Bear Baiting

The Inquisitor
Bear Baiting Wednesday August 15, 1591

Many enjoy the sport including William. He says “for a sport that is so violente, and blood thirsty it is really quite a entertaining event to watch."




Today was a day were some special dogs were put to the test. That's right today is the annual bear baiting championships. These dogs are raised to be vicious, and stealthy, but still very much part of the family.




For those who don't know bear baiting is a blood thirsty sport where a bear is chained to a post to defend itself against trained bulldogs. Sounds like the dogs wouldn't have a chance against a large bear. Wrong these bears are blinded, and have there teeth and claws ripped out. Doesn't sound so unfair now does it?


There is many bear bating tournaments, but today is the championships. The dogs participating are the best of the best. These dogs have the will and determination to win.
The championship is in the town hall, starting at 7:30 sharp.


To place bets on certain dogs there will be a booth in city hall

Children Spies

The Inquisitor
Children Spies Wednesday August 15, 1591


Children spies are becoming a more, and more popular occurrence. This topic seems to bring up strong feelings from people, and believe that have children spies is a good thing.
Although not everybody would agree, I want to argue that maybe having children spies isn't necessarily a bad thing to have.


I have several reasons for arguing this point of view.


My first reason is, with children being so “innocent” it is unlikely for one to suspect a child of being a spy. Therefor somewhat eliminating the dangers of the job.


A further reason is with the money these children spies will be making alone they will be able to support there families. Which would be especially good during a time when many families are struggling to put food on the table.


Furthermore with the proper training even these child spies will be quick, agile, and will be able to take even the biggest of threats, with there advanced wrestling, and fighting techniques. Also the children would be getting an education, because all child spies must be able to read, write and speak proper English.


Though some may might argue that it is extremely dangerous for the children, they have a chance of being killed, or it may effect them physiologically.


I thing I have shown that for there to be children spies could be a good thing, and is not as big of a deal as many may think.

Author

There is many possible reasons for why the author decided to write this book. I think he chose to write a book like this, because he must enjoy the idea of mythical creatures, and the idea of a 12 your old being able to out smart a more advanced race.This is probably fasinating to him, because of child hood fantasies and dreams. Then there is also just the love to write, plus the money doesnt hurt either.

In this story I'm not sure if there really is a meaning or moral to the story, but instead just a good and entertaing book. I have read a book by Eion Colfer. The book I had previously read was "Supernaturalist." That book is actually the reasoning for deciding to read "Artemis Fowl.' I have enjoyed reading both books. I think the reason I like reading his books is that they keep me intrested and wanting to read more. I have read a couple of fantasy books with mythical creatures and it hasen't done anything for me me, but there seems to be something about the way Eion Colfer writes. I can't explain it but it seems to make a difference.

I'm not a big reader and tend to only read books for school, but I might actually start reading the rest of the "Artimis Fowl" series. For me to read is something else, becuase I tend to be outside with friends or playing video games. So the fact that Eion Colfer can get someone like me to enjoy reading must be a good sign.

Evaluation

I don't know what it was about the writing, but I did prefer the way the book was written. It almost seemed like the book just flowed without being choppy. Also just the way it was written made my wanting to read more, instead of me getting extremely bored and nodding off. To be honest there isn't anything I disliked about the writing, now some may disagree, but I preferred the way it was written.

I've only read one other book by Eion Colfer, and that was the “Supernaturalists”. The only this that is similar between the to books is the writing. Almost instantly I could tell it was going to be written the same way, but the books themselves are completely different. Although the two stories are fiction, they have different stories to them. One is about a fairy world, and how a twelve year old boy kidnaps a fairy. While on the other hand The Supernaturalist is more futuristic.

Experiences

It's hard to relate a book like this to my own personal life. The reason it's hard to relate this book to my life is, because it doesn't seem realistic for mythical creatures to have there own underground world and to be more advanced than the human race. Although when I was younger I did have a similar plan to which is in the book. When I was younger and still believed in the tooth fairy I had conjured up a plan to rob the tooth fairy. My plan was to put my tooth that had fallen out under my pillow. Then when the tooth fairy came to switch to tooth for a toonie I would grab the pillow case and trap her. Then once I succeeded in trapping the tooth fairy I would rob her for all the money she had, then let her free as long as she gave me a weekly allowance of hundred dollars. When I was six this plan sounded full proof, but now that I'm older I look back and think only a hundred. What was I thinking.

I am definitely not one who likes to read. I am someone who only reads, because there English teacher told them they have to do a novel study. Although there is the odd book that I have read on my own. The only book that I have read that even remotely reminds me of this book is Slash's autobiography. This is, because there is a moment when he is describing a time when he was on speed balling (cocaine and heroine mixed) in his hotel room and he was imagining all of these little creatures preforming a circus jumping off him, and other objects. There is many ways this book was different than the books I have read. It's different, because this is the first fictional/fantasy book that I have read. I don't read many fantasy books. So this was a first, and surprisingly I ended up really enjoying the book. Most of the time if I read a book they are non-fiction books. Like biographies or history books.

