Chapter 16:
Cadence wrote her own fairy tale during her journey in Europe. This fairy tale kind of relates to the condition in the Sinclair family. The three daughters all want to get the inheritance, they all show their love to Cadence's Grandpa, but no one can tell if they really love him.
Chapter 17:
After her Europe trip, Cadence starts to give things away. She gave her old Babies to Mirren, strips to Johnny, pillow to a strange girl outside of library, King Lear to public library, and even her Granny Tipper's picture to the Goodwill.
Chapter 18:
Cadence lost her memory of her accident although she took a lot of medicines to cure her. She asked her mother over and over again, her mother eventually got infuriated by her. Cadence asked her mother to repeat one more time and she wrote it down so that she can get the answer when she wanted to asked. Although there were things that she doesn't understand, it's the best way to keep herself sober.
Chapter 19:
Cadence doesn't want to spend the whole summer with her dad in Australia for summer seventeen. She wants to go to the Beechwood island. She wants to remember, to figure out the mystery. However, her mother said no. The next day, her grandad comes. He looks so different since Granny died: he lost weight and has a port bellied slump. At night, he told Cadence that she would inherit all of his fortune and property because she would be an ideal Sinclair: tall and blond.
Chapter 20:
Cadence wrote another fairy tale, another one that also relates to the Sinclair family. After her grandad left, her mother called her dad and finally negotiate succeccfully that Cadence would stay in Beechwood Island for four weeks.
Chapter 21:
Cadence is still giving away her stuffs including Gat's olive hunting jacket. She is angry at Gat, but she actually still loves him,
Chapter 22:
Taft called Cadence and asked her is she is a drug addict because he heard it from Bonnie.
Chapter 23:
Cadence and her mother finally arrived at Beechwood Island. Cadence saw everything has changed: the lawn, the maple tree and the new, cold house. She felt very sad but still follow her mother's words of being normal. She also saw the three liars waiting by the wooden fence: Mirren, Johnny and Gat.
Chapter 24:
Cadence met her aunt Bess, the littles and her Grandad. Bonnie said to Cadence that she looks died like vampires.
Chapter 25:
The four liars gathered in Cuddledown because Bess and the littles were going to live with Grandad this summer. Cadence couldn't stop looking at Gat. She was mad at him but still felt happy that she finally saw him. They talked some which made Cadence think that he was flirting. Johnny asked about Cadence's school life and Mirren told them that she had a new boyfriend. They all agreed at the end that they didn't want to spend summer in that cold new house.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Volcabulary Group Work
Taxidermy- n. - the art of mounting the skins of animals so that they have lifelike appearance
It is full of original New York cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plagues.
Villainous- adj. - extremely wicked, the person who is willing to harm other people or break the law in order to get what they want
They always look villainous in the dark of the evening.
Recuperate-v. - regain a former condition after a financial loss
Mummy took me home to Vermont to recuperate
Quarrel- v.- have disagreement over something.
It is hardly glamorous the way Mummy and I quarrel now how dad is gone.
Constellation- n. - a configuration of stars as seen from the earth
I was glad Gat didn’t try to sound knowledgeable about constellations or say stupid staff about wishing stars.
Snorkeling- adj.- skin diving with a snorkel
Mirren and Johnny were snorkeling or wangling the littles.
Stagger- v. - astound or overwhelm, as with shock
I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.
Traumatic- adj. - of or relating to a physical injury or wound to the body
Post-traumatic headaches, also known as PTHA
Heroine- n. - the main good female character in a work of fiction
Her pale skin and watery eyes make her look glamorously tragic, like a literary heroine wasting from consumption.
Ivory- n.- a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
It is full of original New York cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plagues.
Shore- n. - a beam or timber that is propped against a structure to provide support
There are big rocks in off the shore, craggy and black.
Hilariously- adv. - in a hilarious manner, extremely funny
Covertly, hilariously, behind Grandad’s back while he drove the motorboat.
Stunning- adj. - causing or capable of causing bewilderment or shock or insensibility laid the poor fellow senseless with one stunning blow
She was a stunning woman, even she was old
Pitiful- adj. - inspiring mixed contempt and pity
Different from my pitiful voice messages, these are charming.
Glamorous- adj. - having an air of allure, romance and excitement
(P39 it is not glamorous that I can't drive a car.)
