The Rainmaker

The book "The Rainmaker," by John Grisham is about the life of Rudy Baylor. Rudy Baylor is about to graduate from Memphis State Law School. He is in a small firm. He is getting a salary of about 30,000 dollars.His life is a pretty good one and he expects to get into the "big leagues" and make millions.

As fast as he had gotten the "good life" it vanished. So far, the only person he has ever loved has dumped him for an Ivy League graduate that she met years ago. He lost his only job and can't get another one because they are all taken. He's been evicted from his apartment. Rudy is having a horrible life. Now he is trying to find a job and make something out of his now meaningless life.

I feel that there lots of people in the world around us that have this sort of problem. It might not be the same one, but it could be similar. Right now, millions of people are unemployed and looking for jobs. These people will try whatever they can to get their life going again.

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

In "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury, Joby the drummer boy is the protagonist. Joby changes throughout the story. He goes from feeling alone and afraid of what was going to come to prepared and not concerned.

In the beginning of the story,Joby is feeling lost, hopeless, unprepared, and uncertain. For example, Bradbury says "If he stayed very still, when the dawn came up and the soldiers put their bravery on with their caps, perhaps they might go away, the war with them, and not notice him living here, no more than a toy himself." He was afraid of what was going to happen in the battle.

In the middle of the story, Joby is talking to the general. The general is helping Joby by teaching him how important he is. For example, in the story, the general says to Joby "He must keep at it, at it! Long and steady, steady and long! Then even though shot or torn, those wounds got in hot blood-in blood he'd helped stir-would feel less pain. If their blood was cold, it would be more than slaughter, it would be murderous nightmare and pain best not told and no one to guess." He tells Joby that if he is slow and unsure, the soldiers will be. But if he is fast and steady, so will the soldiers.

In the end of the story, Joby is ready. "He swallowed. He wiped his eyes. He cleared his throat. He settled himself. Then, at last, very slowly and firmly he turned the drum so it faced up towards the sky." Joby is prepared and ready for battle. Joby will go into the battle beating a sure and steady beat to the battle.