Country________France____________________
Your Name___Rose McDonald___________________________
Submit to: [email protected] and post to edmodo for a 10 pt. quiz grade by 6-17-15
*******************************************************************************************
FICTION
Book title ___The Elegance of the Hedgehog_____________________
Author____Muriel Barbery_____________________
Date published ____2006____________
List three adjectives that describe this book
_____Slow________ ___Anticlimactic______ __Tedious____________
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery takes places in an upper-class apartment complex in France during the 2000s. The book centers on an extremely intelligent middle aged concierge named Renee who pretends to be barely literate. In the novel Renee befriends a young girl named Paloma and together they overcome fears and social barriers.
What was good about the book?
I like Paloma’s character the most because of how interesting she is. Most of her thoughts and rants are relatable.
What was challenging about the book?
At times Barbery would go on for pages about a philosophy or random thoughts that had nothing to do with the development of the characters or plot. This made the book boring and difficult to read.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
I would not recommend this book to people. I thought that Renee often came off as whiny and all
the philosophical rants really ruined the book for me.
Your Name___Rose McDonald___________________________
Submit to: [email protected] and post to edmodo for a 10 pt. quiz grade by 6-17-15
*******************************************************************************************
FICTION
Book title ___The Elegance of the Hedgehog_____________________
Author____Muriel Barbery_____________________
Date published ____2006____________
List three adjectives that describe this book
_____Slow________ ___Anticlimactic______ __Tedious____________
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery takes places in an upper-class apartment complex in France during the 2000s. The book centers on an extremely intelligent middle aged concierge named Renee who pretends to be barely literate. In the novel Renee befriends a young girl named Paloma and together they overcome fears and social barriers.
What was good about the book?
I like Paloma’s character the most because of how interesting she is. Most of her thoughts and rants are relatable.
What was challenging about the book?
At times Barbery would go on for pages about a philosophy or random thoughts that had nothing to do with the development of the characters or plot. This made the book boring and difficult to read.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
I would not recommend this book to people. I thought that Renee often came off as whiny and all
the philosophical rants really ruined the book for me.
Country: France
Your Name: Emma-Leigh Lamonde
FICTION
Book title: Sarah's Key
Author: Tatiana de Rosnay
Date published: 2007
List three adjectives that describe this book
1) illuminating 2) gripping 3) raw
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
Sarah's Key follows two protagonists: Sarah in 1942 and Julia Jarmond in 2002. The former is a ten-year-old Jewish girl who suffers horrifying experiences under the French Occupation and the latter is an American journalist married to a Frenchman and living in Paris. As the two tales progress, Julia slowly uncovers the horrors of Sarah's story, and Sarah struggles with ugly truths about human behavior.
What was good about the book?
The overall plotline was fascinating and kept me hooked until the end. The unique structure adds to the novel's allure, and the characters are realistic, but not boring.
What was challenging about the book?
Getting used to the two settings being alternately recounted is the most difficult part of Sarah's Key.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
I would recommend Sarah's Key, because it is a highly interesting work of fiction, but also informative, due to the presence of actual historical events in the novel.
Your Name: Emma-Leigh Lamonde
FICTION
Book title: Sarah's Key
Author: Tatiana de Rosnay
Date published: 2007
List three adjectives that describe this book
1) illuminating 2) gripping 3) raw
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
Sarah's Key follows two protagonists: Sarah in 1942 and Julia Jarmond in 2002. The former is a ten-year-old Jewish girl who suffers horrifying experiences under the French Occupation and the latter is an American journalist married to a Frenchman and living in Paris. As the two tales progress, Julia slowly uncovers the horrors of Sarah's story, and Sarah struggles with ugly truths about human behavior.
What was good about the book?
The overall plotline was fascinating and kept me hooked until the end. The unique structure adds to the novel's allure, and the characters are realistic, but not boring.
What was challenging about the book?
Getting used to the two settings being alternately recounted is the most difficult part of Sarah's Key.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
I would recommend Sarah's Key, because it is a highly interesting work of fiction, but also informative, due to the presence of actual historical events in the novel.
