Sunday

The Glass Castle Post #2

Loaded Words
1.raucous (page 71) The author uses this word to show the extreme harshness of the fight between Rex and Rose Mary.
2.wheedle (page 76) The author uses this word to express how Jeanettes' mother could be easily persuaded by Rex when he said the right things.
3.searing( page 79) The author uses this word to really emphasize how hot it was.
4. hunch (page 87) The author uses this word to show the Jeanette had more than a thought because it was her intuition that made her think so.
5.cojones (page 88) The author uses this word to show the amount of courage Billy thought Jeanette lacked.
6.flourish (page 93) The author uses this word explain how much Rose Mary's art career will grow when they move to a more urban area.
7.canopied (page 95) The author uses this word to demonstrate how many trees there were covering the sky over the streets.
8.wondrous (page 100) The author uses this word to express how fortunate the Walls' were when they purchased all of their new appliances.
9.spongy (page 101) The author uses this word to give the reader an idea of how dingy the floor was.
10.coexist (page 101) The author uses this word to explain that the Walls' will continue to live with the bug infestation, not harm them.
Summary:
In the Second section of the book, The Glass Castle, The Walls family lives in Battle Mountain. Jeanette's dad got a job as an electrician and her mom was working non-stop on art and writing. The Walls children were enrolled in the Mary S. Black Elementary school. Six monthes later Rex lost his job. One night Mr. and Mrs. Walls got into a huge argument that was quite the spectacle for all the neighbors, Mrs Walls ended up hanging out the window. The next morning Rose Mary went to begin a job at the Elementary school. Jeanette was raped by a boy named Billy. The family ran out of money and decided to move to Phoenix with Rex's mother.
Reaction:
At this point in the story i am very frustrated with Rex. I don't like his ability to keep messing things up for the family. I really want him to leave the family so the rest of them can get their life in order.

The Glass Castle Post #1

Summary:
Throughout the first section of the novel, The Glass Castle, Jeanette Walls spots her poverished mother digging through garbage in the streets of New York. She continues to drive by without acknowledging her mother. The rest of the first section of the novel Jeanette is reflecting on her childhood. She recalls the time she was cooking hot dogs, at age three, when her dress caught up in flames her mother rushed to use the neighbors phone, because the Walls' did not own their own, and then rushed her to the hospital. After about six weeks in the hospital Jeanettes' father, Rex, snuck her out of the hospital. The Walls family which consisted of Rex, Rose Mary, her mother, Lori, her older sister, and her younger brother, Brian, were always on the move, usually during the middle of the night. Her father was afraid he was being chased by the FBI. The Walls family would live in scattered, old towns usually in Nevada or Arizona. During all of this time running around the coutry Rex was determined to find gold and strike-it-rich. He worked on numberous projects, which rarely ever worked. However, the project he was most determined to accomplish was the Glass Castle. A home made entierly of glass where they could hapilly live and stay there. While on their way to the desert to live for a while they were driving over some railroad tracks when the back door flew open, Jeanette flew out as the car continued to drive. Hours later the "Green Caboose", what they had called their car, came rolling down the road ahead. Her father explained that Brian was trying to explained what had happened, but he was blubbering so they could not understand him. The Walls' moved to Las Vegas for about a month before they moved to the "Tenderloin District" of San Francisco. They lived in a hotel for a little bit before sleeping in the "Green Caboose" along the beach. They left San Francisco and headed to the Mojave Desert. After a while of living In Midland her mother announced that she was pregnant. The Walls children had come to understand not to expect anything for Christmas, as they did not have very much money. This Christmas was different, one by one Rex took out his children to the middle of the desert and had each of them pick their favorite star and explained to them they could have it for "keeps". The Walls moved to Blyth. A few months after living in Blyth Jeanettes mother gave birth to Lilly Ruth Maureen, however they would just call her Maureen. Her father decided they would move to Battle Montain, Nevada. So they rented a U-haul with the four children riding illegally in the back.
Reaction:
I believe i will enjoy this book. I am already captivated by the non-stop excitment of the Walls family excursions. I like the story being told from the perspective of Jeanette, she seems as though she will have very interesting opinions on her family. I am beginning to get frustrated with Rex Walls, he seems very controlling as though he is the only one that is "right". I suspect he has an interesting past, which will be revealed later in the story. I am on the fence about Lori, i don't know how much i will enjoy her character in throughout the story, she seems a bit bland, and uneventful. On the contrary i believe Brian will develop into an interesting character. I am thrilled to continue to read about Jeanette, i don't understand her, which i find very intruiging for her position in her family.

Wednesday

One goal for myself in my sophomore year is ...

One goal for myself in my sophmore year is to succeed in what i do. I would love to exel in academics and sports, continuing to push myself even more than i have previous years. As well as succeeding academically and in sports i would like to succeed as a regular high shcool student. Another goal i have for myself in my sophmore year is to become a leader, and to set an example for those around me.

The thing I am most anxious about at Edina High School is...

The thing I am most anxious about at Edina High School is not having the comfort of two days to complete your homework. I wouldn't call myself a procrastinator, but i certainly am not used to doing things the second i have a chance to. I feel like this could be a challenge realizing that with many other extra curriculars going on i will need to complete homework during my limited free time. I am anxious to see how i will succeed at managing my time wisely.