This book is about 350 pages and it starts off pretty good and its really easy to get into so i advise you to read it if you need a self select and cant find a book.

Quotes by the survivor Aron Ralston...

1. What do you do in the face of almost certain death? Sacrafice anything?...

2. At this point, I've got the confidence to know that I'll get through anything in my life given I have the motivation to do it,... if it's an act of survival we've all got a reason to keep living. It may not be pretty, but surviving is grit and determination in its highest form. I learned that I've got the capacity to do a hell of a lot more than i thought i could if I have the proper motivation!

3. I think my spirituality is very similar to what it was before. It wasnt as if i went through some kind of enlightenment and figured out all the answers,... i figured out what was important to me, but i knew that before. I just didnt express it as much to the people I appreciate, to my family and friends, and I've tried to be more practiced at that.

4. We're all going to make mistakes... Your mistakes are the resulf of choices you make. But, because we make mistakes does not mean we cant rectify that.

After just reading Aron Ralston's book, it makes me want to have more confidence in myself and tell myself that i can do anything; no matter what that anything might be. It doesnt always have to be something so dramatic as life threatening but i know i can achieve above and beyond even when other people dought me.

5. The past couple of days i have been thinking about this book alot and how Ralston did something so incredibly hard. I honestly dont think that he did it just to save himself. i believe he was thinking about the people around him as well and what would happen to them if he wasnt there. Because i know how it is when someone you really care about isnt around, whether because it was your choice for them not to be there or because of a fatal accident. but what i've learned and come to understand is that in this world most people put themselves before everyone else; and as a young adult i try to be the exact opposite. but sometimes its hard especially when you cant control your feelings when it comes to a tough situtation. Being there for other people is all good and well but sometimes you have to put yourself first, especailly if you know you are hurting someone else that is important to you.

This book was published in 1950. There are a few other sequels that have been recently made but this is the origianl version. Most people would look at the cover of this book and consider it to be a girl book; and that would be the reason for them not reading it. I cant sit here and say I chose this book because it looked good and I was excited to read it. But for more of the reason that I was running out of time when it came to picking a book and I saw kaytlinn with this book. So I thought to myself... sure why not?  I figured since I saw the movie and it wasnt attrocious that I would easily be able to read this book and then do a simple project on it. To tell you the truth. This book is not like the movie; it has some similarities but is more different than not.

This book was about a dad that was a famous efficieny expert and he tryed to frequently run his family like he did the factory. The only problem was that mom wasn't a big fan when it came to discipling the kids for their wrong doing. There was a total of twelve kids, hence the title of the book, Cheaper By The Dozen. Its easy to say that there would be alot of chaos and there was. But when it came to being on time and making sure things got done properly, dad was running the show. One thing dad did to keep the family organized was call assemblies. He would do so by blowing a whistle and no matter what anyone was doing they made sure to drop everything and hustle to wherever dad was. Sometimes these assemblies were to give gifts to the children and then there would also be a downside to one of these assemblies. They would also be used to hand out punishments and talk about disciplinary problems. By the sounds of it, its as if dad did all the work. But thats not true. Mom was always there for the kids whenever they needed her.

Theres a quote in this book that caught my eye and that I really liked. It was said by dad. It goes some thing like this.

"You save time for work, if you love that best. For education, for beauty, for art, and for pleasure."

I think this quote caught my attention because I've asked myself, what do I do with my time? and why do I save it? Or why do I use it the way i do? And the answer i read in this book that dad gave, gave me a lot better perspective of why I liked it so much. But I give this mom and dad props, because I honestly dont think there would be any possible way that I could handle twelve kids. I'd say im a pretty patient guy and am good with little kids; I just dont

think I could ever have twelve kids and be the same guy.

The author of this book is Frank B. Gilbert Jr. He was born in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1911 and graduated from the University of Michigan. He then became a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II and recieved a Bronze Star and Air Medal. In 1947 he joined the staff of what is now the Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina. A columnist and reporter, he authored and coauthored several books. Unfortunately Frank B. Gilbert Jr. died in 2001 at the age of 100. I'd say he lived out a long, happy, yet fulfull life.

