Review of NIGHT

Author:                                               Elie Wiesel

Copyright date:                                 1994                                     

Genre:                                                Fictionalized Memoir

Age/Interest Level:                           14 and up

Number of pages:                             193 p.

SUMMARY:

This is the Elie Wiesel's personal account of the Holocaust. The book describes Wiesel's first encounter with prejudice and the persecution he faces because his is a Jew.  It also describes the powerful bond between father and son and the loss of his family. Wiesel's experiences in the death camps of Auschwitz and Buchenwald are detailed; his accounts of starvation and brutality are shattering, a horrific testimony to the consequences of evil. Throughout the book, Wiesel speaks of the struggle to survive, and the fight to stay alive. While Wiesel lost his innocence and many of his beliefs, he never lost his sense of compassion or his sense of humanity.

NOTES:                                                                                                                                                                                                   Although the interest level says 14 and up, people who have a hard time with graphic material or books that contain no happy ending should make sure they’re ready before undertaking this story. There are graphic accounts or torture and people being killed in all kinds of ways including starvation, hanging, and execution. There are prolonged passages of the main character discussing his loss of faith. Some themes of the book are: survival, courage, compassion and retaining ones humanity no matter what.
REVIEW:
I found Night to be horrific and sad yet the most beautiful and stunning piece of literature I have ever read. It starts off simple like the calm before the storm and then hurls the reader into a nightmarish world of agony, horror and death. The story is full of despair but the writing itself is beautiful. It’s hard for me to cry and yet every time I read Night it makes me feel sad and alone and brings tears to my eyes. Night captures the horrors of the holocaust better than any other book and most movies. The author, Elie Wiesel won the Nobel Peace Prize for this book, and for good reason. This is a must read for everyone. In fact it should be read by all people, everywhere.

Masque

Look closely you can see my pain

Salty tears fall like the first winter rain

Our lives were linked, but not yet one

Now you’re gone and I’ve come undone

You’re masquerading in circles around me

Take my heart where it longs to be

My love for you is never fading

Endless masquerading

Does he love u the way I can?

Please let me be your man!

Say you’ll choose me

Let me prove it to you, you’ll see

You’re masquerading in circles around me

Take my heart where it longs to be

My love for you is never fading

Endless masquerading

The choice is yours to make

But how much can my heart take?

All I can offer you is my heart

But your hesitation is tearing me apart

You’re masquerading in circles around me

Take my heart where it longs to be

My love for you is never fading

Endless masquerading

End this pointless charade

This endless masquerade

Choose me

Confessions of the Scorned ( a dramatic piece)

