The book “Walking Home”, written by Eric Walters takes place in the African country Kenya. The weather in the book is often described as hot and sunny, with a few days of rainfall. Most of the area is very dry with some trees and hedges but not much else. Locals talked about giraffes, elephants and lions roaming the area but except for one lion encounter, they didn’t see many animals. A lot of the book takes place in Nairobi, Kenya’s largest city. The city is described by Muchoki’s mom to be “a big black hole” (pg. 29). In actuality, Nairobi is just like any other noisy, fast and busy city. Muchoki describes it as “a never-ending river of cars and lorries, matatus, pushcarts and donkey carts” (pg. 191). Muchoki, coming from a smaller city, …show more content…
This is because the book is character driven and there aren't many external influences on the two characters/their journey. Additionally, the book is about hope and the spirit of humanity, a theme easily applied anywhere. For example, let's say I switch my location to Russia. In terms of climate, culture and the people living there, it'll definitely be different, but all of the changes will be miniscule and won't take away or change the plot. All the changes will simply be variables which will fit themselves inside the story accordingly. For example, a lion will not approach Muchoki and Jata in Russia, but the lion can easily be replaced by a grizzly bear. In the simplest of forms, Walking Home is about two people and their unwavering determination and hope to find a home. Ultimately, what the author wants you to take away from this book is that you should always have hope in your heart because you can achieve anything if you have faith in yourself. This message is shown all throughout the book. For example, on the cover, the quote which sets the story is “every journey, no matter how far, starts with one step”. The siblings also find strength in each other to help continue their journey: “Jata. Yes Muchoki? We are closer now. She laughed, and her laughter made the darkness seem to lift”. Throughout the story, Muchoki’s younger sister found her hope in a Kamba tale Muchoki had told her. “we simply need to follow a trail of string to return to our home” (pg. 214). My point is, the actual plot of the book simply served as a way to show how far hope/the spirit of humanity can go. Thus, I think the location would have little to no effect on the plot since what's happening outside of their journey only serves to add more context to the
In 1776, David McCullough gives a vivid portrayal of the Continental Army from October 1775 through January 1777, with sharp focus on the leadership of America’s greatest hero, George Washington. McCullough’s thesis is that had not the right man (George Washington) been leading the Continental Army in 1776, the American Revolution would have resulted in a vastly different outcome. He supports his argument with a critical analysis of Washington’s leadership during the period from the Siege of Boston, through the disastrous defense of New York City, the desperate yet, well ordered retreat through New Jersey against overwhelming odds, and concludes with the inspiring victories of Trenton and Princeton. By keeping his army intact and persevering through 1776, Washington demonstrated to the British Army that the Continental Army was not simply a gang of rabble, but a viable fighting force. Additionally, Mr. McCullough supports his premise that the key to the survival of the American Revolution was not in the defense of Boston, New York City, or any other vital terrain, but rather the survival of the Continental Army itself. A masterful piece of history, 1776 is not a dry retelling of the Revolutionary War, but a compelling character study of George Washington, as well as his key lieutenants, and his British adversaries, the most powerful Army in the 18th Century world. When I read this book, I went from a casual understanding of the hero George Washington to a more specific understanding of why Washington was quite literally the exact right man at the exact right place and time to enable the birth of the United States.
One of the first settings was the camp where they were staying which was fairly small with three or four tents set up around a campfire. Another setting they are in is the lab where the virus was created, which is where most of the animals with the virus are locked in cages. Also the overall setting, the Kalahari desert, “Pack light. Water is the most important essential--once we leave, what you carry is what you get, and that's it. There are no boreholes, no streams, not as much as a puddle” (Khoury, 43-44). Sarah explains to them before they go looking for dad and Theo just how rough it is in the desert. They are in danger of many things and on top of that there is not water anywhere so they all have to bring enough for themselves. Another thing the author discusses is the characterization of all the characters. The main character, Sarah is characterized as an optimistic person even when others are angry, “ ‘He didn’t hurt you. See?’ I held up a piece of bread, which the monkey snatched and gobbled up… Miranda sobbed ‘ it attacked me!’ ‘No, it just wanted-’ ‘leave her alone’ said Kase” (Khoury, 23-24). Sarah is kind and positive throughout the whole book even when things look bad and everyone is yelling at
Over the past month or two we have been reading many articles and even the book “ Along Way Gone” by Ishmael Beah. These articles and this book have taken us into some child soldiers stories and what it was like having to participate in the war. These children were forced to take part in these crimes, they were brutally tortured, and many were shot because they didn’t obey their commanders. In my opinion I believe that child soldiers should be granted amnesty.
