Overall, I thought this was an excellent book about a person who was against the world. It teaches us about how there is people out there to support and love us even when we aren't the normal or even a clone. I am going to post the back of this book just so I can look back and show you exaclty how it is bland compared to the book. The book is detailed. It shows all the emotions, and its one of those books that you can truly picture like a movie. This book has sadness, an evil plot, romance, and an escape story.
I would deffinatly recommend this book to anyone that feels like a book they cant put down. It is one of those books that you can read it 10 times over and still not get bored. I would highly recommend this to anyone.
Wednesday 25 April 2012
Free Choice Blog Post - Cloning
Okay, cloning is a wierd topic to discuss because it constitutes a question of:
Is this society today ready for cloning?
Now, scientifically we are still major strides away from cloning but it constitutes the philisopical qustion of why would we need it?
How is the behaviour and ethics of humans going to take it?
Now, cloning can become a genius idea for humans to make simple tasks more affective. However, humans ethically, would not appreciate the welcoming from a double such as a clone. It would seem wierd to humans. Just as it does in the novel House of the Scorpions. However, if society adapts and learns to live with it house would that be introduced to society now and in the future? Honestly, seeing two people at once would seem wierd at first. Thinking of how clones are just self copies of us. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two therefore be confusing and open up the oppertunity to stealing identities and other conflicts. We aren't aquianted to the idea of cloning. So the ethics of cloning are deffinatly out of the question. We still have a long time to go and to adapt to cloning, but this book proves how far we are away from it.
Is this society today ready for cloning?
Now, scientifically we are still major strides away from cloning but it constitutes the philisopical qustion of why would we need it?
How is the behaviour and ethics of humans going to take it?
Now, cloning can become a genius idea for humans to make simple tasks more affective. However, humans ethically, would not appreciate the welcoming from a double such as a clone. It would seem wierd to humans. Just as it does in the novel House of the Scorpions. However, if society adapts and learns to live with it house would that be introduced to society now and in the future? Honestly, seeing two people at once would seem wierd at first. Thinking of how clones are just self copies of us. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two therefore be confusing and open up the oppertunity to stealing identities and other conflicts. We aren't aquianted to the idea of cloning. So the ethics of cloning are deffinatly out of the question. We still have a long time to go and to adapt to cloning, but this book proves how far we are away from it.
Blog Post #3 - Real Life Farm Patrol
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPREME_COURT_IMMIGRATION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-04-25-03-16-08
So this topic dicusses how in places like Arizona, has a law to check the legal status of people they pull over for different reasons. THis tied in with Jessica's article about illegal immigration. Arizona embraces the law because of the 11 million illegal immigrants roaming around. How ever, the people call it an inaction to stop illegal immigration. They think by taking out this rule all that they are doing is just creating more work for themselves to help stop the fight against illegal immigrants. I related thius to the story about the Coyote because of Jessica's article of illigal immgiration. Looking on that side of the news aritcle people will do anything to leave there place and to go into Canada or The U.S. even trust a Coyote. In this story the police greatly reflect the farm patrol as the opposing force.
So this topic dicusses how in places like Arizona, has a law to check the legal status of people they pull over for different reasons. THis tied in with Jessica's article about illegal immigration. Arizona embraces the law because of the 11 million illegal immigrants roaming around. How ever, the people call it an inaction to stop illegal immigration. They think by taking out this rule all that they are doing is just creating more work for themselves to help stop the fight against illegal immigrants. I related thius to the story about the Coyote because of Jessica's article of illigal immgiration. Looking on that side of the news aritcle people will do anything to leave there place and to go into Canada or The U.S. even trust a Coyote. In this story the police greatly reflect the farm patrol as the opposing force.
The House Of The Scorpion Book Review
The House Of Scorpion
Book Review
Matt has grown up just as any other child; only he has a
secret, one that he doesn't even know about. He is a clone.
Although Matt doesn't know it yet, being a clone is nothing
to be proud of. Clones are frowned upon and if there is one thing Matt doesn't
like, it's being treated like anything other then a child. After all that's how
Celia, his motherly nanny treated him. As Matt grows up he learns that being
different is nothing to be proud of in his kind of world.
Matt learns that in order to live the life he wants he needs
to stand out and be heard, he needs to let people know that he is just like
them, that clones are not animals.
As Farmer allows us to travel through Matt's life with him,
she teaches us how to love, not the love you have towards a dog, but the kind
of love that’s unconditional, loving something or someone no matter what or who
they are. She teaches us of heartbreak through Matt and Marias undying bond to
each other and she teaches us that no matter what goes on, you will always have
friends and family to support you.
Farmers heart felt novel brings us to enjoy the happiness of
ones life along with the sorrow, heartbreak, and anger.
Wednesday 18 April 2012
Thursday 12 April 2012
Blog Post #4 - Comparing Main Characters
When first thought of Matt and Vincent the first
comparison that came to my mind was about the girls in there lives and what
they were willing to do for them. Both individuals were willing to risk their
lives to be able to be with the one they loved. Although that sounds very
"General" I did have one specific incident in mind for both of the
men that I found to be quite similar.
