The House of The Scorpion was an amazing, intriguing book about a young boy named Matt. Matt is not like other boys his age, he's an "animal", a "beast", a clone. No matter how hard he tries to hide this, it always seems to find him.
I thought the House of the Scorpion was an amazing book! It literally turned the pages for me; every moment was a cliff hanger and you never knew what surprises were to come. I loved how you were able to keep such a deep connection with the characters, it was almost like you knew them in real life. Not only were you able to relate to the characters the book exploded with detail! I was able to envision the setting with such ease it was almost like I was there. "The sun was setting, and the garden was full of a cool, green light. The Ajo Mountains still glowed purple-brown in the distance, and the poppy fields were tipped with a gold that faded even as Matt watched. Lamps went on in the trees" Farmer, pg.103. This is a perfect example of how Farmer used her amazing abilities to create such vivid imagery. The theme of this book was hard to figure out mostly because it had so many possible themes. Although I think I have pretty much nailed it. Never let what people say ruin your chances to make your dreams come true. No matter what people said to Matt he always seemed to preserver and in the end make his wildest dreams become a reality. All in all, this book was amazing but I have to admit the last section was a disappointment. To say the least it was boring and useless, the plot and story line would have been fine without the last section. In conclusion, bravo Farmer! She created an amazing book and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. Possibly a sequel?
Monday, April 30, 2012
Post #6, The Final Scorpion Review
Matt stared at Maria. "This is your plan to rescue me?""Well, it might work," she said. "Tam Lin says the scorpion recognizes the fingerprints and DNA of El Patron. And you're his clone."
Matt suddenly felt light-headed. She was right. He was El Patron's clone. His fingerprints would be the same, his DNA identical. "If your wrong," he told Maria, "we'll die."
"We'll die together, dearest." -Farmer pg. 222
This would be the perfect phrase, along with many other teasers, to describe Farmer's book "The House of the Scorpion." With action and suspense, we as the readers follow in pursuit of Matt's scrupulous quest. His determination and fierce competition to free himself from the clutches of El Patron and be known as human is what one might say an uphill climb. From the punishment he received as a child to a double-cross from man he believed to have fellowship with, Matt has few people that he can depend on.
As I would describe this book referring to the plot, I would state it to be much different than most books. The beginning started off in a calm and slow tempo, with Matt and Celia living a normal happy life, and then immediately shot into the "strange" category as soon as he jumped out a window. At this point, I as a reader was temporarily confused, but very compelled to read more on the turn of events. Being surprised once more when Rosa brutally abused Matt to the part when he was accepted by the "old man" in the mansion, I knew from then and on it would become much more interesting. Continuing on with this mindset, I thoroughly enjoyed Matt's middle age, old age, and age 14. Such intensive activity blended in with spectacular writing made this book stand out from most novel study books. Farmer was certainly able to trick me when Matt and Maria got caught by Steven and Emilia just before they could escape in the hovercraft. These two characters, Steven and Emilia, I found were part of Farmer's weak link in this book. Even though they each had small parts of speech and emotion, I felt they were undeveloped and rather ignored. If Farmer could have elaborated on the two in further depths, like she did with Matt, Maria, Celia, Tam Lin and even Rosa, maybe we could have seen what Matt meant when he said, ""Steven," whispered Matt. In all this time he'd thought Steven and Emilia were-if not his friends-not his enemies, either. He'd admired Steven. In many ways they were alike."- Farmer pg. 226
Although the plot was able to pick itself back up in chapters 23 to 25, I would have to say the last section, "La Vida Nueva " proved to be out of place and awkward to me. From what I as a reader had just experienced before, the section was an oddly way to prepare for the ending. My mindset from before, "become much more interesting" didn't seem to carry on in full swing. In fact, it went right back to the "strange" category. Despite the difference of mood and voice in these chapters, I was still able to pick out the futuristic lands beyond Matt's old life, including the genuine friendships he shares with Chacho, Fidelito, and Ton-Ton. Ending off with a true and reasonable ending, "The House of the Scorpion" was a memorable yet unsusual read to experience. This particular read is highly recommended to any audience 13 and up in the mood for a suspenseful science fiction.
Matt suddenly felt light-headed. She was right. He was El Patron's clone. His fingerprints would be the same, his DNA identical. "If your wrong," he told Maria, "we'll die."