Country: France
Your Name: Jake Van Dine
Book Title Candide Author Voltaire Year of Publication: 1759
List three adjectives that describe this book
7. Grim 2. Ironic 3. Optimistic
What is the book about? (Write at least three sentences)
Voltaire, a critic of the world around him during the Enlightenment, wrote Candide to criticize the foolish belief that “All was for the best in the best of all possible worlds.” He uses Candide to exhibit the world’s flaws, using sexism, racism, violence, murder, rape, corruption, theft, natural disasters, dismemberment, and disease to support his case. Despite his somewhat pessimistic view of the world, Voltaire still conveys a sense of hope for those who make the most of life, as Candide does by the end of the novel.
What was good about the book?
Candide’s themes and outspoken criticism made it famous, published in an era of war around the globe and criticizing corruption present in institutions that would have the common people think otherwise. Voltaire’s idea is that those that are fortunate, such as the aristocrats and other nobles, think that “all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.” In reality, the world treated most people harshly.
What was challenging about the book?
Voltaire wrote a very amusing satire, however, the language can be quite tricky to understand at some points and some jokes may be lost on the reader. Furthermore, the book has several layers of criticism of the world around us, both spiritual and physical. This combination of complex language and criticism can create a challenging read for some.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
I would highly recommend the book; it greatly helps not only with understanding France’s celebration of art as it portrays some of the best of this cultural tradition, it also greatly helps to understand the Enlightenment and this pre-industrial era. Voltaire’s writing is a keystone of French literature and his works are powerful reads. Candide is a powerful Enlightenment-era novel and truly exemplifies Enlightenment beliefs concerning the Church, rationalism, and social issues such as gender roles.
Your Name: Jake Van Dine
Book Title Candide Author Voltaire Year of Publication: 1759
List three adjectives that describe this book
7. Grim 2. Ironic 3. Optimistic
What is the book about? (Write at least three sentences)
Voltaire, a critic of the world around him during the Enlightenment, wrote Candide to criticize the foolish belief that “All was for the best in the best of all possible worlds.” He uses Candide to exhibit the world’s flaws, using sexism, racism, violence, murder, rape, corruption, theft, natural disasters, dismemberment, and disease to support his case. Despite his somewhat pessimistic view of the world, Voltaire still conveys a sense of hope for those who make the most of life, as Candide does by the end of the novel.
What was good about the book?
Candide’s themes and outspoken criticism made it famous, published in an era of war around the globe and criticizing corruption present in institutions that would have the common people think otherwise. Voltaire’s idea is that those that are fortunate, such as the aristocrats and other nobles, think that “all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.” In reality, the world treated most people harshly.
What was challenging about the book?
Voltaire wrote a very amusing satire, however, the language can be quite tricky to understand at some points and some jokes may be lost on the reader. Furthermore, the book has several layers of criticism of the world around us, both spiritual and physical. This combination of complex language and criticism can create a challenging read for some.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
I would highly recommend the book; it greatly helps not only with understanding France’s celebration of art as it portrays some of the best of this cultural tradition, it also greatly helps to understand the Enlightenment and this pre-industrial era. Voltaire’s writing is a keystone of French literature and his works are powerful reads. Candide is a powerful Enlightenment-era novel and truly exemplifies Enlightenment beliefs concerning the Church, rationalism, and social issues such as gender roles.
Country France
Your Name Elle Barrett
Submit to: [email protected] and post to edmodo for a 10 pt. quiz grade by 6-13-13
*******************************************************************************************
BIOGRAPHY OR NON-FICTION
Book title Cogrto, Ergo Sum: The Life of Rene Descartes
Author Richard Watson
Date published 2007
List three adjectives that describe this book
Insightful Detailed Helpful
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
This book was about a detailed biography on the life of Rene Descartes. The author, Richard Watson, had traveled through France and other various countries where Descartes traveled and studied. He gives insight into Descartes’s life, along with stories on his own travels to these places. It’s the story of Descartes’s life that also includes what life is like where Descartes lived and traveled to in France.
