Odour of chrysanthemums ~ D H Lawrence

Odour of chrysanthemums 
D H Lawrence

The author describes the surroundings as a very gloomy and run down area. The grass is described as rough, and 'fields were dreary and forsaken'. The description of smoke causes the reader to imagine a dirty place with a neglected appearance. The clanking and stumbling train suggests an unharmonious effect on the town.
In this extract, the miners are portrayed in an impersonal manner.  The mother however is middle class. She wears a white apron and her hair is perfect, she doesn't fit in with this environment. The young boy who is only five, already seems to be effected by the gloominess of his environment as he speaks with a 'sulky voice' when replying to his mother.
The author is sending the message of what life is like for the lower-class people in society. These people feel trapped in their own lives and are resentful of their situations and their environment. The extract explores the idea of raising children in poverty and the struggles these individuals may face.
This extract was written in the times leading up to WWI. These were very hard and poor times for many people. The mechanical and industrial industries were beginning to take over and were being treated as more important than the people of England.

My Reading Journey ~ Emma Mackenzie

My Dad and I used to read this together every night before bed.

I loved the imagination and adventure of this book. 

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
 is one of my all time favourite characters. 

I read this book in primary school and felt so emotionally attached to the story line that I have now read it 4 times.

I have always loved the era that this book is set in, and the sisters who would all do anything
for each other made me feel as though I had sisters too.

Snowdrops ~ Leslie Norris

Snowdrops ~ Leslie Norris
The loss of innocence is a major theme in this short story. The young boy begins his day wanting to see the Snowdrop flowers and is then forced to grow up after seeing the confronting image of his beloved teacher, Miss Webster, quivering and crying over the death of her boyfriend.

This young boy is still living in his own fantasy, childhood world and struggles to comprehend the difference between emotional pain and physical pain. His ignorance is visible when tasting cold bacon and being amazed at the difference after only a change in temperature.

Edmund is the same age as the other young boy, however his maturity and worldly understanding separates him from the young boy. Edmund seems to have lost some of his innocence and this is clear through his explanation of the funeral. 

Snowdrops are fragile looking flowers that are actually standing very strong and are battling the harsh winter conditions. In this short story, the Snowdrops are similar to Miss Webster who appears weak, however she is still hiding and holding back large amounts of grief and pain and that takes a lot of courage to stay strong.