All-in by Pete Hautman Alexander Berresford Period 3 DD
This book is truly mind blowing. What I mean by this is that it has so much excitement, and is almost portrayed as a mystery. I would like to discuss a couple of concepts from the story; such as Denn and his problem, Cattie and her problem, and how Jimbo is portrayed. Also, we have to discuss the game and how it is played as well as how old Jimbo really is.
Denn, to me, seems as a very intelligent looking man. However,in the story we learn he is only seventeen, a drop-out, and addicted to gambling. What is your first reaction of him? Mine was that this guy is totally a a fake trying to be somebody he is not. I mean no offense to anybody, but he wears baby sunglasses, a jump suit, and probably does not even have a full beard. He is definitely seen as a kidthrough the narrator’s point of view, and the adult charcters can see this too. So, all the other Poker players do is try to swindel his money throughout the game. I also think Denn is a very good observe. I know all poker players have good observation skills, but he knows everything. It is a shame because if he went to college, maybe he could manage his money better. Also, I want to discuss how he is losing all his money. Pete relates Denn’s situation to a fold, raise, or call as a major problem for him. He does this because poker is like life, as anything can happen, so you choose the best option for yourself. What do you guys think of the situation he is going through? I truly think he won’t stop gambling. He has a passion for the game, and I think he wants revenge on Frisk and Morty for their scheme to try to ruin him. Do you guys think he will stay and get revenge?
Next let’s talk about Cattie. She is a non-intelligent girl who is very mean since she was born. She is almost like a “player”. Whatever she can do to get money, she does. What I don’t understand is what Denn did to her to make her want to set him up him. What do you think he did to casue this? I think that he either abandoned her, or she just needs money. I am really leaning towards the money one because in the story she is said to be untrustworthy and greedy. So, I think it is more of her trying to get money than getting revenge on Denn. Also, I want to ask what your thoughts are on them getting back together in the book? It seems that he does love her, but in Poker does love exist? I think that Cattie and Denn will team up and begin to fall in love again. I say this because a lot of the book so far is taken up by him thinking of his past with her.
Then we have Jimbo. He is a poker player who is pretty old, and was in the World Poker tour. What age do you think he is around? I feel he cannot be in his 40’s because that is too old to be gamblingdue to his techniques at the table not being a secret anymore. I think he is in the late 30’s. Also, I feel that he wants to mentor Denn, because he is so intrigued by his skills at such a young age. Therefore, I think that they both will become a team and run the game of Poker into a new era. Do you get the feeling that Jimbo is narrating the whole thing? I do because the narrator, from the beginning, describes Denn with interest at a Poker table. Then I get this because as you follow the thoughts of possibly Jimbo because they are the same as when the story started. So, do you guys think that he would be a good role model to Denn? I say no, because Denn needs to not blow his money, which is what Jimbo had done in his past. Soon, he won’t have a single penny, and Jimbo says that he has lived his whole life like that. This is not good, but I want to find out what will happen next in this financial crisis.
Some other key things I would like to point out is the game of Poker. We have to realize that some people live life by this profession, and things can get out of hand. What I mean by this is with money. People will cheat, and do whatever it takes to win. Also, we have to know that there is luck involved. Denn may know all the tales about everybody, but some of the game is how the “cards fall”. So, he is running his life on the flip of a card. This is not right and I thinkit is very wrong that people gamble their life on chance. What do you guys think? In addition, I would like to add that the title is “All-in,” so when do you guys think it will happen? I think that there will be a build up through the narrator, and it will happen, as he is playing Morty and Frisk either in a championship, or at a huge club. It will be a no-limits game.
The last thing I would like to say is that we have to watch the development of Denn, and we have to find out how he could beat the odds after being set-up. Also, I would like to add the language being presented here is unique. This is shown by “how foxy a lady,” and “my crib,” are being used by Jimbo. This story is written for a teen age audience, I feel. As it uses words that teenage kids can relate to. It seems that the language used by the author brings humor to the story, because he uses two different eras with his choice of words, phrases, and also how he is so old saying them.
