First: Sorry if I weirded anybody out with that last post. I get like that something, and it's not even really a weird mood, or being upset or anything, it's just being too smart for my own good! (yeah, right.)
So, yesterday I finished To Kill a Mockingbird--It only gave more reason to lament on the fact that I didn't have Big Mikey for American Lit. That is to say, I quite enjoyed it! It was one of the few books that are written as 'Coming of Age' novels that I actually went "Oh! It is!" for. Actually, only one of two, and the other is Demian. (Which maybe I mentioned, but I can't remember now.) But really? Lord of the Flies is 'Coming of Age'? No! It's a good book, but really I'd say it's more showing how society degrades and perverts when no one of authority can control it. Killing a fat kid (Piggy) and a kid symbolizing Jesus (Simon) hardly seems like coming of age to me... Nor does brutally murdering pigs and then going after fellow children like they're animals, or burning an island to cinders. Just saying, is all.
But! Yes! To Kill a Mockingbird! First, Atticus is my hero. Really, he's a good man. At first I thought he was kind of harsh and distant (kind, but he had a rough edge, you know?), but at the trial I fell in love with him. That scene was so damn frustrating (which I guess it's supposed to be) I was getting visibly upset. Thank God no one stopped by while I was reading through those chapters... Honestly, I was feeling embarrassed to be white. I was sitting there going "White people are such a-holes. Goddamn white people!" I mean, the Ewells were sick, to frame poor Tom. Especially the daughter! After coming onto him and such, to make it seem like--well, I'm sure the father threatened her, or couldn't admit to himself that she'd be attracted to Tom, or maybe she really is just a sour apple. But to do that--ughh. But then Atticus came in like the hero that he is and defended Tom. I don't really know much about the South in the 30's, well, lynchings were still going on, if what I've read is to be believed... and if that's the case, and if that much racism still existed, Atticus is really a good man for all those factors. And even today, as much as it saddens me to say it, he really is a capital guy. How many people today have views like his? He truly 100% believed all men were created equal. Everyone should be like that--that capital. (Wow, 1920's lingo...) But yeah. Atticus is my hero.
I think Mr Raymond's a really good guy, too, which may sound strange. But he was kind of martyring himself for the people, you know? He acts like a drunken fool so people have something real to dislike about him and to find offensive about him--instead of, or along with, the fact that he is married to a black woman. But he does it so the people... well, really won't have to change their ways... because they wouldn't be able to comprehend his marriage or his lifestyle, and he's not... not forcing them to? ("Blame it on the al-al-alcohol?") Look, I'm not very articulate, okay? But at least humor me like you get what I'm saying.
A scene I really liked is when Scout is talking about how Jem got obsessed with Egyptians, and he tells her they "invented toilet paper and perpetual embalming" and Atticus tells her "if you get rid of the adjectives you'll have the facts". I'm not really sure why I liked that scene so much--I mean, it was funny, but not uproariously so. If I wasn't so fond of it, I probably would have forgotten it by now. But it was just cute, I guess.
Aaand. The scene towards the end where Miss Gates describes democracy and asks Scout... (DISCLAIMER: I KNOW ZERO ABOUT POLITICS OR WHATEVER THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED. ) Scout says "'Equal rights for all, special privileges for none'". Suddenly, I feel as though I'm in Animal Farm. Now, like I said, I don't know much about about the governmental scope. Okay? You're getting a basically uneducated opinion/musing here. But that... that sounds like communism? Well, maybe more like Marxism. (Just to do away with the unpleasant associations, there) But, you know. Going back to Animal Farm (ANIMALS MAKE IT EASY TO UNDERSTAND DIFFICULT THINGS) "All animals are equal". Implying exactly what Scout said, right? Ignoring when it's bastardized (what a fun verb!) towards the end of Animal Farm... So... So I don't know. Just thought it was something worth making a note of, and speculating on more when I stop being too dumb to understand it well.
Oh good god look what you've begun. ... Socialism? What the--Why are there so many different names for this!? Isn't it, well, mostly the same? Or has the same base roots? Well, what I'm getting at is Oscar Wilde was for socialism... It's been a while since I've read 'The Soul of Man Under Socialism" but one point I remember very clearly is that it would be what Jesus lectured (is that the right word for it?) about--all men being equal (and none of them being more equal than others!). So... it would be the more 'holy' choice? More appealing to religious types? I don't know, I just thought I'd throw that out there while I'm on what I think is a similar subject. When I get The Collected Oscar Wilde back from Jenna I guess I'll reread it and respond for everyone who cares so much.
Today was a perfect day for some Jonathan Safran Foer, but darn those favorite English teachers of mine who have them for the summer. Curses! So I started rereading Catch-22, which I've already fallen in love with all over again. Really, it's a great book, and if you haven't read it yet... Shame on you!
I also went to the library and decided what my summer reading book will be... Doctor Zhivago. Yes, because of Into the Wild, okay? Sheesh. And yes, for the record, I did spell that 'Wilde' at first. I also checked out The Shining by Stephen King and Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut, as well as a few Bob Dylan CDs and a Franz Ferdinand CD.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Take that look from off your face, you ain't ever gonna burn my heart out
I finished War and Peace! I was unexpectedly called into work and I finished it. The first epilogue was pretty okay, like I said, I have a natural predisposition to not be too enamored with them. The second epilogue early again called forth an echo of the boy and the apple, only in this case it disproved all ponderers--it was three men's different answers for how a train moved, and how they are surely wrong, but how all three lead to what the actual answer is. For example, a peasant says the devil, another man says it is the movement of the wheels, and a third says it is the smoke. The three men realize they cannot be right, and all eventually come to the conclusion that it is the sum of the parts that keeps the iron beast moving. The second epilogue is more just Tolstoy Tolstoy Tolstoy, but I quite like him. Later he questions free will and such... That laws make it impossible for free will. Laws make the man's will bend under them and follow the law's will. And maybe man only has the illusion of free will. And that may be so, but if that's the case, I believe that there are a few... well, puppet-masters. You see, we had a discussion about this in psych. And I argued against free will because of Charles Manson. Those girls were his pawns, they were the zealots licking his boots. They committed murder for him--they killed a pregnant woman, baby and all, and spit in her face when she begged them to at least spare the baby.
But, if Manson had no free will either, how could he control? Charisma? Some sort of animal alpha-dog instinct? Follow the leader? Everyone else is controlled by the wants of a few? (objectivism?) Oh hell, I dunno.
Anyways, the book. If you're interested in French or Russian history (I have the good luck to be fond of both) you're sure to enjoy it, or at least be interested enough to press on. Before writing, it might help to have a base knowledge--but it can be really, really base. Like oh look at me name-dropping Horrible Histories. I liked the book more than I thought I would, mostly because The Brothers K made me a little leery of Russian literature. But I think I'll take out Anna Karenina for my summer reading. Or maybe Doctor Zhivago... Because of Into the Wild... Uh. Anyway. The book's really quite wonderful, it's easy to read and follow, and it reads much quicker than you'd think, too. Really. I'd read 200 pages at work and be like what the... am I on page 770 already? So. So yeah....
At the moment, I feel the need to write about, well, something different.
We happened to be looking through the old albums because my mom thought I had her mother's eyes--and while she flipped through the thing... well, first off, it was a little strange, well, one thing: my mom's grandmother she named me after had a brother named 'Tomasso'. But I couldn't help but crying, mostly to myself, I really was blinking back tears--most of these people are gone. All of these people will be gone. I was crying for people I had never met and may never meet (I don't know how I feel about the afterlife) because I felt someone has to--and maybe not even that. I was crying for that these people weren't eternal, their ways of life weren't eternal, they're mortals in a mortal world and maybe I was deep down being selfish and just crying for myself knowing that it all leads to "the same punchline". What really shook me up were the pictures of the uncles--especially Uncle Louie. Now, I was really little when he died--probably only four or five--but I still remember him and talking to him. But, I mean, he had to have been what--90? 80? He was one of the younger kids, but that had been in 1910. Maybe even earlier. But still. He was an ancient guy. There happened to be a picture of him from maybe when he was--30? Younger? He looked like James Dean, I'm not even kidding you. Like James Dean happened to be in the area and was like "You know what? I'm just gonna kneel down in that field and pick some beans". But, I mean, besides being stricken by how handsome Uncle Louie had once looked--I mean, I'm young. Younger than that, but someday I'll be that old. (Young?) Depending on when that picture was actually taken, my brother may already be that age. This won't last forever. "This, too, shall pass." And it scares me, deep down, that this can turn to that, and then that's gone. And the other uncles too, and all. And I finally got the gumption to ask my mom about--well, when I was little I basically lived at the farm, and there was a worker guy there and I remember being fond of him. I didn't have a crush on him or anything, but I thought he was funny and he was nice to me. And I've been scared to ask my mom about him--I get weird about stuff like that. Like, I'd like to know more about her father, but I'm scared to ask about him because I don't know what to call him--I don't feel comfortable saying "your dad" or "grandpa" because I didn't ever know him, but it doesn't feel right or respectful to call him Charles or Charlie. (I love that name) And, for some reason, when I asked about this worker guy, I started crying. My mom thought maybe he had done something bad to me as a child and that's not true at all, it's just... maybe I'm as scared of the past as I am of the future. Maybe my disdain for it and talking about the past is because I'm that scared. I don't know, I don't know, a million times, I don't know. Why would I cry? Maybe I was scared he had died? Well, either way, he hadn't. His name was Henry. Henry... I was thinking about it while I was waiting for the computer to boot up, and I was like, Duh. Henry. Of course! And now that I remember it, I remember people talking to him, I even remember saying his name before. I think it fits him. He reminded me of a lion, because his hair stuck out wildly like my Simba doll. I hear he lives in NY now.
I had a dream I got my class schedule and I didn't get into Rebels Without a Cause and I couldn't switch into either of the classes. You think your nightmares are so great. The best part is, no matter how stupid I think my absolute horror and fear is in the dream, cause something I'm scared of say, a tank full of sand and the idea of two scorpions in there procreating (I had a dream like this before. At one point in the dream I was so upset I collapsed in hysterical crying into my brother's friend's arms) but it's always to the extreme. I am 100% freaking the hell out. In my dream I was practically having a panic attack. But I really want that class! haha. Anyways, after I had that dream I woke up at nine and thinking I wouldn't be working I fell back asleep and had a dream that I was visiting a huge mansion that my uncle just happened to own... (I've had dreams set in it before, I remembered that because one of the doors opened to a huge creepy crawlspace that was almost like a huge open dank dungeon. With a poster of Dexter? Which was new.) but there was a girl there who had been bitchy to me for a few nights, then like the third night, she died mysteriously in her sleep. She didn't want to be dead, and apparently the grim reaper was having trouble getting in through the window (you guys laughed when I painted the house with lamb's blood!) and she didn't know what to do so she (she's a ghost at this point) ran to my room to hide/ask me to help protect her. So for two thirds of the dream I was like no, just go, you deserve to die, it won't be that bad, etc, cause I was still angry at her for whatever, but then the reaper almost grabbed hr wrist and she started to scream and I was like oh good god! What was I thinking? She doesn't deserve to die! And I kind of shielded her with my body (She had been knocked onto the ground) and I tried to take a swing at him which dur hur hur duhhh didn't work, and the second swing I tried to go for the sickle, which touching it probably would have killed me, but my mom woke me up right before I grabbed it.
