My reading Journal 7 H組 韓佳恩

I am so glad that I finished this book in the course of past two weeks! Read up to the final page, I am even reluctant to finish this story and astonished by this ending—that's beyond my expectations.

Continued from the preceding reading journal, Ramon Salazar goes out the lagoon to find "the great Pearl of Heaven" alone because the old Indian— Soto fears that the Monta Diablo would blame him. He sinks into water, discovering the largest shells, making a hard effort to pry it and drag the shell ashore. He wrestles a long time with the oyster; then, he finally pulls a hard and monstrous lump— the great Pearl of Heaven! Witnessing everything, Soto just frightens and warns Ramon︰ throw it back to the Monta Diablo or someday the Monta Diablo will have it back with his life!

After Ramon comes back to the town, told his father, they give rise to a big storm— a boy finds the biggest pearl! And because other four pearl dealers are not to appreciate it and want to bargain with Ramon's father, the great Pearl of Heaven is delivered to the church in the end by Ramon's father with rage. However, the tragedy of the shipwreck cause Ramon having a thought about returning it back to the Monta Diablo. So, one day, he steals it from church, and takes a boat to the lagoon. Suddenly, a man's voice comes from the hissing of the tide— it's him! The Sevillano! He threatens Ramon either gives him the pearl or tell him where to find it.

Ramon at first throws it into water, but The Sevillano sinks and finds it back… Ramon can't help but allow his introduction— rowing toward the City of Guaymas to sell it with great price. Nevertheless, there is a big manta swimming behind them day and night. Afterwards, the manta swims in a wide circle around them, the circle getting smaller and smaller, and the boat begins to rock as well as water comes in. They decide to go on "Island of the Dead" rather than stay here. Later on, they are chased by crowd of Indians, and again go back to the boat, row far from the island. The ending is that The Sevillano draws his cork-handled knife from his belt, landing upon the broad platform of the Monta Diablo's back, and plunges the knife deep into the monster's neck with all the strength again and again. Finally, he goes down with the Monta Diablo. The black pearl is the only thing still stay in the boat. After Ramon sailed into the harbor, he places the black pearl in the Madonna-of-the-sea in the church.

When it comes to talk about my efficiency, I read it about 20-30 minutes every time on average and I can even more concentrate on my reading time without other disturbance. This is the last time reading journal, but it doesn't matter. I think I will keep reading more interesting book, and this time I start a new book"The Scarlet Letter." I have more confidence on reading English book— that is the motivation supporting me to read!

My reading Journal 6 H組 韓佳恩

In the course of the past two weeks, I had been nearly reluctant to put down"The Black Pearl"every time I read because the content is so absorbing as though it can lead me into the story plot.

In the city of La Paz,Baja California Sur, every one heard of the Monta Diablo, including Ramon Salazar— the main character. Ramon's father who is the most famous dealer in pearls and also a good pearler promised him that Ramon can sail with him and be taught how to dive by him when he is sixteen. When the date come, his father begin to teach him how to examine pearls (shapes, weight, luster…) but not dive. Finally Ramon sail with his father while only stay on the boat, doing some sundry duties. Among his father' s employees, the best diver is Gaspar Ruiz ("The Sevillano")— a braggart who likes to tease Ramon.

On the one hand, Ramon's dream is to find"the great Pearl of Heaven"— it is said to be protected by the Monta Diablo (the monster devilfish) ; on the other, The Sevillano's tease enrages Ramon so he decide to learn diving and find it. When his father is away on business, Soto Luzon, an Indian who sell pearls to his father come and as before sell the black pearl to Ramon. Ramon give him higher price for the purpose that he ask Soto to take him to a secluded lagoon and teach him diving.

Soto allow Ramon to his living place, and start teaching him about diving (breathing→holding a sink stone→treading quietly on the sand→prying the shell…) On the fourth day, Ramon go out the lagoon alone. It is on that day he finds"the great Pearl of Heaven"How does he get？ And after he gets that rare black pearl, what is happened to him？ Although I have not seen it yet, I am so expected about the following plot and wonder to know that.

The past two weeks, I read it about 20-30 minutes every time on average. I think that reading the English book for me is more easier than at beginning I read, even find some interesting when reading it. Moreover I am glad to feel that on the one side, and on the other side I am excited to reach that position. (but there are still many to achieve)

My Reading Journal 5 H組 韓佳恩

I was so glad that I had finished "James and the Giant Peach" last week! The intriguing adventure finally ends, leaving a lasting impression in my mind.

To come back to the previous plot, they encounter catastrophe－ lots of sharks eating the peach and James's idea－Miss Spider and Silkworm spin silk and tighten it to the seagulls, made Earthworm as bait works! They gather hundreds of seagulls and thus fly into the air. They also meet air-elemental creatures called Cloud Men, who are responsible for painting rainbows during their travel. In the end, James and his partners arrive New York City, with a funny landing－the giant peach spiked upon the pinnacle of the Empire State Building. It's really an amazing sight, and everyone go wild with excitement. Finally, James comes out, straightening out this fantastic view. Then James and his friends have wonderful lives in America.

And I have begun to read a new book "The Black Pearl", written by Scott O'Dell. He was one of America's most respected writers for young people, and his books received many awards, including the Newbery Medal for Island of the Blue Dolphins and the Newbery Honor for The Black Pearl and Sing Down the Moon!

