POST #9

Wondrous Strange, by Leslie Livingston

In Wondrous Strange, I think the mentor is Sonny Flannery. Sonny mentors Kelley Winslow as she is going through her journey trying to defeat Queen Mabh's wild hunt. Sonny Flannery fits the mentor archetype because he is wise, leading and he helps Kelley with her experiences from her ordinary world to the special world. Sonny shows he is wise by discovering Kelley's kelpie in her bathtub and then finding the explanation for it and finally getting rid of it safely. This takes a lot of skill and wisdom to do, so Sonny is a very big mentor. Sonny fits the archetype of leading because of how he has lead and guided Kelley Winslow as she's defeated Queen Mabh's wild hunt. He's more of a mentor because he didn't actually defeat Queen Mabh's wild hunt all alone, he just helped Kelley know what to do.

Finally, Sonny is Kelley's mentor because he was the one who was there to help as she crossed the threshold to the special world. He guided and helped her which is the role of a mentor. Sonny's wise and handsome, seems like twice as great of a mentor!

POST #8

Wondrous Strange, by Lesley Livingston

This blog post is definitely one of the trickier ones. There is no clear journey that the main character(s) face. I'm three quarters finished the novel and so far I think that the journey of the story is to stop Queen Mabh from releasing a very powerful hunt that would chase after the main character, Kelley Winslow. I would say the decision to stop Queen Mabh was less of a decision and more just a requirement. But that said, Sonny Flannery made this decision in Central Park, after a possible aspect of the hunt came trying to enter his world. I believe Sonny was pressured by the fact that if he didn't do anything, his new found friend, Kelley, would be in danger. Sonny was also pressured to help Kelley because all throughout the story he has shown evidence that he was in love with her. Such as telling her she's beautiful and making a huge effort to be with her. Oh, what people do for love!

I think in the future, Sonny will succeed in stopping Queen Mabh from releasing the hunt. He really cares about Kelley, so I think he will do whatever it takes to keep Kelley in safety. For Wondrous Strange to be a great novel, I think it will have to have a happy ending. With this in mind, I think that Sonny will protect Kelley, and then have a happily ever after living together in peace without Queen Mabh threatening them with the hunt. Maybe this is the new day fairytale? I can't wait to read the ending!

POST#7

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

In Wondrous Strange, Kelley Winslow is the main character. She's just been shown the entire faerie realm and how there are many worlds in which magical characters and creatures live in. Her ordinary world is New York. Where people live as faeries, changelings and even simply humans. Some of the key elements of Kelley's ordinary world is her past. She's grown up here all of her life, which to anyone gives a sense of comfort and belonging. As well in New York, Kelley found a career that she enjoys. This every day routine of working becomes a huge element in Kelley's ordinary and everyday world. In addition to careers and places, Kelley's ordinary world has people who are close to her. People such as Tyff, her roommate, or Emma, her aunt/mother. Overall, Kelley's ordinary world is very realistic for any "New Yorker".

“Somehow,it had become dusk. Kelley had never really felt unsafe in Central Park-- but on the other hand, she'd never gone traipsing about in it after dark.”

(Page 31, Wondrous Strange, Lesley Livingston)

POST #6

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

This book definitely is not a book that follows a simple story line with the hero who saves someone and goes on a brave adventure. The hero is very hard to see in this book because there is no goal set for the main character to achieve. However, since a hero is generally someone who is brave and sacrifices something to achieve the better, I think the main character, Kelley could be a hero. Kelley is very brave as she is introduced to the Faerie realm and does not just back out but continues to push forward into this mysterious land. I think this is a clear quality that shows that Kelley could be a hero. Kelley also sacrifices her safety and daily life to remain aware of the whole Faerie realm and not simply forget about it and continue her life. These characteristics and actions don't completely make Kelley a definite hero, but she for sure has many hero-like qualities.

" "You can't go that way."

"I can go any way I damned well please!" Kelley erupted shaking loose. "

I chose this photo, because it's from the Aladdin song, "A Whole New World". In Aladdin, Aladdin is the hero because he follows where he believes he should be. Kelley Winslow, in Wondrous Strange is shown the Faerie realm and she believes she should be apart of this new world she's been shown. I also chose this photo because the song is "A Whole New World". A Whole New World is what Kelley is being introduced to, just like Jasmine is being shown because she's gotten "out of the castle". Kelley is being shown out of "her home of NY". The picture represents Kelley Winslow and Sonny Flannery on many different levels.