Wheee. Going for a walk.
But, if Manson had no free will either, how could he control? Charisma? Some sort of animal alpha-dog instinct? Follow the leader? Everyone else is controlled by the wants of a few? (objectivism?) Oh hell, I dunno.
Anyways, the book. If you're interested in French or Russian history (I have the good luck to be fond of both) you're sure to enjoy it, or at least be interested enough to press on. Before writing, it might help to have a base knowledge--but it can be really, really base. Like oh look at me name-dropping Horrible Histories. I liked the book more than I thought I would, mostly because The Brothers K made me a little leery of Russian literature. But I think I'll take out Anna Karenina for my summer reading. Or maybe Doctor Zhivago... Because of Into the Wild... Uh. Anyway. The book's really quite wonderful, it's easy to read and follow, and it reads much quicker than you'd think, too. Really. I'd read 200 pages at work and be like what the... am I on page 770 already? So. So yeah....
At the moment, I feel the need to write about, well, something different.
We happened to be looking through the old albums because my mom thought I had her mother's eyes--and while she flipped through the thing... well, first off, it was a little strange, well, one thing: my mom's grandmother she named me after had a brother named 'Tomasso'. But I couldn't help but crying, mostly to myself, I really was blinking back tears--most of these people are gone. All of these people will be gone. I was crying for people I had never met and may never meet (I don't know how I feel about the afterlife) because I felt someone has to--and maybe not even that. I was crying for that these people weren't eternal, their ways of life weren't eternal, they're mortals in a mortal world and maybe I was deep down being selfish and just crying for myself knowing that it all leads to "the same punchline". What really shook me up were the pictures of the uncles--especially Uncle Louie. Now, I was really little when he died--probably only four or five--but I still remember him and talking to him. But, I mean, he had to have been what--90? 80? He was one of the younger kids, but that had been in 1910. Maybe even earlier. But still. He was an ancient guy. There happened to be a picture of him from maybe when he was--30? Younger? He looked like James Dean, I'm not even kidding you. Like James Dean happened to be in the area and was like "You know what? I'm just gonna kneel down in that field and pick some beans". But, I mean, besides being stricken by how handsome Uncle Louie had once looked--I mean, I'm young. Younger than that, but someday I'll be that old. (Young?) Depending on when that picture was actually taken, my brother may already be that age. This won't last forever. "This, too, shall pass." And it scares me, deep down, that this can turn to that, and then that's gone. And the other uncles too, and all. And I finally got the gumption to ask my mom about--well, when I was little I basically lived at the farm, and there was a worker guy there and I remember being fond of him. I didn't have a crush on him or anything, but I thought he was funny and he was nice to me. And I've been scared to ask my mom about him--I get weird about stuff like that. Like, I'd like to know more about her father, but I'm scared to ask about him because I don't know what to call him--I don't feel comfortable saying "your dad" or "grandpa" because I didn't ever know him, but it doesn't feel right or respectful to call him Charles or Charlie. (I love that name) And, for some reason, when I asked about this worker guy, I started crying. My mom thought maybe he had done something bad to me as a child and that's not true at all, it's just... maybe I'm as scared of the past as I am of the future. Maybe my disdain for it and talking about the past is because I'm that scared. I don't know, I don't know, a million times, I don't know. Why would I cry? Maybe I was scared he had died? Well, either way, he hadn't. His name was Henry. Henry... I was thinking about it while I was waiting for the computer to boot up, and I was like, Duh. Henry. Of course! And now that I remember it, I remember people talking to him, I even remember saying his name before. I think it fits him. He reminded me of a lion, because his hair stuck out wildly like my Simba doll. I hear he lives in NY now.
I had a dream I got my class schedule and I didn't get into Rebels Without a Cause and I couldn't switch into either of the classes. You think your nightmares are so great. The best part is, no matter how stupid I think my absolute horror and fear is in the dream, cause something I'm scared of say, a tank full of sand and the idea of two scorpions in there procreating (I had a dream like this before. At one point in the dream I was so upset I collapsed in hysterical crying into my brother's friend's arms) but it's always to the extreme. I am 100% freaking the hell out. In my dream I was practically having a panic attack. But I really want that class! haha. Anyways, after I had that dream I woke up at nine and thinking I wouldn't be working I fell back asleep and had a dream that I was visiting a huge mansion that my uncle just happened to own... (I've had dreams set in it before, I remembered that because one of the doors opened to a huge creepy crawlspace that was almost like a huge open dank dungeon. With a poster of Dexter? Which was new.) but there was a girl there who had been bitchy to me for a few nights, then like the third night, she died mysteriously in her sleep. She didn't want to be dead, and apparently the grim reaper was having trouble getting in through the window (you guys laughed when I painted the house with lamb's blood!) and she didn't know what to do so she (she's a ghost at this point) ran to my room to hide/ask me to help protect her. So for two thirds of the dream I was like no, just go, you deserve to die, it won't be that bad, etc, cause I was still angry at her for whatever, but then the reaper almost grabbed hr wrist and she started to scream and I was like oh good god! What was I thinking? She doesn't deserve to die! And I kind of shielded her with my body (She had been knocked onto the ground) and I tried to take a swing at him which dur hur hur duhhh didn't work, and the second swing I tried to go for the sickle, which touching it probably would have killed me, but my mom woke me up right before I grabbed it.
Wheee. Going for a walk.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Come gather round people, wherever you roam...
OH MY GOODNESS I FINISHED WAR AND PEACE. Well... I finished the actual War and Peace part--I still have two epilogues to fight through. I'm about eleven chapters (the last 150 pages are the two epilogues! What the--what the hell, man!?) into it. The first two or three chapters are more Tolstoy's own observations and impressions than actually being about Pierre or some such, like that little bit about the boy and the scientist and the apple. Only much longer. But, actually, I am quite fond of Tolstoy's mindset and instead of being like OH GOD I HATE EPILOGUES like I usually do (the end's the end, folks) I am quite enjoying it. I was pleased with the 'end' as well. Despite how little I thought I'd like Pierre in the beginning, I've grown quite fond of the little fellow (but he's no Mr Darcy!).
And, near the end, there was a little passage which could be taken as a spoiler, so if you're planning on reading this, I guess skip this quote and my explanation.
"Pierre's insanity consisted in not waiting, as he used to do, to discover personal attributes which he termed 'good qualities' in people before loving them; his heart was now overflowing with love, and by loving people without cause he discovered indubitable causes for loving them."
Anyone guessed why I was drawn to that? Hint: I'm a Kurt Vonnegut fan, remember? God Bless You, Mr Rosewater. See, the basis of that book is that Elliot (Mr Rosewater) is thought to be quite mad because he loves all people--even the people persecuting him--and loves nothing more than to do whatever he can to help them. He says that when someone says "God bless you, Mr Rosewater" to him is the greatest payment and makes him the happiest. So an attribute like that--one that gods and holy men are revered for possessing--apparently cannot translate into this world--not even 200 some odd years ago. (Then again, was it ever? Jesus was crucified. Maybe Elliot was intended to be a sort of modern version of that? A little?)
Okay, spoiler has ended!
Anyways, I marked a page with a quote--a double entendre, kind of. I thought it was hilarious when I read it, and at the risk of looking like I'm twelve I include it: "The French, collecting booty, cared only for gold." HAHAHA. I mean, I'm sure Tolstoy didn't mean it like that, but...
*Ahem* So I'm thinking of taking out Anna Karenina next and disregarding all those books that have just been piling up...
Definitely I like him more than Dostoevsky.
As for what's next? Well, the library is closed on Sundays (I think) so I guess I'll read another book from Meg, or take a break with something shorter... Uh. I'll do Of Mice and Men next.
And, near the end, there was a little passage which could be taken as a spoiler, so if you're planning on reading this, I guess skip this quote and my explanation.
"Pierre's insanity consisted in not waiting, as he used to do, to discover personal attributes which he termed 'good qualities' in people before loving them; his heart was now overflowing with love, and by loving people without cause he discovered indubitable causes for loving them."
Anyone guessed why I was drawn to that? Hint: I'm a Kurt Vonnegut fan, remember? God Bless You, Mr Rosewater. See, the basis of that book is that Elliot (Mr Rosewater) is thought to be quite mad because he loves all people--even the people persecuting him--and loves nothing more than to do whatever he can to help them. He says that when someone says "God bless you, Mr Rosewater" to him is the greatest payment and makes him the happiest. So an attribute like that--one that gods and holy men are revered for possessing--apparently cannot translate into this world--not even 200 some odd years ago. (Then again, was it ever? Jesus was crucified. Maybe Elliot was intended to be a sort of modern version of that? A little?)
Okay, spoiler has ended!
Anyways, I marked a page with a quote--a double entendre, kind of. I thought it was hilarious when I read it, and at the risk of looking like I'm twelve I include it: "The French, collecting booty, cared only for gold." HAHAHA. I mean, I'm sure Tolstoy didn't mean it like that, but...
*Ahem* So I'm thinking of taking out Anna Karenina next and disregarding all those books that have just been piling up...
Definitely I like him more than Dostoevsky.
As for what's next? Well, the library is closed on Sundays (I think) so I guess I'll read another book from Meg, or take a break with something shorter... Uh. I'll do Of Mice and Men next.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
We live on front porches and swing life away
I'm about 5/7ths through War and Peace! I doubt I'll finish it as soon as I expected, being that it's already Thursday, but it's really picking up now so maybe I will somehow finish it by (when am I working next?) next Thursday. Maybe even sooner. I just thought I'd mention--before reading this book, you may want to brush up on your history. The war in question is Napoleon's (ooh, spoilers!) failed Russian campaign. I sort of remembered it--well, I remembered that he got his butt whupped. Fun fact, so did Hitler. Anyways, about 250 pages ago (I read a lot today!) I had to go back to my world history notebook from freshman year. Just for quick refreshing--I also grabbed a Horrible Histories book for supplementary use as well. Anyways, that's beside the point. The point is, this whole book I've been seeing quotes I sort of like, but since this copy is so gorgeous, I've been not too keen on marking it up, you know? So I've been resisting sticking my little stubs of paper in the book and hoping WikiQuote can cover for me--but today, I had to. I found a section which--well, it may mean nothing to you. Sometimes that's the way. Actually, mostly always. But I have to inscribe it even though it will take 40 years because I love you oh so much:
"A king is history's slave."
Okay, I forgot about the short one--but here's the long one:
"When an apple ripens and falls, why does it fall? Because of the attraction the earth, because its stalk withers, because it is dried by the sun, because it grows heavier, because the wind shakes it, or because the boy standing below wants to eat it? Nothing is the cause. All this only the coincidence of conditions in which all vital organic and elemental events occur. And the botanist who finds that the apple falls because the cellular tissues decay and so forth, is equally right with the child who stands under the tree and says the apple fell because he wanted to eat it and prayed for it."
