Destiny

I think that Strider's situation could be a metaphor. Tolkien could be trying to communicate the toren feelings that many soldiers experienced during World War II. Strider's heart belongs in Rivendell and that is where he may truly desire to be. One the other hand though, he must ignore his heart and instead commit to a trek across Middle Earth. This could be symbolizing the difficult commitment that many individuals had to experience during the time this book was written. I believe that destiny does play a part in the character's lives but it's not a binding fate, like the draft. Their lives present changes and turns but they are the ones that decided on them. For example, after Gandalf explains their situation, Frodo chose to bring the ring to Rivendell. I think that the character's destinies change but they do have decision that effect their destinies.

Independent Reading Four

My favorite aspect of Don't Lets go to the Dogs Tonight was definitely the vivid and distinct descriptions that Fuller used to describe her African surroundings. The language use of this book, transports you to the jagged and shifting conditions of the environment there. The creative and poetic way Fuller presents the African sunsets or the routine screaming of the savage animals, makes you fall in love with the harsh African countryside.

Independent Reading Three

In the book, Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, there are several themes hidden behind the seemingly random assortment of stories from Alexandra Fuller's childhood. One theme that has resonated the most with me is the persistent occurrence of Fuller's family's apathy. Not only do they display inconsideration towards the impoverished people in their vicinity, but they exhibit a lack of consideration towards Fuller. This is seen on many occasions. Two of these instants being the death of Fuller's younger sister and baby brother. On both occasions, her parents don't attempt to comfort her.

Independent Reading Two

In my independent reading book, Don't Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight, I have noticed jarring differences in the Afrikaners settlers culture compared to ours. Firstly, even though throughout this book the author's family considers themselves poor, they always have servants and hired-hands for the farm. They also seem more calloused towards observing people suffering. In our society, we organized fundraisers and raise awareness for these causes. In this book, they seem indifferent to these types of things. The pictures of bloated bellied, half naked children we see in commercials, that beg for donations, are the same children that are neighbors to the Afrikaners. The people living in their backyards are these struggling people that, in America, we reference to when some bratty four year old refuses to finish their drive-thru dinner.

Independent Reading One

 The autobiographical Don't Lets go to the Dogs Tonight is from the perspective of Alexandra Fuller, a white settler living in southern Africa during the ending age of apartheid. With the use of vividly descriptive language that captures the stark surroundings, Fuller reveals the shifting values of races. When the book begins, the Rhodesian war for independence is in full storm. When this enmity is final over, the political practice of apartheid is banished.
 Fuller's book documents the reaction and resilients of the whiter settlers living in Rhodesian (soon to become Zimbabwe).

Sherlock Holmes? Christopher Boone?

        In the book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, the protagonist, Christopher Boone is always interested in the logical view of situations. He is insistently calculating, mathematically predicting and analyzing his surroundings and the people that occupy that area. He can form assumptions void of emotional complications. He likes to do "detective" work and his role model for this aspiration, is none other then Sherlock Holmes.
         Boone and Holmes share some similar characteristics. Although Holmes is not as apathetic as Boone, he still approaches his crime scenes with an analytical and scientific demeanor. Sherlock is, also, always evaluating his setting very critically and thoroughly. Both of these characters are so intense and intelligent, yet they are socially incapable and awkward. Both of these characters' talents are, in some sense, a hindrance. This is seen in a more extreme form in Boone's case.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

          The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon, opens to the scene of Christopher Boone discovering Wellington, Mrs. Shear’s now lifeless dog. Wellington’s mutilated body is lying on Mrs. Shear’s front lawn; a garden fork is pierced through his body and wedged into the blood-soaked grass beneath him. To Christopher, this grotesque situation is a mystery that needs some detecting.

            Although this opening scene presents a beginning to what appears to be a typical murder mystery novel, it’s not. This book doesn’t deliver an average mystery story, because Christopher isn’t your average boy. This story highlights Christopher’s struggle with the quirks of Aspergers, while he investigates the suspicious case of the violent death of Mrs. Shear’s mutt.

Along the way, Christopher’s journey reveals more then just Wellington’s killer. As this novel is written from the perspective of Christopher, it shows how a person with Aspergers thinks, functions and feels. It allows the reader to realize the difficulties this syndrome places on the simple tasks and aspects of an average person’s life. This book displays the unusually amount of effort Christopher has to exert to maintain relationships, go into public places, travel, behave in school, talk to strangers,  and understand verbal and non-verbal communication.

            Along with focusing on the personal difficulties that Christopher battles, this novel also accentuates the arduous challenges that the people in Christopher's life face as a result of his condition. Throughout the course of this book, Christopher's parents' relationship with each other strained and tested. Through the fighting and betrayal, they both come to realize what's more important to them. In the end, they decide to suffer through and ignore their own differences so that they can keep supporting and providing for Christopher. This sacrifice of theirs, ultimately, goes unnoticed by Christopher.