The Catcher in the Rye " by J.D Salinger is about a teenage boy named Holden whom gets kicked out of his school and venture into and roams around NYC. By doing this he comes to terms with  growing up and loneliness. There are many symbols trough out the book. For example the ducks in the  central park lagoon and his red hunting cap . But I feel like the most important symbol is the catcher in the rye
               Holden's hat symbolizes his independence. He mentions the hat every time he wears it, symbolic of his desire to mention how independent he is. The fact that he often takes it off when around people he knows shows his conflict between wanting isolation and wanting companionship. It's no coincidence that the hat is the same color as Phoebe and Allie's hair (his brother and sister)
             
               The novel's most important symbol is found in the title. Holden explains to Phoebe that all he wants to be is the catcher in the rye. He pictures himself wearing a giant mitt, ready to catch kids as they fall off a cliff while playing in the rye. The kids represent childhood. The field represents innocence. The fall from the cliff represents the fall from innocence. Holden represents the attempt to shelter kids from growing up, and  represents his desire to avoid the harshness of adult life.
               
                Holden often thinks about where the ducks in the Central Park lagoon go when the lagoon freezes over.  while it might seem to be a relatively childish , the situation of the ducks is the situation that Holden feels he is in. Holden feels as though he was "looking for something his own environment couldn't supply him with." (p169) The idea of the migration of the ducks mirrors Holden's common resolutions to leave New York to find  a better place some where else.
              
                So as you can see the catcher in the rye is layered book with many deep meanings and symbols
                          
                

Poets use literally devices  to give life to there poetry. In the poem called "Please Don't Take My Air Jordan's" by Reg e.Gaines. Gaines use literally devices to retell the theme of the poem. The theme of the poem is greed and selfishness. The type of literally devices the poet uses are similes, metaphors, hyperbole, onomatopoeia ,rhythm and rhyme.

The poem  "Please Don't Take My Air Jordan's" is about a young possibly inner city male who is very selfish and greedy. He eventfully kills and robs and man for a pair of air Jordan's. He justifies his actions by explaining how he needs new clothing or his friends would make fun of. As well that he wont feel good about him self if doesn't have new clothes

Rhythm and rhyme are heavily used throughout the poem to show case the characters motives. Which then in turn show cases greed and selfishness ."but its easy to steal fresh gear from the mall/parents say I shouldn't but I know I should/gota ta do what I can to make sure I look good"(Gaines 11 12)."but I really must get some new gear soon /or my ego will pop like a ten cent balloon" (Gaines 17 18)

The poet uses hyperboles and onomatopoeia  to move the poem along .But also to give more examples of the selfness and greed that is the main character. But to also make the poem more real. "I fired (Pow) he fell between two parked cars" (Gaines 42). "made a left turn on Houston pulled out my gun and screamed/ GIMME THEM JORDANS...and he tried to run"(Gaines 39 40)

As you can see these examples of quotes represents the characters mind state which is selfishness and greediness. Which in turn is the theme of the story. but a lot times these actions actually happen which is very scary.  

Poets use literary devices to give life to there poems. and to give diversity to there writing."im 

stylin...smilin...looking real mean/it aint bout bein heard just bein scene" (gaines).This quotation shows that

 Reg e. gaines wanted to give off a sense of selfishness and greed.But also that culture and using rhyme and 

ryhnem t show case that.The literally devices that the poet uses is rhyme,rhythm,onomatopoeia,simile 

,metaphor,hyperbole to retell the theme.Which is greed and selfishness.

When the poet uses hyperbole.To show the aggregation the main character uses to justifies the crimes he had 

committed."but i really must get some new gear soon/or my ego will pop like a ten cent balloon".This 

example shows how he justifies his crimes.In the real world, many times people blame external factors that 

cause violence and crime.

The author uses onomatopoeia, to give a sense of realism to the poem."I fired (pow) he fell between two 

parked cars".This gives the poem a imagery as well.When using Pow,this is using the sense of hearing.Many 

times poets use onomatopoeia to tell the story of there poem.For example when the poet said the word pow

. It symbolized the sound of the gun.

