Comment on the perspective from which the book is told and how the
author’s choice affects your relationship with the book’s content.
Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud
I think that this question is very fitting for "Ptolemy's Gate" because the book takes a different route than most others. This story is told from 3 different perspectives, alternating with each chapter. They are the stories of Nathaniel the Wizard, Kitty the Rebel, and Bartimaeus the demon. Each of these stories intertwine with one another, including Nathaniel's control over Bartimaeus, Nathaniel and Kitty's rivalry, and the uncommon alliance between Kitty and Bartimaeus.
This format does a really good job of pulling me into the content. Each perspective is always told from the first person, which really made me feel like I was more involved with the events of the book, almost as if a friend was telling me a story. Some lines just wouldn't work without this perspective, such as when Bartimeaus says "I did a quick fly by the nearest few, but the secretary was not aboard (pg 110)." I think that the writing style choice did a good job making me feel like I was flying past a few double-decker buses.
Lastly, there was one smaller perspective, with which the backstory was told. In all of Bartimaeus' chapters, many of the references to previous stories or folklore within the book's universe are told as footnotes. These little notes are both very helpful and amusing, and are again told from the first person view of Bartimaeus. I found that these notes did a good job of pulling me into this demon's world even more.
Overall, the choice to tell the story from different perspectives is one very strange to me, but Johnathan Stroud was very effective using it.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Book #1 Final Blog
What do you think is the defining moment or moments for the main
character and/or other major characters in the book?
Captain Vimes' defining moment was one of shining bravery that was both great and completely unexpected. He had just been pretty badly injured in a fire, and was being taken care of by a rather large dragon caretaker named Lady Ramkin. There was a mob of people searching for a huge dragon at her home, when out of nowhere comes Captain Vimes to rescue her from the mob. This moment was truly amazing for Vimes for a couple of reasons. For one, this is a completely different act than we would expect after hearing about him at the beginning of the book. Then, he is described as a useless and lazy drunk who just hobbles around his city wallowing in his own self-pity. Now, he's being a hero, dashing about to save a damsel in distress. Although, Vimes himself isn't even sure what struck such bravery into himself, hoping that "...it doesn't catch on (Guards! pg. 150)." But I still consider if a major turning point in his personality.
There is another character, the Supreme Grand Master, who has his defining moment very early on in the book. This is when he first summons the dragon, and you learn of his reasons why. He wants to use this dragon to take over the city, make it his own, and to give himself a position of absolute power. It's pretty obvious from this point that he is the main baddie, and that the heroes of the book will have to stop him by either defeating him or his dragon. It's also at this same point in the book that he manipulates his whole cult into summoning the dragon with him, while none of them will share the power he will get. This also defines him as a conniving and manipulative character.
character and/or other major characters in the book?
Captain Vimes' defining moment was one of shining bravery that was both great and completely unexpected. He had just been pretty badly injured in a fire, and was being taken care of by a rather large dragon caretaker named Lady Ramkin. There was a mob of people searching for a huge dragon at her home, when out of nowhere comes Captain Vimes to rescue her from the mob. This moment was truly amazing for Vimes for a couple of reasons. For one, this is a completely different act than we would expect after hearing about him at the beginning of the book. Then, he is described as a useless and lazy drunk who just hobbles around his city wallowing in his own self-pity. Now, he's being a hero, dashing about to save a damsel in distress. Although, Vimes himself isn't even sure what struck such bravery into himself, hoping that "...it doesn't catch on (Guards! pg. 150)." But I still consider if a major turning point in his personality.
