First Quarter Outside Reading Book Review
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. Scholastic Inc., 2000. Genre: Fiction-Fantasy
Harry Potter, the boy who lived, as he’s known in the mystical world, is living through his past along with trying to survive in the present. While living at the Hogwarts School, Harry was chosen illegally out of the students who volunteered to participate in a life-risking event. In this game, Harry Potter muse endure tasks such as dragon fighting along with being a part in the life as a teenager. While battling his biggest enemy Voldemort, Harry has to manage trying to keep a good relationship with his friends and classmates along with finding himself and surviving.
“This is the pivotal fourth novel in the seven part tale of Harry Potter's training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at the Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened in a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen year old wizard. Unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal - even by wizarding standards.” (The book jacket) “And in his case, different can be deadly”.
“The details are as ingenious and original as ever.... Rowling plants the red herrings, the artful clues and tricky surprises that disarm the most attentive audience.” (Publisher’s Weekly)
J.K. Rowling really wrote the descriptions and details about the setting and characters very well. From the visions through Harry’s eyes and the great imagery about the “Goblet” games, she precisely allowed you to imagine as if you were there.Like other books of the adventures of Harry Potter and like his life, the author brings you along to the fantasy world with witches and wizards where you will never know what to expect on the next page.
“Breathing hard and fast, Harry looked around him. Not one of the witches and wizards in the room (and there was at least two hundred of them) was looking at him. Not one of them seemed to notice that a fourteen year-old boy had just dropped from the ceiling into their midst. Harry turned to the wizard next to him on the bench and uttered a loud cry of surprised that reverberated around the silent room.” (585)
I love reading the Harry Potter series. The story is always unexpecting and adventurous and J.K. Rowling always knows how to keep me reading. I have previously read the three books that were written before the Goblet of Fire and also watched the movies on numerous occasions. For the most part, I think the author is brilliant in her writing and coming up with such a great and suspenseful group of books. Once I finish the series, I wouldn’t doubt that I would reread them again someday.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
The Music Leads to A Pass
In my opinion, I believe that people today don’t value simple moments or even objects as much as they should. With that in mind, simple moments like the feeling of hot water running down your body when you turn on the shower, are not praised and noticed as much as a store bought item like your favorite necklace or bag. This has been upraised when I came to the thought of not having either of those things, what life would be like, and realized, people today truly don’t value those little moments that can make our lives happier, better, and memorable as it comes by.
The ball rolled in front of my body as I was sprinting down the field. Quickly and with ease, I cradled the ball and started dribbling down the field. Looking for an open teammate, I dodged the opponent before they knew I went by them.
Finally I saw one of my girls in her orange and black jersey calling “Ball! Ball!” Pivoting slightly just to get my aim just right, I pulled the ball back with my stick, stepped, and slapped the ball diagonally across the field hockey field. Luckily, I made the perfect pass and kept running. The ball was moving quickly down the field. I noticed my teammate was in need of a support and I cut to the ball making myself as an option. I was so close to the goal and just feet away from the pass. The ball came back to me and without thinking, passed it back and the ball flew into the goal. The final point went up on the scoreboard. We won! The tigers swarmed us around the goal jumping with excitement. Eventually we calmed down and shook hands, congratulating our defenders of their great effort but the feeling inside us was still boiling with exhilaration. Nothing could replace that feeling of accomplishment and strength of putting that ball in the net.
It was close to ten o’clock by the time my eyes finally opened and I was awake. My feet touched the floor before my body could react to waking up. In maybe, a quarter of a second, I had my slippers and sweatshirt on running downstairs yelling, “It’s Christmas!” Dashing down the stairs, I missed nearly half of the steps but kept my balance.