Tolstoy was using this all to prove a point about Napoleon--but it's a tasty little morsel in any case. Who's to say who's right and wrong? Both can be right. What's the difference between science and godliness? Really, depending on who it's affecting, they're interchangeable. The man splicing genes to create a new line of rodents is god to those mice. Et cetera. But, aren't they the same? Or aren't they not? It's really a matter of your own opinion. Anyways. The quote itself makes me think of The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. When the men are studying martian history--I kind of want to say it's the exploration with Spender. (Or was his name Spencer? I can't remember exactly now.) But I'm pretty sure it happened when the Captain confronted Spender/Spencer. Spender/Spencer is telling the Captain about the Martian culture--how their religion and science intertwined, so they could peacefully coexist--so they were really one and the same. In this case, it's kind of like that--the biologist may say what he believes, and the boy may say what he believes--there is equal proof for both. Perhaps the tissues just did die and so it fell. Perhaps because the boy prayed they rotted and God had it fall. Perhaps I'm just throwing my weight around here. Either way, it struck a chord and I did mark the page--with a bit of plastic bag, no less. Look, I was at work! What else was I gonna use, a zucchini!?
And, remember when I was talking about Job? Well, I was cleaning out my closet and I came across a book this girl Mary I used to be friends with gave to me a million years ago for my birthday. It's an illustrated bible, not quite for children, but not nearly of the Bible's actual reading level. And I was kind of like huh... this is sort of stupid. But for whatever reason, I decided to open it, and I happened to open upon the story of Job. Turns out, he was a rich man, and Satan (somehow) got into conversation with God (I wish they had more details on this part. It's not like they had AIM back then) and accused Job of only loving God because Job was rich. So God worked his ways and made Job poor. And he still loved God. So this turned into Satan being like "Oh yeah, well I bet he won't love you if you make him sick." So God covers the poor guy with welts or leprosy, or something nasty like that. But Job still loves him, and Satan's pissed because he's been proven wrong twice. And I didn't really read the end, to be honest, because I was impressed with Job. I would be boiling mad. Like, what the hell, man!? Well, maybe the not being rich thing not so much--but being covered in nasty diseases? After all those sacrifices? I see how it is. Then, of course for turning my back on God, I would be smote like hell, but at that point I'd probably welcome it, being covered in all sorts of terrible things I don't like thinking about.
Aaaand at work I was thinking--I know--the notion that Eve bit the apple desperate for change or to purposefully destroy paradise is a popular one. And by popular, I've maybe read it four or fives times but quiet the adults are talking sweetie. But maybe that's the only way we can think of it--that eternal happiness and leisure (I always had the assumption that Adam had to care for the animals at least partially, but I guess not) as being boring because of the fall. In Paradise Lost it's often alluded to that people can only perceive some things a certain way after the fall, and the same goes for before (but that's because Adam and Eve had yet to partake in the forbidden fruit). But it's a key point that the forbidden fruit completely wrecks how people can perceive things--senses are deadened, God can no longer be viewed directly, Satan's tongue is that much sweeter, etc. So maybe our views--and my agreement to that view ("Maybe eternal happiness was so boring that Eve biting the apple was justified"--Paraphrased off of Chuck Palahniuk)--is limited because of the Fall, whether it happened or not. Man, forget English teacher--philosophy is fun! (Is this considered philosophy?) Too bad that's not really considered a job anymore and I can't even go back in time for it cause women weren't exactly loved then... I'll just have to find Epicurus! Well, Epicurus the Sage does look like it would be fun... Which I just discovered is just the one volume. Dammit! Really!? It's such a cool comic. That is, if you're a fan of those Greeks... Emma.
And today at work a guy who looked like Kurt Vonnegut bought tomatoes. Awesome.
"A king is history's slave."
Okay, I forgot about the short one--but here's the long one:
"When an apple ripens and falls, why does it fall? Because of the attraction the earth, because its stalk withers, because it is dried by the sun, because it grows heavier, because the wind shakes it, or because the boy standing below wants to eat it? Nothing is the cause. All this only the coincidence of conditions in which all vital organic and elemental events occur. And the botanist who finds that the apple falls because the cellular tissues decay and so forth, is equally right with the child who stands under the tree and says the apple fell because he wanted to eat it and prayed for it."
Tolstoy was using this all to prove a point about Napoleon--but it's a tasty little morsel in any case. Who's to say who's right and wrong? Both can be right. What's the difference between science and godliness? Really, depending on who it's affecting, they're interchangeable. The man splicing genes to create a new line of rodents is god to those mice. Et cetera. But, aren't they the same? Or aren't they not? It's really a matter of your own opinion. Anyways. The quote itself makes me think of The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. When the men are studying martian history--I kind of want to say it's the exploration with Spender. (Or was his name Spencer? I can't remember exactly now.) But I'm pretty sure it happened when the Captain confronted Spender/Spencer. Spender/Spencer is telling the Captain about the Martian culture--how their religion and science intertwined, so they could peacefully coexist--so they were really one and the same. In this case, it's kind of like that--the biologist may say what he believes, and the boy may say what he believes--there is equal proof for both. Perhaps the tissues just did die and so it fell. Perhaps because the boy prayed they rotted and God had it fall. Perhaps I'm just throwing my weight around here. Either way, it struck a chord and I did mark the page--with a bit of plastic bag, no less. Look, I was at work! What else was I gonna use, a zucchini!?
And, remember when I was talking about Job? Well, I was cleaning out my closet and I came across a book this girl Mary I used to be friends with gave to me a million years ago for my birthday. It's an illustrated bible, not quite for children, but not nearly of the Bible's actual reading level. And I was kind of like huh... this is sort of stupid. But for whatever reason, I decided to open it, and I happened to open upon the story of Job. Turns out, he was a rich man, and Satan (somehow) got into conversation with God (I wish they had more details on this part. It's not like they had AIM back then) and accused Job of only loving God because Job was rich. So God worked his ways and made Job poor. And he still loved God. So this turned into Satan being like "Oh yeah, well I bet he won't love you if you make him sick." So God covers the poor guy with welts or leprosy, or something nasty like that. But Job still loves him, and Satan's pissed because he's been proven wrong twice. And I didn't really read the end, to be honest, because I was impressed with Job. I would be boiling mad. Like, what the hell, man!? Well, maybe the not being rich thing not so much--but being covered in nasty diseases? After all those sacrifices? I see how it is. Then, of course for turning my back on God, I would be smote like hell, but at that point I'd probably welcome it, being covered in all sorts of terrible things I don't like thinking about.
Aaaand at work I was thinking--I know--the notion that Eve bit the apple desperate for change or to purposefully destroy paradise is a popular one. And by popular, I've maybe read it four or fives times but quiet the adults are talking sweetie. But maybe that's the only way we can think of it--that eternal happiness and leisure (I always had the assumption that Adam had to care for the animals at least partially, but I guess not) as being boring because of the fall. In Paradise Lost it's often alluded to that people can only perceive some things a certain way after the fall, and the same goes for before (but that's because Adam and Eve had yet to partake in the forbidden fruit). But it's a key point that the forbidden fruit completely wrecks how people can perceive things--senses are deadened, God can no longer be viewed directly, Satan's tongue is that much sweeter, etc. So maybe our views--and my agreement to that view ("Maybe eternal happiness was so boring that Eve biting the apple was justified"--Paraphrased off of Chuck Palahniuk)--is limited because of the Fall, whether it happened or not. Man, forget English teacher--philosophy is fun! (Is this considered philosophy?) Too bad that's not really considered a job anymore and I can't even go back in time for it cause women weren't exactly loved then... I'll just have to find Epicurus! Well, Epicurus the Sage does look like it would be fun... Which I just discovered is just the one volume. Dammit! Really!? It's such a cool comic. That is, if you're a fan of those Greeks... Emma.
And today at work a guy who looked like Kurt Vonnegut bought tomatoes. Awesome.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Lights out, man
So, today work was canceled, so I'll be finishing War and Peace later than expected (like you care) but probably at least by next Wednesday. Because you care oh so much.
You know what I think is a totally overrated series/character? Sherlock Holmes. I finally took A Study in Scarlet off hold and just pulled the bookmarks out. (I was about 3/4 of the way through) It's so boring! Now, I'm not a fan of the mystery genre. But it's beyond that--Sherlock Holmes himself just pisses me off. There's something about him. He just happens to know everything. "Oh hey, I know German. And Latin. And Japanese. And L337. Oh? What's that? No, screw you, you're wrong. How do I know this isn't an attempt at spelling a name or anything else? F you is why. Oh well, I just happen to have a PhD in botany. And chemistry. And zoology. And guess what else? I'm the second coming, bitches!" Really. he just seems like a cocky, stuck-up a-hole. Who just happens to know everything, and doesn't mind throwing it around. Really man, get a girlfriend, or at least laid. An opium addiction? Really, you need something else in your life. Maybe have a few benders. Invent fraternities.
And then that jump to the West!? That's where they really lost me. Like in Jane Eyre, they always capitalize the word 'providence'. What the--did you just walk to Rhode Island!? And Holmes just spirited away to the West. No, he didn't. But where did it come from? I don't know. I'll never know. And that's great, because I don't care. Now shut up Holmes. You too, Watson. You and your... moustache. Nah, I'm kidding, we're cool. That moustache makes you a BAMF.
But, I still feel obliged to read Hound of the Baskervilles. And lie when Mrs A asks how I've been enjoying Sherlock Holmes. I always feel really bad when I hate a book teachers love, unless if it's anything Ms Byrd likes. THE SCARLET LETTER SUCKS, PEOPLE! And The Great Gatsby? More like, The Mediocre Gatsby! Yeah? Yeah? Nah, I don't blame you for not laughing...
Also, they're making a Sherlock Holmes movie (the trailer is on HP) which... well. It's got sex, explosions, and action. Which is precisely what Sherlock Holmes isn't. Trust me, drier than the turkey on Thanksgiving. And without the bread stuffing option. It feels far too modern, you know? They didn't have sex or explosions back then, guys. Come on. The closest to sex were the allegations about Oscar Wilde and the closest to explosions there were... the explosions over the controversy from Birth of a Nation. (Did I just span 20 years!? I mean, those happened right in the same time. Definitely.) But it's too modern a twist. I'll just sit at home and watch the old 1930ish or so films. Did you know?: The man famous for playing Holmes in those early films built a castle which is in East Haddam, CT? I've never been, but it looks interesting enough.
And, ten thousand years ago, my teacher put the Their Eyes Were Watching God audio book on my flash drive--I finally got around to listening to... the first half of part one. Speaking of books I lied to my teachers about because I felt too bad to say how I really felt about it... Look, I didn't quite hate it, but I was not fond of it at all. Ugh. Although I'm sure some of it can be attributed to the fact that I couldn't 'connect' with the main character hardly at all. I mean, we were both female. Great. That's it. And I could follow it, but really... but really, this is about my opinion of books. It wasn't boring, it just didn't hook me. I guess someone somewhere must like it, but I can't imagine it. Not even either of the teachers who love it so. But maybe it's like Catcher in the Rye, either you love it, or you want to burn the book. I liked it. Not like one of those people who treat it like their bible, but it was a pretty good book. Just so you know my stance on it.