"We'll die together, dearest." -Farmer pg. 222
This would be the perfect phrase, along with many other teasers, to describe Farmer's book "The House of the Scorpion." With action and suspense, we as the readers follow in pursuit of Matt's scrupulous quest. His determination and fierce competition to free himself from the clutches of El Patron and be known as human is what one might say an uphill climb. From the punishment he received as a child to a double-cross from man he believed to have fellowship with, Matt has few people that he can depend on.
As I would describe this book referring to the plot, I would state it to be much different than most books. The beginning started off in a calm and slow tempo, with Matt and Celia living a normal happy life, and then immediately shot into the "strange" category as soon as he jumped out a window. At this point, I as a reader was temporarily confused, but very compelled to read more on the turn of events. Being surprised once more when Rosa brutally abused Matt to the part when he was accepted by the "old man" in the mansion, I knew from then and on it would become much more interesting. Continuing on with this mindset, I thoroughly enjoyed Matt's middle age, old age, and age 14. Such intensive activity blended in with spectacular writing made this book stand out from most novel study books. Farmer was certainly able to trick me when Matt and Maria got caught by Steven and Emilia just before they could escape in the hovercraft. These two characters, Steven and Emilia, I found were part of Farmer's weak link in this book. Even though they each had small parts of speech and emotion, I felt they were undeveloped and rather ignored. If Farmer could have elaborated on the two in further depths, like she did with Matt, Maria, Celia, Tam Lin and even Rosa, maybe we could have seen what Matt meant when he said, ""Steven," whispered Matt. In all this time he'd thought Steven and Emilia were-if not his friends-not his enemies, either. He'd admired Steven. In many ways they were alike."- Farmer pg. 226
Although the plot was able to pick itself back up in chapters 23 to 25, I would have to say the last section, "La Vida Nueva " proved to be out of place and awkward to me. From what I as a reader had just experienced before, the section was an oddly way to prepare for the ending. My mindset from before, "become much more interesting" didn't seem to carry on in full swing. In fact, it went right back to the "strange" category. Despite the difference of mood and voice in these chapters, I was still able to pick out the futuristic lands beyond Matt's old life, including the genuine friendships he shares with Chacho, Fidelito, and Ton-Ton. Ending off with a true and reasonable ending, "The House of the Scorpion" was a memorable yet unsusual read to experience. This particular read is highly recommended to any audience 13 and up in the mood for a suspenseful science fiction.
Post 6, Final Review of House of the Scorpion
Sometime in the future, Matt, a powerful drug lord's clone struggles with his life. He struggles with the people around him, finding a place where he belongs, finding what is right, and he struggles with the truth. Matt has to decide many things in order to live his life; is he a worthless, dirty clone, or is he meant for more...
I love this book. Reading it is like an escape; it takes me to a different world in the future. Nancy Farmer does a brilliant job of taking this fantasist world and making it feel like reality. I will be honest, the last part of the book and the ending was a let down, but it had to come to an end. And anyways, what book EVER has an incredible ending? It could have been drawn out more, but this still does not change my thoughts on the novel. One of the aspects in which I admire most would be the characters. Each character has a personality and qualities that make each one unique. This is something that I really enjoyed, each character was developed in different ways and each added something different to the novel. Another part that I love are the details. The description that Farmer describes everything in is brilliant and it makes for an even better read. I really loved reading this book, and I would urge you to pick it up and give it a glance.
~Gabriella
I love this book. Reading it is like an escape; it takes me to a different world in the future. Nancy Farmer does a brilliant job of taking this fantasist world and making it feel like reality. I will be honest, the last part of the book and the ending was a let down, but it had to come to an end. And anyways, what book EVER has an incredible ending? It could have been drawn out more, but this still does not change my thoughts on the novel. One of the aspects in which I admire most would be the characters. Each character has a personality and qualities that make each one unique. This is something that I really enjoyed, each character was developed in different ways and each added something different to the novel. Another part that I love are the details. The description that Farmer describes everything in is brilliant and it makes for an even better read. I really loved reading this book, and I would urge you to pick it up and give it a glance.