There has been a few others that read this same book, and they were the reason that i picked up this book in the first place. I read the novel The Road by Cormac McCarthy. This book starts off kind of slow, almost like every other book that i've read. It quickly picks up to become extremely suspenseful and at times sick. This story has a ton of detail to it and if you get sick or hate grusome images then this novel is not for you. Its not that i like grusome novels, but the author- Cormac McCarthy makes it seem so real. It makes you get that gut wrenching feeling, at the same time you just want to continue reading and flipping from page to page. It makes you ask yourself the question, "Could i continue on and live life the way they are?" The father and son are the only ones left on earth that havent resorted to killing people, rape, or canabilism, and keep on striving. The father shows his son how to slit his throat and how to shoot himself in the head with a gun if he's ever about to be eatin by other people; or if he's in a unservivable situation such as that. I dont want to ruin it for you so i wont tell you anymore. There is a numerous number of ways that people could have taken this book, or recieved a message. It all just depends on what point you're at in your life- whether you're having social, family/friends, school, or moral problems. The message i endured from this novel, was that no matter what, you need to keep on going with life and strive to be better. It doesnt matter what everyone else has resorted to, you are still your own person and have your own mind. I kind of used to be a follower and not know who i was, but recently in the last 4 months i've realized who i am again and that i just need to be me. I dont need to try and be something that im not, especially for someone else. Stay strong to who you are and never turn your back on it.

 Cormac McCarthy

My Quotes for Ethan Frome

1. something bleak and unapproachable"

2."it's always Ethan done the caring."

3."Guess he's been in Starkfield too many winters."

4."a part of the mute melancholy landscape, an incarnation of its frozen woe, with all that was warm and sentient in him fast bound below the surface... in a depth of moral isolation too remote for casual access."

5."Where'd I go, if I did?"

6.We never got away--how should you?"

7."colorless slip of a thing."

8."Ethan never listened."

9."taller, fuller, more womanly in shape and motion."

10."She's a pauper that's hung onto us all after her father'd done his best to ruin us. I've kept her here a whole year: it's somebody else's turn now."

KING JAMES!

This book is about one of my favorite basketball players, lebron james. It tells you about his basketball life from when he was young to a now amazing NBA superstar. Lebron was a great athlete, not only was early recognized in basketball but he was also recognized as a football player. He could have actually been a pro football player if he didnt go straight to the NBA out of St. Vincent St. Mary High School.  Before i read this, i had no idea that he could have gone pro in football. I found that to be extremely interesting, just because I'm more of a football oriented kind of guy and its where most of my passion is. Lebron is different because of his immediate success from high school. KING JAMES is divided into different time periods. Each time period talks about a different thing, such as Lebron's childhood, his parents, his high school career, his first basketball tournament, shows the struggles of growing up without a father, being hassled by the media before even graduating high school, being offered gifts, and much more. Basically, this is a biography which seperates different phases of his life that are important. Lebron was different from his surrounding players because he was so physically developed at a young age. He seemed to be much stronger, faster, and more athletic than his peers. He was able to dominate at any stage and carried his team. I think the book also shows how strong Lebron was in addition to his skill. He was able to remain humble, nice, and become an even better person. Many players who accomplish a lot, happen to lose it or it fades away because of their ego. Lebron supplements his success with extreme dedication which is why he is where he is today.
Personaly I think this book is a good example of what it means to work hard and not have everything handed to you. Working hard is something that everyone should do, no matter what success they achieve. My grandpa has always said to me,

"Dont be a hot dog."

Thats just another way of saying not to be cocky. I admitt it, at some times i can be cocky, but for the most part i keep my cool. I've just always grown up that way. He also tells me when you do something good you dont need to taunt other players and talk smack. you just continue doing what you do and have class. I think the reason why the author wrote this book is to show young kids that if they push themselves they can make it anywhere in life as long as they work for it because nobody gives it to you. I advise this book to anyone who is interested in basketball and learning things you dont already know about Lebron James. I havent seen it yet, but there is also a movie out there that pretty much tells the whole story of this book. It sounds awesome!

     Lebron in high school

     Lebrons first year in the NBA