Collapse- v. - a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)
I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.
Giddy- adj. - having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
had a headache and felt giddy
(P27 Johnny, Mirren, gat and I snuck glasses of wine and felt giddy and silly.)
Embroidered- adj. - decorate with needlework
It is full of original New York cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plagues.
Surpasses- v. - be or do something to a greater degree.
Eventually she surpassed her employer in skill and her food is known thoughout the land.
Agony- n. - intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain.
I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.
It is full of original New York cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plagues.
Villainous- adj. - extremely wicked, the person who is willing to harm other people or break the law in order to get what they want
They always look villainous in the dark of the evening.
Recuperate-v. - regain a former condition after a financial loss
Mummy took me home to Vermont to recuperate
Quarrel- v.- have disagreement over something.
It is hardly glamorous the way Mummy and I quarrel now how dad is gone.
Constellation- n. - a configuration of stars as seen from the earth
I was glad Gat didn’t try to sound knowledgeable about constellations or say stupid staff about wishing stars.
Snorkeling- adj.- skin diving with a snorkel
Mirren and Johnny were snorkeling or wangling the littles.
Stagger- v. - astound or overwhelm, as with shock
I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.
Traumatic- adj. - of or relating to a physical injury or wound to the body
Post-traumatic headaches, also known as PTHA
Heroine- n. - the main good female character in a work of fiction
Her pale skin and watery eyes make her look glamorously tragic, like a literary heroine wasting from consumption.
Ivory- n.- a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
It is full of original New York cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plagues.
Shore- n. - a beam or timber that is propped against a structure to provide support
There are big rocks in off the shore, craggy and black.
Hilariously- adv. - in a hilarious manner, extremely funny
Covertly, hilariously, behind Grandad’s back while he drove the motorboat.
Stunning- adj. - causing or capable of causing bewilderment or shock or insensibility laid the poor fellow senseless with one stunning blow
She was a stunning woman, even she was old
Pitiful- adj. - inspiring mixed contempt and pity
Different from my pitiful voice messages, these are charming.
Glamorous- adj. - having an air of allure, romance and excitement
(P39 it is not glamorous that I can't drive a car.)
Collapse- v. - a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)
I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.
Giddy- adj. - having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
had a headache and felt giddy
(P27 Johnny, Mirren, gat and I snuck glasses of wine and felt giddy and silly.)
Embroidered- adj. - decorate with needlework
It is full of original New York cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plagues.
Surpasses- v. - be or do something to a greater degree.
Eventually she surpassed her employer in skill and her food is known thoughout the land.
Agony- n. - intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain.
I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Ten Volcabulary Words
Glamorously p38
Quarrel p39
Recuperate p32
Marvel p30
Destabilize p29
Giddy p27
Exquisite p20
Illicit p21
Constellation p21
Flippant p21
Quarrel p39
Recuperate p32
Marvel p30
Destabilize p29
Giddy p27
Exquisite p20
Illicit p21
Constellation p21
Flippant p21
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Relationship Between Characters (Ch1~Ch5)
In the beginning of the book "We Were Liars", Chapter one to Chapter five, it has several main characters who are mostly Sinclairs. This is a big old money Democrats family. Those main characters are all children of: Cadence, Johnny, Mirren and Gat. Harris Sinclair who is the grandpa in the book has three daughters: Carrie, Bess and Penny. They all were tall, merry, rich and beautiful. They were like princesses in a fairy tale as most people seen. Cadence is the daughter of Penny, Johnny is the son of Carrie and Mirren is the daughter of Bess. For Gat, he is the nephew of Ed who had been together with Carrie. Gat met those kids on the Beechwood Island, which is owned by Sinclairs, when they were eight. Cadence is the narrator of the story. She is a girl who acknowledge her whole family and who they truly are. She knew people in their family had to pretend and behave well as a proud Sinclair. She is bored by life living as a Sinclair and a grand house full of expensive and useless objects. She was distressed inside when she saw her father left her and her mother and chose not to be a Sinclair anymore. Johnny is an energetic and sunny boy. He often likes to play tricks with his cousins. Mirren is a curious girl and likes to play with kids. They were all cousins except Gat.
