WIT Log #2 Chapters 4-5

I'm fascinated by Leah.  It is obvious that Daniel doesn't know what to do with Leah.  "My sister is possessed by demons." p. 44.  She doesn't leave the house.  She barely speaks.  I, too, would be frustrated with Leah, I think.  I hate it when I don't know how to solve a situation, especially with people.  When I don't understand why my kids act the way they do - I want to fix them.  Daniel probably just wants to fix Leah.  I wonder if he will learn how to help her and not try to fix her?

A different question I have is where is Daniel's father?  We have two hints in these chapters that whatever happened, it wasn't good.  The first is in the crowd after he tries to throw a rock at the Romans when someone says "Son of Jamin, wasn't it your father who....?"  p. 50  The second is when Hezron refers to Daniel's father as a "tragic affair"  p. 64.  Daniel's father is described by Hezron as a rash man.  It obviously is bad.   I think it has to do with the Romans - maybe he was killed by the Romans - that would also explain Daniel's hatred.  What do you think happened to Daniel's father?

I like the way that Elizabeth George Speare describes Jesus.  I think it would be very difficult to describe a famous historical figure, especially the Savior of the world, in a way that Jesus, the son of God and the son of Man, would come across as an ordinary person, but also someone who would attract followers.  EGS describes him as having a "radiant face" but also, "a figure in no way arresting" when Daniel sees him for the first time in a synagogue.  p. 46.  While on the beach EGS describes Jesus as "vigorous and confident and happy" and that he has "an extraordinary vitality that seemed to pulse in the air around him."p. 57  I wonder how realistic this is? I believe that Jesus must have had some sort of charisma around him that attracted people to him, but what was it?  Was it his Godliness or his manliness?  I don't know.  When you picture Jesus, what do you see?

Again, I like how Elizabeth George Speare writes.  I always find good authors put in good details to help the reader picture the scenery.  This is a good example sentence: "Through the prolonged hand-washing Daniel fidgeted, affronted by the silver pitchers, the fine tiny napkins, the hovering slaves." p. 63  If EGS was lazy she could write: "Through the hand-washing Daniel waited, looking at by pitchers, napkins and slaves".  By adding those adjectives and verbs it helps create a scene in my mind and it helps set the mood of Daniel's uncomfortableness. If I were to describe my classroom well I might want to say "Through the clickety-clacking of eager bloggers, the students brilliantly pecked away on their shiny, silver chromebooks."  What words would you use to set the mood in the class?  wait....don't answer that.

What I think Log Sample Ch. 1-3

I like the way that Elizabeth George Speare writes.  I appreciate all of her similes and metaphors.  She often compares her characters to animals.  For example, Malthace is described as going up the side like a mountain goat (p. 17) or Ebol vanishing like a lizard into the jagged crevices. (p. 16)  I like the metaphors and similes because it helps me picture what the action is. 

My favourite character in the book so far is Samson.  I like Samson because he has a bit of a backstory and he is mysterious.  We know he has lashes on his back and he’s a slave and we wonder if he’s a mute.  I feel like he is going to be important in the book because Elizabeth George Speare talks about him a lot.  I feel like Samson is a benefit to the camp because he provides lots of water and firewood. (p. 29)  I like how it described how Samson moved the boulder like a pebble after five men tried.  I think it’s weird that Samson follows Daniel around (p. 34) because for me it would be kind of annoying someone following me around like a dog. 

I like the setting of the story.  I would like to live in a cave like Rosh and his band.  I don’t like being crowded around by lots of buildings.  The freedom that Rosh and his band have is enviable.  On p. 2 it describes the view that Joel and Thace see from the mountaintop – I like views like this too. 

I feel that Rosh is good.   I feel like Rosh would be the kind of guy I would look up to because he’s very strong and powerful man, who is loud.  On p. 29 it says that Rosh is used to seeing men jump when he gives an order.   He is a good leader because he shows confidence and he is dependable and a challenge solver.  I look up to Rosh because he has an awesome beard.  I think that his men look up to him even though he is so  tough and he has a reputation.  But he’s kind to them and he has a strong hate for the Romans.  Joel and Daniel think that Rosh is going to drive out the Romans – we see this when Joel meet Rosh for the first time as his hero. (p. 20-21)