The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

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Part I


Mary Lennox is a sickly and unpleasant little girl who's always had her way. After her parents die from cholera in India, she is sent to live with her uncle in a Yorkshire manor. Mary hasn't ever really cared about anyone, so she’s not particularly troubled when she becomes an orphan, and she doesn't care that she never actually see her uncle, Archibald Craven. Mary became bitter to the people around her. It wasn’t right to act such thing. That is why her uncle brings her to live in England and find ways to bring the love she lost. I guess because of her intensely curious about the Secret Garden which was discussed by the Old Gardener determines her to find it and unexpectedly brought her an extremely positive effect upon Mary.


             Many cases such Mary tend to be hard=headed child. Little children like Mary are tending to be care of so many. Mostly children who are being left are sickly, foul-tempered and unsightly who loves no one. Tragedies such this makes them feel alone. Example of this tragedy was my cousin. He was left by her father and mother. He turns to be a way ward child. And because of his hard-headedness he was been in prison. This was just an example of what will be the outcome if we left the child.

             I wonder why uncle took the responsibility of taking care of Mary. I wonder why Mary Lennox is really curious about the thing she have heard from the Old Gardener. Is it really the intention of the Old Gardener to be close with Mary and open her mind to the Secret Garden of her Aunt? I also couldn't figure out why did the Uncle of Mary wanted to forget about the Secret Garden and didn't face the things left by his deceased wife. Did the Uncle of Mary doesn't really know about the condition of his son or he just wanted to forget his son's condition?


             I think it was a typical decision of Mary’s uncle to send her with him since no one wanted to take care of Mary. I think it was not the intention of the Old Gardener because I think it was Mary who opens her mind about the Secret Garden. The reason why her uncle wanted to forget the secret of the Secret Garden is that it is still painful for him to recall those things. In the end of the story Mary Lennox will learn some things which she never encountered in her whole life. And the bedridden son of Archibald Craven (Uncle of Mary) will experience the miracle recovery and Colin Craven (Son of Archibald Craven) will forgive his father. And the miracle happened was a great magic because of the regaining happened to the Secret Garden who was left by years.

                  

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Part II


         this are the following strong imagery used by Frances Hodgson Burnett:

Ø  " And she made roses grow over it and she used to sit there."

Ø  " You can't bite a ghost or a dream, and if you scream they don't care."

Ø  " If there were water, it sounds like sea just now."

Ø  " I won't have a child dressed in black wanderin' like a lost soul."

Ø  " Birds is rare choosers and a robin flout a body worse than a man."

Ø  " He's got a sheep on the moor that knows him, and birds as comes and eats out of his hand."

Ø  " It isn't a quite dead garden."

Ø  " She stopped and listened to the bird and somehow his cheerful, friendly little whistle gave her a pleased feeling."

Ø  " At last he made a darting flight to the top of a tree, where he perched and sang loudly."

Ø  " The rainstorm had ended and the gray mist and clouds had been swept away in the night by the wind."

SEA OF LOST LOVE by Santa Montefiore

PART 1

REFLECT

I really like the character of Celestria Montague. She was so brave to search what was really the reason behind her father’s suicide. Her quest took her to Italy’s rugged and beautiful Puglia, and into the dark, cool cloister of the Convento di Santa Maria del Mare. Here Celestria met an enigmatic stranger and confronted unwelcome truths abut her family and herself. This stranger was Hamish McCloud who later became her lover. It was very surprising to know that Celestria‘s father was not really dead or shall I say he did not really committed suicide. He was just hiding from them because he was bad. He was doing illegal works, had more than one identity and family, and worst of all he had stolen his wife’s money. Very far different from what they know about him. Robert Montague was very kind, happy and rich person. He was almost perfect but sad to say he was not perfect. Knowing these unexpected truths, I felt very sad because someone you love betrayed you. It was very painful to be betrayed by someone most especially when you love the person who betrayed you. Just like Robert Montague who betrayed his family. But in the end I think Santa Montefiore, the author, made the ending very nice. Though Celestria’s father didn’t come back and now have another new family, at least Celestria found her true love in the name of Hamish McCloud.

