Independent+Novel+Study

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

December 3rd, 2010 page 1-48

Summary: Clary is a teen girl who can see magical or otherworldly people, while others can't. She sees a fight ending in a murder at a club, but her friend Simon cannot see them so he doesn't believe her. The otherworldly people think she is special, that she has special abilities or memories she doesn't know. Her father died when she was young, she doesn't remember him. Her mother loves her very much but upsets her by telling her they will take a vacation to a farm for the rest of the summer. Clary is angry because she has paid for art classes, and was planning activities to do with her friend Simon. While at a coffee shop listening to bad poetry by Simon's friend, a girl asked her if Simon is single. She hesitates to tell Simon about this, but doesn't because she sees Jace, someone from the fight, leaving the coffee shop. She follows him into the alley behind the shop, asking why she can see them, and what he wants. He tells her she isn't normal, she is dangerous, and shows her the mark on his hand called a Mark, a rune burned into his skin. He tells her the Mark is to handle weapons better. She does not have one. Jace tells her about the Downworlders, or nighthunters, and shadow hunters, also vampires, warlocks and mummies. Clary then gets a phone call from her mother, telling her to go to Simon's house and don't come home. Her mother sounds scared and panicked. Clary begins to run home, and Jace doesn't stop her.

I selected this novel because I couldn't get another in time, so I borrowed it from a friend. Fantasy is not my favourite genre, but if the writing is good it could be a decent book. On the front is a review by Stephanie Meyer, author of Twilight, says she enjoyed the novel very much. I wasn't a fan of the twilight series, so I think this book to directed to a certain group of fantasy fans. I've read many somewhat fantasy books, but my favourites are more along the lines of realistic fantasy, no vampires or mummies.

I didn't need to know any information before reading this book, the plot and background are easy to follow. Unlike a book such as Anne Frank, I do not need to know the backstory of the time or place. With fantasy, the author can imagine any place or time for themselves, and then they must describe it to the reader to understand the story. With some stories you shouldn't have any information before reading it, such as knowing the main event before even starting it. I find that story summaries on the back of the book don't give away anything, or too much about the outcome of the problem, but summaries on the inside tell the entire story.

As the story begins, Clary is waiting to get into a club. The club has a dreamlike atmosphere, with the fake smoke and bright colours and strange music. Clary is too shy to talk to other people, so she drags along her friend Simon with her.

10/10

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

December 10th, 2010 page 48-115

Summary: Clary gets home to find her home wrecked; bookshelves tipped over, paintings torn from the frames, the sofa torn open. She's terrified that her mother is in trouble. At first she thinks to call the police, maybe robbers came and her mother put up a fight. The valuables were untouched; same with her mother's bedroom. Suddenly, she hears a thud. A huge beast, part alligator and part centipede, attacks her. It's hissing, she realizes it's talking, saying it will eat her. She manages to kill the beast, then passes out. Jace takes her to the institute infirmary, where she recovers. Clary and Jace visit Dorthea, her neighbour. Dorthea and Jace explain to her a bit about vampires, strange beasts, warlocks etc. She learns a bit more about her father and mother, what they have done. Clary wants to find out where her mother could have gone through the portal door. Jace yells for her to stop, but it's too late. Clary falls to the ground then Jace follows her. They are outside Luke's house. Luke is her mother's good friend.

The narrator is telling the story, they do not seem to be in the novel. This perspective is almost the same as being told by Clary herself; they know her emotions and thoughts. There is almost no difference from if Clary were to narrate the story, because when it's told from the narrator's perspective we sympathize with her. If it was told by her enemy, we would not sympathize with her, as we would from her view.
 * //W //**ho is telling the story? How does this person’s perspective effect the way the story is told?

What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why? The setting changes; it's mostly in her hometown so far, but she may go to other mysterious places of the shadowhunters. The setting is not so important, just needs to be like everyday life for the average teenager, so then the odd creatures and people only Clary can see are masked in the regular world.

What is the initial or first problem faced by the main character? The first problem faced by Clary is when she sees some people at the club going out the door, and one of them has a knife. She tries to show her friend Simon, but he cannot see them. When she goes to see what they are doing, they do not see her. As they are about to kill a blue haired boy, she yells to them to stop. They are surprised, but not enough. She watches as he gets killed, spurting black liquid, then disappears without a trace. Since no one can see these people but her, so has no idea what to do.

