The Pact” by Jodi Picoult
I finished reading the book, pages 315-500, for this blog. A lot of things happened that I didn’t expect. Chris goes to jail and has many troubling encounters with other prisoners. I think it’s because prison is such a different environment than the charmed life he’s used to living. He has to wait around in jail and Jordan, his lawyer, and his mom go to visit him. His dad comes at first, but then stops visiting Chris after he decides not to testify. I think it’s very selfish of Chris’s dad, James, not to testify. James even admits the reason he won’t testify is because he just wants it to go away because he wants his perfect life. He needs to be there for his son. At the trial, Jordan uses the defense of saying that it was going to be a double suicide, even though Chris told Jordan he wasn’t going to kill himself. Jordan said that it was ok and that he didn’t want to know the truth. I think this is a bad way to practice law. You should always want the truth to come out and justice to be served. Jordan uses the suicide defense the whole trial, but Chris unexpectedly demands to take the stand. Jordan doesn’t want him to because then the truth will come out and ruin his defense. Despite this, Chris still takes the stand. He says that he was with Emily and she wanted to kill herself. She took the gun and pointed it at her own head, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Chris said that he could see and feel her pain, so he felt he owed it to her to help put her out of her misery. He took the gun and held it to her head, but he couldn’t shoot her. Emily put her hand up to the gun and the gun went off and killed her. Chris isn’t sure if it was his motion or hers that set off the gun, so he doesn’t know if he killed her. That would be such an awful thing to live with. I think it would be worse than knowing for a fact one way or the other because you would always be wondering. In the end, the jury found Chris not guilty.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2 Blog #9
“The Pact” by Jodi Picoult
For this blog I’m going to write about a new book called The Pact. So far I’ve read through page 315. The story is about two teenagers who have seemingly perfect lives. They are wealthy, live privileged lives and are in love with each other. The two teens are Chris and Emily. They’ve grown up together and have always been expected to fall in love and get married. They belong together. Everything is going fine until the police find Emily and Chris together. Emily’s dead and Chris was with her with a gun. Now, Chris is in jail awaiting a trial and his lawyer, family, and Emily’s family desperately want to know what happened. Chris first claimed it was a suicide pact, but now the story is changing. There was a huge twist of Emily being pregnant which no one knew about. I’m not sure if Chris did it. I think he might have because that’s what the evidence points to. The gun was at an angle that Emily would not have held it at and he’s the only one who was with her when she died. Also, it’s been revealed to the reader that Emily wasn’t sure she wanted to be with Chris. She knew she was supposed to because that’s what everyone expected and that’s how Chris felt. She didn’t like being with him and felt he was more of a brother than a boyfriend. She felt she couldn’t share this because it would hurt Chris a lot and she didn’t want to. Also, it would shatter everyone’s expectations. I can’t imagine being in her place it would be awful to choose between two awful things: devastating your best friend or living unhappily. I think Chris knew Emily didn’t like him romantically and so he killed her. She was his whole world, but she wasn’t in love with him.
For this blog I’m going to write about a new book called The Pact. So far I’ve read through page 315. The story is about two teenagers who have seemingly perfect lives. They are wealthy, live privileged lives and are in love with each other. The two teens are Chris and Emily. They’ve grown up together and have always been expected to fall in love and get married. They belong together. Everything is going fine until the police find Emily and Chris together. Emily’s dead and Chris was with her with a gun. Now, Chris is in jail awaiting a trial and his lawyer, family, and Emily’s family desperately want to know what happened. Chris first claimed it was a suicide pact, but now the story is changing. There was a huge twist of Emily being pregnant which no one knew about. I’m not sure if Chris did it. I think he might have because that’s what the evidence points to. The gun was at an angle that Emily would not have held it at and he’s the only one who was with her when she died. Also, it’s been revealed to the reader that Emily wasn’t sure she wanted to be with Chris. She knew she was supposed to because that’s what everyone expected and that’s how Chris felt. She didn’t like being with him and felt he was more of a brother than a boyfriend. She felt she couldn’t share this because it would hurt Chris a lot and she didn’t want to. Also, it would shatter everyone’s expectations. I can’t imagine being in her place it would be awful to choose between two awful things: devastating your best friend or living unhappily. I think Chris knew Emily didn’t like him romantically and so he killed her. She was his whole world, but she wasn’t in love with him.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
2 Blog #8
“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen
For this blog I’m going to write about pages 200-331, the ending of the book. There are a lot of shocking things in this passage. Firstly, August hits Marlena so Marlena leaves him for good. This surprised me because I thought Marlena would never be free and that her love with Jacob would always be forbidden. After she leaves August, Jacob learns that August is paranoid schizophrenic and that is the reason for his crazy mood swings. I don’t fully believe this excuse. It is realistic to think that people had the disorder and it went untreated in the 1930’s, but it seems like a very convenient excuse for his behavior. August chases after Marlena and will not stop pursuing her. I would be very scared of August if he were chasing after me because he is so unpredictable. During a performance all the animals get loose and the elephant kills August. I didn’t expect this because at the time it seemed like everything was going badly for Jacob and I thought things would continue on in this way. Meanwhile, the present day elderly Jacob seems to be getting sicker. He becomes senile and gets very scared. I would be scared too if I couldn’t remember things I just did. Jacob’s family is supposed to take him to the circus, but they forget. It’s very heartbreaking because it was the one thing he had to look forward to. Despite their absence, Jacob goes to the circus alone, something he’s not supposed to do. He meets the circus manager who agrees to let Jacob go along with the circus on the road. I didn’t like the ending very much. It didn’t tie up loose ends and it came out of nowhere. I also don’t like not knowing what exactly happens to Jacob at the new circus.