The story starts from the beginning of the Summer Eight on the Beechwood Island. It is when Gat met Cadence for the first time. Cadence's aunt, Carrie, was pregnant with Johnny's brother Will when her husband left her. By that summer, Will was taken up by Ed and Carrie, so when they came to the island, Ed brought his nephew who was already a good friend of Johnny. Gat was very shy at first when he met Cadence. Cadence could feel his contemplation, enthusiasm and ambition when he stood in front of her. When their eyes were locked, Cadence turned and started running. Gat followed, Johnny followed Gat, and Mirren chased after Johnny. They stopped at the tiny beach down by Cuddledown House, and Cadence wrote the four of their names on the sand. This was what happened when they first met each other. However, they got really close as the time goes on. They got to spend every summer on the island because Johnny begged to have Gat stay longer and their grandparents agreed, because they never said no to their first grandson. On the Summer Fourteen, They took out a small motorboat alone and jumped into the sea. After they got off the sea, they hogged together and joked at each other. They both had a good feeling with each other. One day, they read book together in a hammock and Cadence saw Gat always read with a pen in his hand. He wrote Gat on the back of his left hand, and Cadence on the back of his right. From that point, Cadence knew clearly that they could understand and feel each other, although Cadence didn't label that feeling as love.
The story starts from the beginning of the Summer Eight on the Beechwood Island. It is when Gat met Cadence for the first time. Cadence's aunt, Carrie, was pregnant with Johnny's brother Will when her husband left her. By that summer, Will was taken up by Ed and Carrie, so when they came to the island, Ed brought his nephew who was already a good friend of Johnny. Gat was very shy at first when he met Cadence. Cadence could feel his contemplation, enthusiasm and ambition when he stood in front of her. When their eyes were locked, Cadence turned and started running. Gat followed, Johnny followed Gat, and Mirren chased after Johnny. They stopped at the tiny beach down by Cuddledown House, and Cadence wrote the four of their names on the sand. This was what happened when they first met each other. However, they got really close as the time goes on. They got to spend every summer on the island because Johnny begged to have Gat stay longer and their grandparents agreed, because they never said no to their first grandson. On the Summer Fourteen, They took out a small motorboat alone and jumped into the sea. After they got off the sea, they hogged together and joked at each other. They both had a good feeling with each other. One day, they read book together in a hammock and Cadence saw Gat always read with a pen in his hand. He wrote Gat on the back of his left hand, and Cadence on the back of his right. From that point, Cadence knew clearly that they could understand and feel each other, although Cadence didn't label that feeling as love.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Notes for Chapter 8 & 9
Chapter 8:
Lorenzo got onto the bus and decided to go to the hospital to see his grandmother to get the medicine for Olivia. He saw his grandmother being a "prisonor" in the hospital and felt so bad. His grandmother asked him to tell him a story so he told her the most recent one that he had made up about a robot which kills millions of people. His grandmother was satisfied, and then Lorenzo left the hospital really quickly.
Chapter 9:
Lorenzo took the risk to be found by his parents and the silver monkey to find medicine for Olivia. He went back to the cellar and saw Olivia lied on the sette stiffly. He thought she was died, but then he saw her arms are moving. Olivia just took two sleeping pills and she needed more sleep. Lorenzo felt more relaxed and let her fall asleep. He was tired and fell asleep with her.
Lorenzo got onto the bus and decided to go to the hospital to see his grandmother to get the medicine for Olivia. He saw his grandmother being a "prisonor" in the hospital and felt so bad. His grandmother asked him to tell him a story so he told her the most recent one that he had made up about a robot which kills millions of people. His grandmother was satisfied, and then Lorenzo left the hospital really quickly.
Chapter 9:
Lorenzo took the risk to be found by his parents and the silver monkey to find medicine for Olivia. He went back to the cellar and saw Olivia lied on the sette stiffly. He thought she was died, but then he saw her arms are moving. Olivia just took two sleeping pills and she needed more sleep. Lorenzo felt more relaxed and let her fall asleep. He was tired and fell asleep with her.
