Task 39

Part 1

I thought that the 4th excerpt was the most interesting one because of its layout. It kind of like gives a point example explanation using each paragraphs making an even bigger paragraph. Also usually when authors tend to go on they make you lose track, but this piece was different since it has the different mini points splitting the whole thing up making it seem small.

Part 2

The beginning of the end – contradictory but it still makes sense.

The End. The end is to be as glorious as the beginning. We have to finish with style as many would say. So the day started as normal – me struggling out of bed- I went to the bathroom and performed my daily rituals of having a shower, having breakfast and brushing my teeth. Everybody else was already up and full; but my dad was the only one who was fully ready. The rest of us got ready eventually; and as usual I was the last to wake up, but the first to get ready and to wait by the door. We finally got out and walked to the bus stop; but instead of the usual knowing where to go, this time we had no idea what we were doing next; I mean of course we knew that our final destination for that morning was to be ‘La Grande Mosque de Paris’ to pray the sacred Friday prayer, but how to get there was a mystery. So time went by and with a lot of help from people and signs we eventually reached the street on which the great mosque was; however we knew suddenly that there was something unusual going on, well for starters the police searched our bags before we down the street. Then we found out that the mosque was closed – why I hear you ask, well I don’t know, nobody knows to be honest; many stories but I doubt any are true- so we ended up going back the way we started.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The end of the end- you savor your last moments like they’re the only thing you could ever want.

When we got home my little sister could finally be let loose. My mother kept stressing; ‘we are going to be so late and your not even caring’ she said that as if she was about to cry. My dad only gave the soft reply of ‘everything is going to be fine, don’t worry honey, everything would go as God planned’; and on that note my cousin came in, as if playing a rehearsed scene. He came in with a look of determination in his face, ready for what he was going to do next.

* * * * * * * * * * *

You plan. God plans. And only what God plans becomes the future. – a famous Muslim saying

We had such luck with the bus and we found the train waiting for us at the station. Everything was going as planned, well that was until we reached the train’s third stop that‘s when everything started going wrong, the train would stop at each station for 10 minutes at least.
Then the worst thing happened when we got to the Eurostar station. We missed the train. The first thing that came to my head at that moment was ‘we were all planning to go to England that day, but it was God’s plan for us to stay one more night in France and in the end his way was our present then’ and my memory of France now.

It's hard to believe..

Part 1
My favorite excerpt was the one from 'End in Tears' by Ruth Rendell because I thought that it used the show and not tell technique very well. I also liked the twist in the end; I believe that it was what made the excerpt so powerful. All the while I was reading I thought that the man was waiting for the woman to speak to her or something, but then it ended up him trying to kill her. That to me was just unexpected. I don't really have a detailed explanation for why I liked it so much; it was more because it jumped out and grabbed me then me trying to come to grasp with its qualities.
Part 2

I was there more confused than ever. It couldn’t be her. She couldn’t be dead. I spoke to her only yesterday that she told me she was going to meet her future soul mate. She was planning her wedding with him; this couldn’t be happening. No. It was a dream I was going to wake up any minute now and find that she was my next case. I never thought I would have to mix my social and work life together; I guess life is not always as you planned it out to be.

So I was there in complete shock in the room with the only person left that I trusted now at my feet, and covered in blood. She had a necklace pattern planted in her skin, shed always loved necklaces I didn’t know that it would even go for her death. She had slits in her arm which made sure that every spot of the floor was red. They were finely cut so that each piece of flesh on either side was smooth.

I took out my note book and started to record what I saw; before realizing that everyone around me was looking at my every move. So I told them each to get on with their work and to let me get on with mine. I wrote down exact descriptions of the crime scene as painful as it was. It wasn’t until then did I notice the smell, a tangy smell; I guessed straight away what it was but when I did I wish ed I hadn’t. It was bad enough seeing my best friend on the floor in front of me and everyone around me, but for her to have actually pissed it was too embarrassing in front everyone; despite the fact that she was dead.

And that was how my last case started. Finding my only full time friend on the floor dead. That was something I would never have imagined to have to cope with that as part of the CSI, but I guess that was another misjudgment on my behalf.

Excerpt 5 Notes from a small island by Bill Bryson (1995)

I enjoyed this excerpt the most because I found it quite comical, for example when describing how being born is a blessing in itself. It also grabbed my attention as soon as I started reading it, since the author speaks directly to you which make you feel as you are part of the book. Also the fact that it is structured in short paragraphs makes you want to read it because if it was in long paragraphs with very long sentences, your brain would switch off as soon as you look at it.

I Once Remember When....

December 1996 was a month that would decide were the rest of my life would be built. It was a month that decided my fate. I made my first journey out of Algeria, and my first ride on a plane at the age of four; now you tell me how many people you know made a plane journey at that age, not many are there.

Well basically I got on the plane with my mother, father, grandfather and sister; well my sister didn't exactly take up a seat by herself, she was more or less taking up most of my mums. Anyway so we were on the plane going to Turkey for a one week stop before joining our family in England.

When we arrived in Turkey the first difference I could see was that the sky was greyer than how I left it in Algeria, the attendants in the airport were also cold, to match their weather.

