Final Entry :)

 This semester I successfully completed four books. Fl yy Girl By: Omar Tyree, The Secret Life of Bees By: Sue Monk Kidd, Thirteen Reasons Why By: Jay Asher, and So B. It By: Sarah Weeks. I particularly enjoyed the Secret Life of Bees because the novel was well put together. I found new strategies to use when I am reading that are helpful. As far as the blogging I do think it is a good idea. It's a nice way to get your thoughts out there and a great way to talk about what you have been doing that week. 


All in all Reading for Pleasure has helped better me as a person. At the beginning of the semester I was not as interested with reading. Through the semester I progressed and found you just have to read books that you enjoy. Academically this semester was a challenge at the beginning but as we come to the end I am managing to pull everything together as I realize that is my job/ responsibility. To become a good reader you have to read all of the time, and it also connects with all of my classes because you need reading for anything. This class has helped me in World Literature as well. Even though I don't have the ideal grade I want I can gladly say after studying hard I understand the things we talk about, more than I did when we stated school. I just want to Thank you for all of your help and lenience as I slacked on a few blogs and for working and helping me look at reading as a positive verses a negative. 

Thirteen Reasons Why By: Jay Asher

Before Hannah Baker ended her life with an overdose of pills, she wanted to leave behind a message. She recorded seven tapes (thirteen sides) that revealed bit by bit her drama and why she, in the end, felt like she had no other options. Clay Jensen is one of the tape's recipients. He is the narrator through the listening experience. Hannah's words are heard alongside his thoughts and words. Hers are italicized. His aren't. Clay Jensen returns home from school to find an unusual box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker (his classmate and crush) who committed suicide two weeks earlier. And from the time he hits play...his life will already never be the same. This novel is filled with many unanswered questions, although it keeps the reader going because there is always a question. As the story unfolds, the reader learns that some actions have abrupt consequences. So far I am really enjoying this novel and it has kept me motivated to see what is coming next.

The Secret Life of Bees By: Sue Monk Kidd

I am now finished with The Secret Life of Bees and I enjoyed it! This novel was very descriptive, used figurative language, and included a wide range of vocabulary. In the end I found the book to be better than the movie because the book explained detail better. Imagery was a notorious part of this novel as well. I felt as though I could almost see exactly what was happening. I found The Secret Life of Bees attention seeking with how the novel started. On the first page it grabbed my attention.

The setting is in South Carolina in 1964. In the beginning of the novel, Lily Owens was discussing the death of her mother and how she always felt so guilty. The only memory she had was remembering her mom's death so she grew up thinking about her mother. At a young age her mother passed and left her with her father. T. Ray was not the person you think of as your father. He was very bitter and mean. Rosaleen also lived with them. T. Ray just will not give her any information on her mother but only for her own good. The book was well put together and not at all predictable. All and all this book was an intriguing read!

The Secret Life if Bees By: Sue Monk Kidd

I started The Secret Life of Bees last Thursday and I became very intrigued within the first five pages. The novel starts with a strong opening which makes the book interesting. I am really enjoying this book thus far and it's pretty fascinating to see how the book compares to the movie. Usually I find movies to skip through scenes faster than in books. Kidd does a good job with explaining details. She uses figurative language and a broad range of vocabulary.


In reading this novel you can tell that the setting is in the 1960s. There are still racist comments made toward people. Lily Owens has been confused her entire life. Her life is shaped around a tragic experience that happened years back. She has a different relationship with her father and calls him T. Ray. She says "she calls him T. Ray because daddy never fit him." He isn't the everyday father you hear about and not the ideal man to get along with. It was hard for Lily growing up without a mother. She had so many unanswered questions for her mother and her father was no help at all. I am approaching the end of the book and enjoying every bit! As of now I find this book to be great literature.

Flyy Girl By: Omar Tyree

Flyy Girl was a recommended book, in which was spoken highly of by my friends. For a while I didn't find Flyy Girl intriguing because in the beginning Tracy's childhood and family were discussed. She began growing into her teenage years and the book took off at that point. At a young age Tracy experienced the separation between her parents which is arduous for any child. Not having a "father figure" around as Tracy got older and became engaged in teenage activities was a major setback in her life. At the end of the book Tracy is redeemed and given a second chance. She gets a great job and begins to get her life on track.


I believe it is a young coming of age book that many teens can relate to. Flyy Girl demonstrates the difficulties that teens are often faced with in decision making. As I read Flyy Girl I found that the literature was poor although Tyree was portraying a good message to young teens. It was a simple read for me and the vocabulary wasn't as complex as I would have enjoyed. In this book Tyree used no figurative language. I further more thought it was slightly stereotypical because it was the story you often times hear about. The male left and the daughter is left to grow up without a father in her life. I predicted the book as I went a long and the ending was of no surprise. I think the title translates to how Tracy thought of herself, cute and stylish. All in all I think Flyy Girl was an okay read but I don't feel as though I gained knowledge by reading the book.
I am not at all beating up on this book, this is just my opinion.

Reading for Pleasure Syllabus

I McKinley Jenkins will read a minimum of four books and make a conscientious effort to meet my individual goals both inside and outside of the class. I plan to blog weekly about my experience of "reading for pleasure." The four books I plan to read are:

1) Flyy Girl By: Omar Tyree
2) The Secret Life of Bees By: Sue Monk Kidd
3) Thirteen Reasons Why By: Jay Asher
4) So B. It By: Sarah Weeks