Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Rationalization & WTSD (What They Should've Done)

I am familiar with the concept and characters of Harry Potter through listening to wizard wannabes and hearing about the movies. I own the Sorcerers Stone on DVD. I haven't seen it in 7 years but you've been living under a rock for the past decade and a half if you don't know the general plot of Harry Potter. Its about a kid with dead wizard parents who tends to take the most indirect route to solving his problems. Kind of like parkour and free running. You run and take the most unnecessary path to get from Point A to Point B. Don't get me wrong, I'm really enjoying the book and I love to watch parkour, my brother does it all the time. I just rationalize too much, I guess.

So far, instead of trying to contact anyone when the Dursleys left him at home, he just sat and thought about how strange he is. He is strange, everyone is. He wwent through Hell and Creation for 10 years for a hot dog and a handshake until he was revealed to be a wizard. The Dursleys even knew about this. Why Harry didn't go balistic without an explaination from them is ridiculous. The kid must have self control that no one in this day and age has. He then procedes to not accept that he is a wizard. He tells Hagrid that he's not a wizard. As if Hagrid will go "Okay kid, your right and the best wizard ever is wrong and the kid we're looking for is an identical replica of you but actually has the stones (no pun intended) to go to Hogwarts and leave the demons England calls his guardians."

Look, I might just seem like a hater but I enjoy the book so far. I guess I put it in retrospect that might only apply to me but if you disagree and want a change, do it yourself. This is what I see and it makes sense to me. If you don't like it, make your own retrospective post on Harry Potter or throw it at me in the comments. I'm not here to win a popularity contest, I'm trying to get an A.

Fahrenheit 451: Ray Bradbury Predictions

Ray Bradbury made many predictions for the future of Fahrenheit 451. The year was 1999 and some of the predictions that he made came true. But some of them didn't. One example that came true was automatic lawn sprinklers and irrigation systems. Another prediction he made was the mechanical hounds. This prediction didn't come true and is probably years ahead of where we are now but it was a pretty rational prediction considering the time in which the book was written was also a huge time for change and industry. Things like mechanical hounds were not lucrative in a time like that where change was very much supported.

One of Bradbury's most peculiar predictions is that firemen won't be called on to put out fires, but to start them. The idea that this would happen is both thought provoking and frightening. It scares me that in the future, books would be banned in favor of TV or that firemen cause the devastation they were once trying to prevent. This prediction was wrong but that doesn't mean that it will never happen.

New Book: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

I picked a new book last week and I have to say it's probably one that most people have already finished. I'm starting the Harry Potter series. The book so far is very interesting and I have seen the movie but it was probably 5 years ago. Plus, the movie leaves out some parts that people like to see. I do a better job with these fantasy books because they let my poor visualization skills breathe a little and my imagination can take off. I've had people egging me on about this series for the past couple years and I've finally decided to give it a try.

The book so far, I can tell is going to be pretty good. I like whats going on and the plot is beginning to pick up at a steady rate. I'm about a fourth into it and it looks great. And even though I like as much as I do already, people have told me that this is the worst book in the series. The series must be pretty good if that's the case.

As for my visualization. For some reason, unknown to any, I don't visualize the characters of Harry Potter like they are in the movie. To me, I keep seeing them as the characters from construction paper cutout show South Park. I can't unsee that. I don't know why.

My Favorite Book of Tri 1

A book I really enjoyed from the 1st trimester was I.Q. Book Two: The White House. The book was written by Roland Smith and is the second edition in the I.Q. series. It has the same characters like step siblings Q and Angela, their famous musician parents Blaze and Roger, ancient roadie Boone and his dog Croc, and also features chapters that focus on Angela's biological mother. A secret service agent who's acting as an international taerrorist in an organization called the ghost cell. This book is an action/suspense novel with a new surprise in every chapter. The book cosintently delivers a new twist that falls seamlessly into the story.

