Section 4: Post B

To summarize the events that occurred in this section in one word, I would say essential. The events that took place during this section really brought a lot of things together. Up to this point, I was very confused with who was who and what was going on. But, with the help of this section many things fell into place. When the writer described the conversation that two people were having and only gave one of the names and at the very end of the chapter it says who was actually talking the whole time, it makes you want to go back and read the section over. Now that I actually know who is who I have received a greater understanding for the book. Because this book was a part of a series and I had not read the previous books, I felt that I was a little behind. Some of the reoccurring characters were throwing me off course. During the section, Dr. Self, who is an important character, reveals her true self to the reader. She is a very wealthy woman, who unfortunately, does not have a good relationship with her mother. She drives an extremely nice Ferrari and has money to just throw away. The reader also finds out that she has a brain tumor and is visiting a very prestige hospital. She also may hold vital information to the case involving the murder of the star tennis player. This piece of information may hold the key to unlocking the entire case and catching the murderer before they strike again.

Section 4: Post A

2 Vocabulary Words

1. Hypothalamus (pg 137) - a central area on the underside of the brain, controlling involuntary functions such as body temperature and the release of hormones

2. Excommunicate (pg 143) - to exclude a baptized Christian from taking part in Communion because of doctrine or moral behavior that is adjudged to offend against God or the Christian community




Write a sentence in which you describe one emerging theme of the book.

One emerging theme in the book would be the theme of death or sadness. To describe this theme in one sentence I would describe the death that surrounds the main character and all the people that die during the first few sections of the book.

Section 3: Post B

During this section of the book, a very important event occurs. The author cuts into the story line and breaks off into this event happening in a beach house. Although we have no idea who this woman is or this mysterious man named Will is, all we know is that this event is very important. While this woman is watching a movie, the author describes a man, standing outside her window. He is watching her and has been for many months. He knows her routine every move she is going to make. He knows this for two reasons. One, he has been stalking her outside her own house for many months, and two, because she does the same thing over and over again every night. The one key passage throughout this series of events is when she forgets the alarm is set and sets it off. Of course the cops com because her alarm went off and she tells them that she has forgotten the code because of how drunk she is. Will, who is hiding in the bushes right next to the door, hears every word she says. She tells the cops she remembered the code and that it is buttermilk. Now, the man who has been stalking her has the code to get into her house. By this section I can now predict the future events in this book. The scenes in the book where the author cuts into the action with a mysterious set of events like this, have always been vital to the rest of the plot.

Section 3: Post A

2 Vocabulary

1. Echocardiogram (138) - an instrument employing reflected ultrasonic waves to examine the structures and functioning of the heart.
2. Neurophysiologist (149) - the branch of physiology that studies how the nervous system functions


1 Significant Quote

“Through a space between the window and the shade he has watched her on and off for months, watched her pace and cry and pull out her hair.” (128 -129)

To someone who is reading this quote without having read the book so far, this quote might seem a little dull and of no importance. But really, this quote means much more. A technique that this writer uses is very interesting. She likes to give the reader a little preview about what is to come and give it in a different perspective. This quote for example, is describing the stalker that has been watching this woman for months now. He knows a very unusual amount of information about her and is a very shady character. This technique has been used throughout the book and all of them have turned our to be events that change the course of the book.

Debate Blog

Teacher and student about late assignment.
· Occur usually in a classroom
· Purpose: To receive credit for an assignment
· Does not help to arrive at a better decision usually
· Unstructured
· Makes you complete assignments on time


Court Case
Occur in a court room
Purpose: To convict someone or to receive a payment
Usually helps to arrive at a better decision
Structured
Effects decision making process because there is a judge

With Parents
· Occurs usually on the phone or in your house
· Purpose: To receive something, go somewhere, or get out of something
· Does not usually help you reach a better decision
· Unstructured
· Decisions are made less in favor of you when the debate continues

With Friends
· Occurs many places: school, home, ect. . .
· Purpose: To convince them of something or to get your way
· Can go either way with the decision
· Unstructured
· Decisions are up to you or your friend

Section 2: Post B

The second section of the book is focused on the mysterious man that enters the plot. While the employees at the morgue are experiencing a normal day, a very suspicious looking man walks into the room. He appears to have recently experienced a brutal attack by the looks of the vast amounts of scars on his arms, hands, and legs. Although he based the background check, he still gives me as the reader a very uneasy feeling. The thing that made that uneasy feeling turn into reality was when he described in detail where Scarpetta lives. According to his story, he used to work for the family that lived there. Also, this man was the one who discovered the murdered boy in the water. Even though he says that he has nothing to do with it, he is a very shady looking man. Another reason why this man could be potentially bad is that he has been to jail for possession. The story that he tells says that he was going to smoke marijuana and some random person came up from behind him and slashed him with a knife over and over. When he tells this story to the investigators they don’t quite buy it. One reason is that they never found the marijuana and the second is that he has way too many scars to have been attacked without defending. In my opinion, I think that this man has a lot more to do with the story than he appears to.

Section 1: Post B

Throughout the first section, many important details were brought to the reader’s attention. The first section of the book was setting the plot and establishing the setting. A mysterious murder has struck the world. A very famous and publicized tennis player was suddenly murdered. Along with the many other cases that are pilling up on Scarpetta’s desk, this one seems to be the most important. The killer seems to have a very well known sense of what he is doing. The contents in her stomach seem to be only partially digested which lead the detectives to believe that she was recently killed. Also, her blood alcohol level was still very high. The killer planned both of these situations out. The stress that he imposed on her caused the food in her stomach to not digest. Also, he forced her to drink with him which kept her alcohol level consistent. “‘So he forced her to drink alcohol, perhaps all afternoon, all night, and into the early morning, and she was so frightened her food didn’t digest? That’s what you’re offering us as a possible explanation?’” (pg. 14). This quote explains everything that was planned out. The killer is very smart and definitely knows what he/she is doing. Another key part to the section was the marriage that Scarpetta experienced. Although she had been seeing the guy for some time, they recently got married. This may influence her decision making and although she is a professional, it may fog her mind.