The Exception/ Mood

"What you've got to realise," she said to Chrissie, "is that even though Tommy was at Hailsham, he isn't like a real Hailsham student.  He was left out of everything and people were always laughing at him.  So there's no point in asking him about him about anything like this.  Now, I want to go and find the person Rodney saw."  This is an example of how Ruth sometimes treats Tommy.  Chrissie told them that there is a rule that if they love someone they can wait to give their donations for like three years.  When Tommy heard this, he said he did not remember this rule.  I got the impression that he did not truly love Ruth.  I still have the same feeling that Kathy and Tommy will become a couple because Tommy will get tired of the way Ruth treats him!

The mood here is very uncomfortable.  I felt that the characters felt very different emotions.  I felt that Tommy was afraid and did not know what to say, and I feel that Ruth felt frustration and anger because Tommy was disagreeing with her.

Ruth and Kathy's conversation/ conflict

"You must know what I mean.  Tommy doesn't like girls who've been with...well you know, with this person and that.  It's just a thing he has.  I'm sorry Kathy, but it wouldn't be right not to have told you."  Ruth said this statement to Kathy.  She was talking about how Tommy would never like Kathy like a girlfriend time because she has been with too many guys.  Even if this is true, I think it is a very mean thing to say to a friend, or anyone for that matter.  I think that Ruth is jealous of Kathy and Tommy's friendship.  I feel that this is why she said this rude comment to Kathy.  She does not want Kathy to be around Tommy anymore, so Ruth said this so Kathy would be mad with Tommy!  I feel that Ruth and Kathy's friendship is ended.   However, I feel Kathy and Tommy will find each other later on in life.

This situation also demonstrates a conflict.  A conflict is the struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story.  Ruth and Kathy actually get into many conflicts within the story.  I am not sure if they truly understand what a good friendship is!

The end/Third Person Omniscient Point of View

"I lost Ruth, then I lost Tommy, but I won't lose my memories of them."  At the end of the story, Tommy passes away.  Also, the theory is not true.  They were a little upset at first, but then they begin to think about Rose, and how she just wanted the best for them.  I actually did not like this story much at the beginning, and I did not understand it much.  However, about the fourth chapter in, I started to find it interesting and felt intrigued to know what was going to happen next!  This book can relate to people in the real world a little bit because people always lose loved ones in their lives.  However, when someone we love dies, we have to move on gradually, and remember them in every step in our lives! 

Also, this book is in third person omniscient point of view because Ruth is the narrator.  However, she still is in the story and talks about all the other characters.

Art/ Motivation

"Ruth did well for us," he said, softly.  "She got it right."  Here, Tommy and Ruth were talking about how Ruth really helped them out.  She found where Madame lived, and she helped Tommy and Kathy get together.  They are very grateful towards Ruth, and she is always engraved in their memory.  I feel that Ruth is Tommy and Kathy's motivation for going to see Madame.  Motivation is a literary term meaning the reasons for a character's behavior.  Kathy and Tommy want to find Madame for themselves, but they also want to do it for Ruth since she is not with them anymore.  Tommy and Kathy finally get to Madame's, and they find that Miss Emily is living there.  They are very shocked, and I am not actually sure what is going to happen!

Friendship and Love/ Hubris

"I don't know what I'd been intending to do, but when Ruth said this, for some reason, without really thinking about it, I just stepped out of the car.  Ruth stayed where she was, and that was why, when Tommy came up to us, his gaze fell on me and why it was me he hugged first."  This chapter was filled with many interesting things.  Ruth and Kathy went to go visit Tommy.  As they were heading back from the boat, Ruth apologized to keeping Kathy and Tommy apart from each other.  Tommy and Kathy did not really know what to do at that point.  Ruth I feel knew she was going to die, so she wanted to set everything straight before she did.  Ruth wanted Kathy to be Tommy's carer and "give it a try."  Before Ruth passed away, Kathy told her she would be Tommy's carer and "give it a try."  I feel that Kathy is doing this for herself, but also because she wants to remember Ruth and be a good friend to her because that is what Ruth wanted.  I also appreciate the fact that Ruth and Kathy had time together before Ruth passed because "you truly never know what you got until it's gone."

Also, in these couple chapters, Kathy and Tommy truly see how fragile Ruth is when she is afraid to go under the barbwire fence.  This demonstrates hubris because Ruth comes across as tough and in charge; however, she is more fragile and sensitive than anyone knew.

Hailsham, Donors, and Carers

"A lot of them, you can tell, are just going through the motions, waiting for the day they're told they can stop and become donors."  Kathy said this referring to the way people at Hailsham who are having to donate soon.  Everyone is worried because sometime the donations do not go very well.  For example, Ruth's first donation did not go very well.  Now Kathy has become Ruth's carer.  They were getting along at first, now their friendship is a little rough.  Ruth wants to go see Tommy, and I feel Kathy does too!  I feel Tommy is going to be more excited to see Kathy than Ruth.  I cannot wait to see what happens!

