Narnia the Third and An Abundance of Katherines

Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)

To begin - I saw the Narnia movie as part of my good friend, Jake,'s birthday. As the film opened, I had to quickly immerse myself in the world, there is no pause or introduction. (Inception had a more gradual opening, and that is saying a lot!). The characters of Edmund and Lucy as their England incarnations is rapidly pieced together. Edmund has reached the restless stage that Peter exhibited in the last film - he is a king of Narnia, and is seen as a child in our world. Lucy is more reservedly wistful for Narnia - She feels self-conscious of Susan's overshadowing of her as the beauty in the family.

Eustace is given a better introduction, and becomes the most compelling character for me to observe in the film. Ben Barnes' Caspian is decent, but appears more as a one-sided "Courteous boy scout," than an full blooded character. Reepicheep the talking mouse is chivalrous and dashing as ever in this movie.

It bothers me though - While this third installation is a throughly entertaining movie, it is but a "dim reflection in a mirror," as C.S. Lewis was fond of quoting. (I Cor. 13:12) The book written by Lewis was a beautiful and full bodied story, of which the film places emphasis's out of proportion. It is not unlike a beautiful watercolor portrait, which a modern artist longs to improve upon using PhotoShop to bring out a more relevant and eye-catching work. The film's altered plot-lines only tangle and trip up the thrust of the tale. It is a modern journey to the past, with occasional highlights, and a surprisingly strong conclusion.

“Many a good beginning makes a bad ending. It remains to be seen how he turns out in the long run.” (Farmer Boy 213). This film exemplified this maxim, the other way 'round. Weak beginning, Strong finish, gives me hope as to Silver Chair.

"An Abundance of Katherine's," By John Green

Yea, I might be a masochist for pain, as Bridges put it when he described editing to my Journalistic class in college. This is the third book that I have read by the beloved VlogBrother from Youtube. However, this is arguably the best one that I have read so far - "Looking for Alaska"was deep and melancholy, "Will Grayson. Will Grayson" was too lighthearted on a controversial target, but "An Abundance of Katherine's" strikes an intriguing balance between the two. Colin Singleton is a child Prodigy (different than genius: Prodigies learn things others do in an accelerated manner; geniuses piece together information into innovative new processes and branches of knowledge. i.e. Prodigies absorb knowledge; geniuses create new knowledge.). Colin has an unusual streak - ever since his first relationship at six, he has had 19 relationships with girls named Katherine, always the same name, and been dumped by all of them. (the first one - "Wanna be my boyfriend?"-Katherine I; "Okay"- Colin; [lasted two and a half minutes] "We have to break up..."-Katherine I). Colin's problem is his extreme insecurity, he wants to do something: to live up to the potential that everyone knows he is capable of accomplishing. His best friend, a chunky Arab-American named Hassan, convinces Colin that they need to go on a Road Trip to forget Katherine XIX.

The duo end up in the small town of Gutshot, Tennessee. Hollis, the local factory owner in the one-horse town, offers a job to Colin, whom she recognizes from a Brainy game show she watched. He and Hassan are to interview the town's inhabitants on the history of Gutshot, a sort of local heritage project. Hollis' daughter, Lindsey Lee Wells, is assigned to accompany these outsiders on their interviews. Lindsey is beloved of the town's older generation, for her constant smile and her cheery personality. She confesses to Colin that she feels fake, that her life is an act put up in a desperate attempt to be different. Colin is socially inept - his intellect and pattern recognition fail to account for the spontaneity of the human race. Lindsey trusts him as a confidant because he has no one to tell of her secret struggle. Together, Colin, with his brain, and Lindsey, with her understanding of human nature, attempt to create a Theorem for relationships. This equation would map out the potential length and passion of a relationship, including which sex would "dump"the other person.

I liked this book, because I relate to Colin's cluelessness to a degree. He is trying to figure out "Why am I in a perennial 'Dumpee' position with Katherine's?" He is so insecure and interesting to me as a character. His habit throughout the book is anagramming any word or phrase within his environment. This odd knack for rearranging letters affords him constant fascination and amusement by using chaos to impose a new order or meaning.

What really creeped me out though was at the end of the work, in an author's note, John Green disclosed that his 11th grade calculus teacher was a Mr. Lantrip. The coincidence was startling to me for the reason that my last name of "Lantrip" is relatively unusual. Considering that I just learned calculus this semester, and that a distant relative might have taught one of my favorite vloggers makes for an interesting possible 'six degrees of separation...'

John Green lives downtown

Indianapolis home?

Eight John Green's (phone list...)

Omnibus

I have been reading, I just haven't set aside time to post about it.

Stephen King's "On Writing"

This is a beautifully authentic love letter concerning the pursuit of writing. It all begins as a reader, knowing what you like to read, shamelessly copying from your favorite authors while you develop your own voice. It is like "Four Small Words," an introduction by Neil Gaiman to the beginning of the 2010 anthology "Stories." Neil wrote about his personal fascination with reading from his youth, a book becoming his constant companion. A lady asked Mr. Gaiman what quote he would recommend for an inscription on the wall of a library's children's section. At first, he thought that the library's wall would be best served blank and unspoiled by an engraving. When Gaiman reconsidered, searching for his own list of best quotes, he settled on these four small words that every writer longs to hear from his audience - "And then what happened?..."

As I read that introduction, I looked up and thought, "Neil, you are correct, that is exactly how I feel!" It is a simple and short question, but poses no end to possible answers. That question engages the reader's interest and the writer's inspiration (and continued employment).

Another one of my favorite book related quotes comes "Shadowlands," a film about the later life of C.S. Lewis. One of Lewis' students steals books from a bookshop, and Lewis confronts his pupil regarding his actions. He apologizes sheepishly to Lewis, and explains his situation. The student has not the funds to spare for his habit, but craves unread books like a junkie with psychoactive substances. His hands shake, and he can hardly read the pages. The student reads throughout the nights and sleeps through his classes during the day. His quote sticks out to me, "We read to know that we are not alone."

Books connect the writer to the reader, impart knowledge and concepts. Books are portal's into the writer's mind. (Mine is a rather messy library by the way - you receive information eventually, but you, my reader, will have to wade through a lot of smaller bits before you reach the desired byte. [sorry, its been a while; that was a pathetic attempt at computer humor...]).

To return to the original subject of King's book - Grammar and vocabulary are your writing toolbox. The more tools you learn to master, the more tasks you can accomplish in building concepts in your audience's minds. Some young writers have an extensive toolbox through their education, but a limited knowledge of how to properly implement their equipment. Students sometimes use an ancient saw's old teeth to shape their thoughts, rather than experiment with different means of cutting to the heart of their intended final design.

King stresses the need of an ideal reader - write your work with a fellow reader's tastes in mind. This person needs to know you well and be comfortable with pointing out when your draft's proverbial "fly" is open. You should be able to take the critique and improve on your faults. In my college writing course this semester, I submitted my work to my fellow students to review. There was one girl in particular who didn't care for my styling and dissected my papers with a blue highlighter. I needed that other perspective, however, and am immensely grateful for her presence in class. I figured that if I was able to pass her standards and peeves in my work, my paper would avoid offending the tastes of others with similar hang-ups. I am quite aware that I cannot please everybody, but I also realize that I always should be open to improvement.

King's book is a down-to-earth resource for writers young and old. The part that encouraged me the most was his admitting that he doesn't plan out his plots. He has only a vague idea or concept that starts King down the trail of "What if?" As the story progresses, King's characters develop their own personality and voices.

After reading this autobiography, I have started his novel "Misery." So far, my favorite portion was the mental image of Paul Sheldon capering about his hotel room delighted that his cash cow (but personal pain) character Misery Chastain finally decided to die. The idea of a Sheldon as an instrument being supplied by a mysterious cosmic story pipeline of inspiration and his apparent surprise and rejoicing in the death of a wildly popular, but uninspired character, made me smile inwardly in sympathy. That is how I write - this stream of consciousness would not fit on Twitter's 140 characters though, so I cannot afford to do such things anywhere but here.

Next review - "Looking For Alaska," by John Green

Most of what I have to say about this work is that it is the closest I have seen to a modern Catcher in the Rye. The author, Green, likes strong female leads, overweight best friends, swearing, and deep thinking, misunderstood, and/or unsociable protagonists. Given that I didn't much like Catcher in the Rye ( I know, shame on me for disliking a "classic"), this comparison is not high praise, but this book is better than "Will Grayson. Will Grayson."