Friar Lawrence Voice Over: You may kiss your bride
Enter Mercutio. With wine in hand slightly intoxicatedMercutio: Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name! Hallowed be thy name!  Let us give glory to god on high! Let us praise his name forever. Let us honor a god who delights in the sufferings of mortals, who proclaims his love toward all men, but condemns men to a furnace of agony and grief. But yes, let us give thanks to Him. Thank you father for shunning a devoted servant who was born inadequate in your eyes. Because I loved I am doomed.  Now tell me good friar, does that seem Christ-like to you? Of course I’m sure you have an answer meant to clarify the good books teachings, but your words would be wasted. I have read god’s great book, have read what god sees fit for me and the abominations that are my brothers and sisters; his children.  I am unclean and hated by a monster disguised in the flesh of the divine. His everlasting love meant for all people, has chosen to abandon me.  I know what lies in store for me hereafter, I know what awaits me eternity. And yet, I care not.  For in this mortal existence, I fell in love with a god. A god whose glory surpassed the moon, even the sun.  This radiant god befriended me, cared for me, lifted me up when I was weak. I loved him more and more each day. I have known him for many, many years and every morning I awake eager to commune with him. He is magnificent. At first I adored him, loved him as any loyal mortal should. But soon a flame ignited in my bosom so fierce it scorched into me the desires I have for so long tried to suppress.  For once I did not care what would happen to me in hell, for I was saved by my new god’s grace.  Finally I was happy again, and I knew eternal joy was nigh if he would only be mine. I set a plan into motion, I steered his affection towards the beautiful unattainable Rosaline. Of course my god didn’t know that… yet. All was going according to plan. He was rejected by Rosaline who had sworn a vow of chastity. Soon I would begin to console him, comfort him and ultimately seduce him. And then the unimaginable happened. At the Capulet ball where my seduction would begin, my god fell for a deceitful whore. That little viper injected a god with a venom so full of lust he revealed to her his name. That name that I had whispered softly every night for as long as I can remember: ROMEO.  In a matter of seconds the man I had passionately loved betrayed me. And what for some dirty young harlot? Revenge will be swift. Juliet must die!
O Cessate di piagarmi, O lasciate mi morir, O lasciate mi morir! (Sung)
Mercutio pulls out dagger and runs off stage*                                                                *                                                                   *
Three months after the death of Mercutio Romeo and Juliet. Friar Lawrence’s Bed chamber.
There is a bed and a crucifix on a dresser two candles flicker ominously in the darkness. We can see the shape of the friar on the bed. Suddenly Mercutio enters in all white. He is a spirit now. He stands over the bed and awakes the friar. There is one solid blue light on Mercutio Mercutio: Greetings Friar, three months it’s been since I came to see you in the church. Three months since my death and the death of my beloved and his wife. I come to you now as a spirit to give you my final confession... I’m sure you are surprised to know that I am in heaven I certainly was. Once the pain of Tybalt’s sword thrust ended, I saw white mist it swirled around me I looked at my body which was clothed as it is now in all white. There was neither wound blood nor pain. I walked forward and the mist swelled and then cleared. And I beheld three emerald hills beneath a clear azure sky. On the hill furthest from me was a structure from my past. The fort Romeo and I had built when we were but six years old. My favorite memories took place in that fort and it was then when I walked up and touched the wood of the fort that I knew I had ascended into heaven. Time on earth is so slow compared to time up there.  I stood there for maybe 4 minutes when I heard his voice. That divine sweet pure voice of Romeo the Montague. I turned my heart beating rapidly in my chest and there he was clothed in white smiling his perfect smile. I rushed to him and threw my arms around him. We stood in that embrace for some time and then he pulled away led me by the hand and sat down with me on the top tier of the fort. He looked at me with his perfect green eyes and spoke softly and said…
All lights are cut even the candles are out Mercutio in Romeo’s voice: “Mercutio, I know the truth and I am sorry I did not know it in my mortal existence. I wish you would have told me how you felt. Things would not have turned out any different for my love for Juliet is eternal however you agony would have been over. I would have been there to lift you up once more as I always did as a child. Do you remember that summer day long ago by the creek on the south side of the city wall of Verona? Do you remember the rope swing we set up over it? I can still recall that day, you were so afraid to swing over the creek and I kept telling you, you were a wuss if you couldn’t even swing across the creek. I told you not to worry I would catch you if you fell and fall you did right into my arms and I collapsed under your weight and fell into the creek. You fell I caught you. I promised I would Mercutio. And I never stopped promising. I was always there for you. Yet your pain was too great to see that but now it’s all over. You’re here I’m here. There’s no pain or sorrow no toil no grief. Only light and hope, joy, and eternal splendor. I want you to meet Juliet Mercutio. She is a wonderful woman who also knows now of your love for me and she understands. Give her a chance and you will love her as I do.”
The blue light returns as does Mercutio. Mercutio: and I did learn to love her. I was wrong about Juliet she is a rash yet beautiful girl who just happened to love the same man I did. I learned that heaven is different for everybody and Juliet gave up her version to come with Romeo to live in mine. I know now that god loves all his children and wants them to be happy and cares not whom they love as long as there is love in their hearts. The hour is hastening on I must go back. Give my mother my best tell her of this vision tell her everything, farewell friar. God be with you till we meet again.
The lights go out again and we hear Mercutio singing Amazing grace his words growing ever softer as he ascends once moreAmazing Grace how sweet the sound that save a wretch like me I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see ... was blind but now I see!

Catch This

The black glove is tight on my hand it makes my fingers stiff
Sadness rips through my body the weight of the world on my shoulders
the ball is heavy and hard, both smooth and rough
Why is reality so harsh? Why won't the pain subside?
It makes contact with my glove, causes a tingling sensation in my palm,
Wait whats this, a smile? A genuine smile? Oh how I've longed for this for the feeling of my lips spreading effortlessly up my face.
The world is turning from black to grey.
I catch another ball, "GOOD JOB" rings in my ears.
From out of the grey comes the molten yellow sun just beginning to set,
the emerald trees whispering in the lightest breeze.
the breeze caresses my skin and I can feel again.
My dad's voice voice drifts over to me "After three in a row we will go inside"
the ball arcs in the air and comes hurtling down... ONE!
Happiness swells inside me
this time it comes crashing in from the side TWO!
elation starts in my toes spreads like a jubilant fire throughout my legs, chest and arms
THREE! The ball hits the glove and in that moment I know true bliss.
I walk towards my father his smile makes me smile wider.
The tight black glove comes off and with it the pain and sorrow. I'm back.
Playing catch with my dad... smiling and laughing. Moments before i was black and
invisible.
Moments before I was nothing felt nothing now I've caught...
                                                                                           pure joy