There is another character, the Supreme Grand Master, who has his defining moment very early on in the book. This is when he first summons the dragon, and you learn of his reasons why. He wants to use this dragon to take over the city, make it his own, and to give himself a position of absolute power. It's pretty obvious from this point that he is the main baddie, and that the heroes of the book will have to stop him by either defeating him or his dragon. It's also at this same point in the book that he manipulates his whole cult into summoning the dragon with him, while none of them will share the power he will get. This also defines him as a conniving and manipulative character.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
9/28/08
"Landlord? Well, I suppose Charley here is in charge tonight. Why?' He indicated a large, heavy-set man whose face was a net of scars; its owner paused in the act of spreading the dirt more evenly around some glasses by means of a damp cloth, and gave Carrot and conspiratorial wink." (Gurads! 65)
This passage does, once again, a good job of giving a small amount of detail about a minor character and still giving us a great glimpse into them. This time the character is Charlie, one of the employees of the bar "The Mended Drum." The fact that he has a "net of scars" indicates a couple of possibilities, including a large amount of bar fights, or a literal net of scars which could come from an accident. Either way, it shows he's probably a skilled fighter or clumsy worker. There is also the fact that he's not taking his time to wash the dishes, he's just spreading the dirt all over them, only making them appear cleaner. This portrays (hehe) him as a lazy worker, willing to put his own comfort ahead of all of his customers welfares.
However, this plot doesn't really do much to further the plot of the story. Regardless, I can find a question or two to ask here. The first of which is: "Why are his scars described as a 'net' and how did he come to get them?" Although Charley doesn't seem to be a particularly important character, so it's unlikely it will be answered. But I can hope.
This passage does, once again, a good job of giving a small amount of detail about a minor character and still giving us a great glimpse into them. This time the character is Charlie, one of the employees of the bar "The Mended Drum." The fact that he has a "net of scars" indicates a couple of possibilities, including a large amount of bar fights, or a literal net of scars which could come from an accident. Either way, it shows he's probably a skilled fighter or clumsy worker. There is also the fact that he's not taking his time to wash the dishes, he's just spreading the dirt all over them, only making them appear cleaner. This portrays (hehe) him as a lazy worker, willing to put his own comfort ahead of all of his customers welfares.
However, this plot doesn't really do much to further the plot of the story. Regardless, I can find a question or two to ask here. The first of which is: "Why are his scars described as a 'net' and how did he come to get them?" Although Charley doesn't seem to be a particularly important character, so it's unlikely it will be answered. But I can hope.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
9/28/08 Post
"And Corporal Nobbs...well, anyone like Nobby had unlimited reasons for not wishing to be seen by other people. You didn't have to think hard about that. The only reason you couldn't say that Nobby was close to the animal kingdom was that the animal kingdom would get up and walk away." (Guards! pg. 51)
These are, by far, my favorite lines in the book so far. They do a great job of introducing a character and characterizing him/her (if you notice, it didn't specify gender) at that very moment. It conjured up innemurable images in my head, including those of the Elephant Man, Nosferatu, and even The Thing. It also is incredibly clever and humorous, both giving a vivid description and making me laugh at the same time. The passage also used imagery in another great way, that of a huge herd of animals just getting up and walking away off a park bench from Nobby.
It makes me wonder though what happened to this guy. One of the questions I have to ask iis "What exactly happened to this incredibly unfortunate man/woman?" Also, as when any new character is introduced, I become curious as to what his/her part in the story will be.
So far, this book is doing a good job creating vivid scenery and characters through the use of fairly dark humor, and it likely won't let up any time soon.
These are, by far, my favorite lines in the book so far. They do a great job of introducing a character and characterizing him/her (if you notice, it didn't specify gender) at that very moment. It conjured up innemurable images in my head, including those of the Elephant Man, Nosferatu, and even The Thing. It also is incredibly clever and humorous, both giving a vivid description and making me laugh at the same time. The passage also used imagery in another great way, that of a huge herd of animals just getting up and walking away off a park bench from Nobby.
It makes me wonder though what happened to this guy. One of the questions I have to ask iis "What exactly happened to this incredibly unfortunate man/woman?" Also, as when any new character is introduced, I become curious as to what his/her part in the story will be.