Mood

Once I really got started reading this book it seemed like I couldn't put it down. It just kept me wanting to read more or know what was going to happen next. I think the thing that got me hook on reading the book, was the fact that it was a boy not much younger than my self, and that it seemed kind of neat for a twelve year old to be able to capture a fairy. Also the life style of the boy made me think back on time when I had thought about what it would be like to live in a giant castle with lots of money.

The book isn't filled with many funny or sad parts, but in a way I found it kind of sad how mentally unstable Artemis's mother was from the disappearance of her husband. The unusual part of the book to me was definitely the ending. I found the ending to be unusual, because Artemis had gone to so much effort to get the money from the fairies and for him just to give up half of it was surprising. Personally the most remember able part of the story would be the part when Butler(the body guard) had defeated the troll to save his sister, but he didn't do it fully by himself. Short the fairy being held hostage had healed Butler after being killed by the troll. With the help of Short he was able to kill the troll. I think I remember this part , because at the time while reading this section it just seemed so amazing that a human was strong enough to defeat the troll. The mood changes a little bit, but nothing to dramatic. The only real change would be how in the beginning Artemis was all gung ho about take the fairy prisoner, but at the end he felt upset and remorseful about how he had treated the fairy.

Predictions

I predict that the book will end by Artemis failing to escape the time shield, and the fairy bio-bomb the castle, with Artemis inside. Leaving them to die and the fairies to come back, and take the gold, because according to the agreement Artemis has to be dead before the fairies are aloud to enter the castle.

After reading the whole book I have realized that my predictions were not even close to being right. In the end Artemis gives up half of the gold to the prisoner. Then right before the fairies bio-bomb the castle, Artemis, Butler and Butlers younger sister all take sleeping pills, but with the way th bio-bomb works it only kills living flesh. So when they take the sleeping pills at that moment they would be dead but would come to, but because they were dead the bio-bomb didn't effect them. So when the fairies tried entering the castle they had found out that Artemis had lived, and with fairies being faithful to there word they left. They left, because they weren't aloud in the castle unless Artemis was dead.

My predictions were different, because I had predicted that Artemis would die and the fairies would get all the money, but instead Artemis had lived and instead of the fairies getting all the gold they only got half. So I was roughly along the right lines, but still wrong.

Writing

I can't say I really learned to much from reading this book, but I did read it. I probably have learned something from reading the book, it's just being able to pick out exactly what it is that I've learn. From this book I can't see there being many things that I have learned from this book I'm sure there is a couple small things I don't realize at the moment, but might look back and say “hey, I think I read something like that from that Artemis Fowl book, that Mrs. Garner made me read.

Writing a book. Nope I don't see it happening in my near future. I think the closest thing I'll get to writing a book would be in one of my future English classes, but for me to write a book on my free time doesn't seem to likely. Although surprisingly the thought has crossed my mind, and when ever I think about it I always stop and say to myself. “Alec thats a lot of work for nothing.”The advantage to writing one for school is it's getting marked, but from doing it for no reason does nothing for me. I can respect those who like to read and are good at it, but it's just not my thing.

Questions

There wasn't much I didn't understand , because the book was fairly straight forward, but the one thing I didn't understand was, why does Artemis have a body guard. If I was the author I would have finished the story with a different ending. The book ended with Artemis giving up half of the gold to Captain Short, and Artemis, Butler, and Butlers sister living through the bio-bomb. Now if I was the author, when the bio-bomb was set of it would back fire and kill all the fairies with Captain Short surviving. Then Artemis pays Captain short to help them get new fairy technology, and take over the world. For me the conclusion was kind of meh. The part I didn't like was how Artemis gave up half of the gold to Captain Short. The part of the ending that I did like was the fact that they all survived. My favourite part of the book is when the fairies send in a giant troll to try and kill Artemis, but with a little bit of help from Captain short he manages to defeat the troll and save his sister. My favourite character would have to be Butler. The reason I like Butler is, because hes human, he is still able to take down a troll. If I were to re-write the book I wouldn't change a thing with the exception of the end.

Characters

Artemis does change a little bit throughout the book because at the beginning he seemed almost un-human and cruel towards the fairy had taken prisoner,but by the end of the book he almost felt regretful , and bad about how he treated the fairy. I think the reason he had changed so much was, because over time he saw more , and more how the fairy was like a small human. Where as at the beginning in his eyes she was just a little creature who was going to make him lot's of money.

Artemis is just a young boy who is well educated about the fairy world , and is making an attempt to make some money. Other than that Artemis is just another boy who likes tv and games, but instead of a dad he has a really tank bodyguard. Throughout the book there was many things that Artemis did which by many people would be considered wrong. His biggy was kidnapping a fairy, and older hostage for ransom. In most peoples eyes is probably seen as being wrong.

My overall opinion on the young Artemis Fowl is pretty good . Although he did many things which I wouldn't consider to be good, but I find it hard not to like him, because here you have this twelve year old boy who has all the secrets about the fairy world . Also he was smart enough to know how to use the his knowledge, and if he played his cards right he was getting the gold. It also makes me think as a twelve year old boy what state of mind do you have to be in to kidnap a fairy. Not saying that he's crazy but if hes done it once , whats to stop him from going on to bigger, and better plans. Like world domination. I just know if thats what it comes down to, I call being on his side.