CONNECT

I have a classmate in my third year high school that had experience this situation. I will not mention her name but as you can she was a girl. She was also betrayed by her father. When she was nine years old her father left them because of work. Many years had pass but then her father did not appear or even communicate them. And because of her father’s lost she decided to find her father. So she searched her father and found out that her father had already a new family. Her mother already knows that her father left them because in the first place her father didn’t love her mother. Just like in the story. Maybe if I were in that kind of situation, I am very thankful for my family because they make sure I will not be in that situation. I can say that I am blessed for having my family like them. We love each other. Another connection I had with this story is that my cousin who fell in love with a man who was older than her. Just like Celestria who also fell in love with Hamish who is fifteen years older than her. We can’t really dictate or even control our feelings. Love is accepting everything about him/her.

QUESTION

I really wonder why Robert Montague didn’t tell the truth. Why he can’t settle himself with one wife? Does his family important to him? Does he love them? I also couldn’t figure out why Celestria Montague fell in love with Hamish McCloud who is fifteen years older than her? Why she chooses Hamish over Aidan? Aidan was a rich, handsome and gentleman. Another question in my mind is that Robert Montague seems to have been loved by nearly everyone with whom he came into contact. Men and women alike adored him. So why Celestria’s grandfather Robert W. Bancroft II never trusted him?

PREDICT

I think the reason why Robert Montague didn’t tell the truth because he was afraid that his family would hate him. And the reason why he can’t settle himself with one wife maybe because he doesn’t really loves his wife. If he really loves his wife he will not do stupid acts because he doesn’t want his wife to be hurt. I think maybe his family is important to him because of his children. I think he loves them but not as much as he loves himself. He was selfish for leaving his family in miserable situation. As for Celestria falling in love with Hamish, I think love is just so powerful. Despite of their age gap, she still loves him unconditionally. That’s why though Aidan was almost perfect husband, she chooses Hamish because she loves him. Love explains everything. I guess the reason why Celestria’s grandfather, Robert Montague, I think it was just his instincts. Instincts are 90% true.

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PART 2

My favorite part was when father Dalgliesh was standing with his hands in his pockets, looking out to sea, when a man sitting on thee sand caught his attention. He was waving to two dusky-skinned children who were playing down by the sea with their young mother in a red cotton dress. They waved back continuing their project. Father Dalgliesh walked closer. There was something strangely familiar about the man. The man looked up at the priest his eyes lingered on him for what festive a very long time. Suddenly the man raised his hat. Father Dalgliesh caught his breath for he had surely been recognized while he deliberated, the man stood a moment, gazing out to sea, lost in thought, that he crouched down and dragged his finger through the damp sand. He hesitated a moment, then turned to the priest, his eyes squinting in the sun. Father Dalgliesh watched in amazement as he got up. Taking the smaller child’s hand, he left the beach and wandered up the track, followed by the woman and the other child. He didn’t look back.

Father Dalgliesh watched them go with regret. Then his eyes turned back to the place where the man had written some thing in the sand. Something he clearly wanted father Dalgliesh to see. He wandered over, his stomach churning with the sense that he had missed an opportunity that would never come around again.

It was then that he noticed two words written in the damp sand: forgive me. Just as soon as he had finished reading it, a rogue wave surged up the beach washed the world away.

After Robert Montague, I think father Dalgliesh will going to chat it to Robert’s family. Robert’s family must know the truth so that they can forgive and forget. Their questions are already answered. They can now move on. And live their life happily. And as for Robert Montague, I think he will be a good husband and father to his family after doing stupid things I think he learned from his mistakes. So he will try his best to be a good man not only to his family but also to the people who loves him. And when his ready to face his family in Pendrift Hall, he will ask for forgiveness for doing that to them and for making their life miserable. I think his family will forgive him because they love him. If you love the person you will forgive him though he hurt you. If GOD can forgive, people must forgive too.