City of Bones By Cassandra Clare December 16th 2010 pages 115-224

Summary: Clary learns more about her mother, her mother's friend Luke, or Lucian. She also learns about her mother's boyfriend, and see's them together in a picture. Clary doesn't resemble this man, he's probably not her father. Hodge gets help from a Silent Brother, to find out how Clary is able to see Shadowhunters and why she was attacked. They find a block on Clary's mind, and takes her and Jace to the City of Bones, where the Silent Brothers try to break it. In the City of Bones, Clary learns even more about vampires, werewolves, other people and creatures. (I can't keep track of all this!) Although the attempt to get past the block in her mind fails, Clary's mind flashes information, and the name Magnus Bane. With help from Isabelle, Clary traces Magnus Bane to a party, which she goes to with Jace, Simon, Alec and Isabelle. When she gets ready to go to the party with Isabelle's fashion advice, she notices how much she looks like her mother.

How does the author get you to read on or hold your interest? The author starts the book in an interesting event, then after only a bit of reading there is a conflict. Unlike other writing styles that start with an introduction, the story starts in the moment and background information is supplied as needed. Since I'm not a fan of fantasy books, this novel didn't keep my interest, the events and conflicts didn't interest me enough to want to read more.

What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses? As the novel progresses, not only does Clary witness a murder, she learns more about these people, her mother and father, what she really is. When she gets home, there is a creature in her home, and her mother is gone. She is able to kill the creature, but gets injured. I'm unsure why the creatures show up on the same night. Her main problem increases when she goes to her neighbor Dorthea to learn more about her mother and father, finds a portal door, and steps into it. She and Jace are then transported to Luke's house.

What plot twists or unexpected events happen as the novel goes on? Almost every conflict in this book is unexpected. We don't expect Clary to see someone get killed in the beginning. The story gets stranger when there is a monster at her house. Since this story is fantasy, anything can happen. If it were a romance, tragedy, thriller, etc. we'd have a bit of an idea about what will probably happen. Especially since we do not have a background story, we have no idea about her goals, past actions, enemies, etc.

City of Bones By Cassandra Clare January 7th 2011 pages 224-300

Summary: Clary, Jace, Alec, Simon and Isabelle attend the party to find Magnus Bane. The people at the party are strange looking, and drink strange liquids. They find Magnus, go to talk in private so the rest of the partygoers won't hear. Magnus tells her that her mother was the one who erased her memories. Her mother had known Clary could see the Shadow World when Clary was little. Clary learns more about what they can do to trigger her memory, but still does not remember. Magnus escorts them out to the party again, where they meet up with Isabelle, who's drunk. She tells them Simon has been turned into a rat. Clary tries to get Magnus Bane to change him back. Magnus refuses, so Simon is stuck as a rat until the spell wears off. As Clary and the others leave, Clary notices Simon is gone. Magnus says that whoever took him will probably kill him; it's a joke to kill shadowhunter's pets. If they don't kill him as a rat, they'll definitely kill him when he turns back into a human.

Comment on the style of the novel. Is it easy or hard to follow the events? I'm not sure, what style this novel is, but most fantasy books have a lot of adjectives and imagery, like this one. It's very difficult to follow events, because of all the information Clary is told is hard to remember when they reference it later on. It's hard to remember all these names and information, fewer complex character would make it much easier to follow. Unfortunately fantasy is based on complicated characters, settings and conflicts.

Is the language in the novel difficult or easy? GIve examples and explain. The language in this book is easy to understand; no words in other languages or time periods. Unlike a novel set in the middle ages, this book is set in modern times so it uses current language. In other novels like "The Breadwinner" and "Sold", words in other languages are used. In both of these novels they call their family brother, sister, mother, father, etc. in their first language. It's harder to understand who they are talking about when they use their sister's name to others but use a pet name at home.

To what age group is the novel aimed? Support your answer with evidence. This novel is aimed to ages 12-17, but could possibly be interesting for fantasy lovers ages 18 and up. Right on the front of the cover, Stephanie Meyer gives a good review. Meyer's popular series, "Twilight", is aimed at about the same age group and possibly some older readers. The main character, Clary Fray, is fifteen years old going on 16. Since, Clary is in her teens, this novel is aimed at teens, because they will relate with her. Once readers are no longer in high school or in their teens they will stop relating with Clary and not find the novel as interesting. The best series are based on relatable characters, ones we sympathize with; the main characters Harry Potter, Twilight, and Hunger Games are all underdogs.