The characters develop dramatically throughout the series but this book is what really kicks it off. Q becomes more mature and able to handle the tougher situations. Angela becomes stronger in the face of danger and she becomes more able to cope with her mother's secret. Boone and Croc reveal signs of their supernatural powers and some of the former mossad villains turn face. Eben and Everett, the two antagonists from book one, become allies. Everything changes in this book which makes the reader have to continue the series from book one and made me want to continue reading the series beyond book two and into books three and four

Blogger Reflection

Click here to visit my best blog post. As you can see I thoroughly examined the character Angela Tucker from the I.Q. series. I go in depth talking about how others view her and how she is seen at first glance. But I also prove that looks can be deceiving as she is tough as nails and capable in a pinch and also a great leader to her brother Q. I also explain how she has developed from a helpless vegetarian girl into a strong young woman. I demonstrate her change and show examples of how she has to cope with not only a physical, but emotional toll of being involved in terrorism prevention. I reveal how she has to constantly act as if her mother is dead and how hard that is due to the fact that their parents are double platinum recording artists. I address every portion of the rubric in this post by further introducing the reader to Angela.

One thing that I struggled with during blogging this trimester was trying to apply what I knew from the text without getting too off topic. I've never been great at summarizing text either. I always have to give background information so I can know that what I'm saying is being completely understood. I worked beyond this by using my other posts as references to my newer ones. I assumed that people would understand my posts with less background knowledge if they had read my older ones and to my knowledge most people did. A strength I have with blogging is that I can easily talk what I think and have no problem putting my thoughts on a page. I've never had to find the right words to say something.

 

Theme and Summary

The theme for the IQ series is investigate before you make a conclusion. Q and Angela and the entire country believed that Malak Tucker, Angela's mother, was killed. When Boone, an old spy posing as an ancient roadie revealed that he was a spy connected to helping Malak stop terrorist attacks, it was further proof that eveything isn't what it seems. Boone's revelations were just beginning though as we learned that he has super powers. He can teleport and has mental telepathy with his century old dog, Croc. This old dog didn't learn new tricks but was fine with the ones he knew. He ran like he was in his prime. These secrets would be overwhelming for a couple of teenagers who have been step-siblings for a little over a week but they do a great job of not cracking under pressure. They don't show it on the outside but we know that Q and Angela are overwhelmed at not being able to help besides keeping their mouths shut. And that is a challenge for our day and age. As for Book 2 where a huge plot point emerges, Q and Angela meet the president. They befriend him and figure out that he's an ally of Malak's. They also befriend his son PK. They strengthen their friendship after they save him from being kidnapped but lose the First Daughter in the process. The person who kidnapped the First Daughter? None other than Malak Tucker.

Las Verona

Has anyone else made the connection between Verona and Sin City? I have. A quote from the movie Ocean's Eleven may help us comprehend. Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) says, "In this town, your luck can change just that quickly." This quote universally speaks for Romeo's situation. He was feeling down in the dumps when Rosaline wasn't going to fall in love with him, but then he put down that perfect hand (or so he thought) and fell in love with Juliet. Remember his strength of 20 men rant? Well it seems that he bet too big thinking his winnings would continue. Merely hours after marrying Juliet, he kills Tybalt. This not only strengthens the family's rivalry with the Capulets but sends Romeo to banishment. I guess what happens in Verona doesn't always stay in Verona. He deserved this sentence if you ask me. Juliet's luck also changes instantly as she feels on top of the world after marrying Romeo but when news of the banishment hits her, she turns into a weeping mess just like Romeo. Currently in the story, Juliet is fake dead, but Romeo doesn't know this. He thinks she's dead for real. If Friar Larry doesn't get there in time the inevitable will occur. Remember, Romeo has an illegal dosage of illegal drugs in his pocket. Will their Royal Flush come along?

