Free Choice Reading Cycle 6 Blog Post

 Princess Ben, Catherine Gilbert Murdock. Cycle 6 FCR, pg. 167-344 (rest of book)

Brief Summary:

            Where we left off Princess Ben was hurtling out of a tower window, most certainly plunging to her death. But, she figures that by focusing of light it will help her to keep her broomstick aloft. Guards taking her as a witch, aim arrows in her direction causing her to lose her sense of direction and fly into the side of the mountain. She destroys her broom, it shatters into hundreds of pieces; and she is knocked senseless. She awakens and discovers her missing fathers death chamber, in a crystalline hollow in the mountain.

 She makes her way down the side of Adenine (the mountain) and is shot in the arm by Drachensbett soldiers.  So begins her life as a prisoner of the Drachensbett army where she is made the cooks servant. While toiling around the kitchen and soldiers camp, she learns of their plans for a sneak attack on Montagne. They gained entrance to Montagne by a new discovered passage and this could be their one chance to finally overthrow the city.  These stop when the Prince Florian the son of the King of Drachensbett ride into camp announcing there will be no need for war. Evidentially, a witch has cast a sleeping spell on Princess Ben, and the prince who wakes her with a kiss will be her hand in marriage.

Now the alive and conscious Ben must figure a way to get back to the Castle before Florian, so that she can escape a fate that seems worse than her current predicament.  The reason for her worry is that Florian was predicted to "One day awaken a princess and win her hand." As her status in the camp grows from assistant cook's boy, to healer she worries on how she will make her way back to the castle.

Finally the time comes for Florian to go awaken the sleeping Ben, and on the way there Ben escapes from their camp. As she races against Florian, she shimmies her way back into her double just before the Prince is about to kiss her. Uttering a "Don't you dare" before the Prince can actually kiss her. The princess astounded, leaps back and recognizing her from the soldiers camp runs as fast as he can from the room.

Since the Drachensbett did not win Montagne with a kiss from their Prince, they proclaim benevolent succession. This is an ancient practice that comes into effect if the heir to a ruler is not fit to succeed the throne. In which case a third party will come in and decide if the heir is really not worthy. Queen Sophia manages to hold it off for a couple months, in which Ben works the hardest she has in months. She now makes up for what she previously so determinably refused to learn. While also realizing that food is "not love itself, but an emblem of devotion; leading to Ben losing her initial "rotund" stomach.

Finally the deciding ball comes, and Ben shocks the Drachensbett King with her newfound social skills. The event is a success, but Florian now is convinced Ben is a witch and has put his father under a spell. A couple days after the ball, the king of Drachensbett has a dream about Bens missing father and asks the allowance of Queen Sophia to visit her husband's grave in the company of Princess Ben, and his son Prince Florian. On their visit, Ben and Florian hear cries of agony within the forest, and charge after the source. They track it to a dragon. Yes, the legendary dragon of Adenine that no one had ever seen before. There, Ben and Florian battle the dragon together and Ben cleverly kills it with her Dopleshlafen (double). But, not in time to prevent Florian from obtaining a deathly head wound. As she stitches him up she realizes that since the dragon is real, her mother and king where not assassinated by the Drachensbett.

She now knows the truth, the only problem being that Florian has died. As she ponders how to save him she finally comes to the realization that she loves him; with that she know how the story ends and rushes down to save him. There she requests a last look on him and the king agrees. The coffin is lowered and opened, and as she looks of him she weeps. Then feeling the king's agitation for her to leave, she bends down and kisses him, as she has in her dream. She kisses him for the way he forced her to mature into the princess she has become, and for how he will never know that. She kisses him for the harsh words she had spoken to him, and not had a chance to mend. As miracles happen, she feels his lips moving beneath hers, and kissing her in return, he is revived.

They of course end up getting married. But, a shocking phenomenon happens when Florian's day, the king of Drachensbett purposes to Queen Sophia. Though Ben herself says that it wasn't technically a "happily ever after" as every fairy tale ends. Because relationships are a working progress speckled with sweet times, it sure seemed like perfect end to me.

Diction and Rhetorical Devices:

            This book is full of a wide variety of words. I have heard some of the words listed below before, but I don't know their exact meaning. One of Catherine Murdock's strengths is her wide vocabulary. It adds more vivid pictures to the story, and makes reading a learning experience.

****All definitions obtained from the Oxford English Dictionary.****

Providentially (adv.): With foresight; providently, prudently

Tumult (ous (n.): Commotion of a multitude, usually with confused speech or uproar; public disturbance; disorderly or riotous proceeding.