Pun/ Friendship

"But for me atleast, this non-appearance of Hailsham students just added to a feeling that Hailsham was now far away in the past, and that the ties binding our old crowd were fraying."  A pun is a play on words.  In this instance, Ruth is comparing the group she has at Hailsham to ties that are fraying.  She is using this expression to show that sometimes she feels that her group is not as close.

"That was partly because of the tape; and maybe if I have to be honest, because I was pleased by the notion that Ruth wasn't taking the animals seriously, and everything that implied."  The thing that is starting to puzzle me is that Kathy, Ruth and Tommy are supposed to be like best friends.  However, they all get jealous easily, and they do not always wish good will upon each other.  For example, in this quote, Kathy was pleased because Ruth did not like Tommys' pictures.  Also, Ruth was angry when Kathy and Tommy talked about the theory, and she did not find out til later.  This is getting much more dramatic,and I wonder what is going to happen!

The Tape/ Gallery

"A present?"  I looked at him in surprise.  "I'm not sure Ruth would approve of that.  Not unless you got her a bigger one."  Tommy told Kathy that he wanted to get her a type of present.  Ruth responded with this blunt response.  The type of present was that Tommy wanted to find the tape for Kathy, the one she lost.  This is a very cute gesture of Tommy, and Ruth very much apprectiated it!  I think that this is where there love will begin to grow.  Also, they were talking about the theory behind the gallery.  Tommy thinks that the gallery is the way they can tell if you really love someone.  However, Tommy never turned in any pictures.  Kathy was very surprised and distraut by this.  I feel that Kathy is upset because she loves Tommy, and if the theory is correct, Tommy cannot extend his donations by three years.

Friendship

"Oh, look who's upset now.  Poor Kathy.  She never likes straight talking."  This quote was said by Ruth after she said that they were cloned by trash.  She feels that their "possibles" are people who are not successful!  This really bothered Kathy, so her and Tommy split from Ruth Chrissie and Rodney.  I think that Ruth is very rude, and she is not a good friend or girlfriend.  Earlier in my posts, I said that Ruth and Kathy would be friends later in their life.  However, the way they act toward each other, I feel their friendship will end soon.

The Feeling of Seperation and Jealousy

"Of course, I didn't say anything.  In fact, listening to her, I even started wondering if maybe it was all feasible, if one day we might all of us move into a place like that and carry on our lives together."  In this context, Kathy is talking about how Ruth wants to move to a different place.  Kathy really stresses to herself, that if Ruth leaves, her and Tommy will also go, too.  I feel that Kathy wants to always be will Tommy and Ruth.  I think that she is afraid of seperation and moving on.  Also, in the beginning, Chrissie and Rodney were talking about how they thought they found Ruth's possible.  Kathy keeps talking about how that it is most likely not Ruth's possible, and how Chrissie and Rodney made the story up.  I feel that Kathy is just saying this because she is jealous of how Ruth might have found her possible, and also how Ruth has other friends.

Tommy and Kathy

"Here.  Give these to Ruth.  See if they do anything for her."  This chapter was a little weird!  I do not understand why a teacher has porn magazines.  However, I think it is cute how Tommy comes to Kathy's rescue.  As I said in previous blogs, I think Tommy and Kathy were going to get together as a couple.  It is obvious that Kathy wants to because the way she tells Tommy to go be with Ruth.  Pretty soon Tommy will feel the same way.  However, I believe Ruth and Kathy will still be friends!

Life Changing/Allusion

"Because somewhere underneath, a part of us stayed like that: fearful of the world around us, and-no matter how much we despised ourselves for it-unable quite to let each other go."  By this statement, I feel that the kids, especially Kathy are not sure what they can do in life.  They are afraid to try to new things because they always had people telling them what to do.  Also, there are no guardians, so Kathy and the others feel that they do not have any protection.  They need to move on now and try to live their lives as normal people.

"Gawd help us."  This allusion to television programs Kathy used to describe the way the people at the cottages would act.  They would try to be like the people they saw on television.

The Future

"Like you say, Kath.  We're going to be leaving her soon.  It's not like a game any more.  We've got to think carefully."  As they are about to leave Hailsham, the students, mainly Tommy, Ruth, and Kathy were talking about their future.  Ruth wants to be back together with Tommy.  My opinion on that is that Kathy and Tommy will somehow end up together.  Also, Miss Lucy told Tommy that his art is evidence.  But the question is, evidence for what?  I think the evidence is for after they are done giving their organs, there will be proof that they once existed.  However, that may be an unreasonable assumption.  However, at the end of the chapter, Miss Lucy left, or "had been told to leave" Hailsham. I am wondering the reasoning behind it!