You know what I think is a totally overrated series/character? Sherlock Holmes. I finally took A Study in Scarlet off hold and just pulled the bookmarks out. (I was about 3/4 of the way through) It's so boring! Now, I'm not a fan of the mystery genre. But it's beyond that--Sherlock Holmes himself just pisses me off. There's something about him. He just happens to know everything. "Oh hey, I know German. And Latin. And Japanese. And L337. Oh? What's that? No, screw you, you're wrong. How do I know this isn't an attempt at spelling a name or anything else? F you is why. Oh well, I just happen to have a PhD in botany. And chemistry. And zoology. And guess what else? I'm the second coming, bitches!" Really. he just seems like a cocky, stuck-up a-hole. Who just happens to know everything, and doesn't mind throwing it around. Really man, get a girlfriend, or at least laid. An opium addiction? Really, you need something else in your life. Maybe have a few benders. Invent fraternities.
And then that jump to the West!? That's where they really lost me. Like in Jane Eyre, they always capitalize the word 'providence'. What the--did you just walk to Rhode Island!? And Holmes just spirited away to the West. No, he didn't. But where did it come from? I don't know. I'll never know. And that's great, because I don't care. Now shut up Holmes. You too, Watson. You and your... moustache. Nah, I'm kidding, we're cool. That moustache makes you a BAMF.
But, I still feel obliged to read Hound of the Baskervilles. And lie when Mrs A asks how I've been enjoying Sherlock Holmes. I always feel really bad when I hate a book teachers love, unless if it's anything Ms Byrd likes. THE SCARLET LETTER SUCKS, PEOPLE! And The Great Gatsby? More like, The Mediocre Gatsby! Yeah? Yeah? Nah, I don't blame you for not laughing...
Also, they're making a Sherlock Holmes movie (the trailer is on HP) which... well. It's got sex, explosions, and action. Which is precisely what Sherlock Holmes isn't. Trust me, drier than the turkey on Thanksgiving. And without the bread stuffing option. It feels far too modern, you know? They didn't have sex or explosions back then, guys. Come on. The closest to sex were the allegations about Oscar Wilde and the closest to explosions there were... the explosions over the controversy from Birth of a Nation. (Did I just span 20 years!? I mean, those happened right in the same time. Definitely.) But it's too modern a twist. I'll just sit at home and watch the old 1930ish or so films. Did you know?: The man famous for playing Holmes in those early films built a castle which is in East Haddam, CT? I've never been, but it looks interesting enough.
And, ten thousand years ago, my teacher put the Their Eyes Were Watching God audio book on my flash drive--I finally got around to listening to... the first half of part one. Speaking of books I lied to my teachers about because I felt too bad to say how I really felt about it... Look, I didn't quite hate it, but I was not fond of it at all. Ugh. Although I'm sure some of it can be attributed to the fact that I couldn't 'connect' with the main character hardly at all. I mean, we were both female. Great. That's it. And I could follow it, but really... but really, this is about my opinion of books. It wasn't boring, it just didn't hook me. I guess someone somewhere must like it, but I can't imagine it. Not even either of the teachers who love it so. But maybe it's like Catcher in the Rye, either you love it, or you want to burn the book. I liked it. Not like one of those people who treat it like their bible, but it was a pretty good book. Just so you know my stance on it.
Monday, July 20, 2009
As he faced the sun he cast no shadow
So, to please my drunk, possibly paraplegic sister Emma, I'm updating! Well, also cause I finished Survivor for the 756795546th time. I was reading it on the side, because it's much easier to carry around than War and Peace. Anyways. As you've gathered, because I've written about it before, I am quite fond of the book, and Palahniuk in general. I can't really say much more for it than has already been said in the quotes on the covers--look, it's a good book. Not only that, it's still new every time. Invisible Monsters and Fight Club I know down pat. No longer do I read Invisible Monsters with that sunken feeling under my skin--that's how many times I've read it. But this, when they bring up Fertility Hollis's evil job, I'm always like what the--what is it? Is she a prostitute? An abortionist? Hm? And I never remember what happens to Adam. And Tender is so different in the second half of the book that I vaguely know, kind of remember, what will be, but I don't really remember at all. It kind of comes back, but not fully until it's fully there for me. I don't know what black magic was used to give the book this flavor, but it probably has something to do with the fact that Chuck is God--hey, someone had to fill Vonnegut's shoes. (No? No takers? 'Kay.) *Ahem* Well. I always cite Invisible Monsters as my favorite of his, and really I think it is ("Rip yourself open. Sew yourself shut.") but Survivor just seems... I dunno, meatier, I guess. It strikes me as the most developed of his writings--at least from what I've read. And Tender is the most character character. I mean, he actually changes and grows and stuff. I mean... the most. And whenever I reread his books (except Diary--that scene where he puts the pin through his nipple grossed me out too much to even think about rereading it ever) I always draw out rereading this to the very last bit... Like I'm scared. And I can't imagine of what. Maybe that it'll lose its flavor for me? That I'll start feeling like Fertility when I read it?
Speaking of him, Jackii (after watching The Jane Austen Book Club) decided she'd start a CP book club. So, if you're in the area and interested... Emma.... feel free to ask about it. The first rule about CP book club is, of course, don't talk about CP book club. Blog about it if you dare, though. Go on. You'll earn your name.
I also discovered Narnia today. Turns out there is a doorway from CT, and it's right in Emma's house. I'm totally jealous! I want a doorway to Narnia! But minus the bears and that creepy butterfly/moth thingy. Those I can do without.
So, in a blinding revelation over a tomato sandwich and a book of vampire stories, I realized why we call God 'God'. I mean, you know, cause other gods have cool names--like Athena, Vishnu, David Bowie, etc--but God is just God--he's still in the 'noun' stage. But duh! He refers to himself in the Old Testament, I believe when Moses is talking to the burning bush and asks "Who are you?", as "I Am that I Am". Basically he's saying exactly that. He is God, but he's a God, I mean, the God, but he doesn't need a fancy name really, because he is what he is.
So... so I just thought I'd share that with everyone.
Speaking of him, Jackii (after watching The Jane Austen Book Club) decided she'd start a CP book club. So, if you're in the area and interested... Emma.... feel free to ask about it. The first rule about CP book club is, of course, don't talk about CP book club. Blog about it if you dare, though. Go on. You'll earn your name.
I also discovered Narnia today. Turns out there is a doorway from CT, and it's right in Emma's house. I'm totally jealous! I want a doorway to Narnia! But minus the bears and that creepy butterfly/moth thingy. Those I can do without.
So, in a blinding revelation over a tomato sandwich and a book of vampire stories, I realized why we call God 'God'. I mean, you know, cause other gods have cool names--like Athena, Vishnu, David Bowie, etc--but God is just God--he's still in the 'noun' stage. But duh! He refers to himself in the Old Testament, I believe when Moses is talking to the burning bush and asks "Who are you?", as "I Am that I Am". Basically he's saying exactly that. He is God, but he's a God, I mean, the God, but he doesn't need a fancy name really, because he is what he is.
So... so I just thought I'd share that with everyone.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
What an amazing discovery!
You may have noticed that the title is not song lyrics! (At least, not that I'm aware...) For a very important announcement no-one else would care about so I have no-one else to inform!
June 13th I believe it was... the local library was collecting used books to sell and raise money for whatever. I mean, June 13th was the actual day of the sale, though. And there, there were a few books with bindings from about the late twenties-late 40's. (Yes, I can tell the differences. They really aren't that hard to recognize.) And because I am in love with old books (mostly for their bindings, because I'm a superficial whore) I was looking them over carefully, hoping I'd find something I'd like, or was on Marky Mark's list or some such so I could buy one of these gorgeous old gems. Luckily, there was an HG Wells novel--The Autocracy of Mr. Parham. Now, I hadn't read the book, and I still have yet to (about a hundred fifty pages under being halfway through War and Peace) but I like HG Wells, so how could bad could it be? (That's what I said about The Shape of Things to Come, too...) Either way, I got a really sweet book.
No, wait! That's not the end of it! Come back! I'm not just some big loser dork who talks about book bindings! (Well... that's debatable...) So I happened to be on Wikipedia and I was like hey... I'll look up the date for that HG Wells book I bought. Originally published in 1930. Now, I'm thinking this is too good to be true. Why? My copy was printed in 1930. I have a first edition HG Wells book--and I bought it for two dollars at a tag sale! OH HELL YEAH THAT'S SWEET.
I'm gonna end up like those old people on those 'Antique Roadshow' shows. Shit.
June 13th I believe it was... the local library was collecting used books to sell and raise money for whatever. I mean, June 13th was the actual day of the sale, though. And there, there were a few books with bindings from about the late twenties-late 40's. (Yes, I can tell the differences. They really aren't that hard to recognize.) And because I am in love with old books (mostly for their bindings, because I'm a superficial whore) I was looking them over carefully, hoping I'd find something I'd like, or was on Marky Mark's list or some such so I could buy one of these gorgeous old gems. Luckily, there was an HG Wells novel--The Autocracy of Mr. Parham. Now, I hadn't read the book, and I still have yet to (about a hundred fifty pages under being halfway through War and Peace) but I like HG Wells, so how could bad could it be? (That's what I said about The Shape of Things to Come, too...) Either way, I got a really sweet book.
No, wait! That's not the end of it! Come back! I'm not just some big loser dork who talks about book bindings! (Well... that's debatable...) So I happened to be on Wikipedia and I was like hey... I'll look up the date for that HG Wells book I bought. Originally published in 1930. Now, I'm thinking this is too good to be true. Why? My copy was printed in 1930. I have a first edition HG Wells book--and I bought it for two dollars at a tag sale! OH HELL YEAH THAT'S SWEET.
I'm gonna end up like those old people on those 'Antique Roadshow' shows. Shit.
Friday, July 17, 2009
That's what I'm waiting for, arent I?
I am here to inform you of the travesty that the Breakfast of Champions movie is. This movie is absolutely disgusting--not like gross, but its adaption from the book is disgusting. I know I constantly complain about the people who watch Harry Potter movies and need to exercise every minuscule detail to the point of death and are so fine-tuned to picking out flaws they can't even pay attention to the movie (#4, when I said the scene with the dragons was cool, and a friend I've mine took that as invitation into a long rant about how that was not in the book, and how every other detail that would have made the movie longer than your average city block was not in the book) but talk about raping Vonnegut's genius. He described it as "painful to watch", and he was right. Ugh. What I hated the most was that disgustingly sweet ending. Sure, he was arrested, but how cute, Dwayne's insanity has been destroyed because he loves his wife so much and he loves his son again, and his son loves him back even after his dad slammed his face into the keyboard key's and jammed him into the piano (Bunny's kinder than me. I'd never talk to my dad again if he did that. I might even kill him.) and Trout... I was so disappointed at that. I wanted to see that absolute despair--something wrenching and powerful. Something that would make me feel like my heart was breaking--which it absolutely did at the end of the book, because of what I imagined. (Does my love for that absolute desperation and hopelessness make me sick?)