The part I dislike the most about this book is that it ends sadly, its tone put me in a depressed frame of mind. Green is a skillful writer in that he hooks me to continue to the end, but this private school tale of "new kid's arrival, integration into a prank war with rich vs. smart, and path to addictions." is not my cup of tea. Read this if you desire to theorize about unresolved mysteries and want to sulk in a morose frame of mind. (Not that it is without humor, but its twist is nevertheless sobering to the budding cigarette/alcohol addicts upon which the story is centered.)

"Ring of Solomon: Bartimaeus Prequel" by Jonathan Stroud

I love this author, and this series showcases the sardonic wit and arrogance of a captive Spirit. Bartimaeus is a rogue djinni in a world ruled by corrupt and greedy magicians who summon entities from the "Other Place" to carry out their bidding. Needless to say, Bartimaeus isn't thrilled about this structure that binds him to the will of a mortal human. What sets Bartimaeus apart from his fellow spirit slaves is the streak of witty banter, cheek, and insults to which he subjects his "masters." While other spirits accept their fate, and/or sycophant up to their summoners, hoping to earn dismissal back to the spirit realm, Bartimaeus unloads on humans with the experience of an immortal entity upon an arrogant magician. The structure of magicians running the show is clearly shown to be unnatural and awkward for our dimension.

There is a hierarchy in the spirit world - imps (weak and simple, are used for play toys and snacks by higher spirits.); foilots (only slightly higher, and are usually puffed up and proud of the fact. These make up the servant class of the magicians); djinni (have a decent amount of can do performance, provided that they are given specific instructions.); afrits (rather nasty entities, only strong magicians hold the power to summon them as servants. Djinn don't stand a chance of overcoming them in battle, and hate the fact); marids (rarely visit our dimension - these are the lords of the "Other Place," wielders of great power. Only the best, brightest, and mightiest magicians may harness them.); as well as other, unspoken beings of unfathomable strength which rest in the bowels of "Other Place."

For spirits, there are seven planes of reality on earth, the first is seen by humans (and worms, insects, mice, and other stupid and weak creatures), the second is accessible to cats, and imps are limited to the height of the third and fourth, foliots may reach six in sight, djinni - seven. Seventh is special, all guises and shapes fade on this level. Spirits of djinni level and higher hold the ability to shapeshift into any form they might imagine. Djinni also employ a range of magical attacks and defenses such as Detonations, Convulsions, Shields, Plasmas, Infernos, Compression.

(More information on Wiki! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_in_Bartimaeus)

My main point is that this series is exceedingly clever, witty, and amusing to me. Bartimaeus keeps me entertained with his antics and sly schemes. In this book, Bartimaeus is a slave of a magician in Solomon's Court of 13. These 13 magicians are the most powerful in the world, but all must serve Solomon and his Ring. This ornamental artifact acts as an instant portal to "Other Place," a mere touch may summon any of 20,000 Spirits to meet the wearer's desires. A turn of the Ring summons a Spirit named Uraziel, an entity above the level of a Marid. Bartimaeus is roped into a foolhardy mission to steal the Ring by a young Sheban royal guard, whose country is threatened to be destroyed within a month unless a tribute is paid to Solomon. I wasn't sure whether I would like how Solomon was portrayed in the work, but it turns out that I understood his position a little better by the end. Highly recommended read.

"Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex." by Eoin Colfer

Mr. Colfer is pushing it with this book, highly unrecommended -"Artemis is subject to a magical mental disorder with extreme paranoia and pattern tendencies!" The villain is more delusional and stubborn than actually evil. He has a simple desire to reunite with his mortal wife... and destroy an entire fairy city as a revenge against those who framed him to serve a life term in prison. This book is simply not worth the effort - Time Paradox was a decent send off, to revive the series here smells of a desperate attempt to whip a cash cow, resulting in a dead horse...

"The Search for Wond-La" by Tony Diterlizzi.

This is a charming book, mainly because of the fact that each chapter starts with an illustration based on green, yellow, grey, black, and white. (Very appealing to my tastes, I love green and black artwork, quite lovely). It is quaint and whimsical, imaginative, and sympathetically amusing. (In the naivete of the main character, we discover the strange new world through her eyes.) I expected nothing less from a co-author of the bestselling "Spiderwick Chronicles" series. Wond-La's ending is a little unexplained, but I saw its potential coming from a mile away. Not hard to figure out, but it is a creative journey none the less. I liked the concepts and elements more than the story itself.

It concerns a young girl raised by a robot to survive. However, their underground home is attacked by a bestial bounty hunter, forcing an early exit into the real world. The young Eva Nine is unprepared for the weird and wild world of animal-eating-plants and otherworldly creatures who inhabit her home planet. The name of the book is derived from a fragment that the young girl, Eva Nine, finds in her home - it is a picture displaying a girl, an adult, and a robot walking hand-in-hand. The only discernable caption on the fragment are the letters "Wond - - - La." Eva dreams of discovering this paradise of peace, and sets off on a pilgrimage to find its location.

Eventually More

Reviews will be published soon

(And better haiku)

Guernsey Literary Society

This book was a true treat for a bibliophile's soul. It received a decent amount of quiet recommendation from the middle class spectrum of critics. There are spectrum's - the romance machine press, the tween scene, and the intellectual pearls. This met the quiet "beach" read group's needs.

It is not a driving page turner, you may choose to put it down and experience little plot suspense. But the book's characters are so alive that I wanted to revisit them as soon as possible after finishing my work and school (and sometimes before that as well).

The book is written in a form of letters surrounding Juilet, a young writer on tour for her book "Izzy Bickerstaff goes to War." Sydney Stark is her publisher and brother to her childhood school friend, Sophie. Juliet receives a letter from a Dawsey Adams from the English island of Guernsey. It happens that one of her old books found its way into his hands, Selected Essays of Elia, by Charles Lamb. He wondered that if the essays were "selected" where he might find more, as he considers Mr. Lamb to be a kindred spirit and friend. Juliet is intrigued at the thought that ones of her favorite books found another open soul and begins a correspondence with Mr. Adams. Guernsey had been occupied during WWII, and had just recently reawakened in their freedom, curious to learn about the world's progresses while they were cut off. It turns out that Guernsey citizens had a fortuitous serendipity in starting a literary society. The Germans were strict about curfew and gatherings, and the society started as a cover so that friends could visit with one another. The stories that the letters tell break your heart and inspire your soul that the human spirit may find hope, even in the midst of oppression and isolation. While the stories of the occupation are fictional, the spirit behind the them rings sound. The knowledge that atrocious means are carried out on ordinary people in times of war is sobering and sorrowful. I cried as I read certain portions of the book. Tears of joy, wonder, and bittersweet sorrow. The courage and resilience displayed throughout the theme of the work make for an indescribable work of literature. I didn't want it to end, but I closed the back cover with a resignation that the characters' lives continue on, and so shall mine as well.

Insufficient Words
Yet, pictures frame the scene well
Reader's minds see through

Chronicles of the Soujourner: Life through Inception

Inception, it paradoxically goes slower the second time you see it. I am still on an unplanned sabbatical through disinclination and schoolwork's demands. But the overarching theme of the movie has fit a general trend and question in the realm of theatre - "What is reality?" The film itself is the dream of the screenwriters, as seen through the vision of Christopher Nolan, and lived out by Leonardo DiCaprio. It is a metaphor in itself, but what is the answer to its deeper meaning? Nolan left the question unanswered, on purpose, for who holds the truth on this plane of reality? No man sees his entire life's impact - It's a Wonderful Life message. What proof do we have in the movie that the first plane, on which DiCaprio collects his team, is really real - as Moll asks him later on in the film. There are no guarantees; We take what we are given and work out the best manner of spending our existence from there. Philosophers question in their dreams, Inventors innovate with theirs, Artists long to shape reality in the shape of thought's beauty. But some concepts are vague and unclear. We trust so much, because we have not the time or inclination to understand for ourselves the actions of others. Who do you believe? Who holds the strings in your reality? News and Stories clamor for your attention, promising truth. To believe on your own experience is flawed and takes longer - starting ex nihilo is frustrating and frightening. I would use the english language whenever possible, but the thrust of the Latin is powerful and Godlike. Only God holds the ability to create out of barrenness, and negative infinity strains the mind as much as its reciprocal, upon which many humans focus in vain. To question your own existence and meaning in life is draining, seeing the big picture is like the fairy cake machine in the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Zaphod Beeblebrox was fortunate to escape to that pocket dimension in which he was the most important person in the world. For who wants to know that their very existence is frail?

