Ain't No Sunshine

All Summer in a Day

Ray Bradbury story, "All Summer in a day", is about a little girl named Margot. She is form the planet Earth, but she lives in planet Venus where it always rain. Every 7 years the sun came out for only one hour. She was very exited to see the sun for the first time since she left her home in Earth. The other kids didn't believed her that she have seeing the sun so they lock her up in a closet. Just after that, the rain stop and everyone went to play outside in the sun, everyone except for Margot. The kid had a lot of fun outside playing tag and hide-and-seek but mostly, they enjoyed the sun. An hour passed by and the kids began to feel raindrops on their faces. It began to rain again for 7 years more and the sunshine was now gone. The kids went inside and unlock the closet door where Margot was and let her out.

Bradbury uses a very good imagery and that helps the reader imagine what the place and characters looks like. 

It was the color of rubber and ash, this jungle, from the many years without sun.  It was the color of stones and white cheeses and ink, and it was the color of the moon (3).

With this detailed description the reader can imagine the jungle as the author wants us to. It describes the plants as if they were colorless or have very light colors like white and grey. The setting is a very important part in this story and Bradbury use a very strong imagery to describe it and that is what makes it so good. But Bradbury doesn't only use imagery in his stories, he  also use characterisation to describe the characters. In this story he uses characterisation to describe the main character, Margot.

She was a very frail girl who

looked as if she had been lost in the rain for

years and the rain had washed out the blue
from her eyes and the red from her mouth

and the yellow from her hair. She was an old

photograph dusted from an album, whitened

away, and if she spoke at all her voice would

be a ghost (2).



While reading this part you can visualise exactly hoe the girl look. Also it kind of demonstrates how she feels, sad and lost.

This story is fun to read but at the same time is a little sad. These both emotions helps us determine some really good messages that the story leave us think about. The message that seemed the best one to me was to be grateful for the things you have, before they are gone. This story is a great short story thanks to the strong imagery and the detailed characterisation.


Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers:

When I read this story, it reminded my of this  song 

that talks that there is no sunshine, just like in Margot's case 

because when she was gone, she didn't had sunshine 

Release...

It wasn't a normal day in Jonas’ society, it was an UNSCHEDULED HOLIDAY! Jonas went to look for his friend Asher and he found him playing in the park with Fiona and other kids. When he got closer he realized they were playing a war game. Jonas told Asher to stop playing that horrible game but Asher didn't understand why. That night, Father told the rest of the family that the next day will be a very important day because he will release one of the 2 new born twins. The next day in Jonas’ training, the Giver told Jonas about the fail of the last Receiver. Her name was Rosemary, she was chosen, just like Jonas, and the Giver had to give her psychological pain. After 5 weeks since she begun her training, she asked for released and all the memories that she had went back to the people. The Giver asked Jonas if he wanted to the video of the release of the twin. In the video they saw that Father weight the 2 babies and he handed the heavier baby to his assistant and she left the room. Then, Father took a syringe with a clear liquid and he start to inject the liquid to the baby. After that Jonas realised that release meant kill. Then Father put the little baby into a carton container and thew it away. Jonas was shocked and now he didn't want to go back home so he stayed with the Giver that night. They wanted to change the things in the society so they made a very clever plan....

He killed it! My father killed it! (150)

This part of the book shocked me. I have being wondering what was release and now he finally know that release means to KILL! When I read this part I thought that Jonas' father kills babies for living and for him there isn't anything bad with it. He don't know what he is doing because he don't have memories that shows he that what he is doing is wrong and because Jonas has some memories, he was affected when he saw that his father killed a new born child.

Theses last chapters have being very interesting. I want to see what happens next. I look forward  to finish the book soon. Some questions I have are: Will Jonas tell his mother about this? What will happen to Lily and Gabe? The Giver's plan will succeed? what will the giver do when Jonas is gone? What will happen if he is suffering because he is feeling pain, there will not be anyone to transmit the memory to.

What do YOU think will happen?