The End of My Childhood = Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2

Ever since I can remember I have been a mega fan of Harry Potter. I've Never lost a Harry Potter trivia game I've read all the books more times than I care to count and I even have Harry Potter ad J.K. Rowling's birthday (July 31). Its safe to say that I have grown up on Harry Potter. Whenever I need a good book on a cold rainy day I whip out a copy of my favorite Harry Potter book ( The Half Blood Prince). I love those books like I love my family and am overall very pleased with the film adaptations. However Im  not lookng foward to Deathly Hallows Part 2 because it siginifys the end of my childhood. I'm already 18 but I dont feel that I have to grow up until the final installment of Harry Potter is complete. My first ever love was Harry Potter and it will always be my absolute favorite book series of all time. Thank you J.K, Rowling for a wonderful 10+ years

My thoughts on stupid girls

so i just watched a video of kelly pickler on "are you smarter than a fifth grader?"and she thought europe was a country and that France was a capitol. ummm how stupid can u get? this reminds me of those girls at school who i am sure are very intelligent but act dumber than a box of hair. Im not sure if they think its funny or if they think its gonna attract guys ? first off its not funny its super irratating and whenever you speak to one of them u wanna stab yourself in the eye. second guys arent attacted to stupidity its because your pretty. and if your not pretty but still pretending to be dumb u just seem desperate and easy. i like smart people a guy doesnt want to have to worry about whether or not u are going to embarrass him by asking a waiter if there are actually chicken in the sea. thats pathetic. So please girls try to have some self respect. act your age and your I.Q. level and for those of you who r stupid. do me a favor go drown yourself in bleach nobody likes u!
This is Little Lottes Angel signing off!

Van Gogh's Soliloquy: A Pallet of Blue and Grey- A short story by Little Lottes' Angel

I'm enveloped in darkness. It swirls dismally around me plunging my soul farther into the deep cold void of despair. I await the day when my God will deliver me from this place, this hell I live in. I await in vain, for God has forsaken me. I know not what great sin i have committed that made Him withdraw His presence.  I am accompanied only by the voices in my mind. The very same mind that possessed my soul and turned my body against my will. And the torment, the agony of it! the voices whisper to me, tell me of days gone by days of beauty and insanity. My journey has been arduous, the road to long and steep, what has become of me? my soul yearns for life, and yet my heart would love to beat no more. I would try to obey the yearnings of my soul if the very soul wasn't a gift from He who has forsaken me. in order to triumph over the whispers of voices that only i can hear, i must do this. I Vincent, must destroy the flesh of my bones, the heart must cease to beat the mind fail to think. Only then can I really be free. The pulse begins to races, the draw opens revealing the pistol within. As i pick it up feeling its cold calculating surface, the voices let loose a wail of fear and anger. and then another stronger voice yells above them all "NOT YET VINCENT!!" The voice is right, there is one more thing i must do. The elation I'm  my bosom relinquishes its hold and the voice bubble down to a murmur, and impatient sorrow reigns. I must not give into it I need to pass this test. Despairs' black fire spreads throughout my body scourging my veins. I douse it with thoughts of my imminent victory: death. I keep the heat at bay by building walls around it. Suffocating it with memories of past triumphs and unbearable pain. More and more memories flow and soon the flames are quenched. I take out parchment and a writing utensil. Body shaking i write my story, the story of Van Gogh. My hands fly across the paper and soon it is finished. I look back a  the drawer and without even feeling my arm do so i grab it and bury it deep with in chest. I cry out as a  loud boom reverberates throughout the room. Pain, so much inescapable pain. I fall back through the air my last thoughts are of my brother, my family my failed career and my glorious splendour filled memories of ... The voices dying breaths overshadow my thoughts. The pain subsides there are no more regrets, no more sorrow only bliss remains. Bliss and blessed release. My vision blurs and my eyes lock on to the the balcony where i witness a starry night die and a new days dawn.

Inspired by: Starry, Starry Night by Don McLean