Did I liked reading the novel "The River Boy"?
Not really. The novel is not really a kind of those books I like. At some points, some scenes are described too detailed for me. For example Chapter 3 where the whole chapter deals with Jess in the river. I simply don't like the style of writing and the topic of the novel.
Would you recommend "The River Boy"?
Yes, if you like such a topic, I definitely would recommend. I think it's a good book (otherwise it wouldn't have won the Carnegie Medal), but I don't like it at all, as I said before. But in general I would recommend it; surely there are many people outside who would like the book.
Did you liked the ending of the novel?
Well,.. I don't like the book, so I don't like the ending, too, but I like the fact, that is realistic (what would you not implicitly expect when you are about in the middle of the novel).
Freitag, 30. März 2007
Chapter 20
The family drives back to the cottage. The spirit of Pop and also the river boy is gone.
Grandpa gets a normal burial. He gets a fire burial. He is burned up. In the cottage, the family discusses about the near future. What should they do with the ash of Pop. They think that Pop would like to put his ash in the river and so they decides. They put the ash in the river at the waterfall, where Jess first meets the river boy. The ash dives.
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Exactly the right decision to put the ash into the water at the waterfall.
Nothing to add.
Grandpa gets a normal burial. He gets a fire burial. He is burned up. In the cottage, the family discusses about the near future. What should they do with the ash of Pop. They think that Pop would like to put his ash in the river and so they decides. They put the ash in the river at the waterfall, where Jess first meets the river boy. The ash dives.
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Exactly the right decision to put the ash into the water at the waterfall.
Nothing to add.
Chapter 19
Jess lies in on the ground next to the river, when a policewoman finds her. Mom and Dad instructed the police to search her, because she swims for 11 hours, so her parents care about her. Jess only wants to go to the hospital and the policewoman is so nice to drive her to the hospital. When she arrives at the hospital, she meets her parents, which are happy to see her. As she expects, Pop dies 30 minutes ago. They all, Mom, Dad an Jess, remember the days with Pop and gets sad, but they all try to encourage each other. There would be a life without Pop. And there is no difference between Dad and Pop anymore at the end.
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This is the end. Pop died. I like this ending of the novel, because of the two facts, that Pop could fullfil his dream to finish his picture and that Pop and Dad could clarified their differences. Especially the last point is important. Nothing is worse than the thought, that you missed to say something to somebody who died. It hurts and I'm very happy about this point. I don't suppose - I know.
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This is the end. Pop died. I like this ending of the novel, because of the two facts, that Pop could fullfil his dream to finish his picture and that Pop and Dad could clarified their differences. Especially the last point is important. Nothing is worse than the thought, that you missed to say something to somebody who died. It hurts and I'm very happy about this point. I don't suppose - I know.
Chapter 18
Jess swims for hours to catch the river boy. After a few hours, she sees him. She follows him, but somehow can't catch him, even she swins faster and faster. Then she hears a voice again "Why are you crying?" and the river boy stands a few feet away from her. He asks her to swim with him along the river. They swim together in the direction to the sea. Then, when they reaches the sea, Jess looks around and for her surprise, the river boy is away. She feels, that in due to his disappearing, Pop's life fades.
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As I said in the last post, the life of Pop fades with the disappearing of the river boy, so I can conclude, that the river boy was a kind of a ghost or something like that. But not a ghost from Pop exaclty, more a ghost from how he was as a child. But the mysterious appearing of the river boy in the picture still wonders me ..
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As I said in the last post, the life of Pop fades with the disappearing of the river boy, so I can conclude, that the river boy was a kind of a ghost or something like that. But not a ghost from Pop exaclty, more a ghost from how he was as a child. But the mysterious appearing of the river boy in the picture still wonders me ..
Chapter 17
Jess asks Alfred what happens and Alfred answers, that Pop gets another heartattack and they drive directly to the hospital and can't wait for Jess. They ask him to wait for her to follow them. Alfred wants to talk about the picture with Jess. He calls it a 'self-portrait' and Jess wondered why and then, she saw the river boy in the picture. Direclty, with no thinking, she runs back and jump into the river to catch the river boy, before he reaches the sea...