Abhorrence: The action of abhorring or shrinking from with horror; the feeling of detestation, repugnance, or utter dislike.

Malodorous (adj.):  Having an unpleasant or nasty smell; foul-smelling

Smote (n): A spot, stain, mark, blot

Onerous (adj): Of the nature of a burden; burdensome; troublesome, tiresomely difficult.

Dastardly (adv): Like a dastard; in a cowardly manner

Vertiginous: Of persons, the head, etc.: Affected with, suffering from, vertigo or giddiness; giddy, dizzy.

Debauchery: Vicious indulgence in sensual pleasures.

Salacious: Lustful, lecherous; sexually wanton.

Vernal: Coming, appearing, happening, occurring, etc., in spring.

Caricature (n): In Art. Grotesque or ludicrous representation of persons or things by exaggeration of their most characteristic and striking features.

Regicide (n): A person who kills a king, esp. a subject who kills his or her own king; a person who commits the crime of regicide. Also in extended use.

Ribaldries (n): Ribald behaviour; (originally) immorality, wickedness, vice, licentiousness; (later in weakened sense) coarse behaviour, esp. of a sexual nature; debauchery, dissoluteness. Now somewhat arch.

Cacophonously (adv.): With bad, harsh, or unpleasant sound.

Tonsorial:     Of or pertaining to a barber or his work; often used humorously, as ‘a tonsorial artist’

Sagacity: Acuteness of mental discernment; aptitude for investigation or discovery; keenness and soundness of judgement in the estimation of persons and conditions, and in the adaptation of means to ends; penetration, shrewdness.

Obfuscated (adj): Darkened; rendered obscure or unclear

Adroitly (adv):    In an adroit manner; with ready skill; dexterously, cleverly

Ebullient: Of energy, feelings, influences: Gushing forth like boiling water; bubbling over, overflowing, enthusiastic. Constr. with.

Creative Critical Reflection:

In the end of Princess Ben, at the culminating chapter, Princess Ben narrates that every couple she has ever known, has never lived a happily ever after. She tells you that a relationship takes effort from both parties, and while it is filled with blissful stretches it is never a trouble-less time. But, I would say that Princess Ben does live the equivalent of a, "happily ever after: For starters, she kills the dragon that killed her mother and king. She can do magic, and FLY on a broomstick. She saves her country from battle. She turns from a caterpillar into a butterfly in a manner of say in a couple months. And after everything, she gets to marry a super hot, rich, prince. How is that not a "happily ever after"?

Free Choice Reading Cycle 5 Blog Post

Princess Ben, Catherine Gilbert Murdock. Cycle 5 FCR Response, 63-165 (chap. 5-10)

Brief Summary:

Princess Ben has had trouble adjusting to palace life. It has been bad, but it takes a change, a change for the worse. From the beginning of Ben's life at the palace Queen Sophia made it clear that royalty, "were not beggars at a banquet." To the diligent hawk eyes of the Queen, Ben is never served more than half a portion at every meal. None-the less, her girth does not lessen. With her secret hampers of food delivered on a regular basis, Ben accepts the queens restrictions without any protest. However, this raises the Queens suspicion and the basket is found. Ben is then forced to move rooms, to a cell placed above the Queen's room. The entrance to Ben's new prison is in the ex-room of the Queens chambers, and is locked on a daily basis. Thus starting an even darker chapter of her life.

            Finally Ben loses it. One night after the usual dull talk between Queen Sophia and Lady Beatrix, the plates are about to be cleared away. Ben notices Lady Beatrix's tart is barely touched, and suggests that the chef might be offended to see his food slighted so. Once again Queen Sophia tells her not to dwell on food, and Ben reaching over, snatches the tart and gobbles it down. As punishment the Queen immediately beats her hand with a leather strap. It takes all Ben's will to not flinch or start to cry while welts form instantly on her hand. After the beating they commence with dinner as though nothing has happened; the Queen consuming more wine than usual. At last, in an attempt to get Ben to participate the Queen suggests that she joins in on the conversation saying, "A queens greatest responsibility is to learn the art of speaking well, while saying nothing." Ben replies with saying that she thought a queen's greatest responsibility was to bear her husband a child. As Queen Sophia could not bear a child, this is a grave insult. It results in the wiping of the other hand, and this time even harder.           

After the dinner in her room alone, finally Ben allows herself to cry. Her fingers are so swollen that she cannot even undress herself, and in her agony she flings herself against the wall. Only to be scared out of her wits when her arm disappears into solid stone. After investigation, Ben finds an ancient chamber of wizardry covered in dust. She sees a book that the dust magically is not resting on, and here marks the start of her lessons in enchantment.