For this blog I’m going to write about pages 200-331, the ending of the book. There are a lot of shocking things in this passage. Firstly, August hits Marlena so Marlena leaves him for good. This surprised me because I thought Marlena would never be free and that her love with Jacob would always be forbidden. After she leaves August, Jacob learns that August is paranoid schizophrenic and that is the reason for his crazy mood swings. I don’t fully believe this excuse. It is realistic to think that people had the disorder and it went untreated in the 1930’s, but it seems like a very convenient excuse for his behavior. August chases after Marlena and will not stop pursuing her. I would be very scared of August if he were chasing after me because he is so unpredictable. During a performance all the animals get loose and the elephant kills August. I didn’t expect this because at the time it seemed like everything was going badly for Jacob and I thought things would continue on in this way. Meanwhile, the present day elderly Jacob seems to be getting sicker. He becomes senile and gets very scared. I would be scared too if I couldn’t remember things I just did. Jacob’s family is supposed to take him to the circus, but they forget. It’s very heartbreaking because it was the one thing he had to look forward to. Despite their absence, Jacob goes to the circus alone, something he’s not supposed to do. He meets the circus manager who agrees to let Jacob go along with the circus on the road. I didn’t like the ending very much. It didn’t tie up loose ends and it came out of nowhere. I also don’t like not knowing what exactly happens to Jacob at the new circus.
Friday, December 26, 2008
2 Blog #7
“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen
This week I read pages 130-200. A lot happens in this passage. The elephant, Rosie, has been a problem in the circus because she is not very cooperative. Contrary to my prediction, Jacob and August have not had a big fight about the elephant yet. August invites Jacob out dancing with himself and Marlena. While they are dancing the police come to bust the place for liquor, which is illegal. While they are running out August gets separated from Jacob and Marlena. Jacob and Marlena stand in the alley and kiss. This confirms my prediction of a romantic relationship between Marlena and Jacob. August pretends to not know about their chemistry, but I think he knows because he’s always saying things that hint at their relationship. I don’t know why he hasn’t done anything to harm Jacob yet because he seems like a very impulsive and violent man. Besides this event, Jacob’s friend Camel gets very sick. Camel is paralyzed and can’t move his legs. When Jacob finds out he gets a doctor for Camel and lets him stay in his room. Jacob’s roommate Kinko is surprisingly understanding since Jacob and Kinko don’t get along. I think this is the beginning of a new friendship with Kinko and that Kinko has finally lost his unfriendly shell. Kinko says it’s ok for Camel to stay in the room even though it is against the rules. If the boss finds out he’ll throw Camel off the train to a certain death. I predict that August will find out about Camel since he seems to know everything about the circus. August will either hold it over Jacob’s head or get Jacob in a lot of trouble for it.
This week I read pages 130-200. A lot happens in this passage. The elephant, Rosie, has been a problem in the circus because she is not very cooperative. Contrary to my prediction, Jacob and August have not had a big fight about the elephant yet. August invites Jacob out dancing with himself and Marlena. While they are dancing the police come to bust the place for liquor, which is illegal. While they are running out August gets separated from Jacob and Marlena. Jacob and Marlena stand in the alley and kiss. This confirms my prediction of a romantic relationship between Marlena and Jacob. August pretends to not know about their chemistry, but I think he knows because he’s always saying things that hint at their relationship. I don’t know why he hasn’t done anything to harm Jacob yet because he seems like a very impulsive and violent man. Besides this event, Jacob’s friend Camel gets very sick. Camel is paralyzed and can’t move his legs. When Jacob finds out he gets a doctor for Camel and lets him stay in his room. Jacob’s roommate Kinko is surprisingly understanding since Jacob and Kinko don’t get along. I think this is the beginning of a new friendship with Kinko and that Kinko has finally lost his unfriendly shell. Kinko says it’s ok for Camel to stay in the room even though it is against the rules. If the boss finds out he’ll throw Camel off the train to a certain death. I predict that August will find out about Camel since he seems to know everything about the circus. August will either hold it over Jacob’s head or get Jacob in a lot of trouble for it.
