Independent+novel+study

media type="custom" key="12113510"City of bones

Section 1: Page 1-109 (chapters 1-8)

I selected this novel because the summary on the back had me wanting to read it. I was caught because I have read another book before about a few people being able to see things that others could not, and it added a whole new dimension to the story. Another reason I chose this book is because one of my friends has read this book and said it was very good.
 * Why did you select this novel?

The setting is in New York City, in the present. The mood is dark and mysterious, because of the things that people do not see, but threaten them. It does not have much importance to the story thus far in the story but the only thing that might conflict is the location of the shadow hunters� homeland, but that could be changed also. There are specific places in the story, like the institute and te silent city, which are very important to the story.
 * What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why?


 * What's going on as the story begins?

As the story begins, the main character, Clary Fray goes to a nightclub and sees a murder by people who no one else can see. She goes home to find that her mother is planning a surprise vacation and she does not want to go. She then goes to see a poetry reading, but that is interrupted by the murderer she saw in the club. She runs away from him, to her house, and finds that her mother is gone. While looking for her, she is attacked, but she kills the monster. The murderer, Jace, Takes he to the headquarters of the �shadow hunters� where she learns all about them and what they do. She returns to her house once more with Jace, and is attacked by a a monster, which she and Jace kill. Her neighbor then comes out and tells them that she is a real witch and explains that her mother was a shadow hunter too. Then, right before they learn some vital information, Clary opens a door and her and Jace get sucked into a portal.

Section 2 chapters 8-11

December 9, 2011

Valentine was a shadow hunter who wanted to kill all the underworlders like faeries. He wanted to accomplish this by turning hundreds of kids into shadowhunters, so that they can see them, using the mortal cup. Only a quarter of the people who drink from the mortal cup survive, so that would mean killing hundreds and hundreds of kids We learn that Clary's mother was Valentine's wife. This sparks Hodge's interest in Clary and they decide to get a brother to look into her memories for information about the mortal cup, which was lost. They travel to see the brotherhood and discover that the block that was in her mind could kill her if they tried to get past it.
 * What plot twists or unexpected events happen as the novel goes on?

One of the first problems she faces is the fact that she can see things that others cannot. The people she saw were in a nightclub, and she told Simon, her friend, about it. He couldn't see them, nor could the security guard that came with Simon. She is confused and she is scared.She is left alone to deal with the people and monsters she can see, until Jace takes her to where the shadowhunters reside.
 * What is the initial or first problem faced by the main character?

I can easily follow the events in the story, and I can sometimes tell what the characters might do or where they are planning to go. I like to read stories like this because I can focus on imagining the setting and the characters and get a deeper view into the story. The plot has many ups and downs for all the characters that add more dimensions to the story. Even with the plot's many twists and turns, it still is extremely suspenseful.
 * Comment on the style of the novel. Is it easy or hard to follow the events?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Section 3 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">chapter 11 to 16

The novel is completely believable and I think it is part of why I like the book. The story is believeable because the shadowhunters and what they fight are invisible from normal people. If they are involved with us it looks like an accident or natural causes. The battles could be going on right behind them and they wouldn't have a clue.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Is the novel believable?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend?

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend for many reasons. It has a very well written plot featuring many ups and downs and twists that you weren't expecting. It is full of suspense to keep you reading to find out what happens next. It is one of my favorite books. It is captivating and keeps you reading as it did to me, and I have read all the books in the series.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The characters are faced with many different new challenges. Some are phisical like the fact that Simon gets turned into a rat, and they have to find him from vampiers. They need to track them down, then they get in a fight with all the vampires in the hotel they live in. Also in the middle of the fight, a pack of werewolves joins in the fray for fray. Clary and Jace have to fight their way out with Simon.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Section 4 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">chapter 16 to 21

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Who is telling the story? How does this person’s perspective effect the way the story is told?

The story is told in third person omniscient. The story switches back and forth from characters to character. Sometimes we follow Clary, sometimes Jace and sometimes oither characters. We can always see what the character we are following is thinking. This helps the reader get more into the story because we can understand what all the other characters are think and feel about each other. The story is also different because there are scenes in which if we only followed one character, we would not get a sense of the situation before they arrived of after they left or because they were sleeping.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Describe any new characters that are introduced? What is their purpose?

A newer character is Luke, Clary's stepfather. He saves Clary from Hodge, and heals her at his camp. There he tells her about her past that she does not remember. He is ind and loving, he helps her understand herself and saved her from being killed. He also is an idealist or an optimist, he sees the best in things, the best outcomes or the way that it would be best. He is important to the story because he leads the raid to Valentine's hideout. He fights Valentine for the mortal cup even though he still escapes through the portal.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Is there a message or main theme emerging in the book? How is it shown?

A message that could be taken from the book is not to take what you have for granted, and that you should be grateful with what you have. Clary is very happy with her life, but is starts to change rapidly. She starts seeing things that others cannot see. She discovers that she is part of that world by her mother being taken and being attacked by a demon. She starts to loose her friendship with Simon because Simon is in love with her, but she breaks his heart.

Section 5 Chapter 21 to end

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">What is the climax of the novel?

The climax of the novel comes near the end, when Luke and his pack raid Valentine's hideout. A fight breaks out between the werewolves and Valentine's army of forsaken, humans marked so that they only do the bidding of their masters. Clary makes it through the fray and heads into Valentine's hideout, where she discovers her mother chained and unconscious and Jace, unharmed. She learns that she and Jace are both Valentine's children, and that they are brother and sister. Luke makes it through the fight too, and when he reaches them, he fights Valentine.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">How are the major and minor conflicts solved?

The major conflict is not resolved, because Valentine escapes the fight with Luke through a magical portal with the mortal cup. Even though the major conflict is not solved, there are minor conflicts that are solved. Clary's mother, the reason she joined the quest, is found and brought to the shadowhunters. Hodge betrayed the clave because he gave Valentine the mortal cup and Jace. Hodge is found and put in prison by the clave.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> Why did the novel meet your expectations?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The book surpassed my expectations. It is a very well written and captivating book. The plot is well planned out, featuring many ups and downs and twists and turns that keep you reading on and on. I think one of the contributing factors that makes the book better is that it is believable. This could be going on right now, in this very room, because the shadowhunters and their ennemies are invisible to anyone but things that are in the shadow world.