            The book is tedious to read because of the slanted script of the writer, but she perseveres. Also, she can only study during the night, because she still has her planned curriculum to learn. Eventually over the months she gets the hang of staying up all night, and sleepwalking through the day. She makes elementary steps such as producing fire, water and air. Then, one night after weeks of cleaning the room up, she discovers a new passageway that leads out of the chamber into the castle. She figures that the castle was made out of wizards, and that the ex-rooms serve as entryways to a secret system of passageways. On one of her nightly strolls to the kitchen she overhears her Aunty talking. Evidently the threat of war has been creeping closer and to prevent it, Ben will have to be married to the son their enemy or a very strong alliance. Queen Sophia is planning to throw a ball in Bens honor, so that she may meet all her suitors.

            At the ball, all powdered and primped, Princess Ben suffers greatly. (Though she does take pleasure in stepping on her suitor's feet while they attempt to dance with her.) Finally she has had enough, and disappears into a secret passageway leading to her room. She performs the doubling charm so that it appears as if her clone is asleep, while she prepares to fly on her broomstick out of the castle grounds. As she is getting ready to leave the Queen comes in looking for her. She sees the sleeping Ben, and a clocked figure standing by the window with a broom in hand. Queen Sophia quickly orders the guards after what she thinks to be a sorceress. As the guards reach out to take hold of the conscious Ben, she barley makes it out the window, and starts to plummet to the ground…

Diction and Rhetorical Devices:

            ****All definitions procured from the Oxford English Dictionary****

Penitence: The undergoing of a discipline or exercise as an outward expression of repentance and expiation of an offence, either voluntarily or as imposed by an ecclesiastical authority; a penance.

Incontrovertible: That cannot be controverted; incontestable, indisputable, indubitable

            Controverted: Subject to controversy

1.     Made an object of contest; disputed

2.     Made an object of controversial discussion

            Indubitable: That cannot be doubted; perfectly certain or evident.

Reticence (n): Reluctance to speak about something or to express personal thoughts and feelings freely; maintenance of silence; the state or quality of being taciturn or reserved in speech; an instance of this. Also fig.

Myopia: fig. Lack of imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight.

Vernacular (adj): That writes, uses, or speaks the native or indigenous language of a country or district.

Victuals: foodstuffs, rations, chow, provisions, cuisine, and fodder. (got this from computer thesaurus)

Euphemistically:  Pertaining to euphemism; of the nature of a euphemism; containing a euphemism.

            Euphemism: That figure of speech which consists in the substitution of a word or expression of comparatively favorable implication or less unpleasant associations, instead of the harsher or more offensive one that would more precisely designate what is intended.

Interminable: That cannot be bounded or ended; boundless; endless. (In mod. use freq. exaggerative, implying impatience or disgust at the length of something.)

Veritable: Of a statement, etc.: That is in accordance or conformity with the truth or verity; true. ?Obs.

Lector: Eccl. An ecclesiastic belonging to one of the minor orders, whose duty originally consisted in reading the ‘lessons’.

            Ecclesiastic: Of language (esp. Gr. or L.), words, or senses of words: Characteristic of ecclesiastical writers; opposed to classical or secular. Obs.

Inexorable: Incapable of being persuaded or moved by entreaty; that cannot be prevailed upon to yield to request, esp. in the way of mercy or indulgence; not to be moved from one's purpose or determination; relentless, rigidly severe.    a. Of persons, their actions or attributes.

Soporific (adj.): Inducing or tending to induce sleep; causing a person to sleep or slumber. 

Creative Critical Reflection:

            THE EDITOR

            If I was the editor of Princess Ben

            I would tell Catherine to take out her pen

            The initial plot of the book is intriguing

            But the emotions of Princess Ben need rethinking

            Her feelings are not complex, but are immature

            Not like the feelings a teenage girl would procure

            It's a fun read don't get me wrong

            The ideas and diction are very strong

            It's just that it could be more realistic

            If the character weren't so very simplistic

Free Choice Reading Cycle 4 Blog Post

Princess Ben, Catherine Gilbert Murdock. Cycle 4 FCR Response, 1- 62 (four chapters)

                 Brief Summary

Princess Benevolence, Ben for short, has been secluded from her stringent Queen and Aunt, for fifteen blissful years. Ben is spoiled by her father and mother as a princess, and is somewhat immature at the age of fifteen. She is what you might nicely call a chubby girl, hence her love for pastries and just food in general. Her life has been wonderful all up until one evening where everything falls awry.