Weird Theories

"Hannah had the theory that it was their duty to make us have sex because otherwise we wouldn't be good donors later on."  This was one of the theories that the students came up with on why they think their teachers want them to have sex.  If this theory is true, it is pointless.  First of all, how does sex help make peopl better donors.  What good does it do for your organs.  Second, sex is special, and it should be with the person you marry.  These teachers should be teaching the kids to not have pre-marital sex. The teachers should not allow the kids to think sex is ok during teenage years, even if they cannot get pregnant!

Their Future/ Elbow Cut

"I know you don't mean any harm.  But there's just too much talk like this.  I hear it all the time, it's been allowed to go on, and it's not right."  Miss Lucy said this concerning the kids wanted to be actors or do something productive with their lives.  She told them that they came into the world with one purpose: to donate their organs.  I am just a little confused why the kids are not scared, or they are not trying to escape the school!  These kids do not have a typical life, and they are much different than normal people.

"Don't you know?  If it's right on the elbow like that, it can unzip.  All you have to do is bend your arm quickly.  Not just that actual bit, the whole elbow, it can all unzip like a bag opening up.  Thought you'd know that."  This was said by Christopher H. concerning Tommy's elbow.  It really bothers me that he gets made fun of!  However, it seems like they do not know very much about the real world.  If Tommy did not exactly know what happens when you get a cut, then what else do they not know?

Implied Metaphor/Smoking and Pregnancy

"Even if we were being shown a picture of a famous writer or world leader, and they happened to have a cigarette in their hand, then the whole lesson would grind to a halt."  The metaphor "grind to a halt" really helps to express in a different way that the lesson stopped.

"You've been told about it.  You're students.  You're...special.  So keeping yourselves well, keeping yourselves very healthy inside, that's much more important for each of you than it is for me."  This quote was said by Miss Lucy.  It is very suspicous, and if I was the kids I would have most likely asked what that is supposed to mean.  I feel that the "guardians" want them to be healthy for their organs.  It's really creepy!

Also, the kids are cannot get pregnant!  I am a little confused why, and it is very upsetting.  Hopefully, I will figure out the reason!

Similies/Kidnapping

"It was like the split second before you step into a puddle, you realise it's there, but there's nothing you can do about it."  This was said by Kathy.  It's concering the time when Kathy walked up to Ruth and some of the other guards when they were talking about something secretive.  When I read this, I was able to visualize what was going on.  The similie makes the situation more realisitic.

"Then how come I've personally heard them talking about it?  Talking about how they're going to take Miss Geraldine to the woods in the milk van?  How come I heard them planning it myself, nothing to do with Ruth or anything else?"  Kathy said this to Moira saying that the story of the kidnapping of Miss Geraldine is real.  This will make the story more dramatic and interesting!

Suspicion/ Diction

"All that I can tell you today is that it's for a good reason.  A very important reason.  But if I tried to explain it to you now, I don't think you'd understand.  One day, I hope, it'll be explained to you."  This quote was said by Miss Lucy concerning why Madame takes the kids' things.  I am really curious why Madame is taking their things and I think it is really strange.  I just want to know the reason!

Also, I am confused why words are spelled incorrectly in the book.  For example, these words are all spelled incorrectly: "honour, rumours, humoured, realise, and favourite.  I feel that these are spelled wrong for a reason, and it has to do with the diction.  However, I do not get the point of spelling them incorrectly.  Hopefully I will discover later!

Gallery

"The gallery Tommy and I were discussing was something we'd all of us grown up with.  Everyone talked about it as though it existed, though in truth none of us knew for sure that it did."  In Chapter three, there is much talk about the gallery.  It is very interesting because it seems there is something very suspicious going on in the gallery.  None of the kids have seen the gallery; however, they have heard about it.  Also, everytime the teachers bring up the gallery they stop themselves and act like it is a secret!  This and other secrets in the story seem very interesting and adds more drama.  I cannot wait to discover the mysteries and suspicions!

Thoughts on Bullying

"I've grown up a bit, I suppose.  And maybe everyone else has too.  Can't keep on with the same stuff all the time.  Gets boring."  This was a quote said by Tommy.  In "Never Let Me Go," Tommy is a little different, and he gets picked on often.  When people are mean to Tommy it makes me angry and upset! For example, all the kids decided to pick Tommy last for the kickball team just to watch him throw a tantrum.  It really made me proud, though, when Kathy was kind to him!  She was a little embarrassed at first, but she knew it was the right thing to do.  However, relating back to the quote, everyone is now being nicer to Tommy.  I am excited to keep reading to see this is for real or just an act!