Jacque's Book Journal

You Don't Know Me--Sixth Entry

2005-05-09T17:42:00.000-07:00

Summary: A huge fight breaks out in the gym because Toby Walsh was yelling at a fan from the opposing team that was sitting in the stands. Gloria and John escape by crawling under the bleachers. They meet Mindy and Toby outside and walk with each other for a while. John finds out from Toby that Gloria's dad is very protective and he nearly killed her last boyfriend. John and Gloria arrive at her house and she asks John to come in because her parents are sleeping. John is very weary about this decision but follows her down to the basement anyways. She dims the lights, turns on some music, takes John's shoes and sweater off, and they lay next to each other on the couch. Gloria kisses John and this is his dream come true but then he hears something from upstairs. The music woke up Gloria's parents and her dad is on his way downstairs. After much yelling and chasing, John manages to make it over to the light switch and turn them off and sneakily escape leaving his sweater and shoes behind. He arrives at home and his step-dad is there to greet him. His step-dad throws John in the back of his truck and drives him somewhere far away. They get out and John doesn't know where he's at but there are 3 other men there also.

14. Predict what is going to happen next in your book. Make sure that your prediction is logical and is based on events which have already occurred. (Characters shouldn't act in a way that is completely different from their actions so far.)
--I predict that sometime in the near future of my book John will start working at this place that his step-dad has taken him. I also think that he will have more eventful occurances with Gloria and/or her father.

You Don't Know Me--Fifth Entry

2005-04-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

Summary: John and Gloria arrive at the game. John is very paranoid that Billy Beezer will be there and watches constantly for him. Gloria tells John numerous times that she does not want to sit by Mindy Fairchild, but when Gloria sees Mindy and her date, Toby Walsh, she immediatly approaches them and sits down. Then, Billy Beezer shows up and confronts John and introduces himself to Gloria.

11. Point of View is the vantage point through which the writer tells his story. Identify the type of point of view used in your book (first person, third person limited, third person objective, omniscient). Explain how you know this is the correct point of view.
--The point of view in my book is first person because John, the main character, is telling the story.

You Don't Know Me--Fourth Entry

2005-04-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

Summary: John is at home getting ready for his big date with Gloria when Billy calls him. He finds out that John and Gloria are going out on a date and Billy is furious. Billy says he will be at the game tonight and declares war. John walks over to Gloria's house to pick her up for the basketball game. Her mother invites him inside and talks with him for a while. Then she directs him to the den where Gloria's dad is. Gloria's dad also talks to John, and he tells him it's not a race, and that if anyone ever tried to take advantage of his daughter it wouldn't be good. John and Gloria eventually leave and head for the game. They hold hands the whole way there, but when they arrive Gloria says they shouldn't be seen having a PDA (public display of affection) because people might assume they are going out or something.

12. Identify the setting (time and place) of the major part of your story. Is this setting important to your story? Why or why not?
--The setting of the major part of my story is a small town. The author doesn't state where this town is located so I can't really be sure. The setting is not relatively important to my story because it doesn't have a big impact on anything that's happened so far.

You Don't Know Me--Third Entry

2005-04-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

Summary: Finally, the next day Gloria talks to John about the note he gave her. She accepts his invitation to the basketball game, and John is so excited. He says he is having the best day of his life. Then in band, Mr. Steenwilly, John's band director, gives them a new piece to play and announces that John will have a solo. The music piece is titled "The Love Song of the Bullfrog." When it is time for John's solo, he plays it the best he has ever played without any flaws and everyone is very surprised. He even brings Mr. Steenwilly to tears. As he is leaving, Violet Hayes congratulates him and caresses his back. John is very shocked and wierded out by this because he does not find her attractive at all.

7. Direct characterization means that the author tells us directly what the character is like. Quote an example in this book of direct characterization. (Example-Bobby was a very frightened boy.)
--"And now the man who is not my father puts down his book, which is not a real book, because he's not a stupid or shallow man, just cruel and self-centered."

You Don't Know Me--Second Entry

2005-04-06T19:58:00.000-07:00

Summary: The main character in my novel is a John. In the beginning of this book he talks about his life; about anti-school, friends, his family, his house, ect. John lives with his mom and step-dad. When his mom isn't home his step-dad beats him and John hates him for that. John goes to the mall with his friend, Billy Beezer, and Billy doesn't have any money so he tries to steal an eggroll from the Chinese restaurant. He gets caught and escorted out of the mall by the police. Billy and John are both in love with the same girl, Gloria, and the next day John writes her a note that asks her to go to the basketball game with him. She eats the note and doesn't reply.