Reaction to the ending
In the ending, Lorenzo and Olivia said goodbye to each other and they promised they would see each other again sometime in the future; however, after ten years when Lorenzo sees Olivia again, she is died. I don't really like this ending. I think this ending is too sad for me to accept it. I was imagining scenes when they see each other again. I tried to think how happy they are, what kind of things they will talk about but I've never expected the death of Olivia. Lorenzo seemed really calm when he saw her sister lying on the bed and covered by a white sheet. I don't think he could easily accept it. The goodbye they said to each other last time will be the goodbye for ever.
Friday, April 10, 2015
End questions for Me and You
19. In this passage, Olivia told Lorenzo the real reason why she was so sick. After Lorenzo knowing the truth, he knew he got to help her and if he wasn't going to help her, she would die. Then he saw she was lying on the floor, surrounded by money, and she was so desperate and lonely. This scene made him connect to the scene where his mother was insulted by the big guy on the day they had an accident. On that day, he was so angery when he heard those bad words the guy used to his mother, but he wasn't brave enough to stand out and protect his mother. Right now, a similar thing happened in front of him and he would not let regrets to occupy him again. This is why Lorenzo decided to help Olivia. This is a very important point in the novel because it indicates that Lorenzo has changed. He became more brave and was able to defeat his fear to help others. He finally did something that his inside mind wanted to do. Also, this was the first time Lorenzo actually helped other people, so it is a significant turning point in the novel.
21. I would consider Olivia as an authentic person, because her messy and troubled life is the same as what many people in our world have right now. They have no goals, and they just waste their life and let others to do anything with their body. They are desperate and alone in their real life. They see no future or don't even want to have a hope for the future. These people are just like Olivia. Olivia hates herself when she behaves badly. She knew she shouldn't take drug, and she neither should cheat her body and her soul. However, she is in a marsh and the harder she is trying to get out of it, the deeper she's in it. These bad behaviors could unleash her anger toward her father. She felt like if she just let herself be like this, it would take revenge on her father. Her behaviors and personality inspired Lorenzo deeply. He knew clearly why she did this to herself, and he realized that he should be true to himself. He should not hide anymore because it would only drag him down. He needed to find the "real" Lorenzo and be him for the rest of his life.
24. The reason why the author chose to sandwich Lorenzo's experience is because it can emphasis the change of Lorenzo. It used the flashback to tell the story behind the Lorenzo today. These chapters marked how important Lorenzo's sister Olivia is, who brought a great influence on him and gave him a life change. The end chapter also is the tone setter of this novel. When readers were still wondering the scene when Lorenzo and Olivia meet in the future, it told the readers that when they met ten years later, Olivia was died. It appealed that Olivia broke her promise to Lorenzo. This sets a sad ending for readers and leads readers to a deeper thinking of the overall story.
21. I would consider Olivia as an authentic person, because her messy and troubled life is the same as what many people in our world have right now. They have no goals, and they just waste their life and let others to do anything with their body. They are desperate and alone in their real life. They see no future or don't even want to have a hope for the future. These people are just like Olivia. Olivia hates herself when she behaves badly. She knew she shouldn't take drug, and she neither should cheat her body and her soul. However, she is in a marsh and the harder she is trying to get out of it, the deeper she's in it. These bad behaviors could unleash her anger toward her father. She felt like if she just let herself be like this, it would take revenge on her father. Her behaviors and personality inspired Lorenzo deeply. He knew clearly why she did this to herself, and he realized that he should be true to himself. He should not hide anymore because it would only drag him down. He needed to find the "real" Lorenzo and be him for the rest of his life.
24. The reason why the author chose to sandwich Lorenzo's experience is because it can emphasis the change of Lorenzo. It used the flashback to tell the story behind the Lorenzo today. These chapters marked how important Lorenzo's sister Olivia is, who brought a great influence on him and gave him a life change. The end chapter also is the tone setter of this novel. When readers were still wondering the scene when Lorenzo and Olivia meet in the future, it told the readers that when they met ten years later, Olivia was died. It appealed that Olivia broke her promise to Lorenzo. This sets a sad ending for readers and leads readers to a deeper thinking of the overall story.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Revise poems
To Our Dining Hall
Things could be better
Fresh, various fruits and meals
Students will like more
Musical is life
"I am not that smart
My parents keep telling me..."
Musical is life!
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Thinking questions
Why didn't Lorenzo go out to stand out for his mother at the beginning?
Why did Olivia come to the cellar?
Why did Lorenzo hug Olivia and cry with her?
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