As you can see. The literary  devices  that reg e. gaines uses help retell his poetry and give of the theme of the poem         

Since im white I cant say the word n****
Even though people consider me a wigga
Nah boy im just urban
I don't know how to keep my mouth shut ,So i just keep blurtin
These curses, these verses are mediocre
I buy these shoes and clothes which are making me broker and broker

Bad are drugs
I aint  gonna rap about shottin slugs or selling nugs
Im a white boy from the slope
I guess I wanna be a rapper
But i dont really care if I dont cuz im a slacker
A lazy ass napper
Monkey slapper

My flo is weak
My futures looking bleak
I gotta get off my ass
And start getting cash
People think im a stoner
But im more of a sociable loner

In the article "Whats the Deal With Iran?" by Patrica Smith,The main idea is about how the new younger generation of Iranians crave and want stronger diplomatic ties with the United States.While the religious clergy that is running the country still detest the United States.Since the 1970's our two countries have been very hostile.Due to the fact that the USA implanted a loyal Shah(king)in the Iranian government.Which caused the capture of 52 US civilians and was held hostage for over 400 days by Islamic fundamentalist.Our diplomatic relationship wasn't helped when Iran began to use nuclear power and refused to stop.  Since there has been one recent successful talk/agreement about shutting down nuclear test many young Iranians are happy that the relations are getting better with the United States.          

  I think the author wants to show that not all Iranians are bad or hate Americans .That were actually very similar to us  and they want to be more like us. I think the author wants you feel some compassion or sympathy to the younger Iranians. Since they live in a oppressive government,but they want more personal freedom like style of clothing,music and activities.Similar things that teens and young adults in the States do.

 Definitely my opinion on Iran has changed. I used to think that they were just a huge warmongering machine and there people are evil. I realized that there people are just people.Who have jobs,family and friends like and normal person here.Now my attitude towards Iranian policies and hostile attitudes towards western countries have not changed,but I now learned that its not okay  to judge a civilian by its countries attitude to my very own county.      

            Cormac McCarthy's novel "The Road" is about a man and his son who

struggle to survive in the empty shell of the United States of America. After a

apocalyptic event that left the land covered in ash .With almost no food and

barely any water made  death  very possible . Death is so prominent that eating

,drinking or people having a exchange of a few kind words is extraordinary. The

major theme of the novel is death.

        

             The man and the boy  struggle to survive. The landscape is covered in ash

and soot . Most living things were killed . Civilization has been completely

destroyed by the big mysterious event . For example, cows are extinct, and the

boy has never ever seen birds or fish. "On the hillsides old crops dead and

flattened. The barren ridgeline trees raw and black in the rain"( McCarthy 18).This

shows that everything dies and will die

 

          Eventually  the reader become aware that the man is dying. "In the night he

woke in the cold dark coughing and he coughed till his chest was raw.... He knelt

there wheezing softly, his hands on his knees. I am going to die, he said. Tell me

how I am to do that"( McCarthy 148) . His death is approaching , his worsening

cough and the increasing amounts of blood he spits out, are evidence of

that.Which adds on to the theme of death or mortality.

 

       

             The color of the scenery and landscape thoroughly represents death. The

overall tone is black and grey . The ash ,the water, the rain , the burnt trees. Bleak

landscape  in general gives and ambiance of death and depression. The

interesting thing about this book is that death is expected and even accepted by

the characters. When the man shot a bandit that was trying to get the boy. He

didn't  give a second thought about shooting him. He just accepted the bandits

death and didn't think twice about it.

One major theme that plays through out Cormac McCarthy's novel "the road" is death.
The man and the boy  struggle to survive, death is the obvious theme because there is a constant threat of murder and running out of food . The landscape is covered in ash and soot . Most living things were killed . Civilization has been completely destroyed by the big mysterious event . For example, cows are extinct, and the boy has never before seen birds or fish. "On the hillsides old crops dead and flattened. The barren ridgeline trees raw and black in the rain". 

Eventually  the reader become aware that the man is dying. "In the night he woke in the cold dark coughing and he coughed till his chest was raw.... He knelt there wheezing softly, his hands on his knees. I am going to die, he said. Tell me how I am to do that" . His death is approaching , his worsening cough and the increasing amounts of blood he spits out, are evidence of that .

The color of the scenery and landscape thoroughly represents death. the overall tone is black and grey . the ash ,the water, the rain , the burnt trees. Bleak landscape  in general gives and ambience of death and depression. The interesting about this book is that death is expected and even accepted by the characters. When the man shot a bandit that was trying to get the boy. he didn't  give a seconded thought about shooting him. He just accepted the bandits death and didn't think twice about it. 