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That's msyterious. How comes the river boy in the picture? She stand next to him, while she finishes his picture, even, she helps him. Did Pop painted at night?
I think now it's mostly clear. The river boy has to be a kind of a "ghost" of Grandpa, even if he's not dead yet. And I think that is, what she realized at the end of this chapter. If the river boy reaches the sea, Pop will be dead. With the disappearing of the river boy, the life in Pop disappears.
And that's why she tries to catch him.
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That's msyterious. How comes the river boy in the picture? She stand next to him, while she finishes his picture, even, she helps him. Did Pop painted at night?
I think now it's mostly clear. The river boy has to be a kind of a "ghost" of Grandpa, even if he's not dead yet. And I think that is, what she realized at the end of this chapter. If the river boy reaches the sea, Pop will be dead. With the disappearing of the river boy, the life in Pop disappears.
And that's why she tries to catch him.
Chapter 16
When Jess wakes up, she writes a little message on a little paper and leave it at the cottage. She writes, that she's out for a walk. She plans to meet the river boy, because of this challenge. She meets him at the waterfall and he tells her the challenge, which she doesn't know at this moment. The river boy wants to swim along the river, directloy to the sea. But not alone, due to his fear. Jess doesn't agree, because she doesn't want to leave Grandpa alone. The river boy accepts it, jumps down in the river and swims alone. She watches him while he disappears more and more for a few moments and walks back to the cottage after that. But to her surprise, there is no car. Instead of a car, Alfred stands in front of the cottage.
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Why does Alfred stands in front of the cottage? Why is there no car? Did they drove to the hospital without Jess? No, I don't think so. They wouldn't. But what has happened then? Did Pop died?
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Why does Alfred stands in front of the cottage? Why is there no car? Did they drove to the hospital without Jess? No, I don't think so. They wouldn't. But what has happened then? Did Pop died?
Chapter 15
When Pop isn't in the same room as Mom and Dad, they say, that the picture isn't one of the best of him. And both of them wonderer, too, that there is no river boy in it. But this doesn't really matter, because Pop was very proud of himself and especially of Jess. He says it more than one time, that he's very proud of her. Pop gets new hope and a new will to survive; he wants to fight against his illnes.
Later, Jess walks to the river and talks to the river boy whether he isn't there. She promises him, that she'll help him with his challenge.
At the night, when Jess can't sleep, she somewho walks downstairs to Grandpa, takes a seat next to him and says "I love you , Grandpa".
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I think it's good, that Jess and Pop are somehow happy again. It was definitely the right decision to continue painting with the help of Jess. But I also think, that the new strenge doesn't really help. Pop will die soon, but now he is allowed, for himself, to die, because he finished his picture and that was what he wanted and it's good.
Later, Jess walks to the river and talks to the river boy whether he isn't there. She promises him, that she'll help him with his challenge.
At the night, when Jess can't sleep, she somewho walks downstairs to Grandpa, takes a seat next to him and says "I love you , Grandpa".
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I think it's good, that Jess and Pop are somehow happy again. It was definitely the right decision to continue painting with the help of Jess. But I also think, that the new strenge doesn't really help. Pop will die soon, but now he is allowed, for himself, to die, because he finished his picture and that was what he wanted and it's good.
Chapter 14
In the next morning, a few minutes before 8 AM, Jess is in the room of Pop to feed him. She tells him, that he has to paint. Pop dislikes this idea and simply says no, but after a bit persuasiveness of Jess, he agrees. Of course she tells him, that she's going to help him while painting.
Not much later, they are on the usual place where Pop draws. It takes three hours, until Pop finishes his picture, but Jess wonders about the fact, that there is no river boy in it.
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This is exciting. No river boy in the final picture? Why does Pop gave it the name "The River Boy" when he didn't draw a river boy?
I'm happy about the fact, that Pop could finish his picture before dying, but it doesn't makes sense. Where the hell is the river boy in the picture?
Not much later, they are on the usual place where Pop draws. It takes three hours, until Pop finishes his picture, but Jess wonders about the fact, that there is no river boy in it.
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This is exciting. No river boy in the final picture? Why does Pop gave it the name "The River Boy" when he didn't draw a river boy?