1. A protagonist is the main character. Who is the protagonist of your book? Describe him/her.
--The protagonist of my book is John. He is in high school and is an average kid. He lives with his mom and step-dad. His best friend is Billy Beezer. Billy's last name really isn't Beezer, but John calls him that because he has a gigantic nose. John is in love with Gloria, but he calls her Glory Hallelujah. He plays the tuba in his school band.

You Don't Know Me--First Entry

2005-04-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

Title of novel: You Don't Know Me
Author: David Klass
Number of pages: 344
Publisher and copyright: Copyright 2001 by David Klass; a division of HarperCollins Publishers
Why did you select this novel?: Because my good friend Tyler requested it to me.
What clues did you get about the novel from the cover design and the blurbs on the book jacket?: The cover design gave me the hint that this might be a scary book because it is very dark.

Bastard out of Carolina--Ninth Entry

2005-03-17T10:03:00.000-08:00

Paragraph 1: WHO is the main character of the novel? How does the character change over the course of the story? How would you describe this character’s personality?
--The main character of my novel is Ruth Anne Boatwright, but she goes my Bone. Bone changes tremendously over the course of the story. Throughout the story she becomes much more independent, but she doesn't always understand everything in life. She has a very complex personality. At times she is angry, scared, or even dangerous. She thinks nothing of herself and tells herself she is ugly and not beautiful. Because she has no love in her life she believes love will change her if it ever comes into her life.

Paragraph 2: WHAT is the novel about?
--This novel is about a girl that lives in a small town in South Carolina. Her family is all very close and all live very close to each other too. Her family is not very wealthy and is known around town for having a bad reputation. Her mother is very good to her and loves her but her step-dad, Glen, abuses Bone, and she doesn't like him at all. The novel goes through Bone's life as a child and tells the story of how she grows up.

Paragraph 3: WHERE does the story take place? What is the setting(s) and how does it add to the novel. How does the location relate to the characters and theme? What time period or era? How can you tell? If the novel involves more than one setting, choose the most important one and explain why.
--The story takes place in Greenville County, South Carolina, a very small town. It is a wild, lush place of black walnut trees and weeping willows, and of sweet tea served on shaded porches. The location relates to the characters and theme in that Bone's whole family lives in this town and they are all very close to each other. They rely on each other for help, and there house is never empty. This occurs during the 1930's, and I can tell this because it states it in the novel. The most important setting is the bathroom in Bone's house because that is where Glen always takes her when he beats and abuses her.

Paragraph 4: WHEN does the climax of the novel occur? Tell me about it.
--The climax occurs toward the end of the book. Bone's aunt Ruth dies and Bone is very upset because this is the aunt she was the closest to. Bone's dad comes out on the porch where Bone is sitting and starts yelling at her, so she starts talking back to him. Her dad gets extremely mad that she was talking to him with that attitude and he takes her in the bathroom and severely beats her. The next day Bone's family goes to their aunts house after Ruth's funeral. Bone tries to hide the bruises and scabs on her legs but her aunt Raylene eventually sees them. Raylene is so furious that she tells and shows the whole family what Glen did to Bone.

Paragraph 5: WHY did the author write this story? What point is the author trying to make? Link your why response to a theme.
--I think the author wrote this story to show all of the family conflicts that can happen to anyone. Also, to show more people about how living in a small town with all of your family can be fun and exciting and how there is never a dull moment. The point the author is trying to make is how important family and support from your family is, especially when times are hard. I think the theme of this book is to be thankful for what you have, and how you should be appreciative of everything in your life.

Rate this novel on a 1-10 scale with 1 being low and 10 being high. Then explain why. Make a recommendation about the novel one way or another.

--I would rate this novel a 6 because it's a pretty good book but at times it can get boring. I've read better. I think I would probably recommend this book to someone because even though it wasn't my favorite, it was worth reading.

Bastard out of Carolina--Sixth Entry

2005-03-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

This scene occurs after Daddy Glen beats Bone in the bathroom.

Glen finally unlocked the door to the bathroom, and the first thing I did was slap him good across the face. How could he do that to our poor daughter? Does he not love her? I grabbed Bone and held her in my arms. Her body was shaking from fear, and she wouldn't stop crying. "You son of a bitch," I cursed at him, and ran water to wash Bone's face.

