Atonement

Atonement-Amends or reparation made for an injury or wrong
The book Atonement, which I read last year as one of my independent reading novels, deals with this topic of forgiveness that is one of much debate. Throughout the novel the main character Briony tells a string of lies which ultimately lead to destruction of relationships. Eventually she never is granted atonement and is forced to make it herself through her novels.
Just like in that book, the main character Amir in The Kite Runner also seeks atonement for his sins. This sins all surround the relationship he had with his best friend Hassan. It starts out as his inability to help hassan when he is being raped and just escalates from there, finally resulting in an end to a friendship and life together. I think that he may be able to achieve if not obtain complete atonement due to the undeniable bond the two share.

mistakes we knew we were making

I can't really recall a major mistake that has happened because I feel like things always manage to work out how they were meant to but everyone throughout their life makes mistakes. Some of these are on purpose, by default, or made without thinking yet they all tend to have the similar result of hurting someone else or yourself. Through these different experiences we learn new things about our self's that hopefully provide us with new a new outlook and understanding.

Book Preview

The Front Cover
• Fade
• Robert Cormier
• I think that it deals with a person who is somehow distanced of "faded" away from everyone/thing else
• Is the main character the person who "fades"?
Does this deal with similar themes of Invisible Man?

The Back Cover
• None...it is just a large quote that reads, "Imagine what might happen if Holden Caulfield stepped into J. G. Wells' The invisible Man, and you'll have an idea how good Fade is...I was riveted." -Stephen King
I think that it does not tell you anything to leave you wondering what the story is about as well as wanting to read more.

Inside the Book
• 1988
• To my wife, Connie, with love
• The book does not have any real chapter titles but it is broken down into what I think may be names of people who are telling the specific sections.
• The authors style is first person, which like I stated earlier, probably changes due to the names written before certain chapters.

OVERALL IMPRESSION
I think that this story has to deal with a lot of similar themes in that of Invisible Man. I think this just from the title and from the quote from Stephan King on the back. The cover also gives you the same feelings of similar themes. I think that this should be an interesting book and hopefully I will enjoy it.

Picture

This picture depicts the life of a solider as he embarks across the vast land that he has helped take over. Running across this rugged land he lacks the ability to realize the true beauty that surrounds him. The difficult times of the past and his unknown future hang on his shoulders yet he lives in the minute, forced to focus on the now. Death in his field tends to be just a fact of everyday occurrence yet he continues to fight on in the hope that all will end as it should.

Quote

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing."
- Edmund Burke

I believe that this quote is partially right and that in a lot of cases evil occurs when nothing is done to prevent/stop it. A lot of the time things happen before you realize what is even going on. I think that in these cases, once an degree of evil has been reached, it is difficult for these "good people" to take major strides in fighting it head on. I think that it is just difficult to find all the good people amidst the powerful evil, which makes it seem as Edmund Burke describes. Even though there is evil there is always someone willing to fight it but it takes a lot to overcome evil.

Decisions

In todays day and age I think that a multitude of factors effect the decisions we make. First of all I think that the way you were raised and the beliefs that you have are a major weight. Growing up in different ways gives us different perspectives on life. These perspectives supply us with ideas that shape who we are and what we want to become, this person made through decisions we make. For example when choosing the college that I wanted to attend I found guidance through what I wanted to be in life and how my choice would benefit me.
Another major factor I think is the society and the people around you. Not only does society help make decisions for you but it sometimes shows you the results. Countless people have done things in the public eye and you see that and either decide that maybe you should or should not do something because of the way society reacted. I also think that the people around you play a major role because these people provide an outside but close aspect for you to talk it over.
Decisions impact you throughout your life and are as simple as which way to drive or as difficult as what college you want to attend. However large or small they may be it is important to make the right choices for yourself so that you end up who you want to be.

recipe

First begin with 8+ years of war and beat in a population of 29 million slowly. Next add a Handful of Languages and let it sit for half an hour. Once an half hour has passed add 99/100 Muslim for structure. In a separate bowl mix chopped up 5 constitutions with 1/4 cup of water. Combine two bowls for a well mixed soup. Fry up three branches of government and add. Finally grate 1 game of Buzkashi on top for a decorative look.

Prep Time: 45 Minutes
Food: Soup