I'm happy about the fact, that Pop could finish his picture before dying, but it doesn't makes sense. Where the hell is the river boy in the picture?
Chapter 13
The voice Jess hears was from the river boy. He just stands a few yards away. Jess is not sure, whether she should answer or not, but after a little while, she does. Jess tells him about Granpa, his healthy and the picture. The river boy, to Jess' surprise, has an advice. He says that Jess could be Grandpa's hands and finishes the picture for him. It seems so, that the river boy, definitely wants to help Jess. On the other hand, Jess has to promise him, that she helps him with his big challenge, without knowing exactly what it is. They plan to meet at another day to do that.
A few time later, Jess goes back to the cottage. She asks Mom and Dad, whether she could spend some time with Grandpa untill he goes to hospital. On the question, why, Jess responses:
"I want to be his hands."
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I think, this chapter was very interesting, because it was the first time, Jess and the river boy talked to each other. Also there are some hints for my theses, whether he is an illusion or not and so on. The fact, that he definitely wants to help her, respectively Pop, is a hint for some kind of an illusion. Maybe some kind of an imaginary friend?
A few time later, Jess goes back to the cottage. She asks Mom and Dad, whether she could spend some time with Grandpa untill he goes to hospital. On the question, why, Jess responses:
"I want to be his hands."
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I think, this chapter was very interesting, because it was the first time, Jess and the river boy talked to each other. Also there are some hints for my theses, whether he is an illusion or not and so on. The fact, that he definitely wants to help her, respectively Pop, is a hint for some kind of an illusion. Maybe some kind of an imaginary friend?
Chapter 12
In the next morning, a doctor with the name Fairweather comes to the cottage with the intention to look for grandpa. He advises, that Pop should go in a hospital, but he still refuses, even if he can't do mostly anything on his own. The doctos looks for Pop again and again, mostly every week, but then, at one day, Pop says, that he is ready to go in a hospital in Braymouth. Even if this is the right decision, it hurts Jess. It hurts her, because she sees an old man, giving up his life. It's very untypically for Pop to give up.
Jess doesn't see the river boy for days, but now, in her pain, it is too much. She runs down to the river and starts crying. This is just far too much for her.
Then she hears a voice whispering:"Why are you crying?"
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Of course, my first questions were: Who is the person who asks why she cries? Or isn't it a real person? Maybe the river boy?
I think there many options for the "person" on which the voice belongs. It could be the river boy, but also one of Jess' familiy or maybe Alfred.
Futhermore I think, that the story tends to the end. I think, that Pop is going to die and soon there will be a climax in the storyline, which brings me to the question, whether Pop can finish his picture before he dies.
Jess doesn't see the river boy for days, but now, in her pain, it is too much. She runs down to the river and starts crying. This is just far too much for her.
Then she hears a voice whispering:"Why are you crying?"
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Of course, my first questions were: Who is the person who asks why she cries? Or isn't it a real person? Maybe the river boy?
I think there many options for the "person" on which the voice belongs. It could be the river boy, but also one of Jess' familiy or maybe Alfred.
Futhermore I think, that the story tends to the end. I think, that Pop is going to die and soon there will be a climax in the storyline, which brings me to the question, whether Pop can finish his picture before he dies.
Donnerstag, 29. März 2007
Chapter 11
In the upcoming night, Jess can't sleep again. She walks to the window again and looks into the night again. And as always, she sees the river boy. And again she decides to go outside. But this time, the river boy doesn't disappears. Jess nears to the river boy. They come very near to each other, but then, the river boy disappears again behind the next bend.
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I disliked this chapter. It didn't gave me new information and facts. I'm nosy and I want to know what's the role of the river boy and this chapter didn't helped me with that question. It sucks.
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I disliked this chapter. It didn't gave me new information and facts. I'm nosy and I want to know what's the role of the river boy and this chapter didn't helped me with that question. It sucks.