Question Reality by all means, but the answer exists at the edge of consciousness, just out of reach. On his own, man is hopeful in his helplessness - that is why we need a Savior to pick up our pieces and infuse us with his love. To be part of the heavenly realm is an honor and a privilege, one which I hold too lightly at times. What a light yoke, what a glorious task, to live, and know that I am serving My Maker and Sustainer. Oh for these rare moments when the veil is pierced and a fragment of the eternal finds its way into the finiteness of this world. It rests as a fragment in my soul, runs through my veins, makes me whole. This life is a walk, one in which obstacles present themselves to be overcome. It is our position to clear away the snares that we are equipped and designed to face, and call out to our heavenly Father to aid us when the night comes, and the burdens feel too heavy for our endurance.
This life has an infinite amount of layers, only, it takes a concentrated dosage in a controlled environment for us to see the tip of the iceberg of truth. That is what Inception was to me - a jolt of adrenaline to my lethargic spirit, causing me to wake up and see the stars shining above my life. There is more than what I perceive and that I am not alone in the Universe is a comforting thought. This is my reality, until its Maker rends its fabric and starts anew with heaven and earth.

Confusing? So is the film in question...

I watched a strange film
Twice, four and a half hours.
I might understand

Retrospect One

I published a rough and messy draft of my reading the novel Dark Days, by Derek Landy. Funny thing this - time travel seems possible and cheating, but is only in cyberspace. I am a bit pressed right now - tired and happy, though hopefully not snappy and abrasive.

Good Omens concerning Branches and Limbs

I recently picked up Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens. It was written in the year that I was born. I admit that I am not a Pratchett fan, and I have heard that his other books are notoriously irreverent. The interesting aspect of the book is that Gaiman's bizarre storytelling and Pratchett's sense of un-sacred humor make for a book that feels almost like Douglas Adams. Mr. Adams work was wry, clever, witty, absurd, and had many aside jokes contained in asterisks.

If Douglas Adams had written about the Apocalpyse, it would have rang pretty close to Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch.

The tale concerns the birth of the Antichrist and his destiny to end the world as we know it. Crowley, a vaguely unethical demon, is in charge of transporting the child to his adoptive parents - ambassadors from an American embassy. Only, things don't go according to plan - the satanist nuns of the chattering order of Saint Beryl, who are responsible for the switch, end up botching it all up horribly, giving the Antichrist to a benign English family who lives in the Country.

The baby given to the American Ambassador is watched carefully by both Crowley and his heavenly "opponent" Aziraphale. These two have taken residence on earth and are reluctant to see the world end if at all possible. Crowley loves his Bentley (but every cassette tape left in the car for more than two weeks morphs into a copy of 'the best of Queen'), and Aziraphale loves books (he owns a bookshop to store his collection, and refuses to allow any 'customers' to take from his shelves any of his prizes through a strategy of musty odor and calculated rudeness.). Unfortunately, the child, who was named Warlock and received contradicting educations of good and evil. He reaches the age of his destiny, and as Crowley and Aziraphale watch... nothing happens!

It is a scramble to find what happened to the Antichrist child. It turns out that he is unconsciously affecting the his hometown with ideal weather and diverts change from happening. His name is Adam, and he is one of 'Them," the local gang of four kids. Pepper, who is the lone female of the group is raised by her feminist mom to stick up for herself. Brian, the "pigpen" of the group, eternally exploring and getting mucky. Last of all is Wensleydale, the studious young nerd of the group, whose chief interests are science and logic. Adam's gang of Them have a rival gang called Greasy Johnson and the Johnsonites. They are name-callers and a vaguely blunt thing in the side of Them. The Johnsonites are never quite effective enough to be a real thorn. Adam receives a hellhound for his infernal destiny, which he expects to be a yapper, and thus the hellhound takes on that shape. The hellhound is named 'Dog' by Adam, 'since that will keep things simpler.' As Adam realizes his destiny, the world around him nears its end.

Meanwhile, a descendent of Agnes Nutter arrives in Adam's hometown of Lower Tadfield, and finds that the arcane landlines are shifting as a natural guard surrounding Tadfield. Anathema Device owns the prophesies of Agnes Nutter, who is the only modern oracle who was correct in her predictions. Frustratingly, though Agnes has accurate predictions, they are worded in Olde English from scenes she 'remembers' from a past position into the future of her family tree. Her predictions are so hard to comprehend, that most of the time, people of the Nutter descent tend to realize them fulfilled only after the fact. Anathema is the best witch that has come in the Nutter clan, and her scrutiny lays out that the end is coming. But what no one expects is that the sweet natured Adam will the the means to that end...

What I liked best about the book is the passage concerning the four OTHER horsemen of the Apocalypse - they are a band of four dim-witted bikers who follow in the cycle trail of War, Pollution, Famine, and Death. Their realization of what an honor it is to be riding in the wake of the original 'Hell's Angels' causes them to pick out their own names. They end up with Grievous Bodily Harm, Cruelty to Animals, Really Cool People, and Things Not Working Properly Even After You Give Them A Good Thumping. (The stories behind the names had me smiling for minutes afterward.).

Limbs and Branches, by Jon Foreman

He is the lead singer of the band Switchfoot, and this is the second of his two solo projects. His voice shines as it accompanies rough acoustic and percussion, heavy use of tambourines and classical (slightly out of tune) guitars. Foreman is distinguishable for the way his pitch wavers just above a spoken whine, it is the distinct sense of slight discord that has made for Switchfoot's fame and success. This stripped down effort is a laid back and thoughtful in its scope and simplicity. I have really been enjoying listening to this raw side of Foreman's talents. It is understated and well spoken. My favorite track is the fourth, "Resurrect Me," and next is the facetious eighth song which is a tongue and cheek self criticism for being a shallow music act.

Midterms are fading

My pulse calms in the new peace

I will enjoy rest...

Trinity

Appaloosa (2008)

This was a movie whose trailer I spotted on Yahoo! Movies a while back. "Hmm..." I thought. "A western starring Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris. I would like to see it when it is available at the dollar theatre." That was all my thought for it at the time, just another movie in a culture where we are entertained almost every second.

Then I saw it at my local library on display, and I recalled my former resolution to watch it. I sat down with my older sister and the remains of a tub of strawberry ice cream, and took it in. I was pleasantly surprised that it was just as good as the trailer had originally promised.

Viggo plays his role as he does in near every movie - a soft spoken loner who is devoutly loyal to few friends, has simple pleasures, and is never to be underestimated as weak. Viggo's character, Everett Hitch, always carries a 12-gauge shotgun, backing Ed Harris' Virgil Cole.

The plot is simple, the town of Appaloosa is overrun by Randall Bragg and his ranchhands. Bragg is a well spoken rancher, respectful, but firm. He takes Appaloosa for granted, they will take whatever his men do. His men are merely rude and unlawful, they don't terrorize the townspeople as much as ignore their pleas to be civil.

Appaloosa calls in Virgil Cole, a blue eyed marshall who cleans up towns on one condition - nobody questions his methods. Appaloosa will be Cole's town until the people learn to behave like civilized folk. Hitch backs his outspoken and straight talking partner with his quiet support and diplomacy.

Hitch considers his words carefully, while Virgil says what is on his mind and observes the consequences. The arrival of Ms. French, a piano player, stirs things up plot-wise.

Cole is attracted to the lovely lady, and Hitch watches as Cole grows attached to the idea of settling down in Appaloosa. Most of the movie's charm and humor is derived from the spoken interaction between Cole and Hitch. Often, Cole will stop midsentence, asking Cole what word he is searching for to describe his meaning.

The pacing of the movie suits its genre - it ambles on, its final destination in mind, but the knowledge of a sunset happening at the end is a mighty fine reason to enjoy the day as it passes.

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (2010)

One of my friends was into the indie rock movement for a while and wanted me to check out some of this band's music. Their first two albums were entitled Neon Bible and Funeral.