~Gabriella
Post 6, HOTS review
Hots
Matt is a clone living in a place between what was Mexico and the US, a place were clone are looked at as lower than animals. When Matt moves from his childhood house in a large poppy field to the "big house" his life dives into turmoil. He is abused, called names and ignored, that is until he meets El Patron, a powerful drug lord who Matt is a clone of, and he treats Matt with everything he could ever want. How will Matt cope with the abuse he gets from the residents of the big house? What will he do when he finds his best friend has been betraying him?
At the beginning of the book, I was thinking that the book would be so-so, just a regular bad novel study book. The beginning of the book was ok, but not amazing. As the book progressed, it got better and better. By the end of "Age 14", I was very into the book, it was amazing. I thought the book was well written and it kept me reading, Then I got to the last section. The final section of the book was an absolute train-wreck, it was horrible. I had a lot of trouble just sitting and reading the end. I think the the book could have ended at the end of "Age 14". I would give this book 3 stars out of 5, the 2 stars that it lost were due to the last section.
Matt is a clone living in a place between what was Mexico and the US, a place were clone are looked at as lower than animals. When Matt moves from his childhood house in a large poppy field to the "big house" his life dives into turmoil. He is abused, called names and ignored, that is until he meets El Patron, a powerful drug lord who Matt is a clone of, and he treats Matt with everything he could ever want. How will Matt cope with the abuse he gets from the residents of the big house? What will he do when he finds his best friend has been betraying him?
At the beginning of the book, I was thinking that the book would be so-so, just a regular bad novel study book. The beginning of the book was ok, but not amazing. As the book progressed, it got better and better. By the end of "Age 14", I was very into the book, it was amazing. I thought the book was well written and it kept me reading, Then I got to the last section. The final section of the book was an absolute train-wreck, it was horrible. I had a lot of trouble just sitting and reading the end. I think the the book could have ended at the end of "Age 14". I would give this book 3 stars out of 5, the 2 stars that it lost were due to the last section.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Post 5, H.O.T.S Gattaca Comparison
After reading "The House Of The Scorpion" and watching the movie "Gattaca" I realized that a lot of comparisons can be be made between the two. The obvious connection than can be made between the two is that the main story line is that the main character, being Matt from "The House Of The Scorpion" and Vincent from "Gattaca", is not excepted into society because of who, or what they are. Though, there is one main difference involving this situation. Matt was not excepted into society because he was genetically altered, by being a clone, and in Vincent's situation, he was not excepted into society because he was not genetically altered, or considered a "perfect" person. So that just shows the difference in how society views genetical altercations in each story. Another thing that is similar in the book was the theme. Both Matt and Vincent overcame the odds and accomplished what they thought was impossible. Vincent managed to go into space when no person that is not "perfect" has ever gone to space. Matt was eventually treated like a real person and became very powerful when before we was treated like an animal and was told that he had no soul. A difference between Matt and Vincent's personalities is that Vincent always wanted to prove people wrong and prove that he is just as good as a "perfect" person. For example, he beat his brother in the swimming competition. Matt on the other hand does his best to stay out of people's way so that people don't hate him more than they already do.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Post #5, The House of the Scorpion and Gattaca Comparison
The stereotypical human. How can a person choose the technically correct answer to that? Both Vincent and Matt face discrimination throughout their lives because they are not the stereotype in their world. First, let's review Matt's trying years of imperfection. Starting out in a household of educated people believing that a clone has no soul and no place in their lives. Was it fear that decided this? Or was it just the fact that this clone was a living double of El Patron, the opium lord? Even though they banished Matt from their "normal" world, he still does all he can to be noticed, to be accepted. From piano, guitar, and the excessive amount of education he receives, he sees his potential and knows that he can accomplish. Vincent saw that in himself when he sought out his dream of being an astronaut. With a rough life starting out with the belief of being chronically ill, Vincent was supposed to be doomed to be a cleaner all his life. People like his father and Caesar taunted him saying, "Listen for God's sake, you gotta understand something, the only way that you'll see the inside of a spaceship is if you're cleaning it." and, ""What about you, your majesty? You're dreaming of space? Come here. You have to start by cleaning this space right here!" Despite these cruel ways to explain the truth to the determined Vincent, he never gave up. Taking risks was how Vincent could reach his goal. For a person to go to extreme lengths of physical and mental trauma was exasperating to watch and read. Both needed to jump into the unknown and face the horrible futuristic world that had changed to their disadvantage. Another connection that sparked me as interesting was the fact that both Matt and Vincent changed their names. For Matt, switching his last name from Alacran to Ortega was a near escape from becoming known as a clone, a zombie in page 280. This happened to Vincent a number of times, but it was more on his identity, not his name. In fact, he changed his name at the near beginning and sacrificed his own existence to become a new image. Jerome Morrow. And when you think about Jerome and Tam Lin, they both have the similarity of befriending the two protagonists. As mentioned in page 246, Matt really is afraid of losing his one true friend, the one who saved his life and then released him to carry on to freedom. Jerome, or Eugene Morrow was Vincent's friend by the bond of a shared identity. This friendship became something more than a mere acquaintances as Vincent got closer to the launching date of going to Saturn's moon Titan. Operating as one body and two minds, Jerome was able to successfully foster Vincent's fantasy of going into space. A final thing that relates both to our high-spirited protagonists is the fact of the impossible being disguised as possible.
