--The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian--

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

By: Sherman Alexie

This novel is a first person narrative from a teenage Native American boy, Arnold Spirit Jr.  Throughout this book he, the main character, is referred to as Junior.  This story by Sherman Alexie takes place on a Spokane Indian Reservation.  He begins the novel by explaining his situation with being born with excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), on his brain.  With this, Junior struggles to fit in on the reservation.  This book follows Arnold Spirit throughout a couple years of his life while he experiences failure, success, and disappointment.  During his life he  receives encouragement from his high school teacher to move outside his comfort zone by leaving the reservation.

Once he gets to Reardan he tries to gain acceptance into his new society.  He does everything he can think of to become “cool” and be included in any and everything.  He tried everything from hitting on the cute popular girl, trying out for the basketball team, and using his intelligence with the nerd clubs.  While some worked others did not. His best friend while on the reservation, Rowdy, would become his enemy.  

At the end of the day this is a great book about the struggles of a teenage Indian boy.  I would give this the rank of a Chief on the Indian scale of a rank and file tribal member to the Tribal Chief.

S - The speaker of this story is the voice of Sherman Alexie.  Mr. Alexie wrote this novel in September 2007.  

O - The occasion is the teenage life of a Native American boy who moved off of the reservation to start a new life.  

A - The book is written for any reader interested in Native American culture or how life is growing up on an Indian reservation.  This book will also benefit people who have relocated to a new town or city and want to fit in.  This book shows how one tries acclimate into a new community.   

P - The purpose of this book is to give insight into life on an Indian reservation.  It shows the life of a bullied student who eventually moves away to experience a new life.  

S - The subject of this book is a Native American indian, Arnold Spirit or Junior.  He is a 14 year old budding cartoonist.  

TONE - I think the tone of this book is laid back but offers a personal perspective of life on and off a reservation.  

The Meat Market

The Meat Market

By: Richard Whittingham

        Radio City Music Hall, New York.  Every year this is the location for the NFL Draft.  People who follow the NFL look forward to this day to see what spectacular talents from the college ranks their team will sign.  Collegiate prospects  train for years to one day hear their name called by Roger Goodell, the league commissioner.  What the general public does not understand is the amount of research and preparation is done behind the scenes by NFL general managers, coaches, and scouts.  This book, The Meat Market, by Richard Whittingham, is an in-depth look at the work done behind the scenes to make draft day the way you see it broadcast on ESPN. 

Whittingham uses classic football and descriptive livestock vocabulary; for example “formation” and “Hog-tie” to explain the behind the scenes of the NFL Draft.  He utilizes a variety of sentence structures to keep you entertained and engaged.  One unique thing I noticed would be when and why the author changed his sentence structure.  Throughout the book, as it came closer to Draft Day the sentences shift from simple to more compound-complex.  Another interesting writing style Whittingham used is farming vocabulary.  This starts with the title of the book, The Meat Market.  Throughout the book He talks about how the “War Room” is like a pig pen.  How on Draft Day it becomes every man or “pig” for himself. 

       I recommend this book, especially to those interested in football.  This book draws great similarities between football and agriculture.  If I had to rate this book I would give it a 4.5 hotdogs out of 5 hotdogs. 

S - The speaker of this story Richard Whittingham in addition to many other NFL players, General Managers, and Owners.  The author has written nineteen books, including a football classic What A Game They Played.

O - The occasion is any given year in the days leading up to the NFL Draft.

A - The audience for this book are readers interested in the inside perspective of the NFL Draft.  This book will show you what draftees, or potential draftees experience, leading up to draft day.  This book finishes by showing how hectic and fast-paced draft day is. I think college football players will show specific interest.

P - The purpose of this book is to shed light on a how the NFL Draft really works.  Even for those familiar with the game of football, the administrative side of the game is very different. It shows how NFL GMs and Owners prepare for draft day. 

S - The subject of this book is a behind-the-scenes look into the NFL Draft. In 2013, its really become a 3-day televised spectacle.

TONE - I think the tone of this book is serious perspective, from an insider’s point of view, on how the NFL Draft works. 

Outside The Limelight:  

Basketball in the Ivy League

For years, experts didn't believe that Ivy League basketball belonged with the "Big Boys." Today that's changing. When people talk of Division 1 basketball they refer to Kentucky and Kansas, Duke and North Carolina. I believe that on any given Saturday afternoon, Cornell, Columbia and Harvard can compete with these programs. Currently the Ivy League Champion is invited to play in the end of year NCAA basketball tournament.  Last year the League was represented by Harvard.  In addition to the on-court performance, the elite basketball programs are also providing their student-athletes with the best education in the country.

When one commits to play collegiate athletics you are considered a student-athlete. In this book, Kathy Orton suggests there is no such thing as an Ivy League basketball player. They are ballers that just happen to suit up for schools small in attendance, high in costs, and rich in academic tradition. They are basketball players that play for Ivy League Schools. When they lace up their high-tops, put on their jersey, and step onto the hardwood, they are basketball players similar to every other conference.

