Blog #6

In the book The Snowman, there is a good use of symbol. A symbol is something that represents or stands for something else. In this book the snowman's scarf doesn't just symbolize the features of a human being. After a young boys mother mysteriously goes missing  police are called into investigate. After doing further searching and analysing the police have come to the conclusion that the scarf placed on the snowman's neck was last seen  with the mother before she disappeared. By calling attention to the scarf police are able to determine that in fact the mother has been taken against her will. As the young boys says, "She would never have given her favourite scarf to the snowman. Then it must have been your dad. No, someone did it after he'd left.Last night. The person who took mum."(Nesbo, 42) Therefore, the purpose of the scarf wasn't only used to symbolize human like clothing on the snowman but to symbolize the taking of the young boys mother.


Nesbø, Jo, and Don Bartlett. The Snowman. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. Print

Blog #5

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo has a few social issues contained in the story. The Major issue presented in the novel is crime and justice. As a family of three sit down to have a nice home cook meal on what seems like a normal night something strange occurs. Just outside the window almost 20 feet away is a snowman watching the families every move. This might not seem strange but when ask about the snowman the young boy sitting at the table had know answer to how it got there. That night the father caught a plane to Atlanta and left his ten year old son and wife home alone. When the young boy is waked from his sleep he soon finds his mother has disappeared and outside hanging around the snowman's neck is his mother scarf that had been last seen with this mother. As explained by the young boy,"She would never have given her favourite scarf to the snowman. Then it must have been your dad. No, someone did it after he'd left.Last night. The person who took mum."(Nesbo, 42) This excerpt proves that crime is the main focus point of the story because  several girls have mysteriously gone missing only leaving a piece of clothing behind. 

Nesbø, Jo, and Don Bartlett. The Snowman. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. Print

Blog #4

Nesbø, Jo, and Don Bartlett. The Snowman. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. Print

The book "The Snowman" by Jo Nesbo creates significance by using time periods, props and time to establish setting. The setting is taken place in Ontario. Its on the cusp of winter and the temperature is reaching just below zero. The author uses such things as, time periods above every chapter, gives the country and background, tells time at which significant events take place and uses specific props like a melting snowman to establish the time and setting.This is significant to the story because it helps tie the story together, for example if you were to read a story about whales in space and didn't know why the whales were in space, you would be lost and the book wouldn't capture the readers attention. The significant of this setting is that it makes the reader feel like there really in the story watching the investigation take place. A direct example from the book would include, "The snowman had melted about a foot from before"(Nesbo, 37).
The second significant event that takes place in this book is the main event, the main event creates conflict for the main character and creates a atmosphere of wiriness and tension.  The main event is taken place when 45 year old Ms.Becker is reported missing after mysteriously leaving her 10 year old son home alone."The boy rang the bell at about quarter past one. My husband and I went back with Jonas and searched the house for her first." (Nesbo, 36) This quote proves the atmosphere is wiriness as several girls have gone missing in a local community over a time period of a months. This also provides conflict for the main character because he has another missing women on his hand and the locals are starting to get scared and upset about the missing girls.

Blog # 7

In The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, the main character Harry goes through a process of finding a serial killer who has kidnapped several girls in the past month. At the beginning of the book a young boy named Jonas and his mother are left home alone after Joana's father travels to Atlanta on business.When the young boy is waken from his sleep in the middle of the night he soon finds his mother is no longer home. "In the living room the light was on, but there was no mummy. He walked into the kitchen and over to the telephone, successfully keeping his thoughts at bay, not letting the darkness in. He dialled his mother's mobile number and was jubilant to hear her soft voice. But it was a message asking to leave his name and have a nice day." (Nesbo, 33) When the police are call into investigate the main detective Harry leaps to the conclusion that Joana's mother was indeed kidnap. Even though there was no sign of forced entry or any other clues to suggest other wise, the only piece of evidence was a pink scarf placed around a snowman neck just outside the house which was last seen with Joana's mother." I don't think the mother left the home on her own free will. why not? Because it was planed." (43,Nesbo) This excerpt shows that Harry is convinced the mother was indeed kidnapped because of the planted scarf left outside around the snowman's neck. This leap changes the story in a dramatic way. Harry could have waited the next morning to see if Joana's mother slip to work or went out to get some late night snacks, but instead, Harry is drawn to the conclusion that Joana's mother was kidnap with the six others. Through Harry's leap to far, he gets to personal with the case and in doings is question of his abilities from his fellow workers and is separated further from his son. 

