November 24th 2009
After being taken away, Matt finds himself in the hospital, awaiting the surgery: his inevitable death. El Patron says his farewell speech to Matt, revealing that Matt owes him life, for not taking away Matt’s intelligence when he was born. Then, Celia reveals he injected Matt with a poison that does not kill him, but rather make it impossible for his organs to be fit for a transplant. El Patron dies.
The next day, Tam Lin is ordered to dispose of Matt, to dump him in the eejit wasteland. After being dismounted from the horse, Tam Lin reveals he has created an escape route for Matt. He must escape from Opium into Aztlan, and find Maria in San Luis.
Matt is sent out, on the journey to the border. When he finally reaches it, he makes a running attempt. He barely outruns the farm patrol, and is saved by a “keeper”. Matt is brought into a labor orphanage. He meets new friends Chacho and Fidelito. Every night the children must rehearse principals of work, and must confess to a sin they have committed.
The 3 are transported to a new factory orphanage where they must collect the plankton out of shrimp tanks. It is here that the boys must spend the next 4 years of their life. Matt is commonly referred to as the aristocrat, for his disagreement with the confessions, and how he preaches that the keepers get all these luxuries while the children must work. If you misbehave or disagree with the rules of work, or do not confess, you must “assume the position”, and be beat with a cane until you have learned your lesson.
I am very happy with Matt’s outcome. I’m glad Celia did what she did and Matt escaped. However, it did seem a little sad when El Patron died. He didn’t seem that bad, and Matt kind of felt bad for him too. I agree with Matt, when he said a part of El Patron will live a long as Matt lives.
Overall, the plot turned from good to bad though, when the Keepers took in Matt. It would really suck to have to work for 4 years until you are set free. It really shows how much we take for granted the fact that we live how we do here in Canada.
This section became more inciting, reading that Matt was fighting back against the keeper and their beliefs, however I don’t think this will have a positive outcome for Matt.
The book’s turn of events flows real nice, with each section of the book having an overall segment in setting and conflicts. I’m glad some of my older questions were answered. However I have many more. Will Matt live all 4 years here? Will him, chacho and Fidelito ever escape or be set free within that period? Again, I guess the answers lie within the next, final segment that I really look forward to reading.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The House of the Scorpion: 3/5
November 23rd 2009
PG 153-228
The next section continues at the funeral. The priest discovers Matt is Patron's clones and threatens to kick him out, however Maria saves him, and takes him away, inside the music room passageway where they kiss, and speak to each other for the first time in years. Maria says she forgives him for killing Furball, but Matt doesn’t think Maria will believe him if he told her he didn’t do it. Maria once again must leave once the funeral ends, but they vow to see each other soon.
Matt, one day, decides to take a horse, to go try and find his old home in the poppy fields. He ventures off towards the uncharted lands, and comes to the eejit pens. The ground becomes unstable and the horse falls. Matt is left unable to move while having asthma attack in the toxic fumed wasteland. Luckily, the Farm Patrol pick him up, but they believe he is a runaway eejit. Matt tells him he is the clone of El Patron and threatens them. They believe him and return him to the “big house”. They tell Matt of Tam Lin’s history.
Steven and Emilia, have been ordered by El Patron to be married. However, during the wedding, El Patron has an almost fatal heart attack. It is here that Matt learns why he was made; to transplant his heart or any other organs that Patron would need in the future. Everyone is searching for Matt who has hidden in the house. They must find him before Patron dies. Tam Lin plans an escape for Maria and Matt, however Steven and Emilia find them, and Matt is sent away to the hospital.
This part of the book has proved to be the most inciting so far. It all builds up to the final climax, and Matt and Maria’s love is finally revealed. I think the ending is very sad. I really hope that Matt’s fate turns out good. I highly believe it will, as I'm not sure how else the book will go on if Matt were to be killed off.
My earlier question about Tam Lin has finally been answered. The farm patrol tell Matt that Tam Lin was a terrorist that tried to blow up the prime ministers building, but instead killed 20 kids that drove by on a bus. El Patron had saved him and brought him here to work while being protected from the police, and government.
I think I have too many questions now. Will Matt ever see Maria again? What exactly will his fate be? Will El Patron die or live from this heart attack. The list goes on. I guess this is what really makes me hungry for more House of the Scorpion.
