Blog #7

I thought Looking For Alaska was a great book. At first I didn't like the tradgic twist in the story and plot. I never thought Pudge was going to seek the Great Perhaps through the death of Alaska. I'm glad he found out what Alaska was doing on the night of her death. I thought it was very shocking, but believable that Alaska went crazy because she forgot to visit her mothers grave on the anniversary of her death. That was a typical Alaska freak out. It was like she was bipolar. She had many violent mood swings where she would break out crying and screaming. As usual Alaska wasn't smart about how she responded to her memory. I think she should have realized it wasn't the end of the world when she fogot to goto her mother's grave. I also thought she should have realized she shouldn't drink and drive no matter the situation. Overall, I enjoyed the book. I enjoyed seeing the dramatic change in personality Pudge went through throughout the book. He really proved me wrong when it came to popularity and standing up. He seeked his Great Perhaps and is a whole new person because of it.

Blog #6

Dear Pudge,
I really think that you should talk to Jake. You could learn what really happened if you talk to him. You have to face the fact that Alaska didn't actually love you. She was just attracted to you when she was drunk. It's not like you would have had some long, everlasting relationship. Plus she had a boyfriend that she really liked. Eventually, you two would have broken up. I don't think anyone could have handled Alaska as a girlfriend or spouse. Another thing I believe is that she's dead and you have to move on. You can't dwell on the past forever. It's terrible that she died, but forget about it. You're going to be miserable if you don't. Also I'm glad you talked to Lara. She was completely right about everything she said. You were really mean for not talking to her. You should have told her the whole truth. You kept the real truth a secret without even telling her what really happened. You aren't going to solve what happened to Alaska unless someone knew something you didn't. I really just think if you ask everybody you'll have a significantly better chance of finding out what happened. Good luck with your struggle for the truth.

Blog #5

Dear Pudge,
WHY DID ALASKA DIE? I never saw this coming and I don't get why it happened. My best guess is it has something to do with the great perhaps. I don't know how you are going to deal with this. She was hammered and you distracted the Eagle so she could drive. I'm just going to lay this out there. The first thing that I would have said is you can't drive or I would have told her I'd drive her. REAL FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS DRIVE DRUNK. I feel really bad though. Having a good friend die is one of the hardest things to get over. I feel for the Colonel and you and I hope you can figure out if it actually was suicide or if she was really just to drunk to drive. You guys have to do some investigating. I think you should talk to Jake even though you don't want to. To better things congratulations on the thing you did with Lara that I can't explicitly say because this is a school assignment. I knew your relationship with Lara would never last. I believe you should tell her the truth. You can't just do what you did with her and never talk to her again. It will be hard and awkward to talk to her, but you can't be a dick about it. Good luck with your struggle for the truth.
Sincerely,
Jake

Blog #4

Dear Pudge,
I can't believe Alaska was the rat who told on Marya. I'd never rat on a friend especially

when it's a friend. At least Alaska didn't get kicked out of school. Congrats on finishing your religion paper. That must have sucked. Don't worry about the Colonel and Alaska leaving you out of the planning of the prank. The Colonel has known Alaska longer than you have and can come up with a better plan anyways. It's not like they don't like you. The plan for the prank was set up well so that makes up for the time you spent alone. When the swan attacked you, you should have beat it with a metal bar. That would have been pretty funny. I thought the fact you guys were free styling while drinking wine was ironic, yet hilarious. It was nothing like my boy Mike. He has the rawest raps, it's insane. "Best Day/Worst Day" is a cool game, although it is illegal for you to play. I don't think you should date Lara unless you're really serious, which I know you're not because of the fact you barely talk to her and you really like Alaska. But anyways, great job with the prank. Takumi has to learn to hold his alcohol better, but it all turned out great.

Sincerely,

Jake

The Coen Brothers

The Coen Brothers in my mind are film masterminds. Their stories in their movies are similar, and the characters have similar fates. The thing I like about the Coen brothers is how they show how the protagonist deals with the evil antagonist. It creates huge tension between the two and allows for a build in suspense. One reason why I'm so interested in the Coen brothers is because I like movies about crime. In almost every mopvie of theirs the protagonist is envolved in crime or a scandal that leads them down the wrong path.

The setting in the Coen's films are so random that it adds to the suspense. You're on edge because you never know what's going to happen in the "shady" setting. It adds realisticness to the film also because crime huge criminal acts occur in disolate places.

No Country for old men is my favorite movie out of the three. I like the story line, but most of all I liked how the Coen's leave it up to you to interperate what is happening in some parts. For example I liked how it's not clear where the psychoatic killer is when the sheriff searches the motel room. I also like a lot blood and violence in movies so the Coen's especially appeal to me.

Fargo I thought was a movie that the Coen's tried to send many messages and important themes to their audience. It was commenting on people's desire for money and how crime never pays. In Raising Arizona they sent similar messages, but it had a happy ending, which is unusual for a typical Coen Brother's film.

This was by far my favorite unit and it opened me up to the Coen's who I have never paid any attention to.