But--this is where you'll think me to be really sick--I was disappointed Trout was "made young again". The reason why that scene is so powerful, I think, because he realizes that his life is just a plaything--it has been squandered for the... amusement seems too cruel, but it's the best I can do. For the amusement of Vonnegut. He doesn't want to die, he wants that ignorance back, he wanted to just be able to putter along again. But hell. in the movie it was just "oh, you're young again. Look, here's heaven! Let's go! lalalala..." ugh. NO. As I've said earlier, as desirable as happy endings can be, sometimes you need that grim twist of reality. Not only that, they never explained leaks and mirrors, so that bit was lost. Like when Trout hears some guy call the mirror a leak and looks shocked. That's awesome. Why does he care? Ugh. Stop I can't think about it anymore. Buy the book, burn the movie. And not illegally. I mean, in a fire pit.
My awesome friends threw me a coming-home party : ) I'm gonna sound like a huge mushy dork but hey. I thought it was really sweet. Honestly, I was really touched. I mean, I was happy to be hanging out with everybody, but when Meg said "yeah, this is supposed to be a welcome back party" I was like--you guys! Really!? I love you guys! *cries tears of joy in some corner because I really am a big mushy baby* Anyways. Thanks for putting that together, guys!!! I love you!!!
1/3 of the way through War and Peace...
But--this is where you'll think me to be really sick--I was disappointed Trout was "made young again". The reason why that scene is so powerful, I think, because he realizes that his life is just a plaything--it has been squandered for the... amusement seems too cruel, but it's the best I can do. For the amusement of Vonnegut. He doesn't want to die, he wants that ignorance back, he wanted to just be able to putter along again. But hell. in the movie it was just "oh, you're young again. Look, here's heaven! Let's go! lalalala..." ugh. NO. As I've said earlier, as desirable as happy endings can be, sometimes you need that grim twist of reality. Not only that, they never explained leaks and mirrors, so that bit was lost. Like when Trout hears some guy call the mirror a leak and looks shocked. That's awesome. Why does he care? Ugh. Stop I can't think about it anymore. Buy the book, burn the movie. And not illegally. I mean, in a fire pit.
My awesome friends threw me a coming-home party : ) I'm gonna sound like a huge mushy dork but hey. I thought it was really sweet. Honestly, I was really touched. I mean, I was happy to be hanging out with everybody, but when Meg said "yeah, this is supposed to be a welcome back party" I was like--you guys! Really!? I love you guys! *cries tears of joy in some corner because I really am a big mushy baby* Anyways. Thanks for putting that together, guys!!! I love you!!!
1/3 of the way through War and Peace...
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Bye bye baby, Cybil says as she walks out the door
Harry Potter 6! Saw the midnight showing! It was... greeaaaat! (channeling Tony the Tiger, in case you didn't catch that) I have a few complaints, Ginny's actress sucks (brought to my attention by Jackii), JK Rowling couldn't write romance if she was Nora Roberts (not really the movie's fault, but I thought I'd just let the world know) and there was so little time spent on the book! It played so much more of a pivotal role in the book! (I don't exactly remember why, it's been a while, but shut your mouth) But, the damned movie is named after the half-blood prince, and we don't even find out why Snape is the half-blood prince. Just: "I am the half-blood prince." What a melodramatic scene! Everyone practically peed their pants in the book, but this was just like oh, ps, im teh half-blood prinz kthx luv you bai. It means nothing because we didn't discover anything! And maybe it was explained in the next novel, but I doubt it! I mean, it's named after Snape... so... so don't screw up that scene. but it's too late. Anywayyys. Jackii, I still love Snape.
The lady playing Bellatrix is an amazing actor. Like, you want to rip Bellatrix's sorry little [deleted] pansy-ass [deleted]-licking-[deleted] bloody [deleted] spit-mouth head off, but at the same time you're like damn... she's good. But really, watching this movie alone, I'm going to be screaming at the TV. I get intense watching movies or even TV (and cry babyish) and I had some trouble resisting screaming even there. Really. like... "Have some respect for the dead! He's dead! He has been murdered, you [deleted]!" etc. And more intense. Trust me, it would be pretty vile. I could strangle her myself, in any case.
Ah, the scene during the dance/party. When Snape was yelling at Draco, and Draco was making that weird scowl but I might just break down in tears face? Totally thought they were gonna kiss. Like not even being a freaky fangirl, I was totally expecting them to just lock lips, there. Heck, if I was that close I'd kiss him. I can see it now... "Professor McGonagall, Angela's trying to jump on Professor Snape again!" *ahem* What!? Anyways. If I was in Hogwarts, I'd do my very best to become deeply involved in a taboo student-teacher romance with him. True story. But, uhm, going back to the movie, when Snape took him out into the hall? Totally 17 Again.
And, of course, I cried. When Draco was crying I cried with him, and when Harry was yelling at Snape while following him. I don't want to give away the ending for all three of you who didn't read the book.
Ah yes, and I went with Jackii and CJ, which was very fun! Jackii made butter beer which most likely made me a diabetic, but it was good. She made mead too, but i didn't try it. I slept over her place afterwards, and Sarah came later too, but I was out like a light by then.
My next-door neighbor sat next to me in the theater too... Kind of awkward, cause he hardly even said hi.... more awkward at the end when I sat up and my skirt popped up to a hair from showing off my undies. Never wear a skirt in a movie theater. I'm going as Snape next time.
There was a guy dressed as the Whomping Willow. When he came in he announced "I am the Whomping Willow and I just made this costume five minutes ago in the parking lot!" LOL. His outfit was basically a tree branch (or maybe it was from a bush) sticking out of a towel tucked around his neck. Wheeee.
The lady playing Bellatrix is an amazing actor. Like, you want to rip Bellatrix's sorry little [deleted] pansy-ass [deleted]-licking-[deleted] bloody [deleted] spit-mouth head off, but at the same time you're like damn... she's good. But really, watching this movie alone, I'm going to be screaming at the TV. I get intense watching movies or even TV (and cry babyish) and I had some trouble resisting screaming even there. Really. like... "Have some respect for the dead! He's dead! He has been murdered, you [deleted]!" etc. And more intense. Trust me, it would be pretty vile. I could strangle her myself, in any case.
Ah, the scene during the dance/party. When Snape was yelling at Draco, and Draco was making that weird scowl but I might just break down in tears face? Totally thought they were gonna kiss. Like not even being a freaky fangirl, I was totally expecting them to just lock lips, there. Heck, if I was that close I'd kiss him. I can see it now... "Professor McGonagall, Angela's trying to jump on Professor Snape again!" *ahem* What!? Anyways. If I was in Hogwarts, I'd do my very best to become deeply involved in a taboo student-teacher romance with him. True story. But, uhm, going back to the movie, when Snape took him out into the hall? Totally 17 Again.
And, of course, I cried. When Draco was crying I cried with him, and when Harry was yelling at Snape while following him. I don't want to give away the ending for all three of you who didn't read the book.
Ah yes, and I went with Jackii and CJ, which was very fun! Jackii made butter beer which most likely made me a diabetic, but it was good. She made mead too, but i didn't try it. I slept over her place afterwards, and Sarah came later too, but I was out like a light by then.
My next-door neighbor sat next to me in the theater too... Kind of awkward, cause he hardly even said hi.... more awkward at the end when I sat up and my skirt popped up to a hair from showing off my undies. Never wear a skirt in a movie theater. I'm going as Snape next time.
There was a guy dressed as the Whomping Willow. When he came in he announced "I am the Whomping Willow and I just made this costume five minutes ago in the parking lot!" LOL. His outfit was basically a tree branch (or maybe it was from a bush) sticking out of a towel tucked around his neck. Wheeee.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Last year's wishes are this year's apologies
So.. I got all embarrassed that CJ and Jackii would be reading that mis-mosh of a last post... so I felt the need to do a mini follow-up and kind of draw more on the Satan/Tyler Durden thing.
Well, any leader of a rebellion could be put as similar to Satan, really. It's just, Tyler's the first one to come to mind. But really:
First: Tyler started the Fight Club. This attracted those people who were fed up with... dare i say it? 'the man', for lack of a better way, and who needed release, who needed to 'wreck' themselves--sort of lone wolves. Kind of.
I doubt Satan started his own Angel Fight Club (that would do hell on wings, no? Eek.) but somehow, he managed to sniff out angels who were equally as fed up as their version of 'the man'--God. Tired of living under government and law and order and such. Err, god. Law and order and such. Those whom he could attract with his sweet tongue (he's known for being 'the great seducer') became interested and intrigued--enough to follow him back home. Kind of like with Angel face? This sounded better in my head.
They were both commanders of great charisma--which is an important point... Griffith. (Berserk, for those of you who don't get it. Griffith is basically Satan with an angel's face and charisma, slowly leading the medieval world to ruin... picking up the lost and beaten who are desperate for a leader... of course.)
So Tyler Durden is just a convenient, easy comparison--really, any charismatic whomever who led a (successful) rebellion (there is no doubt in my mind that after the book, the Flight Club was able to exist on its own, eventually Tyler came out, and all hell broke lose). But, in that case, Tyler being banished into the recesses of Jack's brain for X amount of time, to start something new X amount of years later... sounds familiar, huh? I'm sure Palahniuk didn't plan that, though. Maybe. Anyways. Take this as you will, as I suck at explaining.
Yesterday I was feverish, so I started Post Office by Bukowski, so in case if I threw up I wouldn't be throwing up on one of Meg's books. I finished it at work today (I was feeling well enough to go in, rest assured!)... I don't think it was as... idk, meaty as Factotum. (Is that even the right word?) but it was by far funnier. One of my favorite scenes was the scene where Chinaski cooks lots of sea food in celebration--and he cooks some snails up in "golden butter" as part of the meal. He's loving it, as he should be, but his then-girl, Joyce, won't eat them. Why? Because "'They all have tiny little assholes!'" HAHAHA! I just about died when I read that. I'm not entirely sure why it struck me as so funny, or why it still does, but whatever the reason, all in all, it cracks me up. Funny book.
After I finished it, I spent maybe twenty minutes staring at its publishing company's logo trying to figure out what other book I owned by 'ecco'. Factotum. Duh.
Let's see, I finished Jane Eyre too. Ehh.... I thought it was quite mediocre. The whole of it rather bored me, the interlude when she discovers her cousin was hardly necessary, and it appears she marries at the end out of pity. Perhaps I missed the point, which is possible, because the whole damned thing was like slogging through mud, but really. If the Bronte sisters found this acceptable for print, I'm scared to read Wuthering Heights.
...Which, in any case, won't be for a while. I decided to bite the bullet and read War and Peace. I'd much rather enjoy the beautiful quality of the copy of it I own... It's bound in real leather... has gold-tinted protection to prevent page-ripping and fraying... and it's bound so it looks like it was printed in the '30's or '40's, even though at anything more than a cursory glance you can tell it hasn't been... but still...
Well, any leader of a rebellion could be put as similar to Satan, really. It's just, Tyler's the first one to come to mind. But really:
First: Tyler started the Fight Club. This attracted those people who were fed up with... dare i say it? 'the man', for lack of a better way, and who needed release, who needed to 'wreck' themselves--sort of lone wolves. Kind of.
