends again, and Fanboy finally accepts that his mom is pregnant and he is going to have a little sister. At last, he starts to accept his situation at home. The step-fascist is now Tony, and his mom is no longer the nagging, hormonal tyrant.
I would recommend this book if you have spare time and want a reasonably easy read. This book is enjoyable, but its not the best I've ever read.
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