Without a doubt, it can be clearly seen from the beginning of Farmer's writing that in Matt's childhood he did have a soul. He acted like any child would, colouring, reading books, and wanting to play with other children. Even before the discovery of the label on his foot, Maria, Emilia and Steven all thought of him as just a child that had wanted to come out and see the lively children on the other side of the glass. Matt, after believing he could never be human, Tam Lin pointed him in the right direction on page 245 and exclaimed, "No one can tell the difference between a clone and a human. That's because there isn't any difference. The idea of clones being inferior is a filthy lie." I found this to be slightly different with Vincent's journey of becoming someone else to obtain his dream. At the near end of the story, when Vincent is found out by the unexpected urine test, it is Dr. Lamar that explains to him that his son also has this dream and then allows Vincent on his flight to Titan.
As I have compared the "House of the Scorpion" and "Gattaca" together, there are much more exact details and examples to be looked into. Regardless of every fact, there is a reason for both to be so alike. A story is to be told from both angles, and in this case we have a way of seeing both the positives and negatives to cloning and genetics. Both the film Gattaca and the book Farmer has provided are a way into the future, to fix mistakes that our society might make generations after our existence.
As I have compared the "House of the Scorpion" and "Gattaca" together, there are much more exact details and examples to be looked into. Regardless of every fact, there is a reason for both to be so alike. A story is to be told from both angles, and in this case we have a way of seeing both the positives and negatives to cloning and genetics. Both the film Gattaca and the book Farmer has provided are a way into the future, to fix mistakes that our society might make generations after our existence.
Post #5 Gattaca Comparison
When I was watching the film "Gattaca", all I could do was compare this main character to Matt in the "House of the Scorpion". The main character, Vincent, was normal, and to be accepted into society he must have a "valid genetic profile". Matt was a clone, and he was thought to not be a real person. I see similarities because both of these people just want to be accepted into society and to be seen as normal, not like a creature. I think that Matt had an easier time, because there was nothing he could do to make himself no longer be a clone. Also, there was no way people could tell the difference between normal and clones in the House of the Scorpion. However, Vincent didn't have it that easy. Although there are not many physical differences to tell whether or not someone has valid genes, people are constantly checking their blood and making retinal scans to see if a person is valid. He had to go through all of the steps to make sure that his DNA is never scanned, but Jerome's was. He had to constantly carry around Jerome's blood and contacts to make sure he was never known who he really was. The only extent that Matt had to go to in order to make sure no one knows him, was to keep his foot covered up so they didn't read "Property of the Alacran State". (Pg 321) In the society in Gattaca, to be accepted, you have to be modified. While in the House of the Scorpion, to be modified is not correct or accepted. This is where the differences are. Matt wants to be normal, and Vincent wants to be modified. In each of these different worlds, what is thought to be right and what is thought to be wrong is different. But there is one thing that is the same, everyone just wants to fit in. This thought of being "normal" is strange. In House of the Scorpion, normal is just normal. Unmodified. Unchanged. But it wasn't that case in Gattaca, the people who were modified were considered the normality. This is an odd thought that there are some people who are normal, and those who are not normal don't belong. This is what these characters want to be, normal. They want to fit in. But it is also like that in the real world, we all strive to be normal. Not being normal is not desired.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Post #5, Vincent .VS. Matt
VS.
