Is it dorky to say I've been looking foward to this post for 3 weeks? We've been doing not-book related posts, and so I couldnt use this topic. I had it all planned out. I would open a fresh empty blog post, put on Adele- Chasing Pavements on my iPod, and write an amazing topic on my amazing idea
Well, my iPod's dead, and this post isn't fresh and empty anymore, but I can stilll write my blogpost.
I was looking around my recently, and I picked up two books. The Hunger Games, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I re-read these two books all the time, and usually I'm reading more than one book, but never both of these amazing books! I was a tab bit worried about my mind not being able to keep track of the 2 stories, but I started them anyways.
Then I noticed something. In The Hunger Games, Primroses name is entered into the hunger game raffle at age twelve -- thats right, a little 12 year old fighting to the death . And during the battle of hogwarts, in Harry Potter (admitedly the dirst book not the seventh), little eleven-year old Harry has to face Voldemort.
Oh hey my iPod's charged. Maybe now the post will get good.
Why is it that my two favorite female fantasy authors are writing that little kids- not even teenagers- are risking their lives. I should say that in Harry Potter it is for the "greater good" (ha-ha a little joke on Dumbledore's behalf) and in The Hunger Games its just cold-hearted slaughter for the entertainment of the rich and fat (that right there deserves a post). But still. They should be at home learning times tables, not out fighting. That's what I was doing.
True, these brave young one learn valuable lessons if they survive, but for whatever reason, I don't think its worth it. Or right. It's sick of whoever made these rules. Though, to play devil's advocate on myself, Why do they deserve to live anymore than anyone else?
I guess its just a fact that we all live with. We think people younger than us are weaker, more innocent and vulnerable, and, having gotten to live less life then us, we think they should have more time here.
Or is that just me????
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
My first blog-mentor-thing is Nina's blogpost on books for boy target audiences and girls reading. Firstly, I loved this post because I could completely relate to it. Being a girl, I also have tried to read a lot of "boy books". But I always get bored of them because I can't relate. I remember I used to read very girly books in 5th grade, about girls heading off to middleschool, and even though they were short and frivolous, I could relate because I was going through the same thing, and so I could read them.
I could write my second ALLSTAR!!! mentor post on any post of her blog really, but i choose this one because It got me thinking. Hannah's posts are always very provacative (thought provoking). This one in particular. It made me thing about how as we grow older, we seem to forget what it's like to be young. We condescend people younger then us, because OBVIOUSLY if we're older, we're smarter.
Right?
No. Maybe in some ways yes, because we do get more education. But that doesn't make us emotionally smarter. Adolescense is an age where you're full of emotions and can form connections with things. As we grow older, it seems we sort of emotionally disconnect. And we forget that we knew things when we were younger. Yes, we knew about sex and drugs and alcohol when we younger.
But we consider those "mature, grown-up topics", and pretend that just because we say they're for grown up, that means they really are for grown ups and kids dont know abouth them.
Sorry, this was supposed to be a paragraph right?
My third allstar mentor post I picked because It was something I thought only I had noticed. (If you havn't read Harry Potter 1-7 you probably won't get this, but you probably have read them. Because who hasnt?)
She falls in love with Harry because he is THE-BOY-WHO-LIVED. She used her coniving red-head (joking, i have nothing against redheads) ways to lure him into loving her! Its ridiculous. Plus she seems very shallow. Maybe its because of how deeply all the other characters are developed, or maybe its because she really is. She seems like an unimportant character. If J.K. Rowling had killed her off during the Battle of Hogwarts, no one would have cared. Harry could marry Cho Chang. Because at least he actually liked her. I stand by my theory that Harry only likes Ginny because she convinced him to and because he doesn't know what love is. (Sure, the whole theme of the book is real love conquers evil, but all Harry's loved are gone. Basically, Harry would love anything that could live.)
