Thursday, October 28, 2010

A High Wind in Jamaica - Halfway Point

So far a beautiful and whimsically written book. I love the way that Hughes writes about the children, I feel like he really understands how the mind of a child works.

I was so happy to find out that the original Captains letter to their parents was a lie. I was confused when I read it and then looked at how many pages I had left to read. That would have made for a weird book if what he was saying was the truth. I strongly dislike the original captain. He is weak and self centered and a liar. Its weird that I like the pirate captain much more than the original one.

I was disappointed that the children were not more upset about John's death. I don't this it matters how old you are, if your brother were to die I think that you would have a much stronger reaction than they did. I feel like I, the reader was more upset than his siblings and friends. I also find it weird that the kids don't realize that something is very wrong and that they have been abducted by pirates. I guess that they are in their own little world and without their parents there to tell them they are in danger, they are completely unaware.

This book reminds me a lot of Life of Pi so far. It is mainly about the world of a child, much like Life of Pi and also the writer uses beautiful vocabulary just like Yann Martel. Here are a few words I didn't know, that I hope to remember:

EMANCIPATION: To free from bondage, oppression, or restraint; liberate.

JALOUSIES: A blind or shutter having adjustable horizontal slats for regulating the passage of air and light.

INFERNAL: Of or relating to a lower world of the dead.

APOPLEXY: Sudden impairment of neurological function, especially that resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage; a stroke.

MADEIRA:  A fortified dessert wine, especially from the island of Madeira. (mmm.. I want to try this!)

BILIOUS:
a. Characterized by an excess secretion of bile.
b. Relating to, characterized by, or experiencing gastric distress caused by a disorder of the liver or gallbladder.
c. Appearing as if affected by such a disorder; sickly.
Can't wait to see what happens!

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