What was good about the book?
What was good about the book was that it gave me a lot of information of Rene Descartes growing up and how his mathematical discoveries changed the way the world looked at math. The chapters are also labeled by events in his life, which made it easy to search for certain aspects of Descartes’s life for my paper.
What was challenging about the book?
The author adding in his own experiences when he visited Descartes’s home and other various places Descartes traveled was confusing to me because one minute the author was talking about Descartes’s life and next paragraph he was talking about his own. I was confused at some points if the facts were about Descartes or not.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
Yes I would recommend this book because it was helpful with not only finding out the life of my person I chose from France, but also the culture and lifestyles of people who lived in France during Descartes’s time and today.
****************************************************************************************
FICTION
Book title A Troubled Peace
Author L.M. Elliott
Date published 2009
List three adjectives that describe this book
_________________ _________________ ____________________
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
This novel is about a 19 year old boy, Henry Forester, who travels back to France after World War II to make amends with those who helped him survive and get back to the US, after his bomber-plane was shot down over Nazi-controlled France. He suffers from post-war trauma from all he experienced during the war, and even finds it difficult to sleep through the night. Once he reaches France he finds that it is not much better off than it was during the war and that the people there are struggling to provide for their families and stay alive, he is able to help the lives of a few he comes in contact with while searching for a young boy who helped him during the war, Pierre.
What was good about the book?
What was good about the book was that there was never a dull moment. There was always something happening that would make you want to keep reading.
What was challenging about the book?
There was not much challenging about the book. However, because the book is set post-World War II, insight and background knowledge on the war makes the events and lives of the people easier to understand.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
Yes! I would definitely recommend this book because not only did it give me information of what the culture of France is like and how it was in the past, but I was also overall a great book and kept me wanting to read more.
Your Name Elle Barrett
Submit to: [email protected] and post to edmodo for a 10 pt. quiz grade by 6-13-13
*******************************************************************************************
BIOGRAPHY OR NON-FICTION
Book title Cogrto, Ergo Sum: The Life of Rene Descartes
Author Richard Watson
Date published 2007
List three adjectives that describe this book
Insightful Detailed Helpful
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
This book was about a detailed biography on the life of Rene Descartes. The author, Richard Watson, had traveled through France and other various countries where Descartes traveled and studied. He gives insight into Descartes’s life, along with stories on his own travels to these places. It’s the story of Descartes’s life that also includes what life is like where Descartes lived and traveled to in France.
What was good about the book?
What was good about the book was that it gave me a lot of information of Rene Descartes growing up and how his mathematical discoveries changed the way the world looked at math. The chapters are also labeled by events in his life, which made it easy to search for certain aspects of Descartes’s life for my paper.
What was challenging about the book?
The author adding in his own experiences when he visited Descartes’s home and other various places Descartes traveled was confusing to me because one minute the author was talking about Descartes’s life and next paragraph he was talking about his own. I was confused at some points if the facts were about Descartes or not.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
Yes I would recommend this book because it was helpful with not only finding out the life of my person I chose from France, but also the culture and lifestyles of people who lived in France during Descartes’s time and today.
****************************************************************************************
FICTION
Book title A Troubled Peace
Author L.M. Elliott
Date published 2009
List three adjectives that describe this book
_________________ _________________ ____________________
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
This novel is about a 19 year old boy, Henry Forester, who travels back to France after World War II to make amends with those who helped him survive and get back to the US, after his bomber-plane was shot down over Nazi-controlled France. He suffers from post-war trauma from all he experienced during the war, and even finds it difficult to sleep through the night. Once he reaches France he finds that it is not much better off than it was during the war and that the people there are struggling to provide for their families and stay alive, he is able to help the lives of a few he comes in contact with while searching for a young boy who helped him during the war, Pierre.
What was good about the book?
