Prompt-Does the title fit the Story?
This week I have been reading "Heat" by Mike Lupica, and I find myself being pulled further and further into the book. We finally get to view a first person view of the game, and we see how good Michael really is. He pitches next to a no hitter on another team, and his team wins by a point. I have a feeling that he will be recruited to a higher league and leave his team, because he is going to have to achieve something or recover from something before the end of the book, otherwise it is going to be a very pointless book.
The title fits the book if you think of heat as pitching. I have a feeling it may have to do with his emotions, or the way he makes it to the major leagues, his highest dream. After he goes into details about his fathers death, and what he wished for their building owner to take care of his children so they couldn't be sent back to Cuba, their original home. He was a taxi driver that saved a woman from her ex-boyfriend after she left the car, and due to that small excitement he has a heart attack. Refusing to go to the doctor, he dies on their couch. This was shocking for Michael and Carlos because they had played baseball and talked to him the day before, and it really pushed Michael to become a good pitcher.
The title is a horrible fit for the book because I feel that it wasn't as clear or as explicit as it should have been. For example, in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerers stone" it was really clear what was going to happen in the book. I mean, Heat? Is there going to be a drought? I only was pulled into the book because last year in Battle of the Books the sports books were very good, so I figured this would probably be good. It is very uplifting to read when he plays. Overall, I think that they named the book "Heat" because of Michaels emotions towards his father's death, and the competition on his way to the top. It does fit.
I commented on Steven, Gabe, and Nikolas.
Stanley,
ReplyDeleteI like how you gave your strong opinions on both why you think the title fits in such detail, and why it doesn't.
Stanley,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I enjoyed your blog very much, because you are reading a book about baseball. Which, as you know, is very similar to softball. Anyway, I really liked how you gave some evidence of why the title matches what actually is going on in the book. Great blog!
I've heard about this book and a lot of people say this is an excellent example of literature. This book sort of connects to the sports book they had last year in Battle of the Books. I do agree when you say that the title doesn't fit with the story due to the reason that it is too implicit. When I was reading Things Not Seen it fit in the story line because he becomes invisible. Great Blog Post.
ReplyDeleteHi Stanley,
ReplyDeleteI can see how this is very interesting to you, being baseball and all. I like the sarcasm you used when talking about the author's choice for the title. I have read Mike Lupica before and I enjoy reading his books. Good blog this week.
I like how at the end of your blog post you gave your opinion and compared it to another book. Sometimes I wonder if titles are just chosen at random by the author. When this happens it is not as unique. Though, you did a good job trying to analyze why this book is called "Heat." Great Job Stan! (bae)
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ReplyDeleteThank you young student, remember to aspire both in school and in the physical world, and I will see you in Nirvana.
DeleteStanley,
ReplyDeleteI thinks it's interesting that you say the title both fits, and doesn't at the same time! I guess it makes sense, because it could have meaning, but you're not sure, though it's a valid point you bring up. I kind of disagree though, some titles can be implicit but have lots of meaning and fit the story perfectly, as long as you interpret them correctly. The title doesn't always have to be explicit, because like you said, as in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone", it kind of gives away what is going to happen in the book. Overall, great blog this week, and I look forward to reading more of your blogs in the future.