We finally got to the room which we were staying at for that week.
The third day into our week me and my mum went out with a lady- the managers wife- she was showing us around, the female parts of town, shopping!!!On the way I got into a strop with my mum, because she told me to stop annoying the woman when I wasn't; I was just asking her if she had a little sister inside her tummy just like my mum, I mean I was trying my best to bond with the lady, couldn't my mum understand that. I could almost hear my mum blaming herself for taking me with her instead of leaving me with my granddad, the woman also started to feel uneasy towards me; so I decided to do them a favour and I crossed the road.
I started day dreaming about how it's going to be like going on a plane again to finally see my family again; I didn’t realise where I was going until I saw myself inside a shop and surrounded by clothes. The shop attendant saw me and started talking to me, but I understood nothing of what she was saying; and I think she realised because she took me by the hand to the front of the shop and started to speak through the mike.
Of course no one came. No one wanted me. Then as if from a fairytale; guess who walked through the door...my mother...yes it was her I wasn't dreaming, my mum had come back for me. As soon as I saw her I ran up to her and hugged her before I had the time to wake up.

Our way home was accompanied by silence. It divided me and my mum for the rest of the day.
This experience has played an impact on my life, and has always made me feel uneasy towards going to new countries. However some good has come out of it as well, I now know that I should never ask a woman if she is pregnant until she brings up the subject herself.

task 34

Part 1:
The opening which stood out to me the most was opening 8 because it used the technique show and not tell a lot, which gives the story tension and builds up a climax. Also the fact that there are many references to the color red in someway gives it a good thread. I liked the way the author used full stops in the second paragraph in ‘The fucking knife broke too. My knife. Virgin blade and everything.’ I found it very powerful; and the use of the full stops made you come to relies what was actually happening. The author also uses other techniques such as personification and metaphors.
The fact the opening brought up a mystery made it engaging, and I really want to read the rest of the book (when you finish it sir). Also the conclusion stays as a bit of a bet, because even though you think you can guess what is going to happen next, you read something new and they way you view the story changes.
On the other hand I really liked how in the second opening the author used lists, I believe they make the book almost seem easy and fun to read; it also is an original touch.

Part 2:
It was the middle of the night I could hear someone calling me name “Sara Sara” I was confused I thought I was dreaming; but I found out I wasn’t I got scared but there was nothing 2 be scared about as when I looked around me I didn’t find anything suspicious so I went back 2 my bed. But den I heard me name again so I thought no this is not a dream someone is really calling my name, so I decided to look out of the window and guess who I saw. Yes, it was him the one and only Mehdi oh my god he was actually there I wasn’t dreaming but I got scared because of ma dad. So I asked Mehdi to go, but inside me I really wanted him to stay, he understood though and made his way back.

That day I was waiting the whole night for him to come back but there was no sign of him, and I fell asleep waiting and that I night I experienced every romantic dream you can think of, us two even got married in my dream. That morning I went to the bathroom, but obviously before that I had to look out of the window and oh my god he was there (I literally started pinching myself to make sure I had woken up), he told me 2 get ready so he can take me to school. Then my mum came in the room and that was it my heart had melted and I started to shiver. I knew there was something wrong as soon as I saw her since today is a Wednesday, and she works on Wednesdays; my first thoughts were that she had seen him. And I was right – but not totally, because I thought she was going to lecture me- but instead she told me to hurry up and get dressed, she knew about everything apparently. She came and closed the door which made me terrified, she only closes the door when something is really important, then she came out with it ‘HOW DARE YOU’ I could feel my face go red and spears scratching down my face - it was the first thing I had felt in weeks now I came to relies it. My mother relaxed her face and smiled ‘I know …… I was just as excited as you are when I was your age’ she said calmly. I had no clue what she was on about but I knew it was no good …… or so I thought.
Mum told me that to for your fiancé to drop you off to school was something normal, but the first times are always special. I was baffled, so many questions were going through my mind; HOW and WHEN did this happen, but the main one was WHY can’t I feel anything that I am touching.

What i want to say is...

I have something to say, but it's hard when your there,
Your words they make me feel like I'm flying above;
Like I'm soaring and twirling and no one can stop,
What I'm feeling for you your my little white dove.

I feel joyful and happy when your here my dear,
I feel like i can do what i put my mind to.
There's no stopping me now I'm so in love with you,
In the dark all alone your my star your my moon.

Come with me be with me help me get through this life.
How can i win you over and gain all your love?
You've gained mine and much more; round you my world revolves,
Your my angel that lives in the heavens above.

I thank you, it's the end that's all i have to say
Yet there's still a bit more if you want to find out,
But those words won't come out till you get to my heart,
And then we'll be together and never apart.

Thank You (Beginner)

Life has no meaning without you aware
You've helped me through all hardships i have had
And taken me through all of my despair
I owe to you the fact i am not sad
You are my guardian angel sent by god
To make sure i have found a place to hide
As for the rest they're just a stupid lie.
You're there for me to help me rise again
Which makes me feel indepted since
You helped me see the bright side even when
The darkness in my heart' sins would not rinse.
I thank you my dear freind for all the joy
You let me see without the need for boys.


i finally got a chance to change my password....sooo sorry for the latness