Although the midterm examination did not end yet last week, I still kept reading in my leisure time. I read it and found the plot of the new book as exciting as the previous one. At beginning, it is said that there is the Manta Diablo, the monster devilfish under the sea in the town of La Paz, Baja California Sur. No more than two people have really seen it, and of the two, only one is alive— Ramon Salazar, the main character. Story starts! The Black Pearl centres on the alleged fortune of finding a very large and valuable pearl.

This two weeks, I read 20—30 minutes, almost every day on average. And I hope my efficiency can be better as well as reading speed, with more attention on it!

My reading journal 4 H組 韓佳恩

In the course of the past two weeks, I had kept reading, and found the story getting more and more unimaginable. Continued from the preceding plot, after James crawls inside, meeting lots of oversized friends , he gradually becomes one of the crew— a magical crew! Then miraculous things happened to him— or say, to all the creatures in the peach. Through one night, everything exciting will be on the horizon.

The next morning, James wakes up by clamor and an earthquake! He tries to get it clear— it turn out to be that the creatures want to depart forever from the top of the tree on the hill. Then, they do!! With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and their unusual adventure unroll. However, as read previously, this is a "giant"peach where it rolls through either flattening or knocking anything on the street with its hurtling. At the end of the street is an enormous building and out the other side, leaving two gaping round holes. This is a chocolate factory, and almost at once a greet river of warm melted chocolate comes pouring out of the holes. That made James and his friends happy.

The peach unceasingly keeps rolling until it reached the ocean, approaching the cliff, suspending for a few seconds, then it begins to fall down…… It fall into the ocean and there is terrible thing waiting for them— lots of sharks, eating the peach! The creatures are afraid that they keep eating, causing them homeless. James, at this time, gets an idea— Miss Spider and Silkworm spin silk and tighten it to the seagulls, made Earthworm as bait.

Since I started to read this book, I have thought there are all fertile imaginations, and the plot always beyond my expectations. This few weeks I read it 20∼30 minutes a day. Although I am busy for the coming midterm examination recently, I use trifling time to read it as possible as I can. And I hope I can really make good use of time!!

My Reading Journal 3 Group H 韓佳恩

This time I read the book"James and the Giant Peach." The book is illustrated by Lane Smith, and the author is Roald Dahl.

Lane Smith's visual interpretation of the characters and settings in " James and the Giant Peach." was used by Disney as the basis for the animation in the 1996 feature film.

I choose this book because my sister suggest that it is worthwhile reading— it's interesting and mysterious and I have heard the Disney animation with wonderful comments.

So far, this book have brought me entering a marvelous fantasy— about a poor orphan: little James's exciting , magical adventure! James was adopted by his two horrible aunts who treated him bad.

One day, he got a magical paper beg comprising a mass of tiny magic power crystals from a strange man. When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, miraculous things start happening. The peach at the very tip of the tree begins growing, and growing....until it's as big as a house! While James crawls inside, he meets a houseful of oversized friends— Grasshopper, Centipede, Earthworm, and more.

The plot is getting more and more unbelievable and absorbing. I read it 30 minutes a day on average, and I think I can nearly work out my reading log much better than the first book. Besides, I pay attention to it much longer; in the meantime, I also feel I do more effective on it—for spending the same time, reading more pages!!

My Reading Journal 2 H組 韓佳恩

Continued from the preceding reading journal, the plot's development is getting more exciting and extremely complicated. The major character— Dr. Maxine and the detective who undertake this murder— Grabowski together try to find the truth of this unsettled case.

The key of the murderer seems to revolve around Maxine's friends, colleagues, and workmates. After Maxine is attacked by the killer who thinks she knows too much several times, she begins to wonder which of her medical colleagues she can trust and both the detective and she investigate possible links between the clues they gather from patient, surgeon, and researcher.

Finally, with lots of obstructions and a painstaking investigation, they find out the murderer— Maxine's colleague and put her in jail.

The story's denouement is so exciting and unexpected that I never think of. Only to read it all along can I realize the interest and the surprising upshot from this book.

In order to improve my reading speed and quantity, I do have dogged determination to achieve this goal and first have perseverance to do so! Even though I still have few days lazy…, I'll try my best to cure me of the bad habit.

Much to my delight, I finish this book on Monday. And I begin to read another one— "James and the Giant Peach." Hope I can read it more effectively than before.

My Reading Journal 1 H組 韓佳恩

The book I chose is called "Emergency Murder", written by Janet McGiffin. After I saw the synopsis about this book on the back cover, this arouses my interest and curiosity and wants to reveal the rear murder to clear the protagonist of murder charge.

The story's background is that when the wife of a well-known surgeon dies suddenly in the emergency room, Dr. Maxine Cassidy suspects murder. The police agree but sarcastically– they suspect her! I have only read this part so far and I expect the follow-up development so much that I strain at the leash to read.

Until now I see the part of story, I think the plot is tense, thus I steep myself in reading and emotion seems to rise and fall with exciting plot. Dr. Maxine Cassidy situation is so hard that she is determined to find the killer and starts an investigation of her own.

By and large, I think that there are still many spaces to make progress on my speed of reading as well as stamina. In addition, I didn't read it every day…. On the one hand, I must to do something important or urgent. On the others, it attributes to my laziness. Therefore, I should divide my time among what I ought to do and do the right thing at right. Hope to improve my progress!