What sets Arcade Fire apart from my previous experiences is the unwillingness that the band has for revealing their lyrics. Each album is a concept, the tracks merely parts to a whole idea. So, even when you learn the titles, they are curious for the reason of describing the overall track rather than one part.

They are a band concentrated on wholeness rather than individuality. This third effort is more relatable for me to enjoy. I think that this is their best album that they have released so far. The songs don't have the jarring, creepy feel that they held in Neon Bible, or the dreamy, vague feeling of Funeral. These are songs about life, fitting in, being comfortable, yet longing for more than safe. They alternatively praise their circumstances with a sense of accomplishment, and despair at becoming someone just like everyone expects.

"No man is an island, though some are peninsulas." - ______

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, by Seth Grahame-Smith (2010)

I admit that I felt compelled to read this book at some point in my life, and sooner came rather than later. This is a work of compelling fiction, historical inaccuracy, and ultimately thought provoking. I know that you think that I am stretching the issue a bit with the last description, but it is a book dealing with eternity vs. mortality.

Vampires live voraciously their first century, then read the classics and explore the world during their second. By their third, they have reached the height of life's potential and are desperate for an end. Most don't last beyond their third, preferring suicide to sustained torment of nothingness. When Abraham asks a vampire why such an end, the vampire replies, "Without death, life is meaningless. It is a song that can never be told. A song that can never be sung. For how would one finish it?" (page 77).

I highly recommend this book, as Grahame-Smith does a lovely job of spinning a tale out of an already well known story. He is a master restoryteller, it is not surprising that he should be accredited for starting this recent wave...

Midterms arising

I feel unprepared and weak

Press on! Seven days.

Digression

I was originally going to post a review of a series I had been reading. However, the depth of the series demanded more attention than I was at liberty to find time to write about. (I could be doing it now, but that is not where my inspiration lies).

I love to read, but now am relegated to textbooks for the main part of my life. I read a lovely essay by George Orwell called 'Politics and the English Language.' His thesis is that Englishmen feel that their language is somehow inferior to French, Greek, Latin, and other nations' dialects. Orwell defends the English language as having a charm of its own, that its death is spelled out through meaningless metaphors and foreign foolery.

The ways that English makes use of foreign phraseology only causes both grammars and syntaxes to be misused. The English form of communication is a proud tradition, and not a shameful burden upon the Western world. It is time that we cleaned house of all the useless conjunctions that we toss around merely for the affected connotation rather than literal meaning. When something needs to be communicated, do so in the simplest terms and definitions available. Take a direct route rather than a scenic meandering that loses your intended audience. I laughed at the silly, superfluous people who made such mistakes. My attitude was quickly sobered by the candid confession of Orwell, "Look back through this essay, and for certain, you will find that I have again and again committed the very faults I am protesting against." If he who has written and railed against the downfall of the English language is capable of lapses, everyone else is as well. However, in the future, I will no longer be ignorant of the faults of my oral and written information skills. Orwell's warning should breed a healthy sense of self censorship and caution when communicating.

There are a majority of fools and dreamers in this world, the knack is for discerning which is which.

Good fortune to all

And Understanding more so

Where you fall, you grow.

Dark Days

Dark days is the fourth book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series. I was put on the road to reading it by a unique person who answered, "Skulduggery" when queried about his favorite detective.

For a good reason - The main character in the series is Valkyrie Cain, a mortal who stumbles upon the realm of magic. She quickly decides that the rabbit hole of magic is worth the price of admission. She must change her name, as each human has three names - one given (limited control), one chosen (to seal the given from control), and one true one (granting absolute control when called). Valkyrie's original name was Stephenie She found that her bloodline traces back to an ancient race of power who bound the Faceless Ones. (Otherwise known as the evil gods of the universe, happens every time). Her mentor is the matchless, grinning, undead detective, Skulduggery.

He is a one of a kind character; he carrying himself with an offbeat sense of humor, unique sense of style, and biting wit that draws him as many enemies as admirers. Valkyrie is quite taken by him, trailing behind him as a sidekick to his adventures.

Valkyrie uses a simple form of magic to create a double, this reflection goes about her daily life while she studies magic. Skulduggery warns her repeatedly that she should use caution - the spell was not designed to be abused in this method. She ignores his counsel, finding magic much more fun and important than living out a normal school life. The consequences of this abuse have not yet manifested into something noticeable, but smells of a plot point yet to be revealed.

Valkyrie and Skulduggery have many allies in the magic community. Tanith Low, a leather clad twenty-something monster slayer. Tanith and Valkyrie have a sister-in-spirit relationship of mutual respect. She is the sword and muscle of the group, providing back-up in time of need.

Ghastly Bespoke, his scarred face testifies to his former career as a boxer. He now is the official tailor for the magical community at large. His clothes are imbued with subtle designs that are wrinkle-proof and ever comfortable, as well as blocking against rudimentary magic. He is reluctant to reenter the realm of actual fighting, preferring to be a support of last resort.

Fletcher Renn is the last known teleporter. He is a handsome, teenage, and has a major crush on Valkyrie. Fletcher has a high opinion of himself and his abilities, but is regarded by Valkyrie merely as being useful, and not as a serious interest.

China Sorrows, she is exotically beautiful and manipulative. I am never sure of her motives or alliances. Her special abilities are symbolic tattoos of power that cover her body. In touching them in sequence, she can access a range of abilities and effects. She is the guardian of an extensive library of ancient tomes of wisdom and curator of mystical artifacts. She feeds Valkyrie and Skulduggery information on people and places of interest.

Those are my favorite characters on the side of angels. On the opposing end there are also some intriguing characters...

Vaurien Scapegrace, Killer supreme. He is both pretentious and pathetic - in his quest to make murder into an art form, he has neglected to successfully kill one person. He is determined in his odd ideal. Valkyrie has managed to handle his escape and assassination attempts easily. He resents her for halting his spree before he even got to begin.

Springheeled Jack, this Cockney villain is intriguing because of his tendency to follow his own interests. He has a thing for killing infants and innocents. His adversary is Tanith Low, she captured him last time and he feels it is his professional duty to kill her. He hates being manipulated and will turn against anyone who tries.

Billy Ray Sanguine, he is the quintessential southern American with a lazy chip on his shoulder. He hates Valkyrie for hurting him and foiling his schemes in the past. He enjoys fighting, and with his charmed straight razor which wounds permanently its victims.

Dusk, a vampire. This is not a nice and suave character - at night, it changes form into a bloodthirsty creature that hunts and kills compulsively. Not very romantic as much as bestial.

All in all, I am waiting for the next book to come out in my local library system... The Mortal Coil. A note, I am also briskly anticipating the next Bartimaeus book in Jonathan Stroud's series.

lateness is excuse

Though hardly a lovely one

Labyrinth escape?

Chronicles of a Sojourner #3: Need an anchor

In my short and enjoyable time on earth, I have been vaguely aware of time's workings at certain points. Like Delirium in the Sandman series, I am not always conscious of the truth when I ask, "What is the name of that thing that tells you time is still working?" and her older brother, Dream, says simply. "Change".

I am given just as much of an allotment of time as anyone in this world, yet I hear myself complaining about the way I seem to lack initiative to spend it well. I am like a child expending energy in precarious situations that are a thrill, rather stop to analyze and learn from my surroundings.

As I grow, I only begin to realize how I could have spent my efforts in more fruitful areas. While others feasted on the bread of education, I chose to be distracted by the shiny treats of the temporary. Only when I use them as a supplement to my diet, rather than gorge myself greedily, will my efforts bloom into a healthy mind. I am ever lifting my head to the heavens, forgetting that I do not walk among the stars. It adds a perspective on my journey, but needs to be taken as experience to enrich the plodding of my earthly path.

For if I merely dream, I shall have no imprint or impression in reality. Opportunities will pass me by, offering themselves to more aware and astute people who would seize them eagerly.

My family is an encouraging base, but they have their own journeys to navigate, younger siblings that need a guiding hand. They may offer their support on larger obstacles, but also know that if I am to mature, I must devise my own means of surmounting challenges.

I need to commit to doing something, and follow through on its completion. This blog is a discipline, I took a month off to adjust to the transition points that I was facing in starting a new semester of higher education.