-Alex
P.S. Keep blogging there is a lot to blog about so far!
Category: Per 3 ToTC DD 7 comments »
March 20th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
First I would like to say would like to say that you make it sound that Denn is a reject. You say that he is addicted to gambling. Poker is very different from gambling. Poker requires skill and thought, unlike gambling. Poor choice of words. I believe that Denn is a very smart kid that has a passion for poker. He says the truth and handles himself well. That is until he met Cattie. She seems to be a cancer to Denn. Cattie makes Denn unfocused. Also poker is not a problem for him. It was a great source of income and he loved doing it. Next you ask if we think that Denn will get revenge on the men who set him up (Frisk and Morty). Denn does not seem like the person who would get revenge. He is a very laid back person. Besides he doesn’t seem mean enough for revenge. Instead i think he will take his $100 and work his way back up the poker food chain.
Next you talk about Cattie and say she is dumb. it is terrible to assume this. She obviously isn’t dumb if she set Denn up. Than you ask what do I think Denn did to make Cattie set him up. I believe that he did nothing wrong. Cattie is just in love with money. She said herself that she loves it. Next you ask if it is possible that Denn and Cattie will get back together. This isn’t very likely. Cattie took all of his money, and all he had was money. So she took everything from him. After this you ask if love can exist in poker. This is tough. I truly believe that it can’t. Poker involves thinking and logic. Love thoughs this off.
Next you talk about Jimbo. Who ask how old he is. Than you say that people over 40 can’t gamble. This is so untrue. there was an 80 year old man that made it to the last two tables of the World Series of Poker Main Event. Though I know for a fact that Jimbo is in his late forties. He is always on TV talking about poker. Than you say that Jimbo is the narrator. we have a third person, all knowing narrator. Sometimes the cahpters are seen through Jimbo’s piont of view.
Next you talk about poker being luck and not a good way to live your life. I strongly disagree with this. I’ll admit that the game does involve luck, but a lot is skill and knowing when to play a hand. If people like the game why shouldn’t they do it for a career. Lastly you ask when the title All-in will happen for Denn. This will probaly be at the climax of the novel.
By the way Alex, I think it was good to notice that the words used are trying draw in teenagers. To be serious this makes the characters sound like loser wanna be’s.
-Julian Garcia
March 20th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
When I first started to read about Denn I was very surprised because he knows what he is doing while playing the game. He can pick out traits and wins the games while keeping his cool. I don’t think he looks as bad as you are portraying him to be, Alex, and I don’t remember reading he had a beard (you don’t need a beard in order to look old). Overall I think Denn is a good guy playing a game he is good at; I think he has a bit of an addiction to the game but not a serious addiction. Denn is a good player and I have faith in him that he will do the right things.
I really like the way you compared card playing to life and how there are options. Like in life you have to take risks and do what you think is right even though it might get you in trouble. Again, really great connection/comparison!
I honestly have no idea what will happen with Morty and Frisk, we just met the characters and learned their stories, and I need more information. Something will happen between Frisk, Morty, Cattie and Denn but I can’t even guess what…
Oh Denn and Cattie is a great subject to talk about. Okay I think it was an emotional/relationship problem that happened between the two and not a money problem because they are both still really thinking about each other. It says in the book,
“Love and poker don’t mix. It’s like trying to eat pizza and do jumping jacks at the same time. A guy who brings his relationship to the table is burnt toast.” page 45.
Love is great thing to have but can ruin other things that stand in its way.
Whenever a chapter called (Jimbo) occurs in the story it is usually in first person while all the other chapters about the other characters are mostly in third person with some first. I think Jimbo becomes very good friends with Denn because he is the narrator so he must come in sometime during this story and make a rather large impact.
I don’t think it is the best thing to live your life playing cards but if it is something you want to do and like doing, go for it! Yes, gambling is stupid and can get you in trouble but if you are okay with the risk there is nothing wrong with it. The title is a great question that I hope will some be answered, what does all-in mean? Like you said, Alex, a no limits games or danger?
