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The speaker’s hallucinations of animals in the “dreamy pools of fog” reminds me of King’s “Strawberry Spring”

Despite how killers are often deemed “crazy” or “mentally ill” — a vague term — killers are more likely to be substance abusers than mentally ill people in the US and Britain

Many killers had mental illnesses

Humans are often encouraged to have monogamous, lifelong relationships, but many are tempted to have polygamous and casual/non-lifelong relationships

Virginity has been of great importance throughout time. Many have insisted on their wives’ chastity being maintained and casual sex has been judged negatively. Signs of infidelity, adultery, and cheating can sometimes lead one to punish their partner, causing what can sometimes be seen a “justified homicide” to occur

If “psychopaths” at least sometimes have mental disorders or illnesses, why is the degree of psychopathy a measure of evil?

Stone makes a point about the unfairness of the criminal justice system in how people who are “unlikely” to commit crimes of the same severity after conviction sometimes face longer or more serious sentences than those who are likely to commit crimes of the same severity. This makes me wonder how one’s likeliness to become a repeat offender can be determined

The author describes the least “evil” gradation as “justifiable homicide” — in example, Richard Jahnke Jr.’s killing of his abusive father. This makes me wonder how, in less extreme circumstances during which someone who chooses to kill someone else, it can be determined whether the instance of killing is justifiable

• Evil has been defined by religious figures and philosophers
• Evil things are considered evil by many in their communities
• Evil is used to describe things that seem incredibly bad and horrific

Mademoiselle Baptistine, who had accompanied her brother, M. Myriel, on his way to Digne, had been devoutly religious throughout her life. She acquired a character of goodness and transparency through maturity, allowing the “glimmers of the angel within” to become visible to others around her. Madame Magloire was plump and old with asthma, while M. Baptistine was thin.

Hugo says that the gossip that was “initially engrossing … were entirely forgotten.” Hugo comments on how those who had gossiped about M. Myriel were “petty,” meaning they were concerned and overly interested in trifling matters. Hugo shows a negative opinion toward those who gossip often despite lacking sincere interest in the objects of their short-lived fascination.

“M. Myriel had to submit to the fate of every newcomer in a small town, where many tongues talk but few heads think”

Using personification, Hugo comments on how people tend to gossip about those they are unfamiliar with. Hugo discusses how the gossip is no more than gossip. M. Myriel had to allow the gossip, despite and because of his status as Bishop of Digne.

As an old man who had been living in seclusion, M. Myriel learned he had been appointed as the Bishop of Digne. Before the Revolution, the Myriel family was not well known.

After the Revolution began, M. Myriel emigrated to Italy, where his wife had died of a lung disease. He had experienced his family’s downfall during the collapse of the old French society, causing questions as to whether his experiences had caused him to venture into a life of solitude. He returned from Italy as a priest.

Summary

Monsieur Charles Myriel was Bishop of Digne. He was the son of a judge of the Superior Court of Aix, who had arranged a marriage for M. Myriel at a young age. M. Myriel was handsome, elegant, and witty, so he gained attention despite how he’d already been married.

This book is getting corny. Why is Libby imagining having a kid with Jack? They just went out on their first date...

As cute as the relationship between her and Jack is, Libby shouldn’t be with Jack, as she still has self-esteem issues. Her goal in the beginning of the book is to find a guy who can “sex the weight off” of her. This is taking advantage of Jack and she needs to learn to love herself for who she is and try a strategy that doesn’t use other people to her advantage, in order to lose weight.

Libby shouldn’t have gotten mad at Iris. While I admire Libby’s confident personality, I can’t understand why she was annoyed by Iris talking about her weight. Maybe she was mad because she was trying to escape her identity as the “fat girl.” I also love how Jack accepted Dusty for wearing a purse. (after reading yesterday)

I don’t understand the school’s response to Jack and Libby’s conflict. Jack grabbed Libby and regardless of whether it was sexual or not, it was still harassment. The school should not have given the same punishment to Libby as she was defending herself. The side characters also don’t have much depth and are all used to show how horrible high school is stereotypically. (after reading yesterday)

This book definitely got more interesting after the first 50 or so pages. I completely understand Lucy’s concerns about her identity and place in Lucille’s life. Lucille pays little attention to Lucy and objectifies her, as she was told to do by Isobel. I hope Lucy can have her own life.

I wonder how intelligent Lucille is. She claims to be an overachiever but then says Cass got one point less on an assignment than her. Cass had a score of 94 points. This may be due to personal bias but 95 points is on the low end of high scores. Besides this, Lucille appears to think scores should be based on effort rather than skill, as she wonders why her long assignment wasn’t rated much more highly.

My favorites so far are: "Raindrops and Coffee" Kaitlyn Yang, "The Sky Over Our Heads" En Yu Zhang, "Photo Montage" Elizabeth Koster, "Found You" Min Zheng, "Course" Julia Weiss.

My favorite so far is: "Fake (an excerpt)" Lily Walker, Point A to Z: a map of me" Shanai Williams.

My favorites so far are: "To the Catcaller" Amanda Ottaway, "American Dreamers" Vivian Conan, "The Tale of the Wind Chumes and the Disgruntled Demoness" Tasnim Tarannum, "Baby Walking" Nan Bauer-Maglin, "A Contemplation of Love" Nneka Ulu,

My favorites so fare are: "August" Stephanie Quintero, "Mother" Julia Lynn Robin, "How Superiority is Born" Daryl Chen, "memory exercise" Amy Zimmerman, "The Burgundy and Gold Stitched Chair" Emily Rinaldi, "The New National Anthem" Daleelah Saleh, "we Can Do Better" Livia Nelson, "Between Worlds" Marifer Santos, "The Middle of Nowhere" Linda Kay Klein, "TO honour your roots" Carolyn Schmit.

My favorites so far are: “Fire” Amy Flyntz, “Harbinger” Rebecca Partap.

My favorites so far are: "Self-Conscience" Natalie Mojica, "Only Me" Laura Geringer Bass, "Frustation" Elena Coln, "Flight Departure" Leslie Pantaleon, "On Funerals" Lauren Hesse,

It’s hard to believe Amber and Camellia are friends. Amber is competitive and puts her desire to win above her clients’ safety. She mistakes Camellia’s pleas to stop as Camellia’s ploy to succeed.

The plot and what I believe is the main conflict didn’t begin to pick up until around page 235. Auguste seems like nothing more to a friend to Camillia and I don’t understand her attraction to him. It appears she’s only attracted to the idea of dating a charming rebel, as he showed up at her tent when he wasn’t allowed. Rémy is at times boring and struggles to be friendly and charismatic.

I don’t understand why Camellia made the girl look like her. It seems narcissistic and uncreative, even if it impressed the masses.