I have stated repeatedly that I thank all who read my written thoughts. I borrow a lot from my absent-minded research in my readings and observing of the brave fellows who have paved my way. Pioneers have it hard, but the knowledge that someone will learn from your thought questing adds a sense of purpose.

I hope that you enjoy reading these musings, for that is what they are, and are spurred to planning, preparation, and execution. I want to learn, and, as it is unavoidable that my journey can not be paused, I will press on. I will strive to post something every two weeks, it is a period that is wide enough to find something worth saying.

Time has passed quickly.

How was this for an August?

Thanks for readership!

Not finished yet.

I am quite aware of my irregular posting, but I have been enjoying investments I have made with my time. The multimedia that I have been sampling has been Joseph Delaney's Last Apprentice series (on the fourth book currently out of the six part series, more on that later...), Sarah Prineas's Magic Thief (loads of fun for me to visit! Also deserving its own space.), and have been listening to two Keane projects - Hopes & Fears and Night Train. My favorite from each album has been Somewhere only we Know and World goes Round (You have to help yourself), respectively, but there is hardly a mediocre song on either disc. In truth, I know little of Keane's background, and admit that their hard to find status appealed to me. Keane is not indie, technically, but is just not readily seen and heard in my experience with the mainstream. Their sound is percussion and piano overlaid with smoothly accented vocals. It holds a laid back intellectual poetry kind of feel, likened to a thoughtful stroll in a park on a day when the grass appears particularly luscious.

Now, for the Last Apprentice. The protagonist is a student of an elderly, yet strong Spook. The spook's task is to bind malignant supernatural forces that plague the county. Each apprentice must be the seventh son of a seventh son, a child gifted with the ability to see things other mortals cannot. Thomas J. Ward is the seventh son of a farmer, and, as his father is out of better options, has to be the Spook's last apprentice. Mr. John Gregory is the toughest and best spook alive, having trained all the other spooks in the county. Thomas is awed by him, but sometimes his curiosity to know about Mr. Gregory eclipses his better judgment. Thomas's only other friend is Alice, a young girl related to some of the more unsavory witches of the county. She is skilled in herb lore and getting Thomas in some tight positions. Mr. Gregory doesn't trust her fully, Thomas feels a kinship to her in feeling and often confides in her about what he learns in his training. She in turn, helps with his education in latin and witchy wisdom. Alice is not a witch... yet, but its influence pulls at her. That knowledge, combined with her willful and adventurous personality allow her to be an interesting contrast to Thomas's cautious tendencies. So far, so good with this series - I pick up an installment and it quickly hooks me each time.

Magic Thief is quite different. Its main character, Conn, has an instinctive connection to the magic of his hometown of Wellmet. His master, Nevery, is gruff and reluctant, but helps Conn out of many a scrape. Nevery is respected for his abilities, but never quite safe enough for the council of Wellmet to consider him a proper member of its inner circle of politics. Conn is a former pickpocket expert with wires - he teaches his master his trade in exchange for the room, board, and training he recieves. Conn is a quick and eager learner, Nevery likes his spunk, even though it sometimes outweighs the set view of the natures of magic. Each wizard controls and focuses his magic through a special stone by which magical energy is released. Conn is friendly and self confident, it wins him many friends as well as enemies. Among his friends are the duchesses' daughter Rowan, and Nevery's brawny housekeeper and bodyguard, Benet. It is delightful to follow Conn through scrapes and escapes as he saves Wellmet from losing its magic supply. I will start on the third book soon, just borrowed it from the library today.

I am enjoying life most happily. Hope that you are thrilled with the gift of living breath as well. You only have the present, the future is going to be shaped by what habits and actions you make and take. I have no fear - I am blessed with a patient and supportive family, and a vivacious group of friends who inspire my respect and admiration, and hold the honor of your time and attention while reading this. You are most appreciated!

Chronicles of a Sojourner #2

I find life and its participants to be a great source of amusement and fascination. Sometimes to the point of objectifying those around me, just to see their actions from a different perspective. The friends that I hold to be the most dear are those who listen and smile as I rant and muse about my stream of consciousness.

I am unique, just like everyone else. I keep on absent-mindedly returning to the phrase -"We are not physical beings in a spiritual world, but spiritual beings in a physical world." It is a curious and intriguing frame of thought for me. If I am a spirit, then the logical consequences of my actions could be defined as spiritual interaction. The way I choose to invest my time will reflect and shape my spirit or soul.

There are some moments in life in which I find that an emotion appeals to me at a deeper level than usual. At these spaces in time I am faced with a decision - do I want to savor the intricacies of such a mood, or should I pull back in a show of self-control and root myself in reason. Such self discipline will be needed as a part of the character that I would emulate to become.

However, the times when I feel moved cause me to passionately pine to do more with the skills and time given to me. I am in a formative time in my life. Will I build a practical foundation for my future, or merely enjoy and exercise my freedoms to amuse myself in the present. (To live in the moment.)

The ideal is for a balance of both measures in an attitude of moderation. Today, I find the greater temptation is to spend what you are given while you still are in the condition to do so. To trade your money for time, rather than your time for money. Both of these routes have their pros and cons. Both are allowed freedoms that, taken to an extreme, can become a subtle form of bondage.

Your habits can form a cage around you that is comfortable to your needs, you may even be unconscious of your captivity. The bars serve to protect yourself from the aspects of life that are unpleasant or exhausting to consider. Their function is to keep the world at an arms length until you feel like inviting others inside the boundaries your personal realm.

Unfortunately, all it takes is one observant person to see through your absorbed view of the world and find it to be false. That the exorbitant price to pay for your perspective is not worth the price of admission. Cages will collide, damages will be sustained, and the repairs can be either forgiven or used as an excuse for a pity party.

I try not to fall into this caged frame of mind that has been re-branded as a "comfort zone". I do not always succeed, I am at fault more times that I care to admit, but that is not a deterrent from skirting the issue. I do not want to be either mediocre or self-important.

I want to have the ability to see the truth of things as they are, not as people try to shape them to be. I have not mastered the art of discernment, it will take years of concentration and dedication. The motivation for this is not to mock the world for being, as Holden Caulfield put it, "Phony". I want to be able to understand and coax others into being freed of their constructed filters and to see the wonder of life as if through the eyes of a newborn.

This earth has so much to offer, and I take too much for granted. It gives me a delightful chill of gratitude to realize that I have all that I need before me. Money will come in time, it need not be a worry. My family loves me unconditionally, whether I merit such favor or not. My true friends will treat me as I deserve to be seen, their eyes see through my facades that I instinctively raise as part of the everyday. What I really admire about my friends is the undisguised joy that they exhibit when encountering the everyday existence of life.

The Beauty of a lily, the Music of the songbirds, the Ability to labor for their sustenance, the Sigh of satisfaction after knowing that you put forth your best effort. Friends are not given, they are to be courted, encouraged, and acknowledged as a special part of your life. With the way my friends live their lives, it inspires me to venture beyond the walls of what I know, into the glory of the untrodden soil.

This post is somehow dedicated to my friends to whom follow this project of mine, and put up patiently with my petitions for readership.

Split Ends, Twists compared.