PG 153-228
The next section continues at the funeral. The priest discovers Matt is Patron's clones and threatens to kick him out, however Maria saves him, and takes him away, inside the music room passageway where they kiss, and speak to each other for the first time in years. Maria says she forgives him for killing Furball, but Matt doesn’t think Maria will believe him if he told her he didn’t do it. Maria once again must leave once the funeral ends, but they vow to see each other soon.
Matt, one day, decides to take a horse, to go try and find his old home in the poppy fields. He ventures off towards the uncharted lands, and comes to the eejit pens. The ground becomes unstable and the horse falls. Matt is left unable to move while having asthma attack in the toxic fumed wasteland. Luckily, the Farm Patrol pick him up, but they believe he is a runaway eejit. Matt tells him he is the clone of El Patron and threatens them. They believe him and return him to the “big house”. They tell Matt of Tam Lin’s history.
Steven and Emilia, have been ordered by El Patron to be married. However, during the wedding, El Patron has an almost fatal heart attack. It is here that Matt learns why he was made; to transplant his heart or any other organs that Patron would need in the future. Everyone is searching for Matt who has hidden in the house. They must find him before Patron dies. Tam Lin plans an escape for Maria and Matt, however Steven and Emilia find them, and Matt is sent away to the hospital.
This part of the book has proved to be the most inciting so far. It all builds up to the final climax, and Matt and Maria’s love is finally revealed. I think the ending is very sad. I really hope that Matt’s fate turns out good. I highly believe it will, as I'm not sure how else the book will go on if Matt were to be killed off.
My earlier question about Tam Lin has finally been answered. The farm patrol tell Matt that Tam Lin was a terrorist that tried to blow up the prime ministers building, but instead killed 20 kids that drove by on a bus. El Patron had saved him and brought him here to work while being protected from the police, and government.
I think I have too many questions now. Will Matt ever see Maria again? What exactly will his fate be? Will El Patron die or live from this heart attack. The list goes on. I guess this is what really makes me hungry for more House of the Scorpion.
The House Of the Scorpion: 2/5
November 22nd 2009
PG 76-152
Throughout this section of the book, Matt is settling in with the Alacrans. Matt finds places to hide and watch people in the house. Finally he gains the courage to try the piano, and when Tam Lin sees him, he gives Matt a Piano teacher.
Matt is becoming very attached to Maria. She is the only one that sees humanity in Matt. She can sometimes be difficult, but I guess that’s all you can expect from a 7-year-old girl. El Patron has taught him to be confident and to show no weakness to his enemies. At El Patrons birthday party, Matt forces Maria to give him a kiss. She is furious, and does not talk to Matt for quite some time. Soon, El Patron has a heart attack, but steadily recovers. Tam Lin leaves to go with Patron.
In an attempt to convince Maria that he is only human, he kidnaps her dog, Furball, as this seemed to be the only way to come in contact with her after what happened. During the kidnapping, someone secretly put a large amount of a sleeping drug in the dog’s food, and kiss it. Matt is blamed, and Maria is taken away to live with her father.
After living without Maria for about 4 years, their paths cross once more at the funeral of an old Alacran family member.
My questions from my last entry still remain mostly unanswered, however this section did somewhat clear it up. El Patron seems to be very old and has a history as a drug lord. He has authority over the family, and can do anything he wants.
This section has changed my thought on Maria. She seems a little greedy, and sometimes never listens or believes Matt. I am hoping this will change when Maria and Matt talk once again.
Matt however. Has earned maybe a little too much from Patron. What he did to Maria was a little over the top: both kissing her and stealing her dog. But again, Matt was only 8 or 9 when this happened.
Tam Lin still remains my favorite character, though it is sad he had to leave after El Patron’s heart attack.
The book is getting better every page. It’s becoming more and more exciting, though it can take time for something inciting to happen.
PG 76-152
Throughout this section of the book, Matt is settling in with the Alacrans. Matt finds places to hide and watch people in the house. Finally he gains the courage to try the piano, and when Tam Lin sees him, he gives Matt a Piano teacher.
Matt is becoming very attached to Maria. She is the only one that sees humanity in Matt. She can sometimes be difficult, but I guess that’s all you can expect from a 7-year-old girl. El Patron has taught him to be confident and to show no weakness to his enemies. At El Patrons birthday party, Matt forces Maria to give him a kiss. She is furious, and does not talk to Matt for quite some time. Soon, El Patron has a heart attack, but steadily recovers. Tam Lin leaves to go with Patron.
In an attempt to convince Maria that he is only human, he kidnaps her dog, Furball, as this seemed to be the only way to come in contact with her after what happened. During the kidnapping, someone secretly put a large amount of a sleeping drug in the dog’s food, and kiss it. Matt is blamed, and Maria is taken away to live with her father.