I could write my second ALLSTAR!!! mentor post on any post of her blog really, but i choose this one because It got me thinking. Hannah's posts are always very provacative (thought provoking). This one in particular. It made me thing about how as we grow older, we seem to forget what it's like to be young. We condescend people younger then us, because OBVIOUSLY if we're older, we're smarter.
Right?
No. Maybe in some ways yes, because we do get more education. But that doesn't make us emotionally smarter. Adolescense is an age where you're full of emotions and can form connections with things. As we grow older, it seems we sort of emotionally disconnect. And we forget that we knew things when we were younger. Yes, we knew about sex and drugs and alcohol when we younger.
But we consider those "mature, grown-up topics", and pretend that just because we say they're for grown up, that means they really are for grown ups and kids dont know abouth them.
Sorry, this was supposed to be a paragraph right?
My third allstar mentor post I picked because It was something I thought only I had noticed. (If you havn't read Harry Potter 1-7 you probably won't get this, but you probably have read them. Because who hasnt?)
Ginny Weasly is a obnoxious, famewhore brat.
She falls in love with Harry because he is THE-BOY-WHO-LIVED. She used her coniving red-head (joking, i have nothing against redheads) ways to lure him into loving her! Its ridiculous. Plus she seems very shallow. Maybe its because of how deeply all the other characters are developed, or maybe its because she really is. She seems like an unimportant character. If J.K. Rowling had killed her off during the Battle of Hogwarts, no one would have cared. Harry could marry Cho Chang. Because at least he actually liked her. I stand by my theory that Harry only likes Ginny because she convinced him to and because he doesn't know what love is. (Sure, the whole theme of the book is real love conquers evil, but all Harry's loved are gone. Basically, Harry would love anything that could live.)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Is This Art?
I would, of course
Love to say
I understand Art
I'd like to say somethign clever
It is the musings of one's mind
But I can't
I dont really know
And yet, I find myself thinking
Art?
Is this it?
Squares?
T shapes?
Different shades of the same color?
Art, at some point
Went from being a recreation
Something that took talent
But admittedly no imagination
To this...
You could say anythings art
A chair, with a blanket thrown over it
So what is art now?
The talent?
Or the willingness to put yourself out there, and declare to everyone
This is me. This is art.
Picture: Absract Painting, Red By Ad Reinhardt
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Only One Way out of the Labirynth
Looking For Alaska *Spoilers spoilers spoilers*
At the start of every chapter, it said ___ days before. Starting at a number close to 200, it slowly dwindled down.
I actually don't know when I realized that the book was counting down to Alaska's death. But during the book, I was morbidly aware that she was going to die. Every new chapter, I panicked a bit more. I was not ready for Alaska to leave me yet. I got fustrated. This book was not giving me enough time with her! I had to stall it just a little bit.
So, with little interest, I perused the back cover, reading what people had to say on the topic of Looking for Alaska by David Green. According to the Kircus Reviews I would cry for . Reviewers consistantly exaggerated their opinions of books. I don't nessasarily blame them, I mean, if you want someone to put your opinion on their book, you cant make that book seem just average. In any case, I disregarded the review, and reopened the book.
But I was still thinking, Would this make me cry? I knew how Alaska was going to die to. Not specific details, but in no way would it be an accident. Alaska was searchign for a way out of the Labirynth of suffering that was her life, and she realized the only escape, the only exit was death. The entire book was not a love story, but one about death. But now that it is not simply the idea of death but the actual death of a person who, though non-exsistant, I had grown close to.
The answer was no. I did not cry for her. I cried for everyone else. I knew she no longer felt the pain, and where ever she was- is- she would't miss anyone.
But she left everyone else missingher, and feeling guilt. She could've waited- just a few more days! She had no qualms with ruining lives. And though they were not her last words, the one who stayed with me of her where "To be continued?" And the answer was no.
And yes, I did cry. I cried for the Colonel, screaming over and over to no one "I'm so sorry". I cried for Miles who had to lie to himself to fend off the pain. For the Eagle, having to spread the news. For everyone who had to hear it. But the Kircus Review was wrong, I did nto cry for Alaska. I cried for every single other person in the world, whether they knew her or not, Loved her or hated her. Because only they would have to live with her decision.