Chapter 10
Jess wakes up in the next morning. Her Mom sits next to her. She knows what has happens last night, because dad informs her. Now she wants to talk to Jess. Also because they notices her thoughtfulness before. Jess doesn't tells anything about the river boy again. Mom tells Jess, that they don't have to stay at the cottage any longer, if she doesn't want to. Jess refuses that, because she doesn't wants to destroy Pop's dream of finishing the picture there. To the picture, Mom responses, that it's required that Pop finishes his picture as soon as possible to get in a hospital. They all see how bad the healthy of Pop is.
Later Jess and Pop are at the river again, so Pop can continue his drawing. Jess doesn't has to stay by Pop's side and so she decides to swim in the river. Mom and Dad wait for Alfred at the cottage.
Jess swims down the river and of course she meet the river boy again. This time, she can see his style of swimming and is impressed. He swims really good.
But then she hears a shout "Help!" and it sounds like it's from Pop. She quickly swims back to the place where Pop usually draws. At the place, grandpa isn't there, instead of that, there is Alfred. He calls for help, because Pop is away.
Everyone, Jess, Mom, Dad and Alfred, start to search Pop, but nobody really find him. After a while Alfred goes home and a few moments later, Jess finds Pop in the coffin. Pop says, that the hides himself, because he doesn't want to see Alfred. Then Pop goes to bed to sleep a bit.
He sleeps until 8 PM and talks with Jess about his picture when he wakes up. He underlines his position, that he wants to finish his picture here at the cottage, once again. After that, Alfred talks to Pop, as he arrives in the evening. Mom makes some food and asks Jess once again what is wrong, but she answers, that everything's fine. She still doesn't want to walk about the river boy and her thoughts about the whole situation..
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In the tenth chapter Jess met the river boy once again and it brings the question, whether he is an illusion or not, to my mind again. Nobody saw the river boy, except Jess. What happens if Pop finishes his work? Will there be a logic solution for all this?
Then I asked myself, how could Pop get from the place, where he draws, into the coffin so fast? I think it's a bit unrealistic, but not really important.
Later Jess and Pop are at the river again, so Pop can continue his drawing. Jess doesn't has to stay by Pop's side and so she decides to swim in the river. Mom and Dad wait for Alfred at the cottage.
Jess swims down the river and of course she meet the river boy again. This time, she can see his style of swimming and is impressed. He swims really good.
But then she hears a shout "Help!" and it sounds like it's from Pop. She quickly swims back to the place where Pop usually draws. At the place, grandpa isn't there, instead of that, there is Alfred. He calls for help, because Pop is away.
Everyone, Jess, Mom, Dad and Alfred, start to search Pop, but nobody really find him. After a while Alfred goes home and a few moments later, Jess finds Pop in the coffin. Pop says, that the hides himself, because he doesn't want to see Alfred. Then Pop goes to bed to sleep a bit.
He sleeps until 8 PM and talks with Jess about his picture when he wakes up. He underlines his position, that he wants to finish his picture here at the cottage, once again. After that, Alfred talks to Pop, as he arrives in the evening. Mom makes some food and asks Jess once again what is wrong, but she answers, that everything's fine. She still doesn't want to walk about the river boy and her thoughts about the whole situation..
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In the tenth chapter Jess met the river boy once again and it brings the question, whether he is an illusion or not, to my mind again. Nobody saw the river boy, except Jess. What happens if Pop finishes his work? Will there be a logic solution for all this?
Then I asked myself, how could Pop get from the place, where he draws, into the coffin so fast? I think it's a bit unrealistic, but not really important.
Chapter 9
Another sleepless night for Jess. She stands up, walks to the window and looks into the night. She sees the river and there he is. She sees the boy, while he walks through the river in his black shorts. He doesn't really looks like a bad boy, so she decides to go out and meet him. She has lots of questions to him, but when she arrives at the river, the river boy is disappeared. She looks around, but can't see him anymore. A few moments later, Dad comes out of the cottage and walks to Jess. Jess is confused, throws her arms around her Dad, but on the question what's wrong, she doesn't says anything about the river boy.
They get back into the cottage and go to bed. Jess can't sleep, because of the picture of the river boy in her head. She tries to sleep for hours and finally she stands up, walks to the window and stares into the night...