I remembered what I had asked for and hoped it was in one of those boxes. I saw it hiding under the tree. Ripping the paper off, I knew what it was instantly. My new Ipod. It glistened in its square case; I hoped it would since it hadn’t been touched yet. I broke the band that was keeping it together as I undid the box to release the Ipod from its holder. Ignoring the other presents waiting to have the same feeling of being opened, I sat in the corner just praising the silver object. The screen reflected my wide eyes just before I pushed the button to turn it on. The 30 GB, silver and white, never before touched Ipod came to life as the screen lit up with the push of the play button. It was all mine now and ready to be put to use.
I adore both my Ipod and that feeling I still remember of winning. Mostly in different ways but there are a lot of similarities of how much I love both. My Ipod keeps me sane and makes me move just by playing every type of music you can think of. When my feelings get in my way, I turn it on and my mind is back to the way it should be. That feeling of winning is similar because when I’m on the verge of breaking down and the sensation of losing comes over me, the last winning goal makes me forget about all of those harsh feelings. In my opinion, I do think I could live without my music player, but life just would not be the same without the art of music in my ears and the same with that winning accomplishment. I don’t think life would ever be the same without the works of luck and skill when it comes to winning however; I value the fact that I have that. Also, I try my hardest whenever I can to keep that winning feeling in mind during games and even practice.
Even though there is the chance of breaking or losing my Ipod, or losing a game, I still value both of these things since there isn’t much that can match to the feelings two give me.
The ball rolled in front of my body as I was sprinting down the field. Quickly and with ease, I cradled the ball and started dribbling down the field. Looking for an open teammate, I dodged the opponent before they knew I went by them.
Finally I saw one of my girls in her orange and black jersey calling “Ball! Ball!” Pivoting slightly just to get my aim just right, I pulled the ball back with my stick, stepped, and slapped the ball diagonally across the field hockey field. Luckily, I made the perfect pass and kept running. The ball was moving quickly down the field. I noticed my teammate was in need of a support and I cut to the ball making myself as an option. I was so close to the goal and just feet away from the pass. The ball came back to me and without thinking, passed it back and the ball flew into the goal. The final point went up on the scoreboard. We won! The tigers swarmed us around the goal jumping with excitement. Eventually we calmed down and shook hands, congratulating our defenders of their great effort but the feeling inside us was still boiling with exhilaration. Nothing could replace that feeling of accomplishment and strength of putting that ball in the net.
It was close to ten o’clock by the time my eyes finally opened and I was awake. My feet touched the floor before my body could react to waking up. In maybe, a quarter of a second, I had my slippers and sweatshirt on running downstairs yelling, “It’s Christmas!” Dashing down the stairs, I missed nearly half of the steps but kept my balance.
I remembered what I had asked for and hoped it was in one of those boxes. I saw it hiding under the tree. Ripping the paper off, I knew what it was instantly. My new Ipod. It glistened in its square case; I hoped it would since it hadn’t been touched yet. I broke the band that was keeping it together as I undid the box to release the Ipod from its holder. Ignoring the other presents waiting to have the same feeling of being opened, I sat in the corner just praising the silver object. The screen reflected my wide eyes just before I pushed the button to turn it on. The 30 GB, silver and white, never before touched Ipod came to life as the screen lit up with the push of the play button. It was all mine now and ready to be put to use.
I adore both my Ipod and that feeling I still remember of winning. Mostly in different ways but there are a lot of similarities of how much I love both. My Ipod keeps me sane and makes me move just by playing every type of music you can think of. When my feelings get in my way, I turn it on and my mind is back to the way it should be. That feeling of winning is similar because when I’m on the verge of breaking down and the sensation of losing comes over me, the last winning goal makes me forget about all of those harsh feelings. In my opinion, I do think I could live without my music player, but life just would not be the same without the art of music in my ears and the same with that winning accomplishment. I don’t think life would ever be the same without the works of luck and skill when it comes to winning however; I value the fact that I have that. Also, I try my hardest whenever I can to keep that winning feeling in mind during games and even practice.
Even though there is the chance of breaking or losing my Ipod, or losing a game, I still value both of these things since there isn’t much that can match to the feelings two give me.
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