Balance

Weeks went by and Jonas had learned many things such as the name of COLORS. Now Jonas sees a glimpse of colors sometimes. Jonas thinks that isn't fair that they don't have colors any more. Jonas tried to give the memory of colors but Asher didn't saw them. Next the Giver transmitted Jonas the memory of hunters killing an elephant. That day, Jonas told Lily that elephants really existed but Lily didn't believed him.Then the Giver explained Jonas why their job is so important and it is because the Committee of Elders need the Giver memories to help them solve problems that they didn't know how to solve on their own. Some days, the Giver sent Jonas back to his home instead of training because he was in pain. One day Jonas asked what caused him so much pain and the Giver transmitted him a memory where he was on the sled but tis time was different, now he got hurt and felt pain for the first time!! After that, the Giver started giving Jonas more painful memories. One day, Jonas took baby Gabe to sleep in his room. That night, Jonas gave bay Gabe a memory that was a bright day in a lake and in that lake there were little sailboats. Jonas didn't tell the Giver that he did this. Some days later, he went to his training but he gas going to be send away but he asked that Giver if he could help him. The Giver transmitted the memory that had being causing him pain. The memory was about a war! When the Giver finished transmitting the memory he told Jonas to forgive him. The next several days, the Giver had being giving memories of pleasure like a birthday party, family, Christmas, LOVE.

The Giver was gentle with him for many days following the terrible memory of war. (121)

I found this quote ideal to express what are some of my thoughts I had on these last chapters. I think that this quote has to do with the theme Pain vs. Pleasure. What the author is trying to say is that there should be a balanced between pain and pleasure. It isn't good to have too much pain or too much pleasure. it is good to have a balance of both.

I really enjoyed reading these chapters. I can't wait to continue reading the book next year. If I have learned something from these last chapters it would be that there should be a balanced between pain and pleasure.

PAIN.....

I really enjoy reading chapters 9-12. A lot of things happened during these chapters. Jonas felt apart for the first time, he felt different. That same day he got the instructions for his new assignment as the receiver of memory. There weren’t as much rules and instructions as in the other assignments. Some of the rules here that he couldn’t apply for any medicine if it had some thing to do with his training, he could skip dream telling, he couldn’t be released and he could LIE. The next day Jonas and the rest of his friend had their first day of training for their new assignments. Jonas got to the Annex where it was his training. When he entered to the room, here were a lot of books on the walls and a man sitting on a chair, that man was the Giver (the old Receiver of Memory). The Giver told Jonas to lie down in the bed so he can give him the memory of snow. Jonas enjoyed the snow.Then the Giver have him the memory of sunshine and sunburn. In the memory of the sunburn he felt pain. The next day Jonas lied for the first time, he told his mother that he didn’t dreamed any thing but he dreamed with snow.
Then Jonas and Fiona where going to their training together. When Fiona was entering to the House of the Old, he notices that something had changed in Fiona’s hair. Jonas told his to the Giver and he told Jonas that he is starting to see the colour red. Then the Giver was going to give him the memory of the RAINBOW.

“It hurt a lot,” Jonas said, “but I’m glad you gave to me. It was interesting. And now I understand better, what it meant, that there will be pain.” (86)

This quote left me with some questions and predictions. Some of the questions I have are, if this was on the first day, how will it be further on? Will he be fine at the end? Does Jonas will suffer too much with his training? A prediction I made is that each time the memories will become more painful and less pleasurable. 

I’m enjoying reading this book. I want to finish it soon. I feel a little sorry for Jonas because he needs to suffer in order to accomplish his new assignment. But, even though Jonas was feeling pain, he was glad that the Giver gave him those memories and he was very thankful. 

Chapters 5-8 ;)

On chapters 5-8 there have being a lot of things going on. In chapter 5 Jonas had for the first time Stirrings and also it was the first time he took pills to control those Stirrings.

 In chapter 6 the ceremonies started. First was the ceremony of One where the new children were given their names and family units. There Jonas and Asher were talking about the loss of a 4 because the couple that lost their child were getting a new one.

 In chapter 7 the ceremony of 12 started. Every body got their assignments except for Jonas.

In chapter 8, the Chief Elder told every one that Jonas didn't got his assignment because he was the selected.  in other words, he was the new Receiver.

 "'Asher,' she said, 'thank you for your childhood'" 
I loved this quote. When I was reading it caught my attention because even though she says that to everyone, it makes them feel special, or at least, that is what I think. She had being observing them since they were born. She had seen them grow their hole life. But still I have one question, does  she really mean it?