At the start of every chapter, it said ___ days before. Starting at a number close to 200, it slowly dwindled down.
I actually don't know when I realized that the book was counting down to Alaska's death. But during the book, I was morbidly aware that she was going to die. Every new chapter, I panicked a bit more. I was not ready for Alaska to leave me yet. I got fustrated. This book was not giving me enough time with her! I had to stall it just a little bit.
So, with little interest, I perused the back cover, reading what people had to say on the topic of Looking for Alaska by David Green. According to the Kircus Reviews I would cry for . Reviewers consistantly exaggerated their opinions of books. I don't nessasarily blame them, I mean, if you want someone to put your opinion on their book, you cant make that book seem just average. In any case, I disregarded the review, and reopened the book.
But I was still thinking, Would this make me cry? I knew how Alaska was going to die to. Not specific details, but in no way would it be an accident. Alaska was searchign for a way out of the Labirynth of suffering that was her life, and she realized the only escape, the only exit was death. The entire book was not a love story, but one about death. But now that it is not simply the idea of death but the actual death of a person who, though non-exsistant, I had grown close to.
The answer was no. I did not cry for her. I cried for everyone else. I knew she no longer felt the pain, and where ever she was- is- she would't miss anyone.
But she left everyone else missingher, and feeling guilt. She could've waited- just a few more days! She had no qualms with ruining lives. And though they were not her last words, the one who stayed with me of her where "To be continued?" And the answer was no.
And yes, I did cry. I cried for the Colonel, screaming over and over to no one "I'm so sorry". I cried for Miles who had to lie to himself to fend off the pain. For the Eagle, having to spread the news. For everyone who had to hear it. But the Kircus Review was wrong, I did nto cry for Alaska. I cried for every single other person in the world, whether they knew her or not, Loved her or hated her. Because only they would have to live with her decision.
Monday, December 20, 2010
On the search for adventure, or a good adventure book
I can't say why, but winter always brings a need for me to have a big long adventure/fantasy book. Most of the year I'm not really big on that kind of book, but when its cold out, I find myself scouring my, my brother, and my fathers bookshelfs for the biggest, longest book I can find, hopefully with magic or adventure or villages or at least a princess. My bookshelf dates back to when I was in second grade, and I havn't updated much since then, seeing as I prefer libraries, and the only time I take a book back home to keep is if its sitting in a cardboard box marked:
"Free Books! Pleaz take!"
If someone dares spell please like that obviously they don't have much use for books and it makes me feel like I'm saving orphaned children from a neglected life sitting on a dusty old shelf.
Anyways, I digress from the point (a terrible habit I have no intentions of dropping). Next I search to my brothers bookshelf. He too, hasn't updated his bookshelf in a while, but for an entirely different reason- he doesn't like to read (I know what you're thinking- the horror!). So, on his bookshelf you will find 3 types of books; Ones he had from 4th grade, such as Artemis Fowl, the Alex Rider series and so on; Books that were brought as gifts from relatives who mean well or from my parents who really want him to read; Or mandatory reading books, such as Romeo and Juliet and The Scarlett Letter- old copies from his school that are falling apart and that the consequences are so great if I touch them I don't find it worth it.
Lastly, I head to my father's room, my last hope. As I stand on a chair scanning his shelfs, I see unfamaliar, uninteresting and in some cases unpronouncable tittles. Smith's Recognizable Patters of Human Malfunction, Mechanisms of Microbial Disease, A Simplified Approach to Electrocardiography, and Freakanomics. Boring-wait, what? Freakonomics, the tittle sounds familiar.
So, I grab the orange harcover book off the shelf, where it obviously hasn't been moved for a while because it sprinkles dust on the floor, and head off.
Maybe I didn't get my fantasy book, but it's better than nothing.
"Free Books! Pleaz take!"
If someone dares spell please like that obviously they don't have much use for books and it makes me feel like I