DADDY by Danielle Steel

PART I

REFLECT
I am really amazed to every character of the story. Most especially to Oliver who has faced the hardest part of the story. He has responsibilities of their children because his wife, Sarah, left them. Though it’s hard to let his wife go, he accepted it with all his heart because it is the only way to make his wife happy. And for Sarah Who have been married to Oliver for 18 years decided that the time has come when she needs to put her family to one side and to follow her dream to study leaving the children in the care of their father to study for a Master's Degree at Harvard. Though there are lots of trials, but at the end it surprised me because Oliver found a new girl that could make him happier than with Sarah. The story has inspired me a lot.


CONNECT

I am very thankful to have a complete family. So, I really treasure them all. Maybe someday I want to have family different from this story. I want to have complete and happy family. I have classmate who has no father. Actually, she doesn’t know her father. I seen her everyday and I always saw her happy but I know deep inside its very painful. What makes it more painful is that she was very insecure to the children who have their father. Because of this missing one, her life became miserable.  So for me, I don’t want my future children will experienced it because I know it will be very hard for them. I hoping and praying it will never happen.


QUESTION

I wonder why Sarah left her family though her husband spoiled her a lot. What if Sarah continued the abortion?  How could he accept the fact that his wife left him? How hard for him to accept the responsibilities left by his wife. I would find it hard also that because of Sarah's disappearance it worsen   the lives of her children especially to her oldest son Benjamin who became a teenage dad. I wonder why he didn’t left his children.


PREDICT

I concluded that if Sarah didn't leave Oliver it would not trigger their family in trouble. And if Sarah will come back soon they can still keep their family unbroken. And I think if she continues the abortion she is now successful like Oliver. But then, it’s a sin. I do believed that Oliver truly love his children because despite of pain and hurt he still want his children to be happy. I think facing the reality that his wife left him will be a step forward to a new hope. Finding another girl will help him a lot to forget his painful past and face the bright tomorrow. Then at the end Oliver made a right choice of choosing Charlotte to become his wife; who loves Oliver more than her career as an actress.

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Part II 

• What I most wanted to happen was Sarah will be staying with her family and accomplishing her dreams together with her family.
• What I really liked was when each of the three men started a new life in New York and then in Los Angeles with his children. After facing the biggest problem in their life, Oliver met a woman that would change his life.
•  What irritates me most was the most interesting characters within the framework of the story are those that appear from nowhere outside of the main framework of the story. Some of the character in the story is frankly boring. The son, Benjamin showed a little bit of independent character within the book, and the grandfather, George Watson seemed a very sad characterization and probably bore more resemblance to how a reader would see an old man of seventy, though neither really stood off the page more than the main character of the story which is Oliver.
•  What surprised me was when Sarah left Oliver. I never thought she would come up with the decision of leaving her husband and her three children just for her own happiness.
• What I admired about the character was when Oliver took the responsibility of taking care of his children when Sarah left them. I know it was very hard for him.
• What I really don’t like was when Sarah left Oliver and her children. It causes trouble among her family.
• What bizarre me is that you can be happily married to someone for decades and then, after his or her death, be happily married to another person and call it love. The idea is extremely unromantic.
• What I've realized was it is not an assurance that if you were together for the longest time, you will be together forever. Like in this story they've been married for 18 years but in the end they are now in separate ways.
• What I hated about Ben was he made the life of his father even worst because of his anger. At his young age, Ben is now a father.
• What made the main character’s life became miserable was first, his wife lift them. Second, his sons are angry with him and they made troubles. Last, his mother diagnosed to have an ill.