All right, haven't posted in a while, I've been occupied reading. I just finished the Ted Dekker/Erin Healy novel Burn. I chose it because it had an eye-catching cover and Dekker consistently provides a solid thriller. Unfortunately, I always seem to feel disappointed when the twist is revealed. Dekker always has a twist, the fun part of reading is guessing what it is, then analyzing the supernatural ability's limits. His character's weakness is when they sleep, so I am guessing that he either takes a lot of naps, or at least longs to do so.
Burn takes place in a small gypsy camp in New Mexico. Janeal Mikkado is the restless daughter of Jason, the rom baro (or leader) of the camp. Her mother was gaji, and thus half-Romany Janeal is never truly accepted by the group. She loves her father deeply, but pines for an exciting life out of the kumpania. Her two best friends are kind-hearted beauty, Katie, and her boyfriend, Robert. One night, while walking the mesa, Janeal meets Salazar Sanzo. Salazar is a roguish drug dealer who is wanted by the DEA, Janeal's father is scheduled to betray him within a week. Salazar offers her a deal, $1,000,000 in exchange for her father's life. Salazar claims the money was his, but was confiscated for the sting by the DEA. Janeal finds the cash, but told Robert and Katie about her predicament. They try to convince her to ask her father's counsel, she refuses, hurt that Salazar told her of the bust before Jason. Her willfulness lands her in a situation far beyond her control. Salazar's hired men burn out and kill kumpania. He corners Janeal in the inflamed meetinghouse and offers her the lives of Jason and Katie in exchange for the promised cash. She refuses to give in to the drug lord's demands, seeing what he has already done as unforgivable. In return, Salazar kills Jason, then abandons Janeal and Katie to the conflagration. Janeal is faced with a decision that will affect her life - to save the herself and the cash, or attempt to rescue her bound friend...
Fifteen years pass, Janeal has made a new life for herself under an assumed name. She assumes herself to be the only survivor of the Mikkato massacre. Janeal is a cutthroat in the corporate world, blackmailing her boss to steal his coveted position. Janeal's past is reopened when she hears that Salazar has finally been arrested. She had made a deal with the drug lord to keep silent about that night in return for a mutual immunity from his pursuit. However, the DEA officer who apprehended Salazar was her childhood friend Robert. Janeal fears that he will discover her deception and betrayal, and prosecute her as an accomplice for the decade and a half of silence. Janeal's journeys to New Mexico to protect her new-found role as publisher of New York's most popular magazine. She expects to succeed in her mission using the same manipulative formula, playing others to get what she wants. However, Salazar's years have not dulled his cunning mind and powerful personality. He has been waiting for Janeal to return to his web, and will not be denied even in the face of his unfortunate current captivity. The game has begun, who will be burned?

As I said, there is always a twist to a Dekker novel, but that is the only high to be won from his thrillers. Another story which utilizes the same twist is Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman. In my opinion, this is far the superior book. (You have probably figured this already, I am quite consistently entertained by Gaiman's narratives.) "Fat Charlie" Nancy has been estranged from his embarrassing father by the Atlantic Ocean. Most children are ashamed of their parents at times, Charlie's father was an especially flagrant case of never stopping in causing this emotion. Charlie's unremarkable cubicle dwelling life and comfortable relationship with Rosie is wrecked by news of his father's untimely demise. As usual, Charlie's dad couldn't have had a normal death. He had been belting out a love song during karaoke night at a bar. In the middle of the song, he doubled over from a heart attack, groped a lady too close to the stage, and fell, ripping off the lady's top on his descent. Charlie is obligated to attend the funeral in America. And once there, he has a uncomfortable reunion with his childhood neighbors, a trio of eerie old ladies. They inform him that his father was the incarnation of the African trickster god, Anansi. Charlie also apparently has a brother named Spider, a fact that confuses him, as in his memory he was an only child. Once he returns to England, his agency job, and Rosie, he summons his brother on a whim. Spider arrives, and, like the Cat in the Hat, refuses to leave before he has a good time. It turns out that Spider is dashing, confident, and exhibits godlike abilities. In short, he is a personification of everything Fat Charlie wishes to be. Thus, Spider unnerves him and makes him feel even worse about his life. Spider is delighted to be in England, he soon discovers Rosie, charming her out of Charlie's arms and into his. Spider is even able to sweet talk Rosie's uptight and critical mother, who had been skeptical of Charlie. This is where the book really takes off - the interplay between the free-spirited Spider and the cautious Charlie is brilliant and engaging. The extreme measures that Charlie takes to get rid of his accomplished brother cause them both to be in danger. Anansi, their father and the roguish deity who stole the stories from the Sky god, is the quickest witted, most cunning, and clever god ever to exist. Will his sons escape the supernatural trap designed specifically for their downfall?

I lightly recommend the first for an intense and thrilling read. The second, I endorse highly as an engaging and enjoyable experience.

Falchion

Ah! A haiku, yes?
I need to think, give me time...
Nope, cannot do so.

Pain, will it ever subside?

I recently had oral surgery performed on me to extract my wisdom teeth. It was all over remarkably soon, I felt like it took all of 15 minutes to happen. I have been entertaining myself with various pieces of literature during my time of incapacity.

Storyteller, by Edward Myers.

This is a book that was pleasurable to visit. I love stories, folktales, and fables - this book is rife with stories within the main thread. It follows the adventures of a farm boy named Jack. This young fellow has a gift for telling tales that rapidly bloom inside the garden of his imagination. Many odd events are found to coincide with his stories, and they intersect upon Jack's journey in plot twists that the protagonist could not have dreamed. Characters such as Garth Golden-eye, a brigand who is notorious for having a gold coin placed over his left eye socket. Garth's appearance accounts for his feared reputation as a highway robber. There is also the Woman of the Woods, Celestina, who claims a heritage of royal descent. As she was exiled from her royal realm, she now rules over forest creatures from the queenly comfort of her cottage. Jack seeks his fortune by going to the capital city of Callitti, where he is hired by the King to be the royal storyteller. Unfortunately, Jack soon finds himself in a tangle of politics for which he never accounted. Jack is a simple and good natured person. He only wants to tell his stories to a willing audience, the perks of being royal storyteller were never his goal. The smaller tales are as enjoyable as the larger thread. The end is satisfying in a slightly familiar way, but its conclusion encourages its readers to create tales of our own with our lives.

The Bedwetter (Stories of courage, redemption, and pee), by Sarah Silverman.

The truth of this selection is that I knew little of Ms. Silverman before I read her tale. The title, subtitle, and stoic band member photo of the comedian convinced me that it was a book worth the time to read. I admit, I read it partially for the rights to saying I read such a curiously titled book.

What I learned by reading said autobiography... That Sarah seems to enjoy the awkward details of her late bloomer childhood. She learned to use foul language at toddler age, and became addicted to the shock value it generated. Thus, at 39, Sarah still pursues the high of her childhood profanity by becoming a wickedly taboo comedian. She had a bladder problem until she reached sixteen years of age, thus the title. Though she reveals her childhood to be less than ideal, she now seems to look back on it with the glee of having survived. In fact, she bares her depressed, bedwetting, divorced childhood in a way that scandalizes everybody within hearing distance. She delights in the theoretically grotesque and sickening aspects of humanity. She attempts to defy convention, to cause her audience to feel sympathy for her, then cynically reels them deeper into her psyche. This gives her the satisfaction of knowing that her dirty mind can contaminate others.

I don't recommend this book, but having read it, I understand such people a little better. But given the choice between oral surgery and reading it again, I'll take another extraction.



Oh yes, If this is not enough to make up for lost time checking if I posted anything.
A haiku series that I wrote before falling asleep one night.

Fearful prayers take wing
Darkness overshadows all
A storm is brewing

There exists hidden
Inside the legends of old
Whispers of a hero

Light and Shade shall meet
A battle of epic scale
Silent souls awake

Evil stands no rival
Right will not tolerate wrong
No truce can occur

The wisdom of fools
Permeates the strongly weak
Balance is disturbed

Only daylight breeds hope
Dusk slithers and snuffs out light
A solar eclipse

Great powers are at stake
Will there arise a victor?
Listen to the souls

Dead hold their peace
The living are conflicted
Time alone will tell.

Will Grayson(x2), an oddly compelling work.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson. I first heard of this book through Youtube. The book was written by John Green, one of the vlogbrothers, a channel I follow relatively faithfully. The channel features John and Hank Green posting videos addressed to each other concerning their lives, current events, and current events that affect lives. There is very little swearing on their nerdy and intellectual channel - they keep the show clean, informative, and entertaining. However, when I finally delved into Will Grayson, Will Grayson, my assumptions and expectations were chopped, diced, and pureed in a blender. The result was a compelling and enjoyable, but some unexpected content issues cause me to be cautionary in recommending this book.

The story follows two teen-aged boys in Illinois, who happen to share the same name. Each chapter alternates between the two Wills' perspectives. The theme of the book is tolerance, love, and freedom. While I am not against any of the previous values, I am free to disagree with how certain actions are labeled as falling under such terms. In short, this book contains a heavy dose of homosexual relationship tension. Not what I was expecting, but I duly completed the book in four hours. I am obsessive when it comes to stories, I am addicted to the journey that leads to the end. The first Will Grayson mentioned lives in Evanston, and has a best friend who is both homosexual and huge, named Tiny Cooper. (Odd) Will Grayson is not interested in Tiny as a soul-mate, their friendship comes from their habit of being together since childhood.
The other Will Grayson, well, frankly, I don't like him. It is not that he is a homosexual - he is a rude, mentally unstable, dirty mouthed young man. I don't care to read someone else's online conversations, and that is how the even numbered chapters read. (even)Will is an apathetic, suicidal mess whose only friend, Issac, was met online. Issac asks in an online chat to meet (even) Will in downtown Chicago. However, when (even) Will arrives at the arranged place, Issac is nowhere to be seen. Through a freak occurrence, (odd) Will happens to stumble upon even Will and they exchange life stories. (odd) Will sets up (even) Will with Tiny, and Tiny becomes (even) Will's new Issac. Meanwhile, (even) Will learns to not shell himself up to keep from being insulted and burned by his fears.
The climax of the story revolves around Tiny Cooper's play about love, tolerance, and truth. The moral is that the three ideals are interrelated and accountable to one another.