What was good about the book was that there was never a dull moment. There was always something happening that would make you want to keep reading.
What was challenging about the book?
There was not much challenging about the book. However, because the book is set post-World War II, insight and background knowledge on the war makes the events and lives of the people easier to understand.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
Yes! I would definitely recommend this book because not only did it give me information of what the culture of France is like and how it was in the past, but I was also overall a great book and kept me wanting to read more.
Country___France_________________________
Your Name_____Bridget Harris_________________________
Submit to: [email protected] and post to edmodo for a 10 pt. quiz grade by 6-13-13
*******************************************************************************************
BIOGRAPHY OR NON-FICTION
Book title __Joan of Arc______________________
Author_________Mary Gordon________________
Date published ___2000_____________
List three adjectives that describe this book
_____historic____________ ____informative_____________ _______war_____________
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
This book is about the life of Joan of Arc, a young girl who saved France during the war against the British. It explains how she ended up in jail, her trial, and her eventual execution. It includes quotes from Joan herself and provides an inside look on her life with lots of analysis.
What was good about the book?
It was very informative and teaches the reader a lot about Joan of Arc and her accomplishments.
What was challenging about the book?
It is very long and monotonous since most of it is the author’s analysis instead of a storyline.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
I would not recommend this book because I found it very boring and it often gets sidetracked so you get a lot of information about topics other than Joan of Arc.
FICTION
Book title _Night Watch_______________________
Author___Linda Fairstein______________________
Date published ________2012________
List three adjectives that describe this book
___mysterious______________ _____murder____________ ______crime______________
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
In this book, Alexandra and her boyfriend are in Paris for the opening of his new restaurant when a body is found. The victim was part of the restaurant and much of the evidence points to Alexandra’s boyfriend as the murderer. Alexandra must return home to deal with her own job and she is forced to decide between believing her boyfriend’s innocence or risk covering for a murderer.
What was good about the book?
It is very interesting so you don’t get bored of reading it because you want to find out what will happen.
What was challenging about the book?
It’s over 400 pages long so if you don’t like to read, it can be a lot. It also takes a very long time to read.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
Yes I would recommend this book because it depicts the culture of France very well while still having a good plotline.
Your Name_____Bridget Harris_________________________
Submit to: [email protected] and post to edmodo for a 10 pt. quiz grade by 6-13-13
*******************************************************************************************
BIOGRAPHY OR NON-FICTION
Book title __Joan of Arc______________________
Author_________Mary Gordon________________
Date published ___2000_____________
List three adjectives that describe this book
_____historic____________ ____informative_____________ _______war_____________
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
This book is about the life of Joan of Arc, a young girl who saved France during the war against the British. It explains how she ended up in jail, her trial, and her eventual execution. It includes quotes from Joan herself and provides an inside look on her life with lots of analysis.
What was good about the book?
It was very informative and teaches the reader a lot about Joan of Arc and her accomplishments.
What was challenging about the book?
It is very long and monotonous since most of it is the author’s analysis instead of a storyline.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
I would not recommend this book because I found it very boring and it often gets sidetracked so you get a lot of information about topics other than Joan of Arc.
FICTION
Book title _Night Watch_______________________
Author___Linda Fairstein______________________
Date published ________2012________
List three adjectives that describe this book
___mysterious______________ _____murder____________ ______crime______________
What is the book about? (write at least three sentences)
In this book, Alexandra and her boyfriend are in Paris for the opening of his new restaurant when a body is found. The victim was part of the restaurant and much of the evidence points to Alexandra’s boyfriend as the murderer. Alexandra must return home to deal with her own job and she is forced to decide between believing her boyfriend’s innocence or risk covering for a murderer.
What was good about the book?
It is very interesting so you don’t get bored of reading it because you want to find out what will happen.
What was challenging about the book?
It’s over 400 pages long so if you don’t like to read, it can be a lot. It also takes a very long time to read.
Would you recommend the book? Why or why not?
Yes I would recommend this book because it depicts the culture of France very well while still having a good plotline.