City of Bones By Cassandra Clare January 16 2011 pages 300-end+ prologue

Summary: Clary and Jace go to a church to pick up weapons to fight demons. They go to save Simon, then meet a vampire. When he attacks Jace, other vampires from his group appear. Jace holds him hostage and demands for Simon. Clary and Jace eventually get Simon after a lot of arguing and fighting. After they escape the vampires, Jace and Clary are badly injured and Simon turns back into a human. While healing their wounds in the institute, a love triangle forms between Clary, Jace and Simon. Clary finds out she has a hidden talent; making her drawing come to life. She then finds out where the mortal cup is. With the mortal cup, they can create more shadowhunters to fight demons. Clary is able to free the mortal cup from it's binds and take it. Her neighbour, Dorthea, is very interested in the cup, a little too interested. Jace is very cautious, then holds a blade up to her throat, knowing that Dorthea is up to no good. Dorthea becomes possessed by a demon and transforms into a monster. Isabelle, Jace and Alec try to fight it, and fail to keep it away from Clary, who is clutching the mortal cup. Clary starts backing up the stairs, and just as she is about to be struck with a terrible blow from the monster, Simon takes an arrow, shoots at the ceiling, and shatters the skylight. The monster starts to fold in on itself, then disappears. Later, Clary goes into an alley, where she is attacked by a wolf. The wolf is Luke; a werewolf. Clary learns about her mother, her father, her dead older brother, and Luke's life. Clary finds out that Jace is her dead brother, and that the lock of hair her mother had in a box by her bed, was really Jace's hair. Clary's father takes the mortal cup.

Is there a message or main theme emerging in the book? How is it shown? I'm not really sure if there is a main theme. I guess survival, because the book is all about shadowhunters, vampires and demons killing each other. It's shown by the numerous fight scenes.

Describe any new characters that are introduced? What is their purpose? Over the course of the story, Jace the shadowhunter is introduced. His purpose is to protect Clary and be her romantic interest. Alec and Isabelle are also introduced, Isabelle for a romantic rival for her friend Simon, and I'm not really sure what Alec was for.

What is the climax of the novel? It's difficult to know when the climax is in a long novel. I would say the climax is when Clary gets the mortal cup, because all the events after are because of her possession of the cup. =I thought it was only three questions for each. Here's the rest. =

How are the major and minor conflicts solved? The minor conflicts are solved with arguing, but the major conflicts are solved with fighting and death.

What were the major things that helped to resolve the plot? When Clary gets the mortal cup, this causes more conflict, but will end the attack on her. Otherwise just little things help solve the main plot; Clary learning her talent, finding out about her past and mother etc.

What message did you get from the novel? How was this message conveyed?

Is the novel believable? This novel has vampires, werewolves, demons, shadowhunters, I'd say it's not so believable. From a character perspective, Clary is somewhat of a believable character. Clary doesn't have very definitive personality traits, most of her actions or feeling are what most people would do, such as feeling sorry for a hurt friend, believing it was her fault.

<span style="font: 12px/19px Arial; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;">Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend? <span style="font: 12px/19px Arial; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;">I would recommend this novel to a friend if they enjoy fantasy novels, such as twilight. I'm not a big fan of fantasy, so if they were like my in choice of books, I wouldn't recommend it.

<span style="font: 12px/19px 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;">Why did (or didn't) the novel meet your expectations?
====<span style="font: 12px/19px 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;">I didn't really have an expectations of this novel; I hadn't heard anything from anyone about it, read reviews etc. I didn't have any expectations, like "it should be great, it was on the bestseller list!" ====

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">I read City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare for my independent novel study. Fifteen year old Clary Fray is at a night club with Simon and then witnesses a murder that will reveal a whole new world to her. Clary meets Jace, and then they encounter many problems along the way to rescue her mother. In the end, Clary finds out who her father is, her hidden talents, and that Jace is her thought to be dead older brother. This book was written for fantasy lovers, who enjoy a world full of vampires, werewolves and demons. Readers who like the series “The Twilight Saga” would enjoy this series. This book was not very believable because it’s in the fantasy genre; shadow hunters, portals, and a mortal cup are not so realistic. I didn’t learn much from this novel, as it’s completely from the imagination of the author. It didn’t have any static facts such as books based off of true stories. I thought that the surprise twist of her romantic interest Jace, turning out to be her brother, was quite bizarre. This fact didn’t further the plot line much, and just made the character relationship awkward. This was almost an Easter egg for readers to figure out; her mother had a box by her bed labelled “J.C” with a lock of blond hair in it. “J.C.” stood for Jonathan Christopher, Jace was just a nickname. Since I’m not a fantasy fan, and the characters didn’t catch my interest much, I’m not interested in reading more novels by Cassandra Clare.

1. Literary - Title and Author - Synopsis - Author Background and Literary Influence - Major Characters (2) - Inspiratinal and/or Thematic Quotes (2) - Literary Techniques (2) 2. Media & Visuals - Visual Montage - Educational or Literary Website - Music - Podcast 3. Work Cited

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