September 10, 2017 - Reading Log #1 // A Dog's Purpose By W. Bruce Cameron Topic Choice 1 - Characters
In the book, A Dog's Purpose, it's about a touching story of a dog's many lives. The main characters are Bailey and Ethan. In Bailey's second life, he comes to meet a stranger who hours later leaves him in a hot car to go drinking. He was found by Ethan's mom who brought him home. Bailey is a mischievous dog and is extremely affectionate with his human family. When summer was over and Ethan had to go back to school, Bailey felt bored so he "... scratched the door, chewed on some shoes, ripped his dog bed, and found a trash bag full of clothing and tore it open." Bailey hates being alone and would rather occupancy someone. He didn't understand why he was being called a "bad" dog since he was "accidentally" locked in the garage and had nothing to do. He loves to play with Ethan, make him happy, and be there to comfort him when his parents are arguing. Ethan, on the other hand, is a sweet, good, lovable boy. On page 82, Bailey says that, "Todd was different from Ethan. He liked to play games in the creek with matches, burning plastic toys, like Linda's dolls. Ethan would participate, but he didn't laugh as much as odd." In other words this means that Ethan doesn't take an interest in the rough things that Todd does. I can infer that he isn't the kid that stirs up trouble and is a kind, genuine kid.
In the book, A Dog's Purpose, it's about a touching story of a dog's many lives. The main characters are Bailey and Ethan. In Bailey's second life, he comes to meet a stranger who hours later leaves him in a hot car to go drinking. He was found by Ethan's mom who brought him home. Bailey is a mischievous dog and is extremely affectionate with his human family. When summer was over and Ethan had to go back to school, Bailey felt bored so he "... scratched the door, chewed on some shoes, ripped his dog bed, and found a trash bag full of clothing and tore it open." Bailey hates being alone and would rather occupancy someone. He didn't understand why he was being called a "bad" dog since he was "accidentally" locked in the garage and had nothing to do. He loves to play with Ethan, make him happy, and be there to comfort him when his parents are arguing. Ethan, on the other hand, is a sweet, good, lovable boy. On page 82, Bailey says that, "Todd was different from Ethan. He liked to play games in the creek with matches, burning plastic toys, like Linda's dolls. Ethan would participate, but he didn't laugh as much as odd." In other words this means that Ethan doesn't take an interest in the rough things that Todd does. I can infer that he isn't the kid that stirs up trouble and is a kind, genuine kid.
September 23, 2017 - Reading Log #2 // A Dog's Purpose By W. Bruce Cameron Topic Choice 4 - Literary Elements and Devices
The author uses foreshadowing to describe to us what kind of person Todd is. Todd was originally Ethan's friend but as they grew older, they seem to have grown apart from one another since they have different interests. When Todd was little. "he liked to play games in the creek with matches, and burning plastic toys." (82) This literary element was used to signify the future because it showed that Todd was sort of a violent kid which led to him later in his teenage years burning down Ethan's house. Todd is often seen as the kid who was always left out in games since he often didn't fit in. One day when Bailey was wondering farther than usual, Todd lured Bailey into his home. Bailey states that, "He held out his hand to me, 'Come on boy' he said... What could I do? I was compelled to do what a person told me. I lowered my head and followed." (83) It was unclear what Todd's intentions were since Bailey escaped. As the years past, Todd seems to have stepped out of Ethan's life until now. The reason why Todd played a big role in Ethan's life was that he was the reason why Ethan wasn't able to play football anymore. Ethan learns about a time where Todd lies to Hannah saying that he already has a girlfriend, and confronts him in public. Feeling humiliated and embarrassed, he lashes out his anger by trying to burn Ethan's house down. Ethan broke his window so that he can jump out through there but then later jumps and lands on the pile of glass which resulted in Ethan getting seriously injured and changes his life forever. We never see Todd ever again so we don't know why he was so violent or did the activities that he did. The author's purpose to integrate this literary element is so that we could have some background information about Todd and not be so surprised at what Todd did.
The author uses foreshadowing to describe to us what kind of person Todd is. Todd was originally Ethan's friend but as they grew older, they seem to have grown apart from one another since they have different interests. When Todd was little. "he liked to play games in the creek with matches, and burning plastic toys." (82) This literary element was used to signify the future because it showed that Todd was sort of a violent kid which led to him later in his teenage years burning down Ethan's house. Todd is often seen as the kid who was always left out in games since he often didn't fit in. One day when Bailey was wondering farther than usual, Todd lured Bailey into his home. Bailey states that, "He held out his hand to me, 'Come on boy' he said... What could I do? I was compelled to do what a person told me. I lowered my head and followed." (83) It was unclear what Todd's intentions were since Bailey escaped. As the years past, Todd seems to have stepped out of Ethan's life until now. The reason why Todd played a big role in Ethan's life was that he was the reason why Ethan wasn't able to play football anymore. Ethan learns about a time where Todd lies to Hannah saying that he already has a girlfriend, and confronts him in public. Feeling humiliated and embarrassed, he lashes out his anger by trying to burn Ethan's house down. Ethan broke his window so that he can jump out through there but then later jumps and lands on the pile of glass which resulted in Ethan getting seriously injured and changes his life forever. We never see Todd ever again so we don't know why he was so violent or did the activities that he did. The author's purpose to integrate this literary element is so that we could have some background information about Todd and not be so surprised at what Todd did.
October 14, 2017 - Reading Log #3 // A Dog's Journey By W. Bruce Cameron Topic Choice 5 - GATE Depth & Complexity Icons + Content Imperative
The events that had have happened in Clarity's life recently and her pass had contributed to her decision to stay at the hospice. Her mother, in which she calls Gloria, had recently passed away and she feels like her obligations are over now. Clarity tells Fran, a nun there, that "this isn't suicide, its acceptance (326)." When Clarity was a teenager she had an eating disorder which later messed up her kidney and was the reason why she was unable to have children. Trent, her husband, had also died a year earlier. Trent was her best friend growing up and had been always there for her when she needed. Clarity explained that, "Through everything that happened, and it was was no picnic, with my transplant and the immunosuppressants and the trips to the emergency room, he was always my rock (316)." She wants to control what happens, and where and when. She had recently stopped dialysis and said that it was the best decision she had ever made because she feels that she has so much more freedom now. Clarity wants to leave when her body chooses to and doesn't want anything artificial extending it. A few days later, she came to the building to live. Toby could sense that she is getting weaker and more ill than ever. All the things that had happened to her, her choices in her life have all contributed to her decision to be here and her passing in the spring.
The events that had have happened in Clarity's life recently and her pass had contributed to her decision to stay at the hospice. Her mother, in which she calls Gloria, had recently passed away and she feels like her obligations are over now. Clarity tells Fran, a nun there, that "this isn't suicide, its acceptance (326)." When Clarity was a teenager she had an eating disorder which later messed up her kidney and was the reason why she was unable to have children. Trent, her husband, had also died a year earlier. Trent was her best friend growing up and had been always there for her when she needed. Clarity explained that, "Through everything that happened, and it was was no picnic, with my transplant and the immunosuppressants and the trips to the emergency room, he was always my rock (316)." She wants to control what happens, and where and when. She had recently stopped dialysis and said that it was the best decision she had ever made because she feels that she has so much more freedom now. Clarity wants to leave when her body chooses to and doesn't want anything artificial extending it. A few days later, she came to the building to live. Toby could sense that she is getting weaker and more ill than ever. All the things that had happened to her, her choices in her life have all contributed to her decision to be here and her passing in the spring.