Wrong Guy....Idiots

Who says that there has to be an antogonist in a story? If you ask me, most stories flip your vision and make the main character the antagonist. Romeo and Juliet for example. Two main antagonists are Tybalt and Paris. Both trying to, by our standards, break Juliet up with Romeo and make her marry Paris. In my mind that means doing the normal thing for the time. Tybalt is just trying to please his uncle and Paris had already impressed Juliet's parents which we his original goal. During this time period, if you impressed the parents enough, you got the bride. I can only imagine how backstabbed he feels by the Capulets and Montegues. He was guaranteed a bride but hit was taken away by a guy who flaunts love around more than a new pair of Jordan's. Tybalt gets literally stabbed and all because he was sticking up for his family. The same issue occurred with slavery. Kids were born into this life, where owning a slave was a good thing. Being responsible for another human being was considered cool. Sure when we look at it now it's wrong but look me in the eye and tell that with it being 1835 you wouldn't buy a slave for your plantation. It's the same way with these 2. Don't get me wrong, some stories have definate antagonists like the Joker and Lex Luthor. But what I'm saying is it isn't fair to call a character an antagonist just because they differ from the hero. In a story like Romeo and Juliet, the antagonists are in the title. They went against every custom that their family had set. They broke poor Paris' heart and stabbed Tybalt. Romeo stole Juliet from Paris and killed someone! Whether it was out of "love" or not, you can't kill someone like that. Romeo is the bad guy and dumb readers like us are looking in the wrong direction.

Tone & Mood

The tone of The Alamo is suspicious and urgent. Everything has to be done quickly and the cost of failing is often times a life. Boone directs the tone because he is the general of the operation when he is serious your serious when Q is serious you wanna laugh. Because Q is a kid. The mood is that of what you'd expect in a spy thriller. Waiting for someone to turn the corner and blast them in the chest sort of thing. It never strays too far from that because it's an action novel anyways.

Character (Redo)

Angela Tucker looks like a scrawny little vegetarian who wouldn't hurt a fly. That statement couldn't be farther from the truth. She is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and isn't afraid to use it when she's in danger. She can elude you too, if your trying to spy on her. She, like all people, improve after experiences, traumatic or relaxing. Angela had been going through life believing her mother had died, when she met her for the first time in a long time, they embraced and shared a heartwarming moment together. Then duty called and Angela had to pretend that her mother was dead again. That can really take a toll on you. Thinking someone you love is gone when they're really not isn't a easy thing to get over. This happens several times over the course of the series but she gets better as it goes on. Angela is able to better cope with the fact that her mother is dead officially as long as she knows she's really alive. She becomes a stronger individual as well as an older sister and leader to Q. She develops herself into a whole new character. From shy and sweet to strong and firm.

What You Can Expect

From the previous books in the IQ series, we see one thing stay consistent, there is a major twist that changes the entire outlook on the series. I can book one, Angela found out her mother was still alive and in book two, we found out the terrorists can climb high in the political ranks. And in book 3 Q's biological father made an appearance wanting to take Q. But the biggest plot twist of all is probably centered around Boone and Croc. As Boone and Croc have been able to teleport and move at fast speeds. This plot has been developing over the course of the series and is hard to predict what may happen next.

 

Reading Skills

I predicted at the end of book 3 that Speed wasn't done. I was proven right as he would surprise everyone by breaking into the coach. Boone apprehended him and had Croc chase him into next Thursday. Croc is allegedly decades old which is creepy and that he can run with the best of them still is very weird. He seems to have a presence more than a being. I predict that sadly, his life will end before the end of the series. Boone revealed a secret of his saying that he does some very unusual things. Superpowers? Magic? Vampire? He was very vague about it but it will come up in the next portion of the series. A few more predictions I can make are that Boone will reveal more about who or what he is and why he is helping. Malak also moved up in the ranks as she saved a chief in the terrorist organization. I can say that she will get even closer in the next book.

