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Samantha

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Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption

by Laura Hillenbrand

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Samantha said: " I am 1/3 through my book.. I have read from 1 to 130.

2.Consider the main character (if you are reading a memoir). Would you be
friends with him or her? Would your friendship be contingent upon any factors?
Using details from their experiences and yo I am 1/3 through my book.. I have read from 1 to 130.

2.Consider the main character (if you are reading a memoir). Would you be
friends with him or her? Would your friendship be contingent upon any factors?
Using details from their experiences and your own, explain how/if your
relationship would work.

The main character is Louis Zamperini. He is an Italian man who lived in Torrance, California. He grew up as a trouble maker..always stealing food, pranking people, or just running away from the police because of his actions. As he grew up he became interested in running. He was not the best runner at the start of his career in the 10th grade but little did he know then he would become one of the best runners in the world. Since Louie was a runner I believe I would be his friends because as runners, we bond because we go through the same circumstances, hardships, and difficulties in races. I also believe we would be friends because Louie went to USC and it is my DREAM to go to college there and run for them just as he did. Louie began training with his brother, Pete, as his coach to get faster and faster in the mile. He broke his school record at a 5:06. That was not the end of his career..or even close for that matter. He just kept dropping times. He ended up breaking the American High School Mile record time. His best was a 4:18. Louie dreamed of qualifying for the Olympics. He realized quickly in his training that he would not be able to run a fast enough time in the 1500 with such little time to qualify so he switched to the 5,000m. With only 4 attempts at running the 5k he qualified for the 1936 Berlin Olympics which Jesse Owens would star in. Louie ended up running a personal record at the Olympics with a time of 14:46.8 with his last lap in a record slashing 56 seconds. (That beat the fastest mile split of a last lap and his race was 2.1 miles longer!!) This also relates Louie and I because I most always finish with a killer finish just not to the same caliber as his. He finished with 9th place at the Olympics but had aspirations to go back.
With his never give up attitude I think I would be very good friends with Louie or at least look to him as a model. He also fought in WWII which I think is so interesting. He is so courageous to be in the war as an airman. He was stationed in many different places but the thing about Louie that really struck me was his attitude. He would never give up. He did everything he could to survive and help his crew. I respect him so much for everything he did in the war. The planes were not very reliable at the time and yet he kept on flying in them. His first plane "Super Man" was attacked by a Zero fighter ( A Japanese plane controller). There were 546 bullet marks on the plane yet it somehow made a landing (unsafely). Louie got asked to go out again soon after that plane was attacked to go and search for others. This search turned out to be a bad idea because the plane crashed after many efforts to save it. Only 3 men survived the crash: Louie, Phil ( Louie's close friend), and Mac. Louie took leadership on the 2 small rafts and gave hope to the men so they would not lose their minds. I feel like in this same situation I would try to the positive one. I know it would be difficult but in the right circumstances I believe I would try to keep everyone sane just as Louie did. We have similar personalities and I think that would help us be good friends. ...more "

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(page 240 of 475)
"I am now 2/3 of the way through" — May 12, 2011 08:10PM

May 05, 2011 08:10PM · see review