Great+Quotes

=Great Quotes=

"I was the driver but hadn't understood the journey" (112). I think that the "journey" was only a pointless and frustrating drive for Rachel at the time. For her grandma, it was full of sentimental memories that she wanted to relive one last time. The reason why I love this quote is because it hints that there will be a great learning experience for Rachel later in the novel. Another important message that I think this quote brings out is that we take so many things in our life for granted until a serious situation or disease presents itself.

"Then the sun comes up. The traffic starts, everyone's in a hurry, cars honk and go around me. all that will start in an hour. I'm ready for it. I always bring a tape player. I'll put on some music. Willie Colon's band" (62). I believe this fits perfectly well with the "Ripple Effect" theme we chose. Brent traveled around the country making Whirligigs for a great cause. His great intentions helped a man from Puerto Rico learn a life lesson just by seeing Brent's creation. That man knew that their would always be arguing in this world no matter what. However, after seeing a cheerful marching band he realized that there are groups of people in this world that could appropriately function and cooperate together. I think that he continues to listen to Willie Colon's band to remind himself of those same people in hopes that he can spread their friendliness.

"He stared into her cheerful brown eyes, knowing she would never look back at him, but always off to the side. This was a relief. Her direct gaze would have vaporized him with accusation." (44) This quote really paints a picture in my head. I don't think the impact of what he has done has really hit him yet. He is looking at this girl that he has killed. That's a lot to take in. When he says it's a relief that she can't look at him with accusation, I think it's sad that that is all he is worrying about. It's like saying, "yeah, i killed her, but at least she can't blame me for it now." This is a crude way of saying it but it is just how i feel. I don't think anyone could understand the emotions he was probably feeling.

"...Then again, maybe that was the point. To put Poland, Hitler and the camps behind them. To blend in for a change." (110) I love this quote. I think everyone to some degree can relate to this. Maybe not all of us were captive Jews in Nazi Germany, but we all have had things in our lives that we have tried to out run. Things just keep catching up with us. Sometimes we just want a new start, a clean slate, or "to blend in for a change."

"Here was a chance not simply to alter his past, as he'd done in school, but to actually live a different life." (43) How many of us actually wish they could change something that they have done? All of us, me included, here is the boy who has taken someones life out of his own self insecurities and he get's the chance to paint a whole different picture. This quote made me stop in the midst of reading it and go...wow, wouldn't it be nice if I could do that when I make a mistake? Then I thought that this experience has made me that much stronger and smarter, there is no way I would take it back and not get those learning chances.

"The headaches, like a wrecking ball working on his skull, came less often, replaced by the endless tolling in hismind of the word murderer." (35) I love this quote. It's so descriptive on how we feel when we make a mistake or do something wrong. Maybe not to this extent but we have all made mistakes and we have all felt the guilt. Everyone in some way should be able to relate to the way Brent is feeling. Full of guilt, wishing it would go away but it wont and we know it wont. I know I have felt this way before and this is a perfect description of what is going on in our heads.

"After night came another day. And after death another life." (33) This quote shows how that each day is like a seperate life and that we need to make the best of each day. If we mess up one day we need to try even harder the next day.

"The darkness swallows up most of us." (124) These are the words that the old artist on the beach said. What they mean is that all of us live and die but only a few people accomplish something truley great but everyone should strive to make the best of life and try our hardest to accomplish something great.