After living without Maria for about 4 years, their paths cross once more at the funeral of an old Alacran family member.
My questions from my last entry still remain mostly unanswered, however this section did somewhat clear it up. El Patron seems to be very old and has a history as a drug lord. He has authority over the family, and can do anything he wants.
This section has changed my thought on Maria. She seems a little greedy, and sometimes never listens or believes Matt. I am hoping this will change when Maria and Matt talk once again.
Matt however. Has earned maybe a little too much from Patron. What he did to Maria was a little over the top: both kissing her and stealing her dog. But again, Matt was only 8 or 9 when this happened.
Tam Lin still remains my favorite character, though it is sad he had to leave after El Patron’s heart attack.
The book is getting better every page. It’s becoming more and more exciting, though it can take time for something inciting to happen.
Monday, November 23, 2009
The House Of the Scorpion: 1/5
November 21st 2009
For my group novel study, I am reading the book, “The House Of The Scorpion”. It is a 380-page novel written by Nancy Farmer. The title or cover gave me no idea about what the book could be about, until I read the back.
The first chapter introduces me to a character named Matt. He is six years old and living with his young guardian Celia among the “poppy fields”. He is an eager young child, and has almost never been outside his home. He is warned that danger lurks, and he must never be seen when on the inside. One day, Matt breaks free to follow some kids he saw pass by, but ends up cutting him self severely. The kids take Matt back to their mansion, the house of the Alacran to be stitched up, but he is recognized as a “clone”, and is thrown in a cell by the housekeeper Rosa. For six months Matt lived in a room full of sawdust and among his fesses. Finally one day, Rosa takes Matt to do a health check in front of the great “El Patron”. They discover the harm Rosa has inflicted on Matt, and she is taken away immediately. I later discover that Matt is El Patrons clone. El Patron gives Matt a bodyguard, and he officially is part of the Alacran household, but is portrayed as a “beast” and is sometimes neglected.
I think a lot happened in these first 76 pages. I have many questions about this piece I have read. Who exactly is El Patron and why is he feared among the Alacran household. Why does everyone think Matt is a beast because he is a clone? What is Tam Lin’s history, where did he come from?
For one, I am really glad the character Rosa was taken away, as she seemed to be the most vile and evil human I have ever read about. Maria, one among the Alacran kids seems like a nice character. She is the only one who sees humanity in Matt’s eyes, and spends time with him. Tam Lin, Matt’s bodyguard, is my favorite character. He has a very cool personality that is fun to read about.
So far, this book has proven that it is different and stands out among other books I’ve read. I look very much forward to read more, as I hope many of my questions will be answered.
For my group novel study, I am reading the book, “The House Of The Scorpion”. It is a 380-page novel written by Nancy Farmer. The title or cover gave me no idea about what the book could be about, until I read the back.
The first chapter introduces me to a character named Matt. He is six years old and living with his young guardian Celia among the “poppy fields”. He is an eager young child, and has almost never been outside his home. He is warned that danger lurks, and he must never be seen when on the inside. One day, Matt breaks free to follow some kids he saw pass by, but ends up cutting him self severely. The kids take Matt back to their mansion, the house of the Alacran to be stitched up, but he is recognized as a “clone”, and is thrown in a cell by the housekeeper Rosa. For six months Matt lived in a room full of sawdust and among his fesses. Finally one day, Rosa takes Matt to do a health check in front of the great “El Patron”. They discover the harm Rosa has inflicted on Matt, and she is taken away immediately. I later discover that Matt is El Patrons clone. El Patron gives Matt a bodyguard, and he officially is part of the Alacran household, but is portrayed as a “beast” and is sometimes neglected.
I think a lot happened in these first 76 pages. I have many questions about this piece I have read. Who exactly is El Patron and why is he feared among the Alacran household. Why does everyone think Matt is a beast because he is a clone? What is Tam Lin’s history, where did he come from?
For one, I am really glad the character Rosa was taken away, as she seemed to be the most vile and evil human I have ever read about. Maria, one among the Alacran kids seems like a nice character. She is the only one who sees humanity in Matt’s eyes, and spends time with him. Tam Lin, Matt’s bodyguard, is my favorite character. He has a very cool personality that is fun to read about.
So far, this book has proven that it is different and stands out among other books I’ve read. I look very much forward to read more, as I hope many of my questions will be answered.
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