And you ask, “Why is reading so helpful for getting smart?” and I'll tell you; when you're reading, you're thinking. And you ask, “But I'm always thing!” well yes, but you're always thinking one random thought after another. But when you're reading you're playing out a set scenario and running images through your head. Allowing you to focus more clearly and to process what's going on at that very moment.

Not to mention the fact of reading text books that unlike novels, have something to teach. A skill or just a few facts about history, or biology, anything really. I bet before you came across this article, you were thinking a million thought a minute. But now you're thinking about what you're reading. (If you can keep up, that is) so now you see that reading can help you become so much smarter then if you were a couch potato. Thanks for listening people. Read on!

The ending of this book was the only thing I didn't like. Through the whole book I was entertained, but he lost me at the ending. But for anyone under twelve years old I would highly suggest this book.

It's perfect for summer reading. (I wouldn't take this book with you if you were going camping) it was one of those books that you're sad when it's over. Reading this book made me want to buy all of the Goosebumps' collection. That was before I knew there was like eighty of them.

But do not borrow this book from a library or a friend. Buy it! You'll want to read it again and again.

Preface: the food isn't great. The counselors area little strange. And the camp director, Uncle Al, seems sort of demented. Okay, so Billy can handle all that, but then his fellow campers start to disappear. What's going on? Why won't his parents answer his letters? What's lurking out there after dark? Camp Nightmoon is turning into camp nightmare! And Billy might be next…

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did! Thanks for reading everyone.

One reason Holden is over-critical is that at some points just seeing someone he doesn't like can make him so annoyed he will leave the place he was in. Also he would begin to hate that person. One time in the story Holden runs into someone named Lillian Simmons. He knew her from his brother going out with her before. She invited him to sit with her and her date. He thought she was a phony. And just by seeing her he wanted to leave the place. “I certainly wasn't going to sit with old Lillian and that Navy guy and be bored to death. So I left. It made me mad though, when I was getting my coat. People are always ruining things for you.”(chapter 12 page 8). He blames people for things that they don't even do.

Another reason Holden gets over-critical is he finds little flaws in someone and begins to hate them. There is this one person he knew at Pency. His name was Ackley. He doesn't like Ackley because of these little flaws he has. “ That guy had just about everything. Sinus troubles, pimples, lousy teeth, halitosis, crumby fingernails.”(Chapter 5 page 39). He doesn't like Ackley because of these little flaws and thinks hes a phony.

The third reason Holden is over-critical is he thinks everyone is a phony if they don't agree with him. Like when he was going on a date with Sally. “Here's my idea. We can move up to Massachusetts or Vermont something and get married. I can get a job up there and we will have a terrific time! Wudda you say? Will you do it with me? Please!” (chapter 17 page 132) Sally didn't want to just jump in to something like that so she said no. And because she said no, Holden thought she was a big phony and started to not like her anymore.

Holden is always judging people and calling them phonies. But he really is the only phony and doesn't want to admit it so he blames it on other people. Holden is wat to over-critical. He points put the wrong on everyone else, instead of pointing out the truth about people. Holden Caulfield is a cranky over-critical teenager.

He sees little difference between himself and the opposing soldiers. As the war rages on Paul and the other members of his squad are assigned to various tasks by their superiors, including fighting in the trenches on the front. The men are continuously dodging explosive shells fired by the enemy. Many times though they are not successful. Many of Paul's friends die after being hit by shrapnel. In the trenches task of evading enemy fire is no where near as hard as remaining sane and hopeful.

Many of the horrors of war are revealed throughout this book; hunger, sleep deprivation, physical fatigue, and death are just a few of them. In many of the battle scenes detailed descriptions of the death men around him are described by Paul. In the end all seven members of his squad, including himself are killed.

I enjoy the style of writing used by the author in this book. The story is told in first person except for a short paragraph at the very end of the story. This paragraph reveals to the reader the death of Paul.

Paul continually refers back past events. These flashbacks add enlightening details and perspectives to the story.

I also liked the detailed physical descriptions, such as those of the battlefields. These depictions made you feel as though you are in the scene that is being described. In addition to these physical descriptions, I thought that Paul's descriptions of his feelings and ideas were excellent. These explanations portray many of the concerns and thoughts that go through the minds of people in war.