I doubt Satan started his own Angel Fight Club (that would do hell on wings, no? Eek.) but somehow, he managed to sniff out angels who were equally as fed up as their version of 'the man'--God. Tired of living under government and law and order and such. Err, god. Law and order and such. Those whom he could attract with his sweet tongue (he's known for being 'the great seducer') became interested and intrigued--enough to follow him back home. Kind of like with Angel face? This sounded better in my head.
They were both commanders of great charisma--which is an important point... Griffith. (Berserk, for those of you who don't get it. Griffith is basically Satan with an angel's face and charisma, slowly leading the medieval world to ruin... picking up the lost and beaten who are desperate for a leader... of course.)
So Tyler Durden is just a convenient, easy comparison--really, any charismatic whomever who led a (successful) rebellion (there is no doubt in my mind that after the book, the Flight Club was able to exist on its own, eventually Tyler came out, and all hell broke lose). But, in that case, Tyler being banished into the recesses of Jack's brain for X amount of time, to start something new X amount of years later... sounds familiar, huh? I'm sure Palahniuk didn't plan that, though. Maybe. Anyways. Take this as you will, as I suck at explaining.
Yesterday I was feverish, so I started Post Office by Bukowski, so in case if I threw up I wouldn't be throwing up on one of Meg's books. I finished it at work today (I was feeling well enough to go in, rest assured!)... I don't think it was as... idk, meaty as Factotum. (Is that even the right word?) but it was by far funnier. One of my favorite scenes was the scene where Chinaski cooks lots of sea food in celebration--and he cooks some snails up in "golden butter" as part of the meal. He's loving it, as he should be, but his then-girl, Joyce, won't eat them. Why? Because "'They all have tiny little assholes!'" HAHAHA! I just about died when I read that. I'm not entirely sure why it struck me as so funny, or why it still does, but whatever the reason, all in all, it cracks me up. Funny book.
After I finished it, I spent maybe twenty minutes staring at its publishing company's logo trying to figure out what other book I owned by 'ecco'. Factotum. Duh.
Let's see, I finished Jane Eyre too. Ehh.... I thought it was quite mediocre. The whole of it rather bored me, the interlude when she discovers her cousin was hardly necessary, and it appears she marries at the end out of pity. Perhaps I missed the point, which is possible, because the whole damned thing was like slogging through mud, but really. If the Bronte sisters found this acceptable for print, I'm scared to read Wuthering Heights.
...Which, in any case, won't be for a while. I decided to bite the bullet and read War and Peace. I'd much rather enjoy the beautiful quality of the copy of it I own... It's bound in real leather... has gold-tinted protection to prevent page-ripping and fraying... and it's bound so it looks like it was printed in the '30's or '40's, even though at anything more than a cursory glance you can tell it hasn't been... but still...
Saturday, July 11, 2009
You can stop the truth from leaking if you never stop believing...
I finished Damian today. I liked it more than Journey to the East, though both endings left me equally as cold. I mean, they're like... they don't really leave loose ends... but they do. They don't seem... conclusive enough. I mean, (spoilers!) it was obvious Damian had died, and they were almost the same... alpha and omega, yin and yang--they were two people that were really the same person, kind of. But I just... didn't like the ending. But I don't know how Hermann could have improved or changed it or anything, so I guess I can't complain. But I still think the ending was 'ehh...'
But, yeah, I think the point was--like Abraxas, the two of them sort of... became one, at the end, after Damian had died, but was still alive, or had become a part of Emil. But I guess that's not completely true, because Emil had gone down to the lowest pit--so they both had the capability for Abraxas. But upon meeting (and falling in love with) Damian's mother Emil kind of found his muse, his redemption, his holy muse, and saw light again. But Damian was never really evil--he just saw things differently. He was just a little different. He had the mark of Cain, as he said, though I think he meant it quite literally by the end--not just referring to the vibes he gave off, but a literal mark, somehow, passed on...
And Damian's mother, the Muse, an angel in her own right. "some hybrid mother slash lover/ she’d soothe and heal his wounds / And kiss those dying ears so softly that the reaper stops to swoon" Well, that's what I got of her, and the description of her... well, undoubtedly it makes her appear like a goddess or angel. The both of them, mother and son, appeared to have the divine and all. (and while we're thinking of yellow cat/red cat, I'm starting to feel like the lonely goat who feeds 'him' quotes...)
And, there's one section where Emil speaks with a school mate about resisting sexual contact or temptation... and by doing so, the longer you can resist it or live without it or whatever, the 'purer' you become. And it made me think of a bit in Paradise Lost (which I completely forgot about finishing... aw, crud...) where... Well, I can't remember the exact line, but the line is translated at the bottom of the page (this is the B&N edition) to its basic meaning. Basically, the line is saying that the angels have sex (I think what it actually said was 'sensual love', but, really...) all the time. Which befuddles me. How come it's okay for them to constantly be fooling around, but humankind is punished for it? John Milton doesn't bother explaining or dwelling on the subject, and he appears to be the only writer who has that thought... I mean, I'm not saying, go whore around! St Peter won't mind! Tell him John Milton made you do it! (That'd make an awesome shirt...) But I just don't get it. Then again, in Murder Mysteries (a comic book spearheaded by Neil Gaiman) the two angels who are first to love and have sex (well, they have more 'sensual love' than anything else--the angels in the book were simply eunuchs, so they couldn't really 'have sex') are eventually both killed. With love and sex comes jealousy, hatred and murder? Well, I'm not surprised.
Anyways. I sure don't get it. It's kind of unfair with that double standard. Now, keep in mind, Paradise Lost is sympathetic towards Satan... but... supposedly the reason he became disgusted and left... well, I've heard several different stories... one of which was that Satan was not allowed to 'touch' (ie, be near or be in the presence of him) the deity Job, which I don't understand. Job is a human in the bible, so unless we're going by a Vonnegut-ish sense of time, that just doesn't work. Maybe. In Murder Mysteries, he left God because he could not see what was 'just' in the killing of a fellow angel. He was the first to cry, so Vengeance said. Of course, that's sympathetic for him too. But really? I think he is a character who needs sympathy, which sounds weird, I know. No matter what, I have the feeling that what bugged him, was maybe the sort of inconsistencies he saw. Not the sex thing, either. Maybe the hierarchies, in the case of Job. He was jealous, alright, but if God's playing favorites... He didn't want to be a nothing, one of the multitude, a faceless angel in a flock of angels. Let me paraphrase Chuck Palahniuk for the ninety thousandth time in my life: What would rather be, God's worst enemy or nothing at all? Who doesn't want to be noticed, who doesn't want to be remembered? Their fifteen minutes of fame? Satan is more human than you'd think. Is that want to be something evil? Let me paraphrase you-guess-who again... How your dream will drive you insane and then kill you. That is, he became consumed with that want--it didn't kill him, but let's say he's humankind's prolonged martyr. Heaven's Tyler Durden.
Holy God.
I never realized that before. Huh. Damn. Well.
I believe I've shocked myself.
But there are so many similarities! (Minus, the idea of the Fight Club, but Tyler himself...)
...
I don't think Palahniuk meant it that way, but...
Woah.
I... I was going to continue... but...
Oh hell, I might as well. Going back to Murder Mysteries, it's also possible something shattered his loyalty. And he wanted to create something better, or he just "wanted something better" in general. And again, he's a human. "If being born makes your parents God, then puberty makes you Satan for wanting something better"--Guess Who. I've only name-dropped him like five times. He's too human not sympathize with, really. I reject what he has been bastardized into. Maybe it happened that way because us humans were scared to recognize, after all stories had been told and such (did the base story for Paradise Lost exist before Milton wrote it?) it was feared to be like... well, that kind of explains those strict puritanical rules and such. The expulsion of all similarities, mayhaps? Well, I dunno. It's late, okay? I guess in this case, there's really no backbone text like the Bible you can sort of rely on. Well, you know. Anyways, I think I'm gonna head off.
....
I better do a dissertation or something on this in college.
But, yeah, I think the point was--like Abraxas, the two of them sort of... became one, at the end, after Damian had died, but was still alive, or had become a part of Emil. But I guess that's not completely true, because Emil had gone down to the lowest pit--so they both had the capability for Abraxas. But upon meeting (and falling in love with) Damian's mother Emil kind of found his muse, his redemption, his holy muse, and saw light again. But Damian was never really evil--he just saw things differently. He was just a little different. He had the mark of Cain, as he said, though I think he meant it quite literally by the end--not just referring to the vibes he gave off, but a literal mark, somehow, passed on...
And Damian's mother, the Muse, an angel in her own right. "some hybrid mother slash lover/ she’d soothe and heal his wounds / And kiss those dying ears so softly that the reaper stops to swoon" Well, that's what I got of her, and the description of her... well, undoubtedly it makes her appear like a goddess or angel. The both of them, mother and son, appeared to have the divine and all. (and while we're thinking of yellow cat/red cat, I'm starting to feel like the lonely goat who feeds 'him' quotes...)
And, there's one section where Emil speaks with a school mate about resisting sexual contact or temptation... and by doing so, the longer you can resist it or live without it or whatever, the 'purer' you become. And it made me think of a bit in Paradise Lost (which I completely forgot about finishing... aw, crud...) where... Well, I can't remember the exact line, but the line is translated at the bottom of the page (this is the B&N edition) to its basic meaning. Basically, the line is saying that the angels have sex (I think what it actually said was 'sensual love', but, really...) all the time. Which befuddles me. How come it's okay for them to constantly be fooling around, but humankind is punished for it? John Milton doesn't bother explaining or dwelling on the subject, and he appears to be the only writer who has that thought... I mean, I'm not saying, go whore around! St Peter won't mind! Tell him John Milton made you do it! (That'd make an awesome shirt...) But I just don't get it. Then again, in Murder Mysteries (a comic book spearheaded by Neil Gaiman) the two angels who are first to love and have sex (well, they have more 'sensual love' than anything else--the angels in the book were simply eunuchs, so they couldn't really 'have sex') are eventually both killed. With love and sex comes jealousy, hatred and murder? Well, I'm not surprised.
Anyways. I sure don't get it. It's kind of unfair with that double standard. Now, keep in mind, Paradise Lost is sympathetic towards Satan... but... supposedly the reason he became disgusted and left... well, I've heard several different stories... one of which was that Satan was not allowed to 'touch' (ie, be near or be in the presence of him) the deity Job, which I don't understand. Job is a human in the bible, so unless we're going by a Vonnegut-ish sense of time, that just doesn't work. Maybe. In Murder Mysteries, he left God because he could not see what was 'just' in the killing of a fellow angel. He was the first to cry, so Vengeance said. Of course, that's sympathetic for him too. But really? I think he is a character who needs sympathy, which sounds weird, I know. No matter what, I have the feeling that what bugged him, was maybe the sort of inconsistencies he saw. Not the sex thing, either. Maybe the hierarchies, in the case of Job. He was jealous, alright, but if God's playing favorites... He didn't want to be a nothing, one of the multitude, a faceless angel in a flock of angels. Let me paraphrase Chuck Palahniuk for the ninety thousandth time in my life: What would rather be, God's worst enemy or nothing at all? Who doesn't want to be noticed, who doesn't want to be remembered? Their fifteen minutes of fame? Satan is more human than you'd think. Is that want to be something evil? Let me paraphrase you-guess-who again... How your dream will drive you insane and then kill you. That is, he became consumed with that want--it didn't kill him, but let's say he's humankind's prolonged martyr. Heaven's Tyler Durden.