             You Cant There from Her by Todd Strasseris about a group of homeless teenagers in Manhattan who struggle to survive a harsh winters. Maybe (the main character) has to deal with the death of many of her friends during the winter. She lives with a tribe of homeless teens-runaways and throwaways, kids who have no place to go , and no family . They struggle against the cold, hunger, and constant danger. In January come a new girl: Tears, a twelve-year-old whose mother loves her but does not believe Tears when Tears tells her that her stepfather has been sexually abusing her. It becomes  Maybe's mission to get tears off the streets. This book does not use the perspective of the family's of the run always, which I thought would  be a good addition 

             It would be a completely different story if they showed the perspective of the parents or even the siblings.It would give a inside look of how hurt or maybe not hurt there family's  were about there departure.Or what caused the runaways to run away per say. There would be a insight on there old lives.

             If there  was a perspective on the familys it would sure make the plot deeper and more emotional . it would also give more time to give each character more back story , and especially more depth.It could show how traumatized the familys were when there children or sibilings left, it could add more meaningful characters into the mix.   

Many years ago in a time where people still used VCRs and didn't have any concept of what HD was ,my favorite movie was The Nightmare Before Christmas. Every since I was little I always liked creepy and dark things. Maybe my first movie being The Nightmare Before Christmas effected my taste in movies. There was something about that movie I really loved maybe it was the colorful characters or dialogue or even the story but all I no is, that was my first and favorite movie .

            Over  200,00 child soldiers are serving  around the world. over 100,000 child soldiers are serving in Africa. Around 10,000 children were used in the Sierra Leone civil war. Ishmael Beah was one of them. "Long way Gone" by Ishmael Beah is his story of  his time fighting for the  Sierra Leone  Armed Forces  as child solider. This book is very controversial with acts of violence cursing and drugs use sprinkled throughout the book. Which caused many  parents and teachers to call to arms and tried to ban this book  from school libraries . while I do agree that at some points it could be graphic but overall I don't agree that this book should be banned

 

            This book teaches us about redemption. Ishmael was a bright happy boy but as he grew in a world of violence and death he changed dramatically especially when he was recruited in the SLAF. To be frank he was a killing machine Many times  glorify death  and killing . When he was saved by UNICEF and transported to a refugee camp, even though it took work he was able to change and was able to achieve redemption.

 

            Ishmael was able to stay grounded in his time being a child solider   by keeping lessons h learned from his parents and grandparents . even though his mind was lost in a haze of cocaine ,brown brown , weed and violence. another example  him having perseverance is how he walked for weeks at a time to find his family. even  when he was at his lowest and nearly crazy  due to loneliness

 

            Many people may say that these  examples of violence would influence children to commit  other acts of violence . while this may be true if this book was in a different context ,but actually this book is preaching against violence . it shows how violence corrupted Ishmael and eventually at a point  he couldn't even tell it was him due to the acts he had committed 

               

                While many people may say books influence kids to commits acts of violence. but many times people  read these things out of context . Like long way gone is actually about a book of redemption and seconded chances rather than the glorification of violence . I believe Ishmael is trying teach us a lesson of peace rather then violence 

            Over  200,00 child soldiers are serving  around the world. over 100,000 child soldiers are

serving in Africa. Around 10,000 children were used in the Sierra Leone civil war. Ishmael Beah

was one of them. "Long way Gone" by Ishmael Beah is his story of  his time fighting for the 

Sierra Leone  Armed Forces  as child solider. This book is very constiavational with acts of

violence cursing and drugs use sprinkled throughout the book. Which caused many  parents

and teachers to call to arms and tried to ban this book  from school libraries . while i do agree

that at some points it could be graphic but overall I don't agree that this book should be banned

 

            This book teaches us about redemption. Ishmael was a bright happy boy but as he grew

in a world of violence and death he changed dramatically especially when he was recruited in

the SLAF. To be frank he was a killing machine Many times  glorify death  and killing . When he

was saved by UNICEF and transported to a refugee camp, even though it took work he was able

to change and was able to achieve redemption.