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In this chapter, there was a change in my mind. I thought that the river boy is a real human, but now I'm not sure anymore. How could he disappear in such a short time? Who is he? Is he a human or just an illusion? An illusion which only exists in Jess head? But why does Pop seems to know something about the river boy, if it's an illusion of Jess? Can two people have the same illusion?
Mysterious..
They get back into the cottage and go to bed. Jess can't sleep, because of the picture of the river boy in her head. She tries to sleep for hours and finally she stands up, walks to the window and stares into the night...
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In this chapter, there was a change in my mind. I thought that the river boy is a real human, but now I'm not sure anymore. How could he disappear in such a short time? Who is he? Is he a human or just an illusion? An illusion which only exists in Jess head? But why does Pop seems to know something about the river boy, if it's an illusion of Jess? Can two people have the same illusion?
Mysterious..
Chapter 8
Jess arrives at the cottage and sees that Alfred, Mom and Dad are in the room where grandpa is. They concentrate on him and don't really notice Jess. Jess eats something and thinks about the river boy. Because of Alfred's talkaktive character, he gets on the nerves of Mom and Dad. They want him to go and say it in a friendly way. Jess goes to Pop, because she wants to ask him about the river boy, but not directly, more in an indirect way. She knows, that he know something about him. Her head is full of thoughts about the river boy, Pop and his picture. She needs answers and her parents notice that she's very thoughtful.
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To my mind, Jess made the right decision. She didn't told her parents about what happened. But I think, she could ask Pop directly, but I understand if she can't. She's got a lot of things in her head and it isn't easy to be realistic and objective.
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To my mind, Jess made the right decision. She didn't told her parents about what happened. But I think, she could ask Pop directly, but I understand if she can't. She's got a lot of things in her head and it isn't easy to be realistic and objective.
Chapter 7
Jess makes a little walk, as she asks before, near the river. While walking, she thinks about her grandpa and his plight, the past with him and the future, respectivaley his death.
She wants to go to the source of the river. While walking down the river, she is overwhelmed from the beautiful nature around her.
Short time later, she arrives at a waterfall. But then, the feeling of being observed returns. But this time she sees a boy, when she looks around. A boy on top of the waterfall. In fact, that the sun shines directly in her eyes, she has to look away. Then, when she looks back, the boy isn't there anymore. After that, she decides to get back to the cottage..
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This Chapter was very surprising. She saw a boy. The boy is on top of a waterfall, so she could call him a "River Boy". But actually, there can't be any humans around. As she knew, the next cottage is about two miles away. So who was this boy?
Furthermore Pop currently draws a picture called "The River Boy". Had Pop seen the River Boy, too? Does Pop wants to draw next to the river, because he hopes to see the boy again? And is this the reason for the fact, that there is no boy in the picture at the moment?
But one thing I can conclude is, that the river boy has to play an important role in the plotline of this novel.
She wants to go to the source of the river. While walking down the river, she is overwhelmed from the beautiful nature around her.
Short time later, she arrives at a waterfall. But then, the feeling of being observed returns. But this time she sees a boy, when she looks around. A boy on top of the waterfall. In fact, that the sun shines directly in her eyes, she has to look away. Then, when she looks back, the boy isn't there anymore. After that, she decides to get back to the cottage..
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This Chapter was very surprising. She saw a boy. The boy is on top of a waterfall, so she could call him a "River Boy". But actually, there can't be any humans around. As she knew, the next cottage is about two miles away. So who was this boy?
Furthermore Pop currently draws a picture called "The River Boy". Had Pop seen the River Boy, too? Does Pop wants to draw next to the river, because he hopes to see the boy again? And is this the reason for the fact, that there is no boy in the picture at the moment?
But one thing I can conclude is, that the river boy has to play an important role in the plotline of this novel.
Chapter 6
The man next to Mom and Dad is Alfred. Alfred is the father of Mr Gray and comes along to see Pop. He knows Pop from his childhood and hasn't see him about 60 years, yet. Alfred seems to be a very talkaktive person, because he talks very much, for some people maybe a bit too much. Alfred tells Mom and Dad about the childhood with Pop.
Jess, with that promise in her head, doesn't talk so much. She feels a bit uncertain, whether she tells her parents about the second heartattack or not. She doesn't tells anything and walks to the place with the stuff of grandpa and brings it back to the cottage one by one.