Sorry, John Green, this was a great story told with humor, but I prefer not to have my eyes violated by excessive profanity. I am all for you encouraging your viewers to make the world a better place, but your book did not raise my eyes to that ideal.

An update, I am Irate!

Today, I was finishing my daily tasks, when I saw a tab on Yahoo! news that Guillermo del Toro is quitting the Hobbit. What a bust! (Exclamation points show my raw emotion.)
I don't blame del Toro, it is the studio's fault that the Hobbit is not happening as planned.

"We have designed all the creatures. We've designed the sets and the wardrobe. We have done animatics and planned battles sequences ... We are very, very prepared for when it is finally triggered," del Toro said.

Then, he has to quit because of financial ( I assume, everything seems to boil down to money flow.) and contractual conflicts. I wouldn't stay in New Zealand for twice the promised time either if I was Guillermo. He has better things to do than wait for the some production official to provide the say-so that the filming could start. The whole Hobbit thing has been a mess from the beginning. But if bloggers could wrangle movies like "Snakes on a Plane" (I haven't seen it, but it is notorious for both the internet involvement and the lack of a plot). Browncoats begged for "Serenity". Loyal watchers of CBS sent in a ton of peanuts for the revival of "Jericho" (which I watched faithfully because of Skeet Ulrich and the amazing character, Hawkins.), then fans should rally to spur the Hobbit into casting, production, and filming! I had hyped that the Hobbit would be awesome if del Toro got a shot at the story. Now, it will be further postponed. Another reason I am disappointed is the Bourne series also got nixed, causing the Green Zone instead of a 4th installment. (Not nixing the Green Zone, but Jason Bourne is a compelling character).

What do I have to look forward to watching now!? I might have to just rent the Hurt Locker (I've heard it is amazing) and the Green Zone (reason stated above), and watch Iron Man 2 (as a two hour distraction). As for waiting - September for the 2nd Strain book to get a del Toro fix, and 2011-12 for more Marvel movies to come out.

Production and movie makers are killing golden geese in favor of tired cash cow projects. (i.e. Shrek 4, Sex and the City 2, and the Karate Kid.) Yes, we all know that the films will end out right, but the reality of film creation is disillusioning and depressing to me.

Falchion

My Recent Fascination with Guillermo del Toro

The truth is that I never quite intended this fan-ship of this director.
It started with Pan's Labyrinth, which I reviewed in a previous post. I was in a movie watching mood and wanted to have a taste of what the upcoming Hobbit film would look like. After all, Pan was del Toro's dream project, and that would be an accurate indicator of what the LOTR prequel would be envisioned. The visuals on that film left me curious for more, so I checked out his two Hellboy movies from the library.

The first movie was distinctive for the fact that it was both filled with more wisecracks than Spider-man and was more darkly serious than the Dark Knight. Hellboy is a paradox in himself - a demon who was raised to be a Catholic. One of his superiors tells the crimson hero what a farce the whole thing is, "The joke is that no matter how many monsters you dispatch, there will always be one left - you." Even with this kind of animosity, Hellboy still perseveres in saving a world that would abhor him living on their street. By the end of the first film, the audience learns about Hellboy's fated destiny. His intended purpose is not beneign savior of mankind, but to be its end. The perennial question of the first movie was - What defines a man - does the origin determine the life, or can a man change himself to become something better?

The second movie picks up a little while after the first ended. Hellboy's girlfriend Liz (who happens to create and manipulate fire) is, kindly put, in a dysfunctional relationship with Hellboy. They like each other, but their affectionate love for one another is not made easy by Hellboy's hygiene and Liz's paranoia. Abe Sapien, a amphibious psychic, is Hellboy's best friend and voice of reason. He is the Blue to Hellboy's Red. They do field work together. Abe is the research, Hellboy the muscle. For being almost 60years old, Hellboy is very juvenile. What defines the second film is color and effects. While the first movie had the deeper plot, the second has a faster moving action flick feel to it. My favorite parts are the sword/spear dance by the pale elven prince (just fluid motion with a fatal brilliance) and the oddly fitting scene of "Can't smile without you" being belted out by Red and Blue. (You'll understand when you see it. It is an absurd moment next to the threat of the golden army, but is also needed to make it a... different and quirky superhero movie.)

Hellboy's monstrous opponents are imbued with the bizarre touch of del Toro's mind.
There is a world of difference between del Toro and Tim Burton. Burton is weird for the sake of being weird, his movies are humanity twisted to a bizarre cliff. Del Toro's bizarreness stems from his audience's divide from having never seen a creature like that before. Del Toro depicts the unnatural in its own habitat, behaving as if it knows that earth is not its natural home. (At least in the daytime - nighttime is different.) As Hellboy's adoptive father explains, "You know those things that go bump in the night? They exist - We at the B.P.R.D. are the ones that bump back."

Right now I am reading del Toro's Strain trilogy, a reenvisioning of a horror film staple. The first book, The Strain , centers around an airplane that shut down moments after landing. All the passengers are found dead, no trace of why - There is no evidence of trauma or panic involved. Even weider discoveries await the Center for Disease Control personnel as they notice subtle details. CDC officials designate the airplane disaster as a freak occurence; Abraham Setrikan is am elderly pawnshop owner who knows better. He survived more than the holocaust in a Nazi death camp. The head of the CDC Canary project, Ephraim Goodweather, senses something is amiss. This inquisitiveness may lose him his job, but along with Abraham, they are the world's best hope at defeating an ancient hunger from stealing millions of lives.

"To that Providence, my sons, I hereby commend you, and I counsel you by way of caution to forbear from crossing the moor in those dark hours when the powers of evil are exalted." - Dr. Mortimer (Hound of the Baskervilles, By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Falchion

An Opportunistic offer

Yes, I do love thrillingly mysterious movies – ones that keep the audience wondering whether the players are great actors, or the actors great players. Allow me to clarify… Some characters in movies are imbued with an aura of illusion. When actors act in character, and in turn, their character acts out a part in the plot. This is the real magic of storytelling – Why I love Princess Bride by William Goldman. (As a sidenote: if anyone comments below, “I don’t own the Princess Bride”, I will choose six to personally recieve a copy. It is my personal pleasure to do so. ) The book is notable for Goldman writing the book three times. First authorship as Simon Morgenstern, ancient Florin historian. Secondly as William Goldman, the real author’s chosen pen name. This persona was “read” the Morgenstern classic by his florin-american father, and as an adult discovered the book to be longer than his father’s telling. Thus Goldman translated the book from the original florinese and pared it down from his tome-like size to a “good parts version”. The effect of the first two personas is that “Goldman” comments on “Morgenstern” ‘s rambling, explaining why and what he had to cut out from the original work. This leads to a level of abstraction that is incredible and remarkable. Of course, the book wouldn’t be truly great without a worthily entertaining story, which Princess Bride is. I tip my hat, my coat, and my wallet for such a feat. Thus the above offer. If there is a lack of response, I shall also be satisfied, as I have tried to provide copies to many of my friends already. (Meaning, I’ve been so good so far.)
The contract for obtaining a copy of Princess Bride. 1- You will read the book. 2- If you are not satisfied You can either return the book or pass the book on to a bibliophilic friend who does not have a copy. 3- You will write a paragraph about the book and post it as a comment to this. (This is optional, but would be nice to have. I can take your criticism… pretty well.)
Tell your friends if you like. It might take me a little while to obtain all the copies from half price books – I only buy a certain edition, but I will try to get it to my patient and faithful forum. (Yes, her and… him… not you: you are an internet troll… Ah, how could I forget? Yes, you qualify too.)
Thanks for reading.
Falchion

The Prestige – What you see is not what you saw.

