My Last Blog!
Through my AP English class this year, I have learned that I am a respectful mind. In discussions during class, I have realized that there are many different ways that people in my class think and differences in beliefs. I have always kept and open mind to these different points of view and I try to learn from the many differences. Even when I didn't agree with people especially when working in groups I would listen to what they had to say and respectfully analyze it and look at a problem through the other persons viewpoint. I exhibited curiosity through my poll in my blog. I was curious to see what other people thought and if the majority of people agreed with me or did not agree. I learned that the majority of people did not agree that books are better than movies. During class, saw other points of view when working on multiple choice problems and when having discussions over difficult questions. I always tried to keep an open mind to what others had to say. When I would hear what others thought, I would challenge my own thoughts about the same subject. Sometimes I changed what I thought, and sometimes I stayed firm in what I originally thought. What I learned that surprised me most was that alot of time and effort has to go in to making a blog. It is extremely difficult to keep up regular postings, but succeeding in this is a great accomplishment.

Books by Nicholas Sparks made into Movies.wmv

Nicholas Sparks books happen to be most often converted into movies, and supprisngly, most of them convert well. His major books that have been taken and made into movies are A Walk to Remember, Message in a Bottle, The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John, and most recently, The Last Song. One movie that I saw before reading the book is The Notebook. When I first saw the movie, I was in love with the story line. It was romantic and sad all rapped in one unbelievably heart wrenching story! This is how i felt as a movie-goer experiencing this plot for the first time. I'm sure the people who read the book first may have been disappointed with changes, but I personally loved the movie. I believe that your like or dislike of a movie or book will come from which you see or read first and ultimately, it just comes down to which you prefer.

I was thinking today, and why would a director of a movie try to change the plot of a top-selling story. Wouldn't you think that if a book it selling millions of copies the movie would get good ratings if it followed the same plot. I was thinking that maybe it is to throw the avid readers for a loop or so that the ending isn't spoiled, but this isn't really what the reader wants. I realize that it is often difficult to change some action books like The Twilight Saga and The Harry Potter series accuratly into movies because of some of the unrealistic plots, but if it can't be accurately made into a movie then it shouldn't be made into a movie at all! Remaking a book into a movie is like putting together a puzzle. If any piece is lost, then there is no point in doing it at all because the final outcome won't be right.

Often times, teens especially are turned off by books because they take days or even weeks, depending on how devoted of a reader you are, to finish. Movies on the other hand are over in a matter of a few hours. I agree that books take up loads of time, but this also helps the story come to life through your own imagination. It seems that less and less teens are reading and more are watching movies because of a lack of time, but many people would be surprised at how quickly they can finish a book once they dig into it. I was originally turned off by books because the ones i had read in school usually made me want to rip my eyes out, but reading a book for enjoyment and for a grade are two polar opposites. If you don't believe me, then find a movie that you enjoy and if it has a corresponding book, read it. I'm positive the book will be better!

Through the rankings on my poll, I have started to see that many people enjoy watching movies instead of reading books. I agree that movies are a much quicker and more efficient way to learn a story, but a book is more of an adventure. Although I do not have a problem with movies in general, I do have a problem with books being revised into movies. I do not believe that I am the only person who believes this and Richard Corliss backs me up in his article in Time Magazine. He says that there is "a risk involved" in converting books to movies. He is correct in his statement. Many devote readers do not like copycat movies because they have drawn up and imagined every character and every scene in their own minds and every little change in this is a tradgedy. Because of this, readers become extremely critical of every little decision the director of a movie makes. It is like walking on a bed of nails, which is a postion that I would not like to be in. I believe that books are best when left as books and movies should be composed of original ideas.

So far I haven't had many votes on my poll, but the results have come back 50/50. If you're unsure of which you enjoy more, I suggest that you read a book that has been revised into a movie and see which you like better. This may help you to make up your mind. If you just haven't voted yet please do so I can get accurate feedback!

At this point in time, I am reading a book entitled Songs of the Humpback Whale, by Jodi Picoult. She has many books including My Sister's Keeper and many more. I am on a task to read all of her books and I am almost done. I have already read a plethora of books by Picoult and I only have about 4 left. I am hoping that by the end of the summer I can finish all of them. Another author who seems to be very popular right now is Nicholas Sparks. Just today, I have seen multiple classmates who are reading books by him (A Bend in the Road, Dear John, and The Last Song). Two of these three books have been revised and made into movies. I went to see Dear John in theatres and was disappointed so when the Last Song came out, I passed up many invites to see it. I don't want any more books to be ruined by an inadequate movie that lessens my view of the book.

My Sister's Keeper (2009) - Trailer #1 [720p HD QUALITY]

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate - a life and a role that she has never questioned… until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister - and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable… a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life… even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less?

This is a short synopsis of the book My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. When i read the book, I fell in love with the story and I have since read all of Jodi Picoult's books. Obviously, when i found out about the movie that was being made, I was extremely excited, but later disappointed when I saw the movie. I have included a synopsis of the book and a video trailer of the movie. I'll let you decide which you find to seem to be more worthwhile.

Within the past year, the book, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, was released as a movie. I personally thought the book was the most touching stories I have ever read. To be honest, I sobbed through the last few chapters. I highly recommend the book if you haven't already read it, but if someone asked me how i liked the movie, I would have a different recommendation. First off, the director completely rewrote the ending to the movie which was a huge disappointment to me as I'm sure it was to many others who fell in love with Picoult's book. Also, I had my own ideas about the characters: the way they looked, talked, and their personalities. The movie changed these ideas and I did not like that. I may be biased in evaluating the movie because I have read the book, so any discrepencies ruined the movie for me personally. I have started to think that remaking books into movies is not a good idea because it is near impossible to get right.

With all of the new technologies, there are many ways in which to entertain yourself. Some people enjoy to go old school and settle down with a book. Others believe that books are a waste of time and that a movie takes less time to finish and is much more enjoyable. I personally think that books, with their many details and vivid images, are more worthwhile than movies. Books give the reader a chance to use his/her imagination, while movies leave nothing for the imagination. So now I've expressed how i feel, but which do you prefer?