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Will Jess tell her parents about the second heart attack? I can exactly understand her. It has to be hard for her to know, that if she won't tell, it's wrong. On the other hand, she doesn't want to break a promise from an old man who is going to die soon.
She's in a big inner conflict.
Jess, with that promise in her head, doesn't talk so much. She feels a bit uncertain, whether she tells her parents about the second heartattack or not. She doesn't tells anything and walks to the place with the stuff of grandpa and brings it back to the cottage one by one.
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Will Jess tell her parents about the second heart attack? I can exactly understand her. It has to be hard for her to know, that if she won't tell, it's wrong. On the other hand, she doesn't want to break a promise from an old man who is going to die soon.
She's in a big inner conflict.
Chapter 5
Jess doesn't know what to do, while he sees Pop. She says, that she's going to find Mom and Dad, but Pop refuses this. He doesn't want to be alone and "asks" her to stay. Pop says, that he wants the wheelchair to get back to the cottage and his bed. Then, he says, everything would be fine. Jess wonders about what Pop says, because actually he refuses the wheelchair, but she gets the wheelchair and brings Pop back to the cottage, however she thinks, that it's wrong.
Furthermore, when Pop is in his bed with another refuse of Jess' help, Jess has to promise Pop, that she doesn't tells her parents anything about this little heartattack. The reason for this promise is, that Pop wants to finish his picture at the cottage, respectivaley at the cottage and doesn't want to go in the hospital. Mom and Dad definitely take Pop to a hospital, if they know anything about this.
When Jess goes out to take Grandpas stuff, which he requested, Mom, Dad and a man stands in front of the cottage..
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The first and the most obvious question I asked to myself is: Who is the man?
He could be Mr Grey, Alfred or maybe the person who observed Jess, but this was only a feeling. So I think it must be Alfred or Mr Grey.
Furthermore I really wondered about Pop, when he requested the wheelchair, because he totally refused it at first. Also I wondered about what the picture means to Pop. He definitely wants to finish it at this place. But why is it so important for him? He takes this picture at the first place, even beyond his own death.
Furthermore, when Pop is in his bed with another refuse of Jess' help, Jess has to promise Pop, that she doesn't tells her parents anything about this little heartattack. The reason for this promise is, that Pop wants to finish his picture at the cottage, respectivaley at the cottage and doesn't want to go in the hospital. Mom and Dad definitely take Pop to a hospital, if they know anything about this.
When Jess goes out to take Grandpas stuff, which he requested, Mom, Dad and a man stands in front of the cottage..
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The first and the most obvious question I asked to myself is: Who is the man?
He could be Mr Grey, Alfred or maybe the person who observed Jess, but this was only a feeling. So I think it must be Alfred or Mr Grey.
Furthermore I really wondered about Pop, when he requested the wheelchair, because he totally refused it at first. Also I wondered about what the picture means to Pop. He definitely wants to finish it at this place. But why is it so important for him? He takes this picture at the first place, even beyond his own death.
Mittwoch, 28. März 2007
Chapter 4
Jess arrives at the cottage. Her father and Pop are in a discusion about a wheelchair. Pop, with his pighead, doesn't want to sit in such a wheelchair, because he says, that he can walk on his own legs. But Dad wants him to sit in the wheelchair, because it looks painful and hard when Pop walks.
In the end, because of Pops bullishness, Grandpa "wins" the discusion and continues walking with his feets.
Mom and Dad make a walk and Jess and Pop stay at the cottage. Pop plans to continues drawing on his picture "The River Boy" and wants Jess to assist him. Jess assists Pop with bringing him his stuff and stays next to him, if he wants to. Pop doesn't want to just draw on his picture, he wants to that on a place near the river - of course he exactly knows where the right place is. The reason for that is, that the river is a part of the picture he draws.
After a little while gets a bit angry and Jess asks whats wrong. He answers, that he dislikes his picture and isn't happy about what the picture looks like. He wants to start again, but Jess says, that she likes it and that it looks good, so in the end Pop continues drawing. But then, he gets another heartattack ..