 

            Ishmael was able to stay grounded in his time being a child solider   by keeping lessons h

learned from his parents and grandparents . even though his mind was lost in a haze of cocaine

,brown brown , weed and violence. another example  him having perserveence is how he walkd

for weeks at a time to find his family. even  when he was at his lowesstes and nearly crazy  due

to lonelysist

 

            Many people may say that these  examples of violence would influence children to

commit  other acts of violence . while this may be true if this book was in a different context ,

but actually this book is preaching against violence . it shows how violence corrupted Ishmael

and eventually at a point  he couldn't even tell it was him due to the acts he had committed 

                While many people may say books influence kids to commits acts of violence. but many times people  read these things out of context . Like long way gone is acutaly about a book of redeption and seconded chances rather than the glorifaticon of violence . i believe Ismael is tryin teach us a lesson of peace rather then violance 

The Mahdi by rap duo The Underachievers may be there most popular song so far.Made up by Issa Dash and Ak. This duo has rocketed to the top of the semi under ground rap scene with there album  Indigoism and there mix-tape Lords of Flatbush.  Many people associate the underachievers with pot smoking and ,well underachieving. But there goals and beliefs shows the exact opposite, and proves the people with misconceived judgments wrong.  
         For example a lyric in the song Mahdi, "We be that Elevated Mafia".  In many of there songs they state that they are are elevated . That they are on almost a higher plane of thinking. This may be do to the narcotics they use but its whatever. "But I'm guided by the light, no shine. Soldier of the Father but I ain't no Christian,"This sentences show that they believe in a higher power and god  but not really through conventional ways , in other songs they actually bash Organised religion.
           Underachievers, make believers out of heathens. This shows that there goal is to show the haters that they aren't just some thugs from the hood . But people who are trying to change the world hence the fact that they refer to themselves as indigo children. (The heathens are the haters by the way) there name is a sarcastic remark to the remarks the heathens say bout them

One major theme that plays through out Cormac McCarthy's novel "the road" is death.
The man and the boy  struggle to survive, death is the obvious theme because there is a constant threat of murder and running out of food . The landscape is covered in ash and soot . Most living things were killed . Civilization has been completely destroyed by the big mysterious event . For example, cows are extinct, and the boy has never before seen birds or fish. "On the hillsides old crops dead and flattened. The barren ridgeline trees raw and black in the rain".

Eventually  the reader become aware that the man is dying. "In the night he woke in the cold dark coughing and he coughed till his chest was raw.... He knelt there wheezing softly, his hands on his knees. I am going to die, he said. Tell me how I am to do that" . His death is approaching , his worsening cough and the increasing amounts of blood he spits out, are evidence of that .

The color of the scenery and landscape thoroughly represents death. the overall tone is black and grey . the ash ,the water, the rain , the burnt trees. Bleak landscape  in general gives and ambience of death and depression. The interesting about this book is that death is expected and even accepted by the characters. When the man shot a bandit that was trying to get the boy. he didn't  give a seconded thought about shooting him. He just accepted the bandits death and didn't think twice about it. 

In the story Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch,is a story about a boy named Jaffy brown. Who along with his best friend Tim go on a hunt for a mythical dragon in the Dutch east indies for there boss. Along the way Jaffy grows from a boy to a man in a literally sense and emotionally as well. His actions along with his friends and shipmates help him grow through out the story.           In the beginning of the story, Jaffy was just a little kid . Dreaming of sailing on the deep blue sea. Believing when he gets older he would go on many adventures. He was so naïve ,that he patted a tiger on the nose . Without even thinking about the consequences. It took him many years to become street smart and to truly become aware of his surrounding . He learned the meaning of responsibility  and   how to be responsible  from working in Jamrachs menagerie. And he learned how to love from Tim's sister  and how to be a true friend from Tim.          While on the sea adventuring to the east indies he learned how hard life can be. which made him mature ten fold and  a man. His life experiences made him stronger. This book followed Jaffy through out his whole life  through his ups and downs and I discovered how those ups and downs made  him into a man

            During the summer I read the novel "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R

Martin.  In a world were seasons last years at time, the Stark family (the wardens

of the north) battles to keep their family together as politics and darker things try

to rip them apart. The author of this book did a great job to give every character,

great and small  such great  depth. No one character is wholly evil, or good . This

book actually reflects  the real world  maybe not a good light but a true light .

Each character has a motive , whether it be out of honor or revenge. Characters

also have rich histories, explained mostly through dialogue  between characters.

Even details like dialogue and inner thought  are so well done that it seems that

these characters are living breathing  people .          This book had such a big

impression on me that it had me truly think about people and their  actions. Like I

said before, no one is all evil or all good. There's this saying , "Hitler loved dogs ".

If you think deeply it's trying to say even though he committed atrocities he had a

softer side like everybody else . Know I won't judge people by first impression .      

            What I learned from this book is to not judge a book  by its cover whether it

looks  good or bad . I would recommend this book to anyone that loves fantasy

books or novels that have great and memorial characters.