The Story So Far: Books 3

Book three is the plot twister in this series. The presidents daughter has been kidnapped and Boone, the ancient roadie/secret spy is in charge of getting her back. This book also really shows how Smith can change the mood of the story in a snap. He reveals huge secrets about Boone and Croc and even more mysteries of Malak's past. And there's even a surprise appearance of someone from Q's past. His fame crazed bio father. He arrives under some strange circumstances. For one, there's a hurricane. Two, Q's dad was supposed to be in rehab. And three, his dad hasn't given a crap about Q for almost a decade. This book is a great installment of the series and I would recommend it to anyone. You can feel many emotions in the book. Curiosity when Q meets his dad and uneasiness when Q and Angela get kidnapped. This book has a good beginning, great middle and fast paced end. Check it out. It's worth it.

Book Recommendations

I can recommend this entire series to any reader. Whether you like a fast, swashbuckling spy thriller or a slow, developing mystery, these books give you a perfect balance. You can get the best of both worlds through the  fast thrill of looking through Malak's eyes or through the developing story of Q and Angela. It's a great series and doesn't drop it's tone through any of the books granted they span over a couple of days. Roland Smith is my favorite writer and delivers time and time again, just like he has here. He develops each character so you can assume how they can react in the situation they are put in. The books kind of plugs you into different genres from mystery, to action in the blink if an eye in the change of point of view. 

Characters

Angela Tucker looks like a scrawny little vegetarian who wouldn't hurt a fly. That statement couldn't be farther from the truth. She is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and isn't afraid to use it when she's in danger. She can elude you too, if your trying to spy on her. She, like all people, improve after experiences, traumatic or relaxing. Angela had been going through life believing her mother had died, when she met her for the first time in a long time, they embraced and shared a heartwarming moment together. Then duty called and Angela had to pretend that her mother was dead again. That can really take a toll on you. Thinking someone you love is gone when they're really not isn't a easy thing to get over. This happens several times over the course of the series but she gets better as it goes on.

Story So Far (Books 1&2)

Earlier in the I.Q. Series by Roland Smith: Q and Angela's single parents married each other making them step siblings. They were scheduled to travel the country in a tour bus. When Q stumbled upon an old roadie, Boone, and his ancient dog, Croc they get more than they bargained for as Q and Angela learn that Boone is not a roadie, but an off the grid spy. Angela also learns that Boone knows a secret about her thought to be deceased mother. When they encounter their first bad guy, Angela springs into action with her expert Tae Kwon Do while Q used his quick thinking to elude the rogue agent Eben Lavi. When the sibs finally ditch Eben, they meet a very familiar face, Malak Tucker. Angela's mother. When Q and Angela get back to their parents, they're informed that the parents are performing at the White House (The parents are platinum recording artists known together as Match).      The kids befriend the son of the president, his name is PK. Together, Q and Angela try to uncover who in the White House is possibly working within a terrorist cell known as the Ghost Cell. When the sibs uncover the terrorists they are faced with the threat of death when Malak makes a surprise  appearance saving Q, Angela and PK. But to keep her cover as part of the ghost cell she has to kidnap the presidents daughter.

Kasey’s Reading Blog

            The theme of American Shaolin is that if you can see your dream, you can have it. Over the course of the book, Matthew Polly, a 98 pound weakling from Kansas struggles against adversity from his parents, friends and his competition. He doesn’t quit or leave; he refuses to go home a failure and will not let those who doubted him be proven right. He takes hits from all places to all places but keeps coming back and will not let his dreams be crushed. Matthew learned a lot on his two year trip. He learned to never doubt himself and never to give up no matter what lies ahead. He learned that he can in fact control his destiny and no one can stop him but himself.  By the end of his trip he had fulfilled his dream of becoming a feared fighter and discovered what his real dream was,” I wanted to be good at something, anything…what I wanted was to love something, as fiercely as [the monk] loved Shaolin Kung fu” (Polly 361)
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/apr/28/featuresreviews.guardianreview10 

 

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