I have like these last chapters, specially chapter 8. I look forward to continue reading because from my lasts experiences, I know that when you read more the book, it becomes more interesting. I predict that Jonas will finally understand what is the Capacity to See Beyond and that he has that ability and he will be a good student and he will learn all the things that the Giver will taught him and very fast.

My Thoughts About The Giver Chapters 1-4

In the last 4 chapters many things have happened. In chapter 1, the author presents the characters which are: Jonas (main character), Lily (Jonas' sister), father (Jonas' father), mother (Jonas' mother) and Asher (Jonas' best friend). Also they talk about some special ceremonies that happened every December. The ceremonies consisted in every child turning a certain number according to their age and in every ceremony something happens for example in the ceremony of 9 the kids revive their bicycle. The ceremony of 12 was the most important of them all, they receive their assignments. Jonas is feeling apprehensive because he will be 12 soon and he doesn't even have a clue of what will his assignment be.

In the second chapter they continue talking of the ceremonies. Also father and Jonas were talking of how he got his assignment of Nurture. He also told Jonas how the elders choose the assignments for every kid. The Elders watch every kid that is 11 very carefully to see what they like so they will choose a better job for the kid. 

In chapter 3, Jonas' father brought a baby from work that may be released (we don't know what release means or if it is good or not) and he found out his name even though it was against the rules. The babies name was Gabriel and he had deep blue eyes just like Jonas. Also Jonas was remembering what happened once he stole an apple from the recreation area and he was playing with Asher throw and catch. Jonas view the apple change several times so he took it home to examine it. Then, there was an announcement that reminded all the 11s that they can't take objects from the recreation area, this announcement was specifically for Jonas.

In chapter 4, Jonas is  looking for Asher who was doing volunteer hours. If they didn't complete their volunteer hours they will not get their assignments. Jonas found Asher's bicycle at the House of the Old. He went in to complete his volunteer hours and to be with Asher. Asher was helping the old to take a bath. Jonas joined him and when he was cleaning Larissa (an old lady that lived there) she told Jonas that today they cerebrate the release of Roberto, he had a great life and he told his life before being released. Also she told him when they released Edna, she wasn't very smart, she was a birth mother and she didn't had a family unit. Jonas asked Larissa where did they go when they are released but she didn't know. 

"We celebrate a release this morning, that always throws the schedule off a little, so things get backed up."(28). This a very interesting quote that caught my attention while reading. It also left me with some questions. One of those questions is if being released is a good thing or bad thing? because they talk in the book of both ways. For example in the first chapters Jonas said to Asher that he will be released  and then he had to apologies to Asher for saying that but in chapter 4 they are celebrating the release of Roberto and it  seems that they are happy for that. Another question I have is where do they go when they are released?  do they kill them? or they set them free? I think that when we keep on reading the book we will have more answers.


To conclude, I want to tell you that this is a great book that I look forward to finishing as soon as possible. Even though I'm still in chapter 4 I am having a lot of fun reading it in class with my teacher and classmates. A prediction I have is that Jonas' father is keeping a secret about baby Gabe because he looks very worried about the release of this baby and the rest of babies the have been released he has not worried so much about. Maybe the secret is about the relationship between Gabe and Jonas because  both have deep blue eyes and that is very strange in that community. Also I predict that something will happen in the ceremony that will change his life forever  (besides his new assignment). This event will make him get away from the ones he love like this family and Asher. Those are some of my predictions of what will happen next in the book.

Pre-Reading

The Giver

I think that the book will be about a perfect society. In this perfect socitey there wasn't wars, pain or fear but the people in the society didnt had chooses neither. Everything was controlled. In this society  lives a boy named Jonas. Jonas is a 12 year old boy that will be trained by a very wise man called The Giver. The Giver knows the truth about life, that means that he had felt pain and fear before. now he have to show Jonas the truth.

When Lowry says "For all the children to whom we entrust the future." she is saying that the book is for all the kids that believe in the future. I think that she is stating this because it might have something to do with the book. In the book maybe that the main character (Jonas) have to believe in the future and that everything is going tho be just fine. 

A prediction that I can make about this book is that there is a "perfect" society were everyone thinks they are happy, but they don't realise that they are being controlled. Then Jonas will be taught the truth about the world and what it was like before when they had chooses by a man called The Giver. After he teaches all he knows, Jonas will have to led a rebellion to free the society from these  control.