These specific student-athletes have to be great with time management. They have to be able to keep up on the court but that is only half the battle. According to U.S. News and World Report, the Ivy League has the top 4 academic schools in the nation; Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Columbia. This means that Chris Dudley and Jeremy Lin who played at Yale and Harvard respectively, had to excel in the classroom in addition to producing in games. While less than fifty players all-time have gone on to the NBA, all have probably become professionals of another sort. Former Princeton standout, Bill Bradley, was a United States Senator and candidate for President of the United States.

This book shows the life of a collegiate basketball player that happens to attend school at an Ivy League institution. It encompasses the whole season, pre-season workouts, finals week, and the discipline needed to succeed at this level.

S - The speaker of this story is Kathy Orton, the book's author. She is someone who great up watching Ivy League athletics and was fascinated with how it worked.

O - The occasion was the 2005/06 basketball season.

A - The book is written for readers interested in Ivy League athletics, more particularly those who live in the northeast and may have attended one of the schools. The book provides in-depth coverage of the Ivy programs so if you are a college athlete in another conference, and curious as to how the schools balance education with athletics, this book may be for you.

P - The purpose of this book is to shed light on a dim situation, few writers have written about the Ivy Leagues over the years. John Feinstein even wrote about the Patriot League but few words about their geographically competition. This book also looks to market and promote the Ivy schools as a basketball destination for future players, alumni, and fans.

S - The subject of this book is Ivy League basketball.

TONE - I think the tone of this book is personal and laid back yet serious in its approach to showing the life of an Ivy League student-athlete.

Perfect by Simple Plan

A rhetorical analysis of Simple Plan's song, "Perfect"

           This song, "Perfect", is the last song on their debut album, No Pads...No Helmets...Just Balls.  This song has been featured in several different movies and television shows.  For example an acoustic version of this song was used in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and in an episode of Girlfriends.  This song, throughout its history has reached a peak of #24 on the Billboard Top 100 list, top 10 in Australia, and #1 in Brazil.  

           I think this song is written for the teenage audience.  This song is about a son that tries so hard to make his dad proud but no matter what his Dad is still disappointed in him.  Because of this I think it would be for people in that same situation.
            I like this song because I feel the same way as the Boy in this song.  This Boy's Dad puts lots of pressure on him to be "Perfect."  I feel like my Dad is the same way.  I feel like I try so hard to do everything right all the time and still there is something that I don't do "Perfect."

This is what I get out of the lyrics and this song:

   Hey dad look at me   - Look at how hard I'm trying

Think back and talk to me  - Think about how you were has a child, put yourself in my shoes
Did I grow up according to plan?   - Am I doing this right?
And do you think I'm wasting my time doing things I wanna do?   - Can I have any fun?
But it hurts when you disapprove all along   - I want you to believe in me

And now I try hard to make it   - I'm trying to make you proud
I just want to make you proud   - I want you to be glad that I'm your son
I'm never gonna be good enough for you   - I am never going to be able to be who you want me to be
I can't pretend that   - I have to be me
I'm alright   - I'm doing my best
And you can't change me   - Your pressure isn't helping

'Cuz we lost it all   - Our relationship is gone
Nothing lasts forever   - I can't do everything right all the time
I'm sorry    - Sorry Dad
I can't be perfect   - I can't do it
Now it's just too late and   - Now you are out of my life
We can't go back   - I can't bring you back
I'm sorry    - Sorry Dad
I can't be perfect   - I can't do it

I try not to think   - I try to keep you out of my head
About the pain I feel inside   - About how much you regret me
Did you know you used to be my hero?   -  I used to think the world of you
All the days you spent with me   -  We spent time together
Now seem so far away   -  Not anymore
And it feels like you don't care anymore   - It feels like you don't wanna be in my life anymore

And now I try hard to make it    - I'm trying to make it work 
I just want to make you proud    - I want you to be proud to say I'm your son.
I'm never gonna be good enough for you   - I won't be who you want me to be
I can't stand another fight   - I don't want to argue with you anymore
And nothing's alright   - I can't stand my life

'Cuz we lost it all    - Our relationship is gone
Nothing lasts forever   - We didn't last
I'm sorry    - Sorry Dad
I can't be perfect   -  I can't do it
Now it's just too late and    - Now you're gone
We can't go back   - And you can't come back
I'm sorry    - Sorry Dad
I can't be perfect   - I can't do it

Nothing's gonna change the things that you said   - You can't take back your words
Nothing's gonna make this right again   - You can't make up for it
Please don't turn your back   - Don't run away from problems
I can't believe it's hard   - This sholdn't be hard for us
Just to talk to you   - I can't talk to you
But you don't understand   - You don't get what i'm saying

'Cuz we lost it all    - Our relationship is gone 
Nothing lasts forever   - our relationship didn't last
I'm sorry    - Sorry Dad
I can't be perfect   - I can't do everything right
Now it's just too late and    - We can't go back
We can't go back   - You can't take back the damage already done
I'm sorry    - Sorry Dad
I can't be perfect   - I can't do it

'Cuz we lost it all    - Our relationship is gone
Nothing lasts forever    - nothing ever lasts
I'm sorry    - Sorry Dad
I can't be perfect   - I can't do every little thing right
Now it's just too late and   - You missed your chance 
We can't go back   - You can't take back what has already been done
I'm sorry    - I'm sorry Dad
I can't be perfect   - I can't do it

Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUi54JTgL5s