In his book “Cattle Brings Us to Our Enemies”, McCabe does a 16-year stint in East Africa, specifically in Northern Kenya, doing research on the Turkana. He does this through STEP, the South Turkana Ecosystem Project. In “Cattle Bring Us to Our Enemies”, McCabe follows four families through his years in Kenya and notes how they live in a very demanding environment. He uses ecological data to analyze how and why the Turkana people make decisions about their everyday life. McCabe focuses on four main areas of study: how the Turkana survive and adapt to a stressful environment by nomadic pastoralism, how the techniques used to extract resources and manage livestock modify the environment, the effects of the environmental and cultural practices have on
What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day is a book in the realistic fiction genre written by Pearl Cleage and it was inspired by the author’s daughter Deignan Lomax along with her husband Mr.Zaron W. Burnett. In addition, in September 1998 this book was chosen as an Oprah’s club selection. However, this book is intended for young women who live in a low income range and especially young black women who tend to make mistakes in their lives. This book is all about entertaining and at the same time informing its reader about some simple mistakes that can change people life around for good. The author wrote the book to entertain and inform its readers, this is because the reader gets to learn about a young woman who has HIV and how she lives in her condition now and her past. Furthermore, it combines and talks about how her past was and how it affects her future. In the
Have you ever wondered about Refugees?Refugees is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.Ha is a charter in the book inside out back again by Thanhha Lal.Ha is a 10 year old refugee from vietnam.Ha is a selfish little girl.She doesn't really do what she´s told.When the refugees fled their lives turned inside out. When they moved their lives turned back again.
In the book Walk Two Moons By Sharon Creech we are introduced to a 13-year-old girl that is suffering after her mother runs away to Idaho to visit her far away from family members, leaving only Sal and her dad alone on a farm. The book takes place on a trip her grandmother and grandfather did with her across the whole country. Meanwhile, Sal tells us a story of a girl she met when she went to Euclid Ohio, the girl's name is Phoebe and she tells all of her adventures including the one Phoebe and Sal are being seen by the Lunatic. At the end what really caught me was the fact that no matter what happened there was always love.
The book I chose for this project goes by the name “Way To Go” by Tom Ryan. The main character of this book is Darry from Deep Cove. Deep Cove is a small neighborhood in (Cape Breton) Nova Scotia, Canada where the entire story takes place. The abandoned tracks in the picture represent the Spot where Danny, Kierce, and Jay hang out. He lives with his sister Alma and his mother Mary. Danny’s father is always on business trips and is gone for a couple of weeks very often so he hardly spends time at home. When he was caught drinking by a cop, he was forced to get a summer job. Luckily, an old friend of his mom had just recently returned to Deep Cove to open a restaurant. Learning he cannot wash a dish to save his life, Denise moves him up to sous chef to work along with Jean Pierre. They became so close that he passed over
The Book “The Perfect Mile” by Neal Bascomb, is about a dedicated runner named Roger Bannister. Roger was a young English medical student who had a dream. He believed that nothing was impossible if you followed three simple steps; worked hard, never gave up and gave it you all each day. He lived by these three rules and made each day count. Everyone told Neal that running a mile in under four minutes was physically impossible and he could never do it. He used that as motivation to keep training. However, Roger was not the only man who wanted to run a mile in under four minutes. He was up against 2 world class olympic runners. One being John Landy. The privileged son of a genteel worker and part of an Australian family. He also trained relentlessly “in an almost spiritual attempt to shape his mind and body to this singular task”(Bascomb 18). Then there was Wes Santee,a Kansas farm boy and natural athlete who believed he was just plain better than everybody else. The day finally came for Roger to show that the impossible was possible. On May 9, 1954 Roger ran a mile on the oxford tract in three minutes and fifty nine point four seconds. Proving the world wrong.