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During reading chapter four I thought, that there must be more than a normal relationship between grandpa and granddaughter, between Jess and Pop. Because he trusts her more than any other person. Personally I think, that mom, his daughter, would be the person in who Pop puts his trust. Futhermore Pop wanted Jess to stay next to him, which brings me to the question: why? Not only if he gets mad, because he mostly refuses help because of his pighead.
She must be a kind of inspiration for him, but what does that mean?
In the end, because of Pops bullishness, Grandpa "wins" the discusion and continues walking with his feets.
Mom and Dad make a walk and Jess and Pop stay at the cottage. Pop plans to continues drawing on his picture "The River Boy" and wants Jess to assist him. Jess assists Pop with bringing him his stuff and stays next to him, if he wants to. Pop doesn't want to just draw on his picture, he wants to that on a place near the river - of course he exactly knows where the right place is. The reason for that is, that the river is a part of the picture he draws.
After a little while gets a bit angry and Jess asks whats wrong. He answers, that he dislikes his picture and isn't happy about what the picture looks like. He wants to start again, but Jess says, that she likes it and that it looks good, so in the end Pop continues drawing. But then, he gets another heartattack ..
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During reading chapter four I thought, that there must be more than a normal relationship between grandpa and granddaughter, between Jess and Pop. Because he trusts her more than any other person. Personally I think, that mom, his daughter, would be the person in who Pop puts his trust. Futhermore Pop wanted Jess to stay next to him, which brings me to the question: why? Not only if he gets mad, because he mostly refuses help because of his pighead.
She must be a kind of inspiration for him, but what does that mean?
Dienstag, 27. März 2007
Chapter 3
.. Jess wakes up early in the morning. It was 5:30 am. She can't imagine, that she gets just a few hours of sleep and feels so rested. But she still hears the river and decides to explore the river. So she puts on her swimsuit, checks if somebody else is awake, and leaves the cottage.
* In the rest of the Chapter, it is described, how Jess explores the river and how the river is provided. Also how Jess feels in the river and with the nature around her.
.. At the end of the Chapter, Jess decides to swim back, because she don't want her parents to worry about her. But as she leaves the river, she feels a strange feeling. She feels observed. Is there anybody around her? She can't see anyone.
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While reading the first chapter, I felt boring. Where is the sense of writing a whole chapter about Jess in the river? But with this question, which comes to my mind, I noticed, that the river has to play a big role in the story. I mean, if a whole Chapter is used to describe the river with Jess in it, it can't be unimportant. Also the last sentence "But even as she chided herself for being fanciful, the feeling started to grow that she had not been - and was not - alone" (P. 26)
makes me thoughful. What role plays this feeling in the upcoming story? And what does that mean to the river? And also, how could she feel observed, if the next cottage is about 2 miles away and Braymouth about 40 miles?
* In the rest of the Chapter, it is described, how Jess explores the river and how the river is provided. Also how Jess feels in the river and with the nature around her.
.. At the end of the Chapter, Jess decides to swim back, because she don't want her parents to worry about her. But as she leaves the river, she feels a strange feeling. She feels observed. Is there anybody around her? She can't see anyone.
****************************************************
While reading the first chapter, I felt boring. Where is the sense of writing a whole chapter about Jess in the river? But with this question, which comes to my mind, I noticed, that the river has to play a big role in the story. I mean, if a whole Chapter is used to describe the river with Jess in it, it can't be unimportant. Also the last sentence "But even as she chided herself for being fanciful, the feeling started to grow that she had not been - and was not - alone" (P. 26)
makes me thoughful. What role plays this feeling in the upcoming story? And what does that mean to the river? And also, how could she feel observed, if the next cottage is about 2 miles away and Braymouth about 40 miles?
Chapter 2
The second chapter starts with a little discusion between Jess, Pop, Mum and Dad, when they are on the trip to their holidays. They want to go to the hometown of Pop.
Jess sank down in thoughts while watching out of the window. She remembers the days, when Pop was alright and worrys about his health.
Late at night, they arrive at the cottage in which they live for the upcoming days. The first thing Jess notices is, that there is a river near to the cottage. She loves swimming, so she is glad of this fact.