In The House Of the Scorpion Matt and Maria agree
to meet in the secret passageway that Matt had found. For the first little
while, in order for Matt to get here he had to sneak out and sneak past people
who, if had seen him, would shave tried to hurt or kill him.
Although people were not trying to kill Vincent,
the scene that I found most resembles thus of Matts was when Vincent was trying
to cross the road without his contacts. Both gentlemen were aiming to be with
the one they loved, or were falling in love with, and both risked their lives
in a sense to be with that person.
Although these two characters lead very different lives
being that in one, humans are the kings and queens of the world and the other,
clones are taking over, these two people can relate very well.
In Gattaca, Vincent is told that he can't do certain
things like, go to space, because he is human. In HoS, Matt is told that he cannot
do some things, like have a life outside of El Patrón, because he is a clone.
In order to prove these people wrong, both individuals try to hide their
genetic make-up in order to prove a point to the world and the people who disbelieve
in them.
The final aspect that I found most important
between the two is that in the end of both stories, even though the two are
very different, one being human the other being a clone, both takes over the
originals identity. Matt being the clone of El Patrón, as soon as he dies Matt
is the rightful owner of his identity now, and takes his place in the world,
not at "Matt The Clone" but has the new and improved El Patrón.
As for Vincent, his ending is the same but in a
different way, if that makes sense. Vincent is not a clone, or rather, un
natural baby. He is himself and no one else is like him. So because he has been
pretending to be someone else, and that someone has now passed, Vincent is
unable to get the supplies he needs to continue to portray the image of him
being Jarome for very much longer.
This being a problem is means that although for a little while, both
individuals will be similar in the fact that they have the only copy of
specific DNA on the planet at that moment, Vincent will only be able to keep up
the faćad for so long before everyone will know his secret.
Thursday 22 March 2012
Free Choice - What I like and dislike about the book
So far i have really enjoyed the book. Looking at the back i knew it was either going to be really amazing or terrible, just one of those books. As i started to get into the book and read deeper into the characters i really started to enjoy the aspect of it being placed in the future.
One very specific moment that i really enjoyed was when Maria kissed Matt. I loved how Farmer made it seem like such a mature scene in the book. I think that she wanted it to be mature mainly because Matt and Maria both seem to act much older then they really are, that is also something i love about this scene.
Another thing that i really enjoyed in this book was how she portrayed El Patrón as such a week, and frail old man when in reality he is as strong as anyone courtesy of his power and authority over everyone.
Although i really enjoyed the book, there were parts that i didn't love so much, and some parts where i just wanted to ask Farmer what she was thinking!
An example of this would be near the end when matt narrowly escapes the Farm Patrol. In all honesty, i am happy that he is alive but i think that Matt has gotten away with so much in the book that it's sort of expected now, like when matt gets into trouble, you know he is going to get out cause he has every other time. I think that Farmer would have done this because Matt is the main character, or, one of the main characters in the story and he needs to stay alive to finish the book, at least, thats what i think she might have been thinking at the time.
Another part that really set me on edge with Farmer was when they found the clone. First of all, why did Tom know about the clone? Like if it was supposed to be a secret then why was Tom let in on it if he is one of the people with the biggest mouth ever. And why would Farmer allow Tom to drag Matt and Maria in there and then have Maria run to Tom when he was the one who scared her in the first place i mean, granted the clone is what scared her but Tom was the one who showed her the clone. How could she not know that Tom was TRYING to hurt her? I hate that Farmer makes Maria seem so naïve and like that stereotypical princess "help me" type. Like Farmer SHOULD have made her a strong individual like most women in our society. I mean after all, women have only gotten stronger in the passing years why make them weak in the future.
Another thing that i really enjoyed in this book was how she portrayed El Patrón as such a week, and frail old man when in reality he is as strong as anyone courtesy of his power and authority over everyone.
Although i really enjoyed the book, there were parts that i didn't love so much, and some parts where i just wanted to ask Farmer what she was thinking!
An example of this would be near the end when matt narrowly escapes the Farm Patrol. In all honesty, i am happy that he is alive but i think that Matt has gotten away with so much in the book that it's sort of expected now, like when matt gets into trouble, you know he is going to get out cause he has every other time. I think that Farmer would have done this because Matt is the main character, or, one of the main characters in the story and he needs to stay alive to finish the book, at least, thats what i think she might have been thinking at the time.
Another part that really set me on edge with Farmer was when they found the clone. First of all, why did Tom know about the clone? Like if it was supposed to be a secret then why was Tom let in on it if he is one of the people with the biggest mouth ever. And why would Farmer allow Tom to drag Matt and Maria in there and then have Maria run to Tom when he was the one who scared her in the first place i mean, granted the clone is what scared her but Tom was the one who showed her the clone. How could she not know that Tom was TRYING to hurt her? I hate that Farmer makes Maria seem so naïve and like that stereotypical princess "help me" type. Like Farmer SHOULD have made her a strong individual like most women in our society. I mean after all, women have only gotten stronger in the passing years why make them weak in the future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)