POST #5

KELLEY WINSLOW

Age: 17
Hometown: NOT New York
Current City: New York
Job: Understudy in the production, Midsummer's Night's Dream. Playing lead role of fairy queen Titania in Midsummer Night's Dream.
Friends: Sonny Flannery, Tyff Meyers (room mate)

Quote Concerning Kelley: “...You are on your own in New York City. And you are chasing a dream that most reasonable people consider either unattainable or a damned-fool waste of time. Believe me, I know. All of which tells me that you are either fearless or just a little bit foolish. I suspect both. I also suspect that you are one of those precious few with enough natural talent to make a go of it.” (Lesley Livingston, Wondrous Strange, page 11.)

I’m most definitely not very far into the story, but Kelley Winslow has shown the most personality and the reader follows her story the majority of the time. I think that she will be the hero by the end of the story. So far, she’s gotten herself into a bit of a mess involving a magic horse in her bathroom and her room mate going crazy about it. This shows she could be a hero since she will probably have to sacrifice something to fix this. Knowing a typical story line, I think that she will definitely get herself into an adventure that she will have to fix. I also think she’s the hero because I think she will change and grow. Kelley has already gone from the understudy in a production to one of the top roles. That’s one of the fairly large qualities of a hero. Finally, I think she’s the hero because she’s most definately not a mentor to anyone, or a threshold guardian as she’s the main character herself. Kelley also wouldn’t be the herald, shapeshifter, shadow or trickster because she does not have any of those qualities. Overall, Kelley Winslow may not be a complete hero now, but I’m very sure she’ll become one soon in the story

Post #4

'But ...' Harry raised his hand instinctively towards the lightning scar. It did not seem to be there. “But I should have died – I didn't defend myself! I meant to let him kill me!'

(J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Page 567)
Throughout the novel, especially here, I have learned that Harry Potter is very selfless and brave. This quotation shows selflessness because Harry knew that if he let Voldemort kill him, the rest of the wizarding world would not have Voldemort threatening their lives every day. Harry's also brave because he let Voldemort kill him. Death is very unknown to humans and Harry was brave to welcome it even though he was unaware of what would happen after Voldemort killed him.
I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows yesterday, so the plot of the whole series has finished and his future relating to the story now is told in an epilogue, but after reading that, I think Harry will eventually become a successful worker at the Ministry of Magic. I've predicted this because Harry was always wanting to help others during his time at Hogwarts and fighting Voldemort and the Ministry of Magic is all about helping others.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Page 567)

I chose this video because it has a catchy tune but also because it really demonstrates the bravery of Harry. The video shows many clips of the Harry Potter series when Harry is leading the way into many different situations that one would need a lot of bravery to get themselves into. The video also shows how Harry made strong friendships that would remain strong for many years to come and this demonstrates his loveable personality. chose this video because it has a catchy tune but also because it really demonstrates the bravery of Harry. The video shows many clips of the Harry Potter series when Harry is leading the way into many different situations that one would need a lot of bravery to get themselves into. The video also shows how Harry made strong friendships that would remain strong for many years to come and this demonstrates his loveable personality.

Post #3

K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Page 101

"As Harry’s birthday dinner would have stretched The Burrow’s kitchen to breaking point even before the arrival of Charlie, Lupin, Tonks and Hagrid, several tables were placed end to end in the garden."
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Page 101

Reading this part of the novel I relate to my sister's wedding and see many similarities between the text and this event in my life. One of those similarities is how relatives and friends all come to the same space and like describing in my quote, the house is packed. I make a huge connection because although in the novel the house is actually stretched, during my sister's wedding it felt as though my house was stretched. Overall, this part of the book really allowed me to make connections to my experiences.

Reading this part of the novel I relate to my sister's wedding and see many similarities between the text and this event in my life. One of those similarities is how relatives and friends all come to the same space and like describing in my quote, the house is packed. I make a huge connection because although in the novel the house is actually stretched, during my sister's wedding it felt as though my house was stretched. Overall, this part of the book really allowed me to make connections to my experiences.