Finally

I find myself wanting to read a lot more after this semester of learning how and what to read. Before this class, I was more of a picky reader, and would go straight for the girly, chick flick type of novels. As we learned about the different kinds of books out there, and specified more of the characteristics of different genres, I found myself becoming more open to different topics of literature. My usual type of book would be an easy read, but this semester challanged me to pick a different type of book. I first started out with a typical book; it was a teenage pop novel, super fast, easy read that I sped through. I loved it, but definitely wanted more substance. So I went to my mom and she recommended a few different books to me. The first was a humorous book, a more advanced read. The second was definitely a step up from my usual pick and took my awhile to get into it, and it surely expanded my vocabulary and thoughts about different books and topics. It was much more mature than I expected, but it was a good book and a good experience. The third, which I am still currently reading through is probably my favorite. It entails a book about a dancer, which is close to home with me, and allows me to fall through the pages. With most of my book choices I found it pretty easy to keep up with the page quota per week. I do have a rather busy schedule with all of my after school activities, so it was a little hard at some points to keep up. But, I really enjoyed being challanged to read through this class. I feel as if now I am an all around better reader, and enjoy reading much more than I used to.

Dancing on my Grave

As Gelsey Kirkland continues to describe her perfectionist ballet personality, she reveals the horrible situations that she had to endure as a ballerina. Krikland was involved in doing illicit drugs, participated in the dancers' strike in 1979, and had a bad relationship with the management of the American Ballet Theatre. But, Kirkland describes all of her mistakes to be due to the fact that she was a pure perfectionist, and wanted to be an excellent ballerina, even though she already was.
As Kirkland moved on to dance with the American Ballet Theatre, she became romantically involved with a younger dancer, who was also her partner. Patrick Bissell, introduced Kirkland to cocaine. They came together because of their addiction to drugs. It was their common denominator. The two dancers were ruining their bodies together as well as their careers. Patrick came close to even committing suicide by a close over dose of drugs. The relationship consisted mostly of dancing, sex, and drugs. The two were eventually fired by the ABT, but then rehired for their change in behavior.
After years of dancing with ABT, Kirkland quit and married Greg Lawrence. The two moved to England so Kirkland could dance with the Royal Ballet. After a severe hairline fracture, Kirkland had to sit out a few of her pieces with the Royal Ballet.
But, after many injuries, drug addictions, and all the damage done to her body, Kirkland kept pushing through. She had a plain determination of heart.

Dancing on my Grave

Okay so I've started reading reading a new book, called Dancing on My Grave by Gelsey Kirkland. Before I got too far into the bok, I decided to get a little background on the author so I could become more comfortable with this book. Gelsey was born in Pennsylvania and became an American ballerina. She joined the New York city ballet in 1968 at the age of fifteen. She went on to become soloist and principle in the ballet as well and eventually created leading roles in ballets throughout the 20th century. Most people think of Kirkland as most famous for her role as Clara in The Nutcracker. She stayed in the ballet until 1984.

Dancing on my Grave is a chronicle of Krikland's change from a baby ballerina into a dramatic artist. The books tells of her struggles with eating disorders and drug addictions as a ballerina.

The story begins with Kirkland giving the details of her ballet life. She became the "baby ballerina" of George Balanchine who was the co-founder of the New York City ballet. But, Kirkland falls out of Balanchine's spotlight in the 70's and had the desire to dance for Baryshnikov of the American Ballet Theatre. Kirkland tells how she became very popular dancing a the prima ballerina of the American Ballet Theatre. She became a perfectionist, striving to be the perfect ballerina.

The end of South of Broad

So, I'm finally coming to the conclusion of South of Broad by Pat Conroy. Leo and his friends finally go find Trevor, who is dying of AIDS. But, as this is going on, Sheba and Trevor's abusive father has been making threats of them. During all of this drama, Starla gets ahold of Leo and tells him that she aborted two children of hers that Leo would've been the father of. Leo then decides that it is definitely time for them to divorce one another and Starla is out of the picture. Sheba can not get herself to leave Charleston, and she stays with her dying mother. Trevor leaves and goes to live with Leo to try to survive. But, more bad news is sprung upon them and they find out that Sheba was murdered. The murderer was Sheba's own father, who during Hurricane Hugo, plans to kill Leo and the rest of his friends. But, instead, he drowns in the hurricane. Now, Trevor is quickly dying as well, Leo's mother is going back into an Abby to be a nun, and Leo has not spoken to his father. Eventually, all of Leo's problems pile up to over come him and he is recommended to go to a mental hospital. The book ends with Leo having dreams in the hospital of all of his dead friends telling him to keep living his life and try to start over.

Although this book was good, I felt as if it was a little too dramatic. It kept dragging on and on and new information was added on just about every few chapters. It was much different than the other books I've read, and I think it may have been a little to mature for me. It had a lot of religious references and high quality vocab that I was continuously unsure of.

The Truth About Leo

Finally, in Part Three of South of Broad, we find out what Leo really did to get into all that trouble. First of all, after Steve commited suicide when Leo was only 11 years old, Leo went crazy. He had no idea how to live without his older brother. Leo's parents were deeply depressed and had no faith in Leo to take over Steve's shining position that was left. Leo knew he wasn't as good as Steve and for that matter, he drove himself crazy. Leo eventually entered a mental facility where he was treated for depression. Once he came out, he was different, more than less. Leo had a new attitude and decided to get out there and try to be like Steve. But, as we know from the beginning of the book, that doesn't work out as well as he wishes.
Besides Leo's rehabilitaion visits, when he turns 16, the real trouble sets in. Leo has a friend who is highly into drugs. Leo decides to be the good friend he is and hold onto a bag of drugs that belongs to the friend. Inevitably, Leo gets caught, and is sent to the juvinile jail places. This is when his mother starts to regret Leo. She holds a grudge against him for lashing out in this bad type of behavior after the perfect Steve has killed himself. Due to this behavior, Leo's mom makes him keep a tight schedule as an older teenager that we see in the book. She plans out things for him to do almost every day in order to keep him out of trouble. Leo's mother tries to get Leo to see the positvity in helping out others. He is constantly teaching other kids lessons when he doesn't even realize it.

currently

Pages this week: 150
Total pages this semester: 1657
Current Book: South of Broad by Pat Conroy

Sentences of the Week:

1. “Since the day I was born, I have been worried that heaven would never be half as beautiful as Charleston.”
                        Leo, South of Broad


2. "Behind every man is a woman rolling her eyes."
                           Jim Carrey

3. I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.
                                       Noah, The Notebook


My quotes of the week for this week are really kinda spread out across the board. My first quote is from the book I am reading, South of Broad. I liked it because it was different, and shows a great comparison that not many people would make. Leo, the main character of the book, lives in Charleston, and he sees it as the most beautiful place in the world. Everything about the city is perfect to him, and the rest of the population in the city. The book is actually quite religious based, so its not surprising that the author decided to compare Charleston to Heaven. Leo, unlike a lot of his family and friends in Charleston, is not very religious. But, after his brother died, he decided to start thinking more about the after life. In this quote, he's thinking about how his brother is living now, hopefully in Heaven. As Leo is looking out on the gorgeous sunset he realizes that nothing else in the world could be as beautiful as Charleston. But, as I say there, the looks of Charleston. Behind the looks of Charleston and the sunset, there are hidden secrets, unlike Heaven. The difference between Charleston and Heaven is that although they are both beautiful, indescribable places, Heaven is a place of security and there are no secrets. In Charleston, there are mysteries of all the population's lives.