Exceptional Reading Responses

Today I read Zozi's blog post about the book he read called "In The Times of Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez. His response first struck me when he wrote of the part in which the dictator, Trujillo, tries to ruin the family's lives. He kills off most of her family, then forces her sister to work for him, and then Dede's, the main character, best friend tries to assassinate him. This part was what really drew me in. The truth that loyalty, even in a time like this, can overcome most everything. Even when things are looking so down, so deserted, so alone, Dede finds hope can help her through. The one things you never think is possible can happen. Her best friend tries to save them. It's so shocking to me because Trujillo is a murderer, who would gladly murder Dede's whole family and then sabotage them yet again, and I would be terrified of him. But Dede's friend tries to assassinate him, and that is friendship. It's almost like a movie, it's so unrealistic. In a movie, a person always saves someone in the end, and I never believed that could happen in real life. But it did. And now I will always have hope.

Next, I read Naomi B.'s response to "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" by Mark Haddon. It was interesting to read this response, because I've read this book before and loved it. However, Naomi pointed out some things I didn't notice when I read the book. Like how the prime numbers and graphs are not just something he likes to do for fun, but they show a way of mapping out his own life when his dad can't listen. I also agree with the dad having a lot to deal with, having an autistic son and all, as well as being a single parent. It must cause a lot of stress.