"Gossip Girl" by: Cecily von Ziegesar

"Gossip Girl" by: Cecily von Ziegesar

SPOILER ALERT!!!

     The book "Gossip Girl" by: Cecily von Ziegesar is so interesting, and it's always leaving you in need of more! In the very beginning of the book, drama hits from the bat. I think that a main, or major lesson in this book is sex, and how it can screw everything up. As well as, bring you closer to someone. I think that this lesson was intentionally brought up by Ziegesar by using drama, to pull the reader in. And then teach them almost, unnoticeable lessons along the way.

     So anyway, in the beginning of the book Blair Waldorf [one of the main characters] hosts a party alongside her mother Eleanor Waldorf. This party is a welcome back to school party, The Waldorfs are very rich. Along with every upper east sider in this book. Many people attend this party, and Blair's boyfriend, Nate Archibald also attends. Blair wants her life to be like a movie, and she would play the "good girl." At this party, Blair all of the sudden wants to have sex with Nate, Blair wanted to make it special, because she thought she cared about losing her virginity to the right person. She tried to lose her virginity to Nate, but he wasn't ready and they got in a fight. After that, Blair was so upset with Nate that she lost her virginity to Chuck Bass, son of the multi millionaire Bartholemu Bass [Bart Bass]. Chuck was a party guy, and went to bars to drink all the time. Chuck was vicious and dirty, Later in the story when everyone finds out that Blair slept with Chuck. It really shows that having sex with one wrong person, especially losing your virginity to them, can really mess up everything in your life. You can lose friends, you can get pregnant and not know what to do, ect...

     Another thing that adds on the the dangers of sex, is that Serena Van der Woodsen, [Blairs best friend]. Had sex with Blairs boyfriend Nate, and they both never told anyone. Nate still secretly has feelings for Serena, but Serena was drunk and doesn't even really care about Nate in a romantic way. Later in the story, when Blair finds out that Serena slept with Nate she is furious! For a long time , Blair won't even look at Serena, let alone talk to her. What Serena did was , in Blair's eyes unforgivable. I don't think I would be able to forgive Serena either. But after a really long while, a long road of back stabbing and arguments. Blair and Serena work things out. The whole scandal is still brought up, and even though things are unwinding. There is a whole new storm rising.

     Sex can benefit in someones like as well... 

But there is no need to get into that, seeing as the lesson in the first few chapters of this book how sleeping with someone can ruin things in your life. Which is true in many way... BUT, it is also the way we reproduce! I think that all that really matters, is WHEN you do "The deed" and WHOM you do it with. Which is exactly was Ziegesar is trying to get across!

     

      

      

Response to Responses!

     I thought that the way Katia wrote her blog was very nice, She used just enough detail about the book "Shadow And Bone" To show how interesting it is, and to pull you in. But not to much to the point where she would be spoiling anything. The way she describes it in her own words as a twisted and dark fantasy is so mysterious. Her short summary is the perfect length and is explained really well. And she also kind of hints a change that goes on with the main character.WELL DONE!

     A different reading response that I liked, was about the same book I had written my response on The Steve Jobs biography by Karen Blumenthal. It was much more simple than Katia's response, which can be good and bad. In this case I thought that it lacked a little bit of spice. Charlotte could have added in a  more personal or detailed intake on key parts of the story! NOT trying to be mean or anything. Simple is nice, don't get me wrong. I do like how she mentions Pixar and apple as some main focuses in the story. BRAVO!

     Malach's blog post was VERY neat, and well planned out. I LOVE how Malach started with a question. Malach's book is "Battle Royal", and the question is "What was your reaction to Battle Royale Koushun Takami? How was Battle Royale similar, and different compared to the The Hunger Games Suzzane Collins?".

I think this question is a great question, and leaves a lot of room for a multi paragraph response. Malach, wrote different paragraphs each with there own theme tying back to the main question. He wrote about how Battle Royale was similar to the Hunger Games. How it was different, And also something that I really liked, was how he wrote a paragraph on the character change. WONDERFUL!

     Many of the kids in the class went full out on there responses ;)  

     

Steve Jobs-The man who thought different: A biography

     Over the summer I read the book "Steve Jobs-The man who thought different: A biography" By Karen Blumenthal. This is an extraordinary book, It's all about The journey of this amazing man who produced one of the first computers that could sit on your desk a home, and actually do something by itself. Most of the book is focusing around the memorable speech that Jobs gave at a Stanford college graduation ceremony. In this speech he tells three stories to the graduates. 3 different stories of love, loss, & mortality.

      Steve Jobs is portrayed as a super human in this book. But also how some people thought of Jobs as a petulant or mean boss. They mentioned that he had a bad temper and would yell at workers often. Other people thought of him as iconic and honer able. From reading the book, I think of him as more of an iconic figure because of all of the things he accomplished.

     He created one of the first self sufficient computers. He also produced the apple iphone , the ipod touch , the ipad, itunes & he was the founder of Pixar, a company that produces many animated films. Steve jobs changed animated movies a lot by combining technology and art to revolutionize the animation industry. Some very well known movies created by Pixar are Toy Story 1,2 & 3. Finding Nemo, The Incredibles. And many more movies that are very popular today.
     Over all, this book told me a lot about Steve Jobs & how he started to make computers, and changed the world substantially!