Monday, December 15, 2008
2 Blog #6
“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen
This week I read pages 105-130. The passage starts with Jacob in current times in the nursing home. Jacob is woken up by a nurse. I’m kind of confused if the story of the circus is Jacob’s dream or if it is just a separate story since it seems to go along with the dream, but it is a true story. The nurse tells Jacob that his family is coming that day to take him to the circus. I predict that Jacob’s family will forget to visit him and take him to the circus because it would add to Jacob’s image as a very lonely and sad man. The passage then goes back in time to when Jacob was working for the circus. August is getting meaner and meaner. It turns out he fed Marlena’s horse’s remains other animals. Marlena is mad at August, but August doesn’t understand why. This shows how uncompassionate he is. Also, this confirms my prediction that that’s what August would do with the horse. August gets into a fight with another worker named Pete. Later, August says that he found food for the hungry cats. I think he killed Pete and fed him to the cats. This has been suggested before in the book and after the incident with the horse, I don’t put it past August. Jacob also gets in a fight with August where August gets very mad and yells at Jacob. I predict this is a precursor to a big fight between them. In the end of the passage, the circus gets a new elephant, but they are told the elephant is useless. I predict this will be the root of the problem between August and Jacob since they will both have to deal with it.
This week I read pages 105-130. The passage starts with Jacob in current times in the nursing home. Jacob is woken up by a nurse. I’m kind of confused if the story of the circus is Jacob’s dream or if it is just a separate story since it seems to go along with the dream, but it is a true story. The nurse tells Jacob that his family is coming that day to take him to the circus. I predict that Jacob’s family will forget to visit him and take him to the circus because it would add to Jacob’s image as a very lonely and sad man. The passage then goes back in time to when Jacob was working for the circus. August is getting meaner and meaner. It turns out he fed Marlena’s horse’s remains other animals. Marlena is mad at August, but August doesn’t understand why. This shows how uncompassionate he is. Also, this confirms my prediction that that’s what August would do with the horse. August gets into a fight with another worker named Pete. Later, August says that he found food for the hungry cats. I think he killed Pete and fed him to the cats. This has been suggested before in the book and after the incident with the horse, I don’t put it past August. Jacob also gets in a fight with August where August gets very mad and yells at Jacob. I predict this is a precursor to a big fight between them. In the end of the passage, the circus gets a new elephant, but they are told the elephant is useless. I predict this will be the root of the problem between August and Jacob since they will both have to deal with it.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
2 Blog #5
“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen
This week I read pages 90-105. August invites Jacob to have a fancy dinner with Marlena, the horse trainer Jacob likes, and himself. Marlena is in a relationship with August. Jacob has had past risky situations that August has put him into. While at dinner the three have cheerful conversation and eat gourmet food while dressed in luxurious clothes. August gets drunk and then starts dancing with Marlena. Suddenly, August hits Marlena and then passes out. Jacob is shocked, but Marlena says that is just August’s personality. She tells Jacob to be careful of August because he can be very cruel. This enforces the idea I had that Jacob will get into trouble. Now, I think August will try to hurt Jacob. Later, Jacob has to put down Marlena’s horse. Jacob is very concerned for Marlena and August sees Jacob’s concern. This is another reason for my prediction that August will hurt Jacob. August doesn’t want Jacob to take Marlena. This passage really showed how scary August is even though he seems kind because of his charm. I think he doesn’t actually care for Marlena. He just wants to use her. At the end of this passage, August says, speaking of the circus, “The whole thing’s an illusion, Jacob, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s what people want from us. It’s what they expect.” I think this is foreshadowing that Jacob is going to start to see the “real” circus. He’s going to be exposed to more risky, dangerous, and not glamorous situations.