Nesbø, Jo, and Don Bartlett. The Snowman. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. Print

Blog # 3

McCarthy, Cormac. The road. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print

The Book i am currently reading is called " The Road".
The character i will be describing is the main character (the dad).

The three words that can best describe that dad is...

1.Brave 
2.Knowledgeable 
3.Caring

Brave- Ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage.
Synonyms- Bold, Daring.
Antonyms- Cowardly, Fearful. 
How do you know that this character has these traits?
"Why are you looking at him?
I can look where I want to.
No you cant.If you look at him again I'll shoot you."

In this complication the boy and dad come face to face with a unwanted guested. The guest threatens to kill the boy if they don't give up all there belongings, but the dad does back down. By showing his bravery the dad keeps the focus off the boy even though he has a gun pointed at him and is successful in killing the guest.

Knowledgeable-  Acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation. 
Synonyms- Brilliant, Clever.
Antonyms-Ignorant, unaware  
How do you know that this character has these traits?  
"What is it papa?
Morels. Its Morels.
What's a Morel?
There a kind of mushroom.
Is it ok to eat?
yes. go ahead take a bit."

This conversation between the boy and the dad suggest that the dad is clever/ knowledgeable. By knowing the type of mushroom  and knowing if its ok to eat shows that the dad has had a good secondary education and is knowledgeable of his surroundings in nature.

Caring-  Feeling and exhibiting concern and empathy for others.  
Synonyms- Concern, worry
Antonyms- Uncaring, neglect

How do you know that this character has these traits?  
" He woke in the dark of the woods in the leaves shivering violently.He sat up and felt for the boy"

Even though the dad is shivering violently in the leaves his first reaction is to find the boy. To me this shows the dads concern of finding the boy before thinking about his own health. This reveals how caring and concern he is for others.

Blog #2

McCarthy, Cormac. The road. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print

 The five elements that appear in the book The Road (by Cormac McCarthey) are suspense, conflict, point of view, charater, and setting.

In my opinion the five elements should be listed as:
1.Suspense
2.Character
3.Conflict
4.Setting
5.Point of view

In the book The Road by Cormac McCarthey there are many places where suspense takes place. A great example of this occurs when the main character and his son comes face to face with an unexpected guess. The guess attentions immediately turn to the little boy. Because of this, the main character and the guess exchange in a heat debate and in doing so the author reveals suspense. As the debate continues on the suspense’s keeps building and building until the guess is finally shot down by the main character. "He came forward, holding his belt by one hand. He looked at the gun and he looked at the boy, you wouldn’t think ill kill you but your wrong. But what I’d rather do is take you up this road a mile or so and then turn you loose.
That’s all the head start we need. You wont find us.
you know what i think?
what do you think?
I think your chicken shit.
The man had already dropped to this knees at this point and fired from a two-handed position balanced on both knees. The man fell back instantly and lay with blood bubbling from the hole in his forehead". (MacCarthy 67) As you can see this a very suspenseful part of the book.

Blog # 1

A good book is a book that draws you in on the first chapter and makes it hard to put the book down. I believe a good book makes you connect with the characters, feel what there feeling and think what there thinking. A good book should make you want to read the book over and over again. There are many things I look for in a book but the top three are a good plot, good characters and is thrilling. In my current book Night by Elise Wiesel all of my top three qualities have been picked. The plot line has made perfect sense so far. The characters have also been very good as well. The young boys shows traits of bravery, honesty and respect. The father on the other hand seems to me scared, frightened and weak compared to his son, maybe its because his son is not fully a where of whats going on around them, or maybe its because he has lost all hope in  living. so far this book is pack full of thrilling events that make the book hard to put down at some point. For example, both the main characters (father and son) are waiting in a line not fully understanding whats going to happen next. When they reach the front of the line they were either sent down path A or B. Path A lead to the crematory where thousands of people were killed everyday and path B leads to a concentration camp. Luckly, the boy and his father were not sent down path A. This is what I look for in a good book.     

Wiesel, Elie. Night. Toronto: Bantam Books. 1982. Print