One critic said that this is a movie you’ll want to see repeatedly. I happen to agree, there is so much you can miss after the first pass of the hand. I am sure you can watch this a dozen times and still miss something. This is a film project designed to deceive the eye. In the Brothers Bloom I witnessed the same quality. The magician, the con artist, and even the actor – all are professions designed to misdirect your eyes to looking away from the trick. The perfect trick leaves the audience in wonder, wanting to believe it is real. The perfect con ends with everyone getting what they wanted. The perfect acting job blends the actor into the character’s persona. Viggo Mortenson as Aragorn, Mandy Patikin as Inigo Montoya, Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow.
The Prestige utilizes jump-cuts to display key moments without the benefit of context. It opens with Robert Ansier drowning in a water tank while Alfred Borden watches. Now Borden is on trial for killing Ansier. Something happened that caused these two renowned magicians to be at each other's throats. Both has gotten their start while working together under a old has-been magician. When they broke out as solo acts, they became natural rivals, each determined to be the best magician in England. This pursuit leads to a dangerous game of sabotage and one-up-manship. Borden is the genius illusionist, creating tricks that mystify magicians. Borden is the crowd pleasing showman, amazing audiences with his building presentation of the tricks. Each magician utilizes disguises to observe the rival’s shows, systematically tearing holes in the other's best tricks. The title of best magician escalates from a grudging rivalry to a burning obsession to learn and reveal the other’s secrets. The name of Tesla, a reclusive scientific genius living in Colorado Springs, is the key to the secret of the mysterious Transported Man. A trick in which the performer "teleports" fifteen feet through a door in the air. By the end of the movie, many of the secrets appear to have unravelled, revealing many simple and ugly truths. However, as the movie ends, those truths are thrown in doubt once more, raising more questions than answers.

“Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige"." - Cutter

Fiddler on the Roof - Homeschool Style

Last night I went to the University of Indianapolis's Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center Gallery to watch this classic musical being performed by homeschoolers.
I'll be up front, one of my friends was playing the lead, so I am biased to like the play even if it was not the best. However, it surprised me with its accuracy to the beloved film, right down to the Russian dancing in the L'Chaim number and the bottle-on-head manuevers after the wedding. There were three homescholers able to do the latter. (Proving the superiority of some of our members.) Tevye did a fist shaking and bowing dance for "Tradition", and while not as unforgettable as the original, "If I was a rich man" had its own charm. The best songs though, were "Matchmaker" and Hodel's "Far from the Home I Love."
The dream sequence featuring Fruma Sarah was beautifully done, the towering specter gliding over the stage to haunt Tevye's dreams.

Please go see it, free admission can't be beaten!

Overdue post - Final Assignment

Reason for not posting last week? Reviewing for Finals to finish a semester.
This was the last writing assignment for my Journalism class. Not a review, but something I wrote:

Journalists hold a powerful privilege – the words that they use influence and shape the minds of the public. Tied to that ability is the solemn charge not only to report what is true, but to be objective in the telling. The Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics and American Association of Newspaper Editors’ canons of journalism are voluntary guidelines for media professionals to avoid inaccuracy and errors. Such codes are important because they protect the public as well as the media practitioners; shielding the journalists from libel suits and the public from hoaxes.
The three areas from which ethical guidelines are derived are professional, philosophical, and controversy. The professional area is concerned with daily conduct of journalists performing their job, such as reporting truth, checking sources, and shunning plagiarism.
The philosophical area has two schools of thought, absolutist and situational. The absolutists think in terms of clear cut right and wrong decisions. Their mindset is to search for the categorical imperative – the search for principles that hold true in all situations. The situational school of ethics believes that there exists a grey area in which decisions are moral to different degrees. John Stuart Mill, an English philosopher, wrote in 1863 of a utilitarian principle. This principle measures the morality of a decision by whether it results in the greatest good for the most people.

The last area from which ethical guidelines are derived is controversy. This field seeks to minimize conflicts of interest and other misuses of the power of media. Controversy can arise from films when directors choose to depict artistic truths rather than historical facts. Another source of controversy is fixing odds in programming so that certain people win, generating buzz over the show. In 1958, the quiz show “Twenty-one” was fixed in the favor of Columbia University student, Charles Van Duren. He was a contestant on the show for 15 weeks and won $129,000. Disgruntled opponents brought Van Duren to court, proving that he had been fed the answers and was coached on his on-air behavior. Van Duren was convicted of perjury. The court case set a precedent that cut advertisers’ authority over programming and restored that privilege to the broadcast networks.
A recent controversy arose around former New York Times reporter Jayson Blair. Blair was hired at an entry level position at 23 years of age. By 2002, he was a national reporter for the Times. His career was brought under scrutiny when a Texas paper claimed that Blair had plagiarized off of his paper. When the Times analyzed 73 of Blair’s previous articles, they discovered that 36 of them contained plagiarism, factual errors, and fabrications. Blair resigned immediately after being confronted by the Times editor. The Times’ probe into Blair’s career ran 14,000 words. This length was usually reserved for catastrophic events of global importance, demonstrating how seriously the Times took Blair’s deception.
Blair’s career serves as a warning to journalists who are self-serving and careless in their professional duties. Of the four conflicting loyalties of journalism, personal conscience is the first defense. David Schorr, television reporter, had a personal code of ethics that prevented him from reporting on the Jews modern exodus from the Soviet Union. Schorr felt that a report could jeopardize the lives of the persecuted refugees, so he withheld the story from the broadcast news.
The second duty of journalism is to one’s emplolyer. The Gannett Corporation has a set of ethical guidelines for the employees of their 100 daily newspapers. The code states that journalists should report the truth, serve the public interest, exercise fair play, maintain independence, and act with integrity.
The third duty is the artistic perspective to the journalistic profession. Journalists see themselves as carrying a beautiful banner of truth and accuracy for the world to notice. Sometimes, the obligation to the nobility of their job demands that the indiscretions of family and friends be exposed.
Finally, there is a duty to society. The Communications Act of 1934 said that broadcasters should operate “in the public interest, convenience, and necessity,” This duty involves courtesy and sensitivity to the subjects of stories, such as granting media immunity to SWAT teams in operation.
At times it is not obvious which duty is to be followed, such as in times of war. There exists a balance of keeping the public informed while respecting the need for secrecy in military maneuvers. In WWI, countries could track the enemy’s position by reading that country’s newspapers. At the other extreme is the Vietnam War, in which the U.S. government withheld reasons for remaining in a war not our own and that America could not win.

Nurse Matilda

I confess that there is only one reason I like this collection of three books. It is out of the dark pleasure of fantasizing that my large family could raise mischief similar to what is mentioned in this book. The plot is simple - Supernatural meets super nanny. Step 1 - Find house full of delightfully naughty children. (It is never mentioned just how many children are in the Brown family.) Step 2 - All other house staffs have been chased away by said mischief. Step 3 - Intervention by stern, but fair, authority figure. (The ugly nurse Matilda, whom becomes more beautiful as the children behave. Her one rule: When the children need me, but don't want me, I stay. When the children want me, but no longer need me, I leave.) Step 4 - Children misbehaving are forced to continue in their actions until it becomes no longer "fun". Step 5 - Children shape up, Matilda leaves. And the curious 6th component... Christiana Brand has the Brown children relive their wickedness in a collective nightmare where they are the victims of the pranks they pulled.

My favorite collection is the third in the series - Nurse Matilda goes the the hospital. It begins with the Brown children going to church. Their first show of force is to sing whatever hymn they want at the top of their lungs. All the other members must either join in the song or be drowned out. At the end of the service, which was on loving your neighbor, the Brown children delightedly put the minister to the test of practicing what he preached. As he shakes the hands of his congregation, the children rush around to the back entrance to emerge once again shaking the Minister's hand repeatedly. Their naughtiness is overdrawn, over-the-top, and upon hapless and clueless victims. Nurse Matilda provides their beloved nemesis who reforms them by judo flipping the force of their mischief upon their own heads. Having to be naughty defeats the purpose of snubbing rules.

In summation, it is a trilogy of outrageous misbehavior and the magic of childhood. Just don't ask me to visit them in reality, being an observer is much preferable to being a potential mark for the resourceful Brown children...