Karen Blixen, under the succedaneum of Isak Dineson, recounts a tale of life in Africa. The book, titled Out of Africa, centers on a farm nestled in the Ngong Hills of Nairobi. The narrator begins by sharing that Africa is where she is meant to be. She views Africa as a sort of paradise for it is very primitive and basic which is how she believes the world should be. Throughout the book the readers learn very little of the details of the narrator’s life. Rather, we learn of all her viewpoints and catch a glimpse as to why she looks at life this way.
As we, the readers, think about what might happen next or how the characters location and time might not be the best for them; the author is basically creating a new world for us to portal threw. The author gives us little hints about how the characters feel, "That's the worst of living so far out," balled Mr. White with sudden and unlooked-for violence; "Of all the beastly, slushy, out of the way places to live in, this is the worst. Path's a bog, and the road's a torrent. I don't know what people are thinking about. I suppose because only two houses in the road are let, they think it doesn't matter." This statement promptly let's the reader know that the Whites also seem a little inattentive with their simple life. The location or setting of the home relays a sense of isolation and separation from the town. Mr. White gets mad doubting that Sargeant Major Morris is likely to come for a visit because of the weather and because of the lay of the road. The Whites live in a rural area, they don't get many visitors walking outside in their neighborhood. They have been cut off from civilization and are alone. It is a little spooky. The remoteness of the Whites home helps the reader comprehend that the knocking on the door that occurs after Mr. White's second wish is most definitely their son that has risen from his grave. The reader does not know who is knocking on the door for sure,
Ally lives at a campsite called The Moon Shadow and grew up with her parents and her 10-year old brother, Kenny. Although their family doesn’t have any cell reception or even television, Ally absolutely loves where she lives and when she is informed that the family is moving back to Colorado and she’ll be put in public school. This is one of the most important parts of the story because Ally loves The Moon Shadow and the place is going to be owned by a different family. This part of the book really hit me because I personally love where I live and if it was stripped from me I’d be torn to bits. This relates to the meaning of the book
setting being in the city rather than a small town, is that the cities often have many people
In January, 1864 the Long Walk began which forced the removal of the native Americans commonly known as the Navajo. It all started when Americans of European descent started to settle on Navajo lands and problems started to rise. The Americans then came up with a “solution” to move all Navajos to Fort Sumner. The people who took part in the Long Walk were the Americans of European descent, U.S, and the Navajos. The Americans wanted more lands so the U.S. Took over that land and that caused problems erupt with the Navajo and the Americans. This event is important to American history because it was a tragic event in history because the tensions were so high between the whites and the native Americans. As a result the Native Americans signed
Unhygienic and unwelcoming environment go against his expectation that he initially imagined from his friend. His friend told Khadka that “you feel at home. It’s on Nathan Road where you can get anything you want very cheaply” (266) which are the positive review of his friend’s. It is the same place that they are discussing. However, it implies that comments of an individual are contrasting due to their various point of view. Moreover, when Khadka takes a taxi to the airport, conversation with the taxi driver also demonstrates contrary opinion by him saying “good place. Cheap. You enjoy your stay?” (270) and assumes he would have a pleasant time being there. After that, even though the taxi driver attempted to convince Khadka about his terrible perception of Chungking mansion by explaining particular wing has better quality than the one that he was at, Khadka seems determined with his mind. A friend of Khadka who recommend the place and the taxi driver both have an optimistic viewpoint of the same location whereas Khadka is in a hurry to leave the country. It demonstrates how travel narratives could not be objective due to how the people perceive the surroundings because travel is a compound