I love the way Jimbo is describing things and using such a current way of saying some words and phrases. Jimbo is making it funny for the readers while informing them on a serious matter between a troubled group of people. I really like this book. =]
-Rebecca krick
March 21st, 2009 at 8:46 am
I agree, I’m really enjoying this book also. It is fun and exciting, and a great change for ‘Tale of Two Cities’!
As for Denn, I agree that it was a stupid thing to do for Denn to drop out of high school, because of poker. Poker can go either way, you can win big or lose big. It is a risky game, and I think that it wasn’t such a good idea for Denn to become addicted now. He most likely ruined his life. I think that Denn is not too smart outside of the casino. Yet, I do think that Denn will continue to play poker, because really, what is there left to do? He can’t go back to high school, and Denn said that he didn’t think that his mother would want to see him, either.
I think that Cattie dealt the wrong cards to Denn to make him lose simply for money. Could that have possibly been why Morty gave her that $10,000?
My thoughts on Cattie and Denn getting back together— I think it will happen. Most books take that form of breakup, cheat on (or something to that degree- in this case playing poker), and then getting back together and falling in love. And yes, Alex, a lot of the book is taken up with Denn’s thoughts on Cattie, and him just pondering the whole situation that had taken place.
I would suggest that Jimbo is in his late 30’s also. He seems to have all the experience anyone could have in playing the game.
Jimbo could be trying to trick Denn into playing cards for the rest of his life, though, to make Denn a failure. Most of the other guys who are regulars at the casino can see that Denn’s poker-status is going downhill. Therefore, I belive that Jimbo is not a good example for Denn- plus they have years between them!
The point of view in which the story is told can be discovered by reading the title of the chapter, haha. The chapter that says [Denn] is told by Denn and the chapters that say [Cattie] are told by Cattie, etc.
Tying two of your questions together (about the title and what do I think Denn will do) I believe that Denn will continue to play poker, and one day he will again come to the decision, fold call or raise. And, possibly, he will once get a really good hand, and go All-In.
I am really excited about this book. And hopefully we will get good grades on our blogs, too. There is so much to talk about, and I am interested in reading this.
P.S. Rebecca can I have the book back then Monday?
-Leah Sevco
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Alright I agree with you Rebekah that love can stand in the way. But I think that everybody should have love, becasue it can create emotions that can bring the best out of us. It just so happened that he got caught up in it. Some people react differently with love, and I guess to Denn it was bad. I think that love can exist in the game, becasue it is not always in the way unless you let it be.
Oh and for Leah I diagree with the point of view. Cattie does not tell the stroy, and neither does Denn. In my mind it is told by Jimbo. I say this because in the beggining it was him, and the character seems to have the same traits in the story, just as I said in my inital blog.
Also do you guys think that Cattie would ever set-up Morty? I think she would, and that would casue for everybody to hate her and gang up on her. But also I think it would be very cool to see that happen. What goes around comes around is what I always say.
-Alex
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Well Alex, I think I change my mind. I think the story is told by Jimbo, as everything is seen in his light. The title of the chapters though does signify who the chapter is mainly focusing on, though. So I suppose the title of the chapters is telling the reader who the main character at the time is.
-Leah Sevco
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Leah, I am glad to see that you understand now. I think the names at the beggining of the chapters signify who will mostly be talking in the chapter, but it is still told in Jimbo’s perspective.
Also Rebekah, most older guys that are acually able to gamble have some facial hair. In the story he is presented as a baby face, which can signify that he is not really fooling anyone. Which, further more means that the older guys just want to take his money. That is my point I was trying to make with the comment of teh beard.
-Alex
P.S. Where is Julian’s comment?
April 10th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Alex: A lot going on in this entry. You might want to narrow in just a little bit so your group can write equally as long responses but on fewer subjects. This will allow them to go deeper. Though I must give the group credit, you really embraced his questions and tried to answer most of them.
Good job so far!