The keys to the cottage hang on the doorhandle, which is very reckless, because everybody could go in, but the next cottage is two miles and the next Town, Braymouth, 40 miles away, so it is not very astonishing. Mum, Dad, Pop and Jess expect a seamy cottage, but the cottage is much better. Comfortabel beds and stuff like that.
In fact of the time, they go to bed. Mum asks Jess, whether it is ok, that Jess gets the room next to the river, because of the noisy river and the following sleeplessness, but Jess says 'Ok'.
Later Jess wakes up and can't sleep because of the river. She decides to walk through the house and arrives at Pops room. They talk a bit about Grandpas feelings and within this conversation, Jess notices, that Pop thinks about his death. It makes her sad. She stays until Pop sleeps and walks back into her room.
*********************************************************************************
The second Chapter complied my expecations, too. They drove to a lonely place, with a cottage in it. Nobody is around for miles and the next town is far away. But the river rises new thoughts in me. Where is the connection between this river and Jess and between this river and the picture "The River Boy"? So I think, that there has to be connection between the picture and Jess, to.
But I'm still waiting for the storyline, on which the novel bases on.
Jess sank down in thoughts while watching out of the window. She remembers the days, when Pop was alright and worrys about his health.
Late at night, they arrive at the cottage in which they live for the upcoming days. The first thing Jess notices is, that there is a river near to the cottage. She loves swimming, so she is glad of this fact.
The keys to the cottage hang on the doorhandle, which is very reckless, because everybody could go in, but the next cottage is two miles and the next Town, Braymouth, 40 miles away, so it is not very astonishing. Mum, Dad, Pop and Jess expect a seamy cottage, but the cottage is much better. Comfortabel beds and stuff like that.
In fact of the time, they go to bed. Mum asks Jess, whether it is ok, that Jess gets the room next to the river, because of the noisy river and the following sleeplessness, but Jess says 'Ok'.
Later Jess wakes up and can't sleep because of the river. She decides to walk through the house and arrives at Pops room. They talk a bit about Grandpas feelings and within this conversation, Jess notices, that Pop thinks about his death. It makes her sad. She stays until Pop sleeps and walks back into her room.
*********************************************************************************
The second Chapter complied my expecations, too. They drove to a lonely place, with a cottage in it. Nobody is around for miles and the next town is far away. But the river rises new thoughts in me. Where is the connection between this river and Jess and between this river and the picture "The River Boy"? So I think, that there has to be connection between the picture and Jess, to.
But I'm still waiting for the storyline, on which the novel bases on.
Montag, 19. März 2007
Chapter 1
In the first Chapter of the Novel "The River Boy" by Tim bowler, Jess, one of the main characters, swims in a pool. Her Grandpa stands beside the pool. The Grandpa wants to call Jess out, which she doesn't notice, but he gets a heart attack and fell in the pool. He comes in a hospital and the doctor says that he has to stay there for a few days. The family of Jess actually want to go on the summer holidays, but in the fact of this heart attack, they decide to stay. Though the Grandpa implicity wants to go on that trip and leaves the hospital against the will of the doctors. Jess and her family doesn't like this, but because of Grandpas pighead, they have no choice. In the night before the departure, the Grandpa starts to draw a picture. He draws with passion. Drawing is his life. But whenever he draws a picture, he doesn't give it a name. But this picture has the name "The River Boy". He wants to finish it on the holidays.
Jess and her mother wonder that Grandpa gives a picture a name. Also they wonder about the name, because in this picture isn't a boy or a sign of a boy, just the river.
Chapter one ends with the departure.
*********************************************************************************
Chapter one completely complied my expectations. There is a family. One of the family is some kind of an artist and there must be a picture calls "The Rivery Boy" and looks like the book cover. These are the thoughts I had before, during and after reading chapter one.
Jess and her mother wonder that Grandpa gives a picture a name. Also they wonder about the name, because in this picture isn't a boy or a sign of a boy, just the river.
Chapter one ends with the departure.
*********************************************************************************
Chapter one completely complied my expectations. There is a family. One of the family is some kind of an artist and there must be a picture calls "The Rivery Boy" and looks like the book cover. These are the thoughts I had before, during and after reading chapter one.
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