"She's my girl too," he said. "Someone's got to love her enough to care how she turns out." His face was sullen, swollen and empty, like he had woken up from a long, long sleep.

"I don't want to hear it," I yelled, pushing him out the door. I put her on my lap and washed her face, neck, and the backs of her swollen thighs.

"Oh my baby," I kept saying. She lay still against me, grateful I'm sure to be safe in my arms. Bone said nothing, but let me talk. "Baby. Oh girl. Oh, honey. Baby, what did you do? What did you do?"

She wouldn't talk. What could she have possibly done to deserve this? I wanted to know but she didn't say a word, just layed in the comfort of my arms.......

Bastard out of Carolina--Fifth Entry

2005-02-24T09:55:00.000-08:00

What is the setting of this novel? How does the author use a sense of place throughout the novel? For example, in Ellen Foster we learned that the novel was set in a southern town in the early 1970s, but Gibbons moves Ellen from place to place as Ellen comes of age and finally ends up at her foster home. What places are significant in your novel and why?
-This story takes place in Greenville County, South Carolina in the 1950's. Throughout the book Bone's family moves a countless number of times because her dad forces them to, either because he loses his job or wants them to move farther away from Anney's family. Some places that are significant in this book are all of Bone's aunt and uncle's houses. Family is a big part of their life and they spend much of their time with family sitting around their houses visiting with each other.

Bastard out of Carolina--Fourth Entry

2005-02-17T09:56:00.000-08:00

"We don't need nobody else, we'll do just fine on our own." Found on pg. 50
-This is what Glen said after Anney had a miscarriage and came home from the hospital. He wanted to move far away from her family. He didn't think they needed any support or any help from them, and he wanted to get far away. This quote is very important because it shows how much Glen does not accept the support Anney's family is trying to give them during this hard time in their life.

"He's quiet, but you make Glen mad and he'll knock you down." Found on pg. 61
-This quote is from Uncle Earle about Glen. It is very significant to the book because it talks about Glen's true personality. Glen has a very bad temper and little things can make him mad. He sticks up for himself and likes to have his way. He's really unpredictable and can explode at any given moment.

Bastard out of Carolina--Third Entry

2005-02-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

Character Analysis-
One interesting character I have met so far in my book is Glen Waddell. His father owns a dariy, one of his brothers is a dentist, and the other a laywer, but Glen fails at almost every job he attempts. His mother does not work out of the home. They are middle-class and not poor; unlike the Boatrights. Anney's family does not approve of Glen or his family and are not happy when she decides to marry him. His family is also upset and says he is marrying trash. Glen treats Anney fairly well but he sexually abuses Bone. This is kept a secret because Bone is scared and doesn't want to tell anyone, and obviously, Glen won't tell anyone either. So far my impression on this character is that he is a liar and very secretive. The author reveals the characterization to me by telling about all of the decietful things that Glen does such as sexually abusing his step-child and not wanting Reese to visit her grandmother.

Bastard out of Carolina--Second Entry

2005-02-03T10:14:00.000-08:00

Write a detailed summary of the first 30 pages introducing the main character, setting, and plot.
- The setting is in Greenville, South Carolina, in the 1950's. The main character in my book is Ruth Anne Boatright, but her nickname is Bone. Her mother, Anney, had her at the age of 15. Bone had never met her real father because her grandma ran him out of town after he messed around with her daughter. Anney tried several times to get a birth certificate for Bone that did not read "illegitimate," but failed. Anney married Lyle Parsons when she was 17 years old. They had a girl named Reese but Lyle died shortly after in a car accident. Anney got a job at The White House Cafe. Glen Waddell went to the diner with Bone's uncle Earle. Glen immediatly became attracted to Anney.
A fire started downtown and burnt the courthouse to the ground. Anney went home right away and burnt Bone's birth certificate. Bone got upset because she doesn't look like anyone in the Boatright family.

Bastard out of Carolina--First Entry

2005-01-27T19:48:00.000-08:00

1-Title of Novel: Bastard out of Carolina

2-Author: Dorothy Allison

3-Number of pages: 309

4-Published by Plume, Copyright-1992

5-Why did you select this novel?-I selected this novel because a few of my friends had read it and recommended it to me.

6-What clues did you get about the novel from the cover design and the blurbs on the book jacket?-This book is about a little girl and must occur in the early to mid 1900's.