Holy God.
I never realized that before. Huh. Damn. Well.
I believe I've shocked myself.
But there are so many similarities! (Minus, the idea of the Fight Club, but Tyler himself...)
...
I don't think Palahniuk meant it that way, but...
Woah.
I... I was going to continue... but...
Oh hell, I might as well. Going back to Murder Mysteries, it's also possible something shattered his loyalty. And he wanted to create something better, or he just "wanted something better" in general. And again, he's a human. "If being born makes your parents God, then puberty makes you Satan for wanting something better"--Guess Who. I've only name-dropped him like five times. He's too human not sympathize with, really. I reject what he has been bastardized into. Maybe it happened that way because us humans were scared to recognize, after all stories had been told and such (did the base story for Paradise Lost exist before Milton wrote it?) it was feared to be like... well, that kind of explains those strict puritanical rules and such. The expulsion of all similarities, mayhaps? Well, I dunno. It's late, okay? I guess in this case, there's really no backbone text like the Bible you can sort of rely on. Well, you know. Anyways, I think I'm gonna head off.
....
I better do a dissertation or something on this in college.
Friday, July 10, 2009
I'll take my clothes off, and it will be shameless, cause everyone knows that's how you get famous
Just got back from an eve of debauchery with Jackii! For once, however, we were not almost kicked out of any stores today--shocking, eh? So. She got (notice the use of the word 'got') Demian and... and... Could that have been it? Maybe? Well. I was going to choose a random Michael Chabon book, but they're all the size of a house--so I got Post Office by Bukowski--it was the only book by him there. Already I'm a little disheartened by it though, now that I've actually had a chance to read the back. It seems Chinaski is the 'hero' of this too... and I'm assuming it's set after Factotum because it mentions that he's given "ten years to the postal service"... so... I always assumed at the end of Factotum Chinaski just went off and died in some gutter somewhere--I always thought that end "I couldn't get it up" was supposed to be... well, symbolic. Yes, I found it symbolic that he couldn't get a boner, okay? I figured it meant (oh god, this always sounds so ridiculous when I try to explain it) that it was like his life--he wouldn't be able to 'get it up' that is, recover from his gutter-crawling, boozing state--and that shortly after that he'd starve, or die of alcohol poisoning, or... something... uhm... So. I guess I'm angry he's not dead? Okay, look, sometimes it's better that way! I would have personally murdered Palahniuk if Survivor had had a happy ending. I mean, you think you'd love one, but when you think about it, sometimes they just don't work. As much as you'd like them to. (And no, I haven't figured out how he could have saved himself--was it obvious?)
And, as you've gathered, I guess, I'm in the midst of Demian. I like it more than Journey to the East, that's for sure. It's kind of reminding me of Angela's Ashes, and even a little of Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. The theme of the search for good versus and evil and such, Emil's growing up and various epiphanies, sometimes given to him by Demian and sometimes him realizing it himself--for example, when he realizes the world isn't just black and white... well, they didn't have Animorphs back then, so he had to learn somehow. But yeah, at the moment he's drinking himself into constant stupors (oh hey, Chinaski!) and it's like Angela's Ashes, only that McCourt was sleeping around (for a Catholic schoolboy, he got loads of action) as opposed to the drinking. It's a kind of cursory connection but hey. You write a book reaction out of the school year. Yeah. That's what I thought.
And there was one book in the store about Rasputin--unfortunately, it was written by the hackneyed untalented man who wrote a book on Czar Nicholas II which I also read in France... I can't remember the book's specific title, nor can I remember his exact name... something like Edvard Radulovich? The point is, I wouldn't get it, because he is just a crappy writer. Even James Patterson beat him out. James Patterson beat you. Let that sink in, bro. You suck! The book... it was L&C's Antichrist. My inner mind commentary through the whole book was basically "That was another fragment, asshole! HEY! Pick a goddamn tense and stick with it! God!" I'm not even kidding you. That book is the bible of what not ever to do when writing. Marky Marky would not approve! It's a wonder I didn't go irrevocably insane during the process of reading it. The only reason I could press on is because the revolution interests me so... Unfortunately, the book made it pretty clear that no Romanovs survived. *sigh* You see (oh god here she goes....)
It is mentioned briefly that Anastasia had a King Charles spaniel that was small enough so that she could carry it around in her muff, or puffy princess sleeves. After the family was shot and killed, one of the generals on the scene reported that he was quite shocked when the corpse of a small dog fell from the sleeve of one of the girl's bodies. So most likely, that's an x for Anastasia as well, unless the dog managed to be some sort of shield, which even so... And okay, two of the bodies were missing--and they gave the names Alexei and Anastasia. But it's likely the names were just being pulled out of a hat, there. It could have been Tatiana... (I'll get back to that thought!) and Alexei surviving is the stupidest--sorry, but the kid was a hemophiliac. He was shot a ridiculous number of times, because he just wouldn't die--Not only that, he was stabbed with a bayonet. Even if he somehow managed to escape the troops (crawling? How?) he would have very easily bled out within, say, four or five hours at the most. And it must have been excruciating--just bruising his knee made him unable to stand and walk around, so I can't help but discredit any idea that he could have survived. Well, maybe if Rasputin was around... But he had been dead for quite sometime at that point... and yes, I know it sounds somewhat unintelligent, but I do believe Grigori had some sort of inexplicable power. That's why I wanted to get a book on him, and look more into the existence or nonexistence of it, but Edvard "I suck" got in the way of it.
What I said about Tatiana--well, apparently, a dazed and all but in shock girl claimed that she was the Romanov princess--but then claimed she was Anastasia later on. The dog thing makes me feel doubtful it was Anastasia, but the girl was practically in shell shock, and if it was the truth, you can't really blame her for being so befuddled. Being the only survivor of your family's regicide is an event that really tends to leave a mark on you. At the time of the writing, there was no conclusive evidence regarding her lineage... that is, genetic tests or some such, but 'Little K', Niocholas's former girlfriend when shown a picture of the girl (whose name was not even included! Mrs A would not approve of that--) said something along the lines of that their (the girl's and Czar Nicholas II) eyes and their faces were too similar... you'd never forget the intensity of those eyes, etc. I mean, that's not perfect, by no means... but. Well, I guess I'll have a chance to do more research on the subject when I find books regarding it that are written by someone who knows how to write. I'll get back to you guys on this one.
Anyways. Here're some pictures from France... That is, Oscar Wilde's grave.
And, for added fun--guess which set of lipstick is from me!:
.... It's actually really hard to see in that photo....
And, as you've gathered, I guess, I'm in the midst of Demian. I like it more than Journey to the East, that's for sure. It's kind of reminding me of Angela's Ashes, and even a little of Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. The theme of the search for good versus and evil and such, Emil's growing up and various epiphanies, sometimes given to him by Demian and sometimes him realizing it himself--for example, when he realizes the world isn't just black and white... well, they didn't have Animorphs back then, so he had to learn somehow. But yeah, at the moment he's drinking himself into constant stupors (oh hey, Chinaski!) and it's like Angela's Ashes, only that McCourt was sleeping around (for a Catholic schoolboy, he got loads of action) as opposed to the drinking. It's a kind of cursory connection but hey. You write a book reaction out of the school year. Yeah. That's what I thought.
And there was one book in the store about Rasputin--unfortunately, it was written by the hackneyed untalented man who wrote a book on Czar Nicholas II which I also read in France... I can't remember the book's specific title, nor can I remember his exact name... something like Edvard Radulovich? The point is, I wouldn't get it, because he is just a crappy writer. Even James Patterson beat him out. James Patterson beat you. Let that sink in, bro. You suck! The book... it was L&C's Antichrist. My inner mind commentary through the whole book was basically "That was another fragment, asshole! HEY! Pick a goddamn tense and stick with it! God!" I'm not even kidding you. That book is the bible of what not ever to do when writing. Marky Marky would not approve! It's a wonder I didn't go irrevocably insane during the process of reading it. The only reason I could press on is because the revolution interests me so... Unfortunately, the book made it pretty clear that no Romanovs survived. *sigh* You see (oh god here she goes....)
It is mentioned briefly that Anastasia had a King Charles spaniel that was small enough so that she could carry it around in her muff, or puffy princess sleeves. After the family was shot and killed, one of the generals on the scene reported that he was quite shocked when the corpse of a small dog fell from the sleeve of one of the girl's bodies. So most likely, that's an x for Anastasia as well, unless the dog managed to be some sort of shield, which even so... And okay, two of the bodies were missing--and they gave the names Alexei and Anastasia. But it's likely the names were just being pulled out of a hat, there. It could have been Tatiana... (I'll get back to that thought!) and Alexei surviving is the stupidest--sorry, but the kid was a hemophiliac. He was shot a ridiculous number of times, because he just wouldn't die--Not only that, he was stabbed with a bayonet. Even if he somehow managed to escape the troops (crawling? How?) he would have very easily bled out within, say, four or five hours at the most. And it must have been excruciating--just bruising his knee made him unable to stand and walk around, so I can't help but discredit any idea that he could have survived. Well, maybe if Rasputin was around... But he had been dead for quite sometime at that point... and yes, I know it sounds somewhat unintelligent, but I do believe Grigori had some sort of inexplicable power. That's why I wanted to get a book on him, and look more into the existence or nonexistence of it, but Edvard "I suck" got in the way of it.
What I said about Tatiana--well, apparently, a dazed and all but in shock girl claimed that she was the Romanov princess--but then claimed she was Anastasia later on. The dog thing makes me feel doubtful it was Anastasia, but the girl was practically in shell shock, and if it was the truth, you can't really blame her for being so befuddled. Being the only survivor of your family's regicide is an event that really tends to leave a mark on you. At the time of the writing, there was no conclusive evidence regarding her lineage... that is, genetic tests or some such, but 'Little K', Niocholas's former girlfriend when shown a picture of the girl (whose name was not even included! Mrs A would not approve of that--) said something along the lines of that their (the girl's and Czar Nicholas II) eyes and their faces were too similar... you'd never forget the intensity of those eyes, etc. I mean, that's not perfect, by no means... but. Well, I guess I'll have a chance to do more research on the subject when I find books regarding it that are written by someone who knows how to write. I'll get back to you guys on this one.
Anyways. Here're some pictures from France... That is, Oscar Wilde's grave.
And, for added fun--guess which set of lipstick is from me!:
.... It's actually really hard to see in that photo....
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Have you heard? There's a rumor in St. Petersburg...