So far, this book is doing a good job creating vivid scenery and characters through the use of fairly dark humor, and it likely won't let up any time soon.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
9/23/08 Book Post
"One of the Patrician's greatest contributions to the reliable operation of Ankh-Morpork had been, very early in his administration, the legalizing of the ancient Guild of Thieves. Crime was always with us, he reasoned, and therefore if you were going to have crime, it at least should be organized crime." (Guards! pg 44)
I believe that this passage is important to both the development of theme and characterization, although more so to theme than characterization. So, I'll start with characterization. It firstly introduces a new character, the Patrician, who is the leader of the city of Ankh-Morpork. He apparently performed some sort of great act that brought him to power, but what it was has not yet been divulged. It shows that he likes to keep things organized by nature, as evidenced by his organizing one of the least organizable things on the planet, crime.
This also leads into the development of the theme of the story, which I believe at this point to be the changing of ideas and traditions held for decades, centuries, or even millenia. The leader of this city has taken one of the oldest surviving guilds, the Guild of Thieves, and has basically turned it into just another arm of the government. This is also a bit ironic because it has always been the job of the government and its associates to stop crime, but they are now keeping it organized and rationalizing it's existence.
Questions:
1) What did the Patrician do to gain control over Ankh-Morpork?
2) How exactly did the Patrician manage to gain control over crime and organize it?
I believe that this passage is important to both the development of theme and characterization, although more so to theme than characterization. So, I'll start with characterization. It firstly introduces a new character, the Patrician, who is the leader of the city of Ankh-Morpork. He apparently performed some sort of great act that brought him to power, but what it was has not yet been divulged. It shows that he likes to keep things organized by nature, as evidenced by his organizing one of the least organizable things on the planet, crime.
This also leads into the development of the theme of the story, which I believe at this point to be the changing of ideas and traditions held for decades, centuries, or even millenia. The leader of this city has taken one of the oldest surviving guilds, the Guild of Thieves, and has basically turned it into just another arm of the government. This is also a bit ironic because it has always been the job of the government and its associates to stop crime, but they are now keeping it organized and rationalizing it's existence.
Questions:
1) What did the Patrician do to gain control over Ankh-Morpork?
2) How exactly did the Patrician manage to gain control over crime and organize it?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
"Guards! Guards!" 9/18/08 Post
"It is the kind of tapering shape (of a carrot) a boy gets through clean living, healthy eating, and good mountain air in huge lungfuls. When he flexes his shoulder muscles, other muscles have to move out of the way first." (Guards! pg. 21)
This is what I consider to be the first really good example of characterization in this novel. It's characterizing the person who seems to be the main character of the novel, Carrot, even though his first appearance is here on page 21. He's been living in the mountains among dwarves his entire life, although he's human and doesn't fit in very well.
I like this passage because it conjures up a really good image in my head, that of a muscular carrot walking on two legs, and said carrot standing on top of a tall mountain. Although it's only physical characterization, it gives me a bit of insight into what his mind might be like as well. It makes me wonder if he's felt out of place his whole life, or if he's even noticed the fact he's living with a bunch of people 2-3 feet shorter than him. Also, has he ever wondered what he really is and where he truly belongs?
(actual) Questions:
1) Is Carrot actually the main character?
2) Will he have to go on some sort of life changing journey to discover who he really is?
This is what I consider to be the first really good example of characterization in this novel. It's characterizing the person who seems to be the main character of the novel, Carrot, even though his first appearance is here on page 21. He's been living in the mountains among dwarves his entire life, although he's human and doesn't fit in very well.
I like this passage because it conjures up a really good image in my head, that of a muscular carrot walking on two legs, and said carrot standing on top of a tall mountain. Although it's only physical characterization, it gives me a bit of insight into what his mind might be like as well. It makes me wonder if he's felt out of place his whole life, or if he's even noticed the fact he's living with a bunch of people 2-3 feet shorter than him. Also, has he ever wondered what he really is and where he truly belongs?
(actual) Questions:
1) Is Carrot actually the main character?
2) Will he have to go on some sort of life changing journey to discover who he really is?
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