In the book "House of the Scorpion" clones are the most foul disgusting creatures to ever walk the earth, meanwhile in Gattaca clones are high class citizens that only get the best service. This may seem strange, but the 2 main characters Matt ("House of the Scorpion') and Vincent (Gattaca) have more in common than meets the eye.
Matt was extremely unwelcome when he was first introduced to the residents of the big house. Mainly because he was a clone "A bad animal" - Farmer pg.27, as Emilia and many other characters had described Matt. Matt was an outcast, a stupid beast that had only one purpose, to supply El Patron with spare body parts. To my surprise, clones in Gattaca were treated with the highest curtsy. Only the clones were able to have the jobs a human would only dream of. Much like Matt, Vincent had a dream. A goal he knew that he would be able to accomplish one day. To go to space! Unfortunately Vincent was a human with a heart that was 1000 beats over-due, a heart that everyone believed would never last through the trip to space or even training. Eventually through a hard journey that included lying to loved ones and taking the identity of one perfect genetically modified person, he was able to accomplish his biggest dreams. Matts dream was a little different, he was to once become the ruler of Opium. But he had one thing standing in his way, his destiny. He was never intended to become the ruler of Opium. He was intended to supply El Patron with his heart when the time came. That never stopped Matt, with his perseverance and amazing friends that looked out for him, he took his rightful place as leader. As you can see both of these characters excelled even though they were different, and made their dreams come true.
When reading "House of the Scorpion" Matt was constantly trying to prove himself good enough. "He was in a rage to learn. He would excel, and then everyone would love him and forget he was a clone."- Farmer Pg.91. Matt thought that if he could prove himself with good grades and an amazing talent for music than everyone would love him and treat him no different than a human boy. Vincent is very similar. His brother and himself would constantly have swimming competitions to see who can swim the farthest and longest without stopping. Vincent of course, never being as strong as his brother lost and could never prove that he was just as strong as the average genetically engineered child. With extensive training he triumphed and finally beat his brother, not once, but twice! He had finally proved hat he was just as strong as his brother, stronger even.
All in all Vincent is really no different than Matt. They both try to prove themselves worthy and they both live in a world that rejects what they are. I can not tell you how happy I am that both of them pulled through and complete their wildest dreams. Hey, maybe Vincent and Matt would be friends. After all, they have more in common then meets the eye.
Matt was extremely unwelcome when he was first introduced to the residents of the big house. Mainly because he was a clone "A bad animal" - Farmer pg.27, as Emilia and many other characters had described Matt. Matt was an outcast, a stupid beast that had only one purpose, to supply El Patron with spare body parts. To my surprise, clones in Gattaca were treated with the highest curtsy. Only the clones were able to have the jobs a human would only dream of. Much like Matt, Vincent had a dream. A goal he knew that he would be able to accomplish one day. To go to space! Unfortunately Vincent was a human with a heart that was 1000 beats over-due, a heart that everyone believed would never last through the trip to space or even training. Eventually through a hard journey that included lying to loved ones and taking the identity of one perfect genetically modified person, he was able to accomplish his biggest dreams. Matts dream was a little different, he was to once become the ruler of Opium. But he had one thing standing in his way, his destiny. He was never intended to become the ruler of Opium. He was intended to supply El Patron with his heart when the time came. That never stopped Matt, with his perseverance and amazing friends that looked out for him, he took his rightful place as leader. As you can see both of these characters excelled even though they were different, and made their dreams come true.
When reading "House of the Scorpion" Matt was constantly trying to prove himself good enough. "He was in a rage to learn. He would excel, and then everyone would love him and forget he was a clone."- Farmer Pg.91. Matt thought that if he could prove himself with good grades and an amazing talent for music than everyone would love him and treat him no different than a human boy. Vincent is very similar. His brother and himself would constantly have swimming competitions to see who can swim the farthest and longest without stopping. Vincent of course, never being as strong as his brother lost and could never prove that he was just as strong as the average genetically engineered child. With extensive training he triumphed and finally beat his brother, not once, but twice! He had finally proved hat he was just as strong as his brother, stronger even.
All in all Vincent is really no different than Matt. They both try to prove themselves worthy and they both live in a world that rejects what they are. I can not tell you how happy I am that both of them pulled through and complete their wildest dreams. Hey, maybe Vincent and Matt would be friends. After all, they have more in common then meets the eye.
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