lost+city+of+z

Week 1- Throughout the first 55 pages of The Lost City of Z by David Grann, the only main character in the story is the explorer, P.H. Fawcett. He is interesting because he is an explorer looking in the Amazon for a lost city of gold which he believes to be there. In 1888 Fawcett was a 21-year-old lirutenant in the Royal Artillery. I am drawn to P.H. Fawcett because of the great adventurer he was. It seems as if he loved the outdoors just as I do. I can relate to him greatly in this manor. Also, another trait we share is once he puts his mind to something he doesn't stop until he reaches his goal. Most people at first if they knew there was a city of gold located in the Amazon would want to go find it, just as Fawcett did. But, once they find out how many great explorers died looking for the city would discourage them from looking for the gold. But, this doesn't happen to Fawcett, he kept his mind towards his goal and won't stop until he find the lost city of gold. There are no main characters that I cannot stand yet because it is way to early in the book.
 * Discussion Leader**- Justin Schwarz


 * Questions -** Jake Linden

1. Why do you think explorers still kept going into the forest after hundreds had died trying before them? They all wanted to solve the great mystery, and get the fame from doing it. 2. Do you believe there is there is a hidden city there? No, I believe that in the end the explorers will have failed at finding the city. 3. Do you think that they will find out what happened to those explorers who disappeared? No, I think in the end they will have failed like everyone else. 4. If peopled tried this same exploration today, do you think everyone would still die or are we advanced enough to survive? I feel that we are advanced enough to survive today and that we will have found out what we wanted to find. 5. Do you feel even if there isn’t a city that there is something hidden in the Amazon? Yes, it seems that there is something mysterious about the Amazon that we do not know.


 * Questions**- Dan Chiriani

1. Why does the author want to travel to the Amazon to find Fawcett even thought many have tried and failed? The author wanted to solve the mystery of Fawcett. He had become obsessed and did not care what happened to him. 2. Why did so may people go searching for Fawcett when he went missing? The people thought of Fawcett as a hero. They had also become obsessed with Fawcett and believed that he was still alive. 3. Why do you think the tribe’s man didn’t allow 2 explorers to leave? Once the tribesman found out that the two men were modernized they did not al1ow the explorers to leave. 4. Why was it difficult to make maps in the early 1800’s? People in the 1800’s had trouble mapping the earth because they did not have the technology we have now. In the 1800’s people use to map the world using tools like compasses. Today we use satellites and planes. 5. Do you think the Royal Geographical Society hides so much information? They do not want more people to look for the City of Gold or Fawcett like many did in the 1900’s.


 * Summary-** Kevin Baharyan

This week's discussion was an okay one. Danny, who was supposed to bring the food, was absent, so that was one bad thing. I was so hungry and looking at everyone eating made me even hungrier. Another bad thing was that I couldn't buy the book because it was sold out, so i really didn't know what was going on. My partners said the book, so far, is just okay; nothing too special or too bad. At least it'll probably be better than our last book. I have a good feeling about this book; i have a feeling everyone is going to like it and have so much to say about it.


 * Week 2-**


 * Questions-** Justin Schwarz

1.Why do you think the speed limit was only 2 miles per hour? Because back then they didn't have traffic lights and stop signs to help control the traffic. 2.How many people lived in London in the 1900's? Over 400,000,000 people making it larger than Paris or New York. 3.Do you think Fawcett will ever find the city of gold? No, because the chances of a city of gold actually existing in the middle of the Amazon are pretty close to zero. 4.Do you think Fawcett's characteristics will make him a good explorer? Yes, because he tried to find the city of gold a few times before this time before unsuccessfully. But, unlike other explorers, he survived. So, he must be talented enough to navigate the jungle, making him a good explorer. 5.What did the sign on the side of the house say? ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.


 * Questions** - Jake Linden

1. Do you think the city of gold he heard about really exists? I do not think that city really exists. I believe that he will go to find it and almost die trying. 2. Do you think that since he has the new, correct coordinates that he will find out where he died? Yes, with the new coordinates he will find out what happened. 3. Because of the way he was shopping at the camping store, do you think he is too inexperienced to go into the Amazon? Because he had no idea what to do, and what he had to bring i believe that he is too inexperienced to go into the Amazon and he will fail if he tries. 4. Do you think the signet ring the lady showed him will help him find out where the guys is? The thing they said about how it was bathed in blood i feel will help them find out which tribe took him and where to find them. 5. Do you think it is worth risking your life with all the dangerous things in the Amazon to go find out what happened to a guy almost a hundred years ago? I think the guy should be left to a mystery and they should all just stay alive and think about what might have happened.