OH HAI I'M BACK
So. Earlier today, I finished rereading The Odyssey for the umpteenth time. (Seriously, where the hell is the underline button?) I still love it EMMA but the one thing that bothers me (and always has) is the way Homer constantly describes Clytemnestra--basically, a dirty back-stabbing bitch. For those of you who didn't spend your childhood reading Greek mythology/history I'll give you the short of it: Clytemnestra's husband goes off to fight in the Trojan war--he makes it back alive to discover his honey bun has taken a lover and oops, the two of them have been plotting, and the two new lovebirds murder him.
Now wait, before you start agreeing with Homer, here's her side: The navy tries to sail out to Troy for weeks and into months (I don't remember the exact length of time) because the winds keep blowing their boats back to port. The only way to stop this? Sacrifice a maiden. Agamemnon (the hubby) decides his daughter Iphigenia will be the perfect maiden. Naturally, Clytemnestra rejects the idea, but lovely hubby goes and takes her anyways without telling his wife. So, understandably, she's an eensy bit pissed. Now, to top that off, when he comes back, he's got a second wife. Although I think it's a little strange that wife #2 (Cassandra) could supposedly see the future... so what the hell was she thinking, hooking up with him? (She was murdered too)
But yeah. I'd say that murder was justified--maybe not the murder of Cassandra, but Agamemnon deserved it. But Homer just goes on and on about how terrible she was... failing to mention any of this with sacrificing the daughter and all... Okay, okay, "for the gods and all" but if someone sacrificed my kid to the gods I'd probably kill them. And it's a little troublesome that Aggy wasn't the least bit against the killing of his daughter... But, then again, my first introduction to this story was in The Groovy Greeks--which was very sympathetic for Clytemnestra, being that it was written from her point of view. So maybe it's just me that thinks this... well, Emma agrees too I think. We had this conversation already! lol. But yeah. If you think Clytemnestra was being an unjust faithless murderous wife, she and her lover were murdered shortly afterward by her twins, Orestes and Electra, who were pursued by the Furies until Athena pardoned them. (Athena! No!!!) Ah, those Greeks are a fun bunch, aren't they? And in conclusion, check out the Horrible Histories series--the earlier books in the series, like The Groovy Greeks or The Awesome Egyptians. Yes, I just plugged a series of books meant for fourth graders. These books are awesome.
And, while I was in France, I finished The Brothers Karamazov and Pride and Prejudice.
The Brothers K... That book... The beginning, I got very little, other than scenes where Alyosha was the focus. I rather liked Alyosha, and not just because his name is fun to say, at least how I think you pronounce it. The scenes with him were interesting, especially the thoughts on religion and such, unfortunately I cannot cite any at the moment, because I handed the book off to my brother who will most likely pull out all my bookmarks. So until about halfway through, or the point at which 'Stinking Lizaveta's' story was first told, I was just kind of treading water. After her story, I got and could follow probably every other event in the story. Not that I understood everything I could follow, for example, the interlude revolving around the 'murdered' dog--where did that come from!? So, I will have to reread it, but not any time soon. I started Demian by Hermann Hesse and after that I have a million other books--including but not limited to Middlemarch and War and Peace. That is to say, I'll probably have long since killed myself before I get around to rereading The Brothers K.
Pride and Prejudice was awesome and I loved it, which I'm sure you've gathered. Of course, I love Mr. Darcy now... Well, I liked him before (I saw the movie two or three years ago) but the book adds about a million. Especially at the end when Elizabeth asks him about his going about loving her--"I cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." <3 class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Mind me hopping in the TARDIS and getting you? And David Tennant? Sounds good! But yeah, I'm totally a fangirl for him now. We need to get the Twilight tweeners to read this, so they can recognize a character worth fawning over... and read an uncrappy book. Actually, forget it, they can keep being in love with Edward. More Darcy for me. But yeah, now I have no choice but to watch the movie again and take it seriously--take it seriously? Well, I actually tried rewatching the movie in... February? March? And I had a difficult time, being that Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy) is secretly my english teacher. I mean, they look similar. Only that. They're definitely not the same person. Except for the part where they are.
And now, since I'm still on France time, I believe I'll go play some Pokemon. Wow, two posts in, and it's already obvious I'm a huge dork.
So. Earlier today, I finished rereading The Odyssey for the umpteenth time. (Seriously, where the hell is the underline button?) I still love it EMMA but the one thing that bothers me (and always has) is the way Homer constantly describes Clytemnestra--basically, a dirty back-stabbing bitch. For those of you who didn't spend your childhood reading Greek mythology/history I'll give you the short of it: Clytemnestra's husband goes off to fight in the Trojan war--he makes it back alive to discover his honey bun has taken a lover and oops, the two of them have been plotting, and the two new lovebirds murder him.
Now wait, before you start agreeing with Homer, here's her side: The navy tries to sail out to Troy for weeks and into months (I don't remember the exact length of time) because the winds keep blowing their boats back to port. The only way to stop this? Sacrifice a maiden. Agamemnon (the hubby) decides his daughter Iphigenia will be the perfect maiden. Naturally, Clytemnestra rejects the idea, but lovely hubby goes and takes her anyways without telling his wife. So, understandably, she's an eensy bit pissed. Now, to top that off, when he comes back, he's got a second wife. Although I think it's a little strange that wife #2 (Cassandra) could supposedly see the future... so what the hell was she thinking, hooking up with him? (She was murdered too)
But yeah. I'd say that murder was justified--maybe not the murder of Cassandra, but Agamemnon deserved it. But Homer just goes on and on about how terrible she was... failing to mention any of this with sacrificing the daughter and all... Okay, okay, "for the gods and all" but if someone sacrificed my kid to the gods I'd probably kill them. And it's a little troublesome that Aggy wasn't the least bit against the killing of his daughter... But, then again, my first introduction to this story was in The Groovy Greeks--which was very sympathetic for Clytemnestra, being that it was written from her point of view. So maybe it's just me that thinks this... well, Emma agrees too I think. We had this conversation already! lol. But yeah. If you think Clytemnestra was being an unjust faithless murderous wife, she and her lover were murdered shortly afterward by her twins, Orestes and Electra, who were pursued by the Furies until Athena pardoned them. (Athena! No!!!) Ah, those Greeks are a fun bunch, aren't they? And in conclusion, check out the Horrible Histories series--the earlier books in the series, like The Groovy Greeks or The Awesome Egyptians. Yes, I just plugged a series of books meant for fourth graders. These books are awesome.
And, while I was in France, I finished The Brothers Karamazov and Pride and Prejudice.
The Brothers K... That book... The beginning, I got very little, other than scenes where Alyosha was the focus. I rather liked Alyosha, and not just because his name is fun to say, at least how I think you pronounce it. The scenes with him were interesting, especially the thoughts on religion and such, unfortunately I cannot cite any at the moment, because I handed the book off to my brother who will most likely pull out all my bookmarks. So until about halfway through, or the point at which 'Stinking Lizaveta's' story was first told, I was just kind of treading water. After her story, I got and could follow probably every other event in the story. Not that I understood everything I could follow, for example, the interlude revolving around the 'murdered' dog--where did that come from!? So, I will have to reread it, but not any time soon. I started Demian by Hermann Hesse and after that I have a million other books--including but not limited to Middlemarch and War and Peace. That is to say, I'll probably have long since killed myself before I get around to rereading The Brothers K.
Pride and Prejudice was awesome and I loved it, which I'm sure you've gathered. Of course, I love Mr. Darcy now... Well, I liked him before (I saw the movie two or three years ago) but the book adds about a million. Especially at the end when Elizabeth asks him about his going about loving her--"I cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." <3 class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Mind me hopping in the TARDIS and getting you? And David Tennant? Sounds good! But yeah, I'm totally a fangirl for him now. We need to get the Twilight tweeners to read this, so they can recognize a character worth fawning over... and read an uncrappy book. Actually, forget it, they can keep being in love with Edward. More Darcy for me. But yeah, now I have no choice but to watch the movie again and take it seriously--take it seriously? Well, I actually tried rewatching the movie in... February? March? And I had a difficult time, being that Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy) is secretly my english teacher. I mean, they look similar. Only that. They're definitely not the same person. Except for the part where they are.
And now, since I'm still on France time, I believe I'll go play some Pokemon. Wow, two posts in, and it's already obvious I'm a huge dork.
Getting Started
Oh goodness! It appears I have seconded a blog. I mean, made a second blog. Secondated... I like the sound of secondated. as in, whilst blogging, I secondated onto blogger.com so Emma could read it because she's too lazy to make a xanga. : P
Anyways... This one is going to be a less crappy one than my last blog, as in, it will be awesomely intelligent all the time, not just when I write 4 page long responses to Desolation Angels. What the... There's no underline button? This is madness! But... yeah. My old xanga will still be posted on, this will be more for trying to make it look like I have half a brain. For example:
The other day I was in the Eiffel Tower (this is true) and while I was walking, a disturbing thought caused me to stop dead in my tracks. In the book Crabwalk the main character (whose name I forgot) says his mother was pregnant with him when she was ten. Ten!? And he also brings up that it would have been "impossible to say for sure" who the father was. She--but she was ten! A pregnant ten year old!? A whoring-around nine-year-old!? What sort of man (men) would even go for that!? Good lord.
No, I don't know why that thought hit me whilst perusing the Tower. It just kind of realized itself. Gunter Grass... Gunter Grass! What the hell, man? And for those of you going "Ang, you read that like a month ago... two months..." Please, that book was like sleepwalking and a delayd time bomb's lovechild. I mean that, while sleepwalking (ie, reading it) you're kind of there, sort of getting everything, and for that time you get it, even if the reactions are delayed (it took me about five pages before the shooting scene kicked in) but as soon as you wake up (ie, finish it) it's almost completely eradicated, until something triggers the memory. And delayed time-bomb because things in the book didn't have an impact until, like I said, five pages later, or in this case, a month and a half later.
Soooooo. More later tonight. HI EMMA!
Anyways... This one is going to be a less crappy one than my last blog, as in, it will be awesomely intelligent all the time, not just when I write 4 page long responses to Desolation Angels. What the... There's no underline button? This is madness! But... yeah. My old xanga will still be posted on, this will be more for trying to make it look like I have half a brain. For example:
The other day I was in the Eiffel Tower (this is true) and while I was walking, a disturbing thought caused me to stop dead in my tracks. In the book Crabwalk the main character (whose name I forgot) says his mother was pregnant with him when she was ten. Ten!? And he also brings up that it would have been "impossible to say for sure" who the father was. She--but she was ten! A pregnant ten year old!? A whoring-around nine-year-old!? What sort of man (men) would even go for that!? Good lord.
No, I don't know why that thought hit me whilst perusing the Tower. It just kind of realized itself. Gunter Grass... Gunter Grass! What the hell, man? And for those of you going "Ang, you read that like a month ago... two months..." Please, that book was like sleepwalking and a delayd time bomb's lovechild. I mean that, while sleepwalking (ie, reading it) you're kind of there, sort of getting everything, and for that time you get it, even if the reactions are delayed (it took me about five pages before the shooting scene kicked in) but as soon as you wake up (ie, finish it) it's almost completely eradicated, until something triggers the memory. And delayed time-bomb because things in the book didn't have an impact until, like I said, five pages later, or in this case, a month and a half later.
Soooooo. More later tonight. HI EMMA!
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