 A simple head cold prevents her from accompanying her father and mother on their annual visit to her great, great, great grandfather's tomb. She awakes that night to realize that her parents are not home even though they should be.  She is shocked when she finds that the Drachensbett have killed her mother and uncle. To make things worse, they don't know what happened to her father; he has disappeared. The Drachensbett have always threatened Chateau de Montagne, which is a valley town surrounded by mountains. Only because of Chateau de Montagne's superior location and the will of the people have they evaded Drachensbett's rule. But now, with the assassination of their king, and the disappearance of their military leader her country's only choice is to go to war.

With no parents to care for her, she is basically an orphan. Ben is moved to the castle where she is put under the scornful eye of Queen Sophia. There she is taught the ways of castle politics, as she is the sole inheritor of the throne. She absolutely loathes these lessons. She goes from needlework, to penmanship, to etiquette but still doesn't know which one she hates most. To make matters worse, she does not get nearly the amount of food she is used to, and is slowly withering away. Her only comfort comes from a mysterious basket of food she finds under her bed that is routinely replenished. Though she doesn't know who leaves it for her, it helps cope with the hell her life has become.

                  Diction and Rhetorical Devices

The word choice and voice in this book is very good. Since the book is written from the perspective of Princess Ben, it has a good variety of words. This is because a princess would be well educated. The voice of the writing also is a touch medieval and proper sounding, like you would imagine as "castle language".  It is splattered with unfamiliar vocabulary but not so much that I don't enjoy it. I keep post-its on the inside of the cover so I can jot down words I don't know. I have come up with this list, which I did not realize was so long until I copied it down here:

Malaise (n): (A feeling of) vague, non-specific physical discomfort; absence of the sense of physical well-being.

             Abetted (v): To urge on, stimulate (a person to do something).

             Interment: The action of interring or burying in the earth; burial.

              Subterfuge (n): contextually: A means of escape (from censure, etc.); an excuse.

Catatonic (n): Characterized by catatonia (A form of insanity, characterized by epilepsy and catalepsy.) Hence as n., one affected by catatonia.

Stipulated (ppl. a.):  That has been specified in the conditions of a contract or undertaking.

Benevolence: Disposition to do good, desire to promote the happiness of others, kindness, generosity, charitable feeling (as a general state or disposition towards mankind at large).

Fastidious: That creates disgust; disagreeable, distasteful, unpleasant, wearisome.

Myriad: In pl. Countless numbers of people or things; legions, hosts, hordes of the persons or things specified.

Stalwart (adj.): Of persons (and animals): Strongly and stoutly built, sturdy, and robust. Of inanimate things: Firmly made or established, strong.

Variant: Of things: Exhibiting variation or change; tending to vary or alter; not remaining uniform

Trepidation: Tremulous agitation; confused hurry or alarm; confusion; flurry; perturbation.

Comportment: Personal bearing, carriage, demeanor, deportment; behavior, outward conduct, course of action. Formerly also in pl., Proceedings, conduct.

Tumult (n): Commotion of a multitude, usually with confused speech or uproar; public disturbance; disorderly or riotous proceeding.

            Ostensibly (adv.): Conspicuously, ostentatiously

            Sated (ppl. a.): Glutted, satiated; cloyed or surfeited by indulgence of appetite.

            ****All definitions taken from the Oxford English Dictionary ****

I       Creative Critical Reflection  
    Dear Diary,  

      I am famished. I haven’t felt sated since the day before my     arrival. It has been months since I tasted a real pastry, and I am slowly withering away. Though, much to my aunt Sophia's dismay, my girth hasn't lessened in the least. My only condolence is the mysterious basket of treats some kind soul leaves for me. I found it one day under my bed. The food brought back such good memories; it was almost too painful to bear. As I ate, tears spilled down my face. Sometimes I receive a pitcher of cider and a pork and egg tart; other times I find hot chocolate and buns. These presents were the only sliver of light that brightened the pitch-blackness of what my life has become. My aunt's horrible "curriculum" that rules my education in becoming a Queen is awful. But the most wretched part of the day is the formal dinners she forces me to attend in her company. She and Lady Beatrix conduct the most dry and uninteresting conversations I have ever heard. I am always scolded for not contributing. Aunt Sophia keeps on going on about how it's a very good skill for a Queen to make polite conversation, without actually saying anything. She despises me, and I hate her. We share a mutual feeling. I wish my father would return and save me.

Sincerely,

Ben