This week I read pages 90-105. August invites Jacob to have a fancy dinner with Marlena, the horse trainer Jacob likes, and himself. Marlena is in a relationship with August. Jacob has had past risky situations that August has put him into. While at dinner the three have cheerful conversation and eat gourmet food while dressed in luxurious clothes. August gets drunk and then starts dancing with Marlena. Suddenly, August hits Marlena and then passes out. Jacob is shocked, but Marlena says that is just August’s personality. She tells Jacob to be careful of August because he can be very cruel. This enforces the idea I had that Jacob will get into trouble. Now, I think August will try to hurt Jacob. Later, Jacob has to put down Marlena’s horse. Jacob is very concerned for Marlena and August sees Jacob’s concern. This is another reason for my prediction that August will hurt Jacob. August doesn’t want Jacob to take Marlena. This passage really showed how scary August is even though he seems kind because of his charm. I think he doesn’t actually care for Marlena. He just wants to use her. At the end of this passage, August says, speaking of the circus, “The whole thing’s an illusion, Jacob, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s what people want from us. It’s what they expect.” I think this is foreshadowing that Jacob is going to start to see the “real” circus. He’s going to be exposed to more risky, dangerous, and not glamorous situations.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Two Annotated Ethics Sources
Is assisted suicide ethical for the terminally ill?
Lavi, Shai. “How Dying Became a ‘Life Crisis.’” Daedalus 137 (2008): 57. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. Edina High School. 6 Dec. 2008.
The author is a teacher at Tel Aviv University where he teaches law and sociology. He wrote a book on euthanasia that won the 2006 Distinguished Book Award from the American Sociological Association. This article appeared in Daedalus, a journal published by MIT and the official journal of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He writes about the progression of the medical treatment of death over time and explores the reason for the change in the treatment of death. Lavi writes that death and the pain and way in which people die has not changed over time; only people’s desire for control over death has changed. In the past doctors would even abandon patients when they thought the patients were beyond help. Now, people seek to have lots of control over medical practices as technology advances. Euthanasia comes from people seeking control over their deaths. The author comes to question what role a doctor has in treating the patient and if the doctor’s role is to treat the patient as the patient wishes or to give the patient constant hope.
Welch, William M. “Debate Rages in Calif. Over Physician-Assisted Suicide.” USA Today 10 Apr. 2007:n.p. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. Edina High School. 6 Dec. 2008.
Welch is a reporter for USA Today. This article questions doctors’ involvement in assisted suicides, but not as much as some of the others. He not only reports on the recent event of debating about assisted suicide in California, but also on the background of both sides of the debate. He writes that Oregon is the only state to allow assisted suicide. Oregon only allows assisted suicide for people with less than six months to live. One concern he suggests is that people will kill themselves for reasons other than pain. People will kill themselves because they are depressed and it is hard to tell what the reason for assisted suicide is. He also says assisted suicide is questionable because of doctors’ ethics. It is against doctors’ ethics and some believe it is overall unethical for doctors to prescribe medicine for the sole purpose of killing a patient.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec98/suicide_11-24.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec99/suicide_10-27.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/october99/assisted_suicide3.html
Lavi, Shai. “How Dying Became a ‘Life Crisis.’” Daedalus 137 (2008): 57. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. Edina High School. 6 Dec. 2008
The author is a teacher at Tel Aviv University where he teaches law and sociology. He wrote a book on euthanasia that won the 2006 Distinguished Book Award from the American Sociological Association. This article appeared in Daedalus, a journal published by MIT and the official journal of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He writes about the progression of the medical treatment of death over time and explores the reason for the change in the treatment of death. Lavi writes that death and the pain and way in which people die has not changed over time; only people’s desire for control over death has changed. In the past doctors would even abandon patients when they thought the patients were beyond help. Now, people seek to have lots of control over medical practices as technology advances. Euthanasia comes from people seeking control over their deaths. The author comes to question what role a doctor has in treating the patient and if the doctor’s role is to treat the patient as the patient wishes or to give the patient constant hope.
Welch, William M. “Debate Rages in Calif. Over Physician-Assisted Suicide.” USA Today 10 Apr. 2007:n.p. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. Edina High School. 6 Dec. 2008
Welch is a reporter for USA Today. This article questions doctors’ involvement in assisted suicides, but not as much as some of the others. He not only reports on the recent event of debating about assisted suicide in California, but also on the background of both sides of the debate. He writes that Oregon is the only state to allow assisted suicide. Oregon only allows assisted suicide for people with less than six months to live. One concern he suggests is that people will kill themselves for reasons other than pain. People will kill themselves because they are depressed and it is hard to tell what the reason for assisted suicide is. He also says assisted suicide is questionable because of doctors’ ethics. It is against doctors’ ethics and some believe it is overall unethical for doctors to prescribe medicine for the sole purpose of killing a patient.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec98/suicide_11-24.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec99/suicide_10-27.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/october99/assisted_suicide3.html
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