9/21/14

Text to self connection in The Universe Versus Alex Woods

     In this weeks reading, I made a strong text to self connection. I connected with The main character Alex because of what he is going through right now.  Alex has  Epilepsy because he was hit with a meteorite earlier in the story. Because of this, Alex has seen many doctors and has been homebound for a while now. Alex describes his condition as 'brain bound' because the reason he has to stay at home has to do with a problem in his brain. The damage caused by the meteorite causes alex to have seizures, which he has to learn how to control.

     I connected this to when I broke my collarbone in 7th grade. I broke my collarbone doing a backflip on a snowboard, Which meant that it was a pretty bad break. I had to stay home for around 2 weeks before i was able to return to School. During this time, I had to learn to do things a new way. I had to learn how to get up and go to the bathroom without hurting myself, I had to learn how to fall asleep in a chair, etc. I also saw  more than a few doctors during the time my collarbone was broken, and I needed a lot of help to do ordinary tasks. Although my problem didn't last as long as Alex's did, This connection helped me understand what he is going through.

9/10/14

     The Universe Versus Alex Woods: Chapter 4

     Progress in my book is moving pretty slow right now because of how busy I've been. I managed to get a chapter done this week and I'd like to share the most important line from chapter 4.

"But discovering a physiological cause for my epilepsy was not necessarily a good thing" 

     this line is important to the plot because not only does it help to further explain the beginning of the book, it also foreshadows what is to come. The damage to Alex's brain means that he will have recurring seizures for the rest of his life. This could majorly affect him later in the book. Alex's condition will separate him from everyone else, and he will have to learn how to live with his condition. Alex's epilepsy will probably cause several problems later in the book.

Predictions for The Universe Versus Alex Woods

     I haven't gotten very far in the book yet and i'm still in the exposition part of the plotline.
I like what I've read so far and i think that it will be a good book. At this point in "The Universe Versus Alex Woods", alex has been stopped at the airport in customs. He was in his car and the security guard at the gate told him to get out of the car after alex had a partial seizure causing him to be stopped at the gate with loud music blaring for a lot longer than expected. Alex is taken in for questioning about the contents of his car.

    after long questioning and accusation, Alex flashes back to his"accident" that was brought up in questioning. Alex goes on to explain that he was hit by a meteorite a few years before and the people he met during his recovery. He says that this is why he has seizures.

    this is far as I am in the book so I want to make a few predictions about what will happen:
1. I think that alex will explain how the "Accident' with the meteorite affected his childhood.

2. I think that Alex will explain what happened to his mother.

3. I think that Alex will tell about how he meets this "Mr. Peterson" that he mentions during questioning as the man whose ashes are in an urn that was found in alex's car.

4. Lastly, I think that Alex will tell how Mr.peterson ended up in the urn.