One thing that I did not like about the authors writing style was the overuse of exclamation points. They were hardly ever used in dialogue, the one place they should be used.

In the passage I chose for discussion Paul refers back to what his former teacher said of the war for the young men of Germany: “ Kantorek would say that we stood on the threshold of life. And so it would seem. We had as yet taken no root. The war swept us away” (16).

This brief passage reveals one of the main ideas of the book, the fact that many young men were taken away from their homes, at a time when they were trying to establish their lives, and forced to fight a gruesome war. The main characters of the story are forced to endure ,at young age, something that is difficult for even the toughest and most enduring grown men to bear: hunger, extreme fatigue, mental and physical stress, injury, and the death of their friends or possibly themselves. When the war ends what can the young survivors do? They are probably to old to continue their educations, they have no job to return to, they have not yet learned the ways of the world, not to mention countless other problems. Above all problems though is the dilemma of: What is the importance of regular tasks as a civilian after a life and death struggle? Certainly many things in life must seem pointless after fighting in the trenches (If one can even survive.)

Another passage that I found particularly interesting was one in which Paul describes his desire to survive: “I think no more of the dead man. He is of no consequence to me now. With one bound the lust to live flares up again and everything that has filled my thoughts goes down before it” (138-139).

In this passage the goal of all the soldiers in this book is described, the want to survive. This goal consumes all of the soldiers. They want to live through and return home again. This goal drives them to do all manner of things, be they bad, as in killing another man or good in helping one of their comrades to help them achieve their same objective. In the book, when a soldiers hope or sight of survival is gone, he usually meets a quick end. In order to escape the horrors of war one must face them.

I really enjoyed reading All Quiet on the Western Front. It was a very well written book that conveyed to me the horrors of war. Its descriptions of occurrences in the war made me realize how terrible war can be. This book made me look at war in a new way.

The reason I chose to read this book was the fact that both my brothers, my father, and some of my friends suggested it.

I give this book a ten out of ten. It was excellent. I would recommend it to anyone who has never read it.

The story takes place in a remote part of Central California. The area is a fertile valley with a huge amount of farmland. The time setting is in the 1930’s. The time and setting add to the sense of the novel.

One of the main characters, George, is a farm hand who has some common sense. He is middle aged and is a hard worker. Lennie Small is George’s best friend. He rather is a large man, which is not very bright. Lennie has the mind of a small child and can be a great hard worker. He likes to feel things which will later get him into trouble later in the story. Lennie and George have moved across the country from ranch to ranch getting jobs. Usually Lennie does something to get them in trouble. George befriended Lennie when Lennie was a small boy. When Lennie’s Aunt Clara died, George decided to take care of Lennie. These two friends set out to earn some money to reach the ultimate goal of theirs, which is to buy their own shack and farm some land. One thing that Lennie wants to do at this farm is to have some rabbits to watch and tend.

When George and Lennie reach the ranch, that the story takes place, they meet some different individuals. The leader of the ranch hands, a man named Slim, is friendly towards the two and shows his leadership later in the novel. Slim is a very thin man, who has a sense of humor. The son of the owner of the ranch, Curly, is a small man who is always looking for a fight. He used to be a boxer so he a good fighter. Curly does not like big guy so gives Lennie a time.

He will regret he ever did. Curly’s wife is very attractive and is always looking for Curly. Curly is always looking for her as well. The person who runs the stable is a middle aged African American named Crooks. He got his name when he was kicked in the back by a horse. Now he is hunched over when he walks. Another worker is a man named Carlson, who is rather large and can be very assertive. Candy is an older man, who is in charge of the cabins, where the workers stay. Candy has an old dog that smells a great deal. This dog means the world to Candy, which later changes. All of these characters influence the plot and change the outcome of the novel.

After George and Lennie reach the ranch, the story takes off. Lennie teaches Curly a lesson and accidentally tells Candy of their plans to have a farm but it doesn’t matter, because when all the men except for Lennie go to town, the unthinkable happens. Sometimes friends have to make tough descions to help the others they love.

I really enjoyed Of Mice and Men. Even though the story took of very slow, it was exciting the rest of the way. The plot is somewhat complex and easy to follow with few characters. The language the characters use reflects the time period and people invoved. Overall I would encouge people to read Of Mice and Men. It is a great, short read, that is full of questions.