This weeks discussion was a blast even if it was so short. It was a half day so we didn't have mush time to eat. Kevin brought in 5 Arizona Ice Teas and also brought a large bag of Lays potato chips. We ate for 5 minutes and then had to get to work. We were very hungry. Finally it was time to get to work. Jake and Justin asked there questions to the group. We had a long discussion but finally we posted his questions on the computer. The questions took up most of the period. This week we focused on how the author was getting ready to go on his trip to the amazon. The author was on a mission to find what happened to Fawcett.
 * Summary-** Dan Chiriani

In The lost city of Z the language is easy to understand. In the book is goes back and refers to other things witch may become confusing at times. The language is for the most part easy to understand. The Lost City of Z is a pretty easy read. So Far the book is great and it is enjoyable to read and understand. I think this book is written for adults and kids in high school. This book would be good for adults.
 * Discussion Leader**- Danny Giunta

So far in the story the mood of the story has been kind of depressing. They are always talking about how the explorers were suffering and starving, not eating food for days. Also, they talked about the constant threat of being captured by the local tribes. All of this makes the reader feel fear of what is going to happen and suspense. Although most of the story so far was depressing, there was some parts where the people were not in the jungle where it gave you a happier or calmer mindset. Overall, this book so far has been about fear and suffering trying to survive in Amazon.
 * Discussion Leader**- Jake Linden

1. How was Reeves described as in his late thirties? He had a receding hairline, a beakish nose, and a neatly trimmed mustache.' 2. What fish, that Fawcett describes, causes many deaths? A Candiru. 3. How were Goldie’s eyes described? They “bore holes into one.” 4. What were many of the men sick with six months into the expedition? A fever 5. What was something the Guayaki did? They practiced cannibalism when members of their tribe died.
 * Questions**- Kevin Baharyan


 * Summarizer-** Justin Schwarz

Today, December 18 the classes assignment was to read 3/5 of the book. Our group is reading The Lost City of Z. Earlier this week we divided the jobs amongst our group. The people that needed to make 5 questions about the 3/5 of the book were Kevin and Danny. Jake was in charge of the discussion leader part. I myself was in charge of summarizing today's meeting. And Dan was in charge of bringing in food. Today, Dan, brought in our groups favorite, Sour Cream and Onion chips, and Powerade. We started off with the first 5 or 10 minutes just eating the chips and drinking the Powerade. After we finished eating, the Discussion Leader, Jake had us discuss the book. Then Danny and Kevin asked us the questions to find out what we thought about the book. Today's meeting was both successful and fun.


 * Questions-** Justin Schwarz

1.In the end of the story, do you think the lost city of gold will be found? No, because I think the landscape is to vast and dense for anyone to pinpoint the exact location of where the city may be located. Also, there are too many risks that can harm the explorers before they arrive their. 2.How many vials of anti-snakebite serums did Fawcett receive? Five 3.What is the name of the small, dirty ship docked along the Paraguay River? Iguatemi 4.What were some key signs that a spider bite was poisonous? Two punctures, plus a bluish and bloodless patch 5.Do you think any of the explorers will die in the end of the book? No, because they all seem very experienced and know what they are doing.

1. How did Fawcett find proof of archeological remains? He found causeways and scattered across the Amazon. 2. Fawcett thought he saw the City of Gold, why did he leave? He was facing death and had no choice but to retreat. 3. Why do you think Nina and Jack changed when they moved to Los Angles? They were swept by the romance of Hollywood. 4. Why do you think Brazil feared the demise of an illustrious party on their territory? They did not want to be pressed if Fawcett goes missing. 5. Why does David have such a hard time getting stared with his journey in Brazil? There is a language barrier and it is the worst time of year in Brazil. The roads are muddy and hard to travel on.
 * Questions**-Dan Chiriani


 * Discussion Leader**- Kevin Baharyan

The theme in this part of the book is that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. David thought the trip to the amazon was going to be easy. It turns out it wasn't. Him having a hard time starting his journey represents troubles that are coming head. The roads were muddy and hard to travel on so something worse is probably awaiting.

Summarizer- Danny Giunta This week was a very quiet one. There was not much to talk about. Jake brought potato chips and ice tea. The food was great. Justin and Dan C were questions. Kevin was theme. The theme question was hard for us to answer because we couldn’t think of anything. This book is good so far and we will continue to read.

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 * Questions**- Kevin Baharyan

1. What does //terra preta do Indo// mean? Indian black earth. 2. How did they describe the man that appeared outside the British Embassy? He had brooding eyes and a dark mustache. He wore a sports jacket, striped tie, and baggy jeans tucked into knee-high boots. 3. How long was was he son who was in line to be chief sequestered for? four years 4. How long was the arrow Fawcett saw in the house? five feet 5. What were the Xinguanos famous for? Fishing with bows and arrows.

Today Justin brought in food. He brought in a thing of Doritos, potato chips and Capri sun fruit punch. Dan was the discussion director. I am the summarizer and Danny and Kevin did questions. We discussed the questions while we took turns updating the website. I think this meeting summed up the book very well and the book became even better after discussing it this week with this group.
 * Summarizer -** Jake Linden

Questions- Danny Giunta

1) What is something that Fawcett had discovered? 25-year-old pottery. 2) Did the story end the way you thought it would? No I thought he would find the treasure but he never did 3) Do you think the story should have ended differently? Yes I think he should have found the city. 4) What do you think about the tribe people? They are scary but helpful. 5) What do you think he should do about writing the story? He should right a story and talk about what he has been through.

I thought the Lost City of Z was an amazing book and I believe anyone who likes an adventure book would love this book. I would defiantly recommend this book for anyone who likes an adventure. I believe that this book tells the reader about this amazing adventures and life of Fawcett. Even though this book was good there were many flaws. For example at times this book was very confusing because the story kept switching from present day to past. The book was more of a biography than an adventure story. I believe this book should be a on the summer reading list because it was a real page-turner.
 * Discussion Leader**-Dan Chiriani