THE COTTAGE by Danielle Steel

Part I

REFLECT

I Felt it was a bet amazing when someone who is as pretty , rich and intelligent as Dr. Alexandra Madison manages to fell in love with Cooper Winslow who is an impeccable Hollywood star but probably sixty years older than her, but what happened next really made me surprised I never thought she would still accept Cooper Winslow after having a baby from an unknown Bold star. Considering that this girl. Charlene, had an affair with copper less than a week before cooper met Alex and started dated her I guess it is what we called the power of love. Alex was so in love with cooper that’s why he she heard about cooper`s having a baby it never bothers her. Well I must admit that cooper Winslow is a very attractive man despite of his age. He would probably makes every girls fell in love with him easily. But copper Winslow broke Alex’s kind hearted heart because she found out that cooper Winslow was not really in love with her but instead he was just after her money. Cooper has many debts to pay that`s why he needs someone who can save him fron losing the cottage and from paying his gigantic debts. It made Alexandra`s life miserable. But in the end it was amusing because each character had a great ending. Cooper Winslow married Valerie Westerfield, Jimmy`s personal nurse. Alexandra Madison started to go out with Jimmy O`Cannor. Same with them, Mark Friedman also started dating cooper forty years before.

CONNECT

I guess the reason why cooper Winslow never tries to pursue Liz Sullivan is because he just don’t find Liz to be a good lover but instead he finds her to be a good friend, I think Liz was just so in love with cooper Winslow that she would do everything for cooper though it needs a huge sacrifices’. This sacrifice includes waiting and caring for him till she can. I think cooper was really in love with Valerie that he agreed to marry her. Cooper had many affairs and flirts before but he never thinks of marrying them but now he is more than willing to marry Valerie because I think he really do love her. I guess now enjoys his life being the husband of Ms. Valerie Westerfield and I think they are now planning to have babies. Well in the case of Mark and Tyran, I think they enjoys each company so maybe in the near future they would coincide to marry each other. And for Jimmy and Alex , I guess they had have so much knowing each other more so I guess just like Mark and Tyran they would soon be married they will have their children. And live life happily.

QUESTION

I wonder why cooper Winslow didn’t try to pursue Liz Sullivan, cooper`s secretary. Liz was the same age with cooper and she was so in love with cooper since the first day she saw him. Since .then Liz was always there for him until her hair became gray and though she had been married to Mr. James Thomas O` Cannor she always find time to call cooper for such a long time? Why did she let he life be dependent on cooper Winslow? Why did she let himself waiting for Cooper to fall in love with her? I also can`t figured out how many girls did Cooper Winslow had an affair on. Why did he let himself reach the age of ninety eight before marrying? And I wonder what happened after Jimmy and Alex had been dating? What happened to Mark and Tyran? And what is the felling of cooper Winslow being married to Valerie Westerfield.

PREDICT

When I was young I’ve always wanted to find someone who. Would love me the way I love him. I really do believe in the saying. That everyone is destined to have their own partners in life. Just like in the story every character has their partner. Another connection I had with the story is when my cousin fell in love with a man who is forty years older that her. They had two daughters but they are not married. They relationship didn’t last because the boy just found out that he is not in love with my cousin and was in love with someone else the story reminds me of one the celebrities here in the Philippines. He was Mr. Dolphy Quizon. I think they have some similarities like their age and handsomeness and their profession. They also both married. To a girl who are much younger than them. Ages truly don’t matter as long as you both love each other.    

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 Part II.  

                   

To Ms. Danielle Steel,

        Greetings!  I am Michelle Kaye Imbong a student of Mindanao Sate University-General Santos City, Philippines, taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English. I wonder why I choose to read your book. Maybe because you’re a well known author or because I just simply love you book.

        You`ve been hailed as one of the world`s most popular authors with over 470 million copies of your novels sold. You`re one of my favorite author, it is because your stories are unique and sometimes unpredictable. You wouldn’t know what happens next, it make me trilled. “The Cottage” one of your books, is really great. You let your readers imagine how it feels to be a Hollywood star like Cooper Winslow one of the main character of “The Cottage” this book made us realized how people with different characteristics and behaviors interact with each other. How they enjoyed each other in spite of their differences it is also a soryve read your novel.

       I really do hope your will continue to write books because you were really a great author. I just want to ask who your inspiration is. because based on your works he/she really inspires you that much keep on writing book because you books inspires us as a reader I am so thankful and I wish I could write books just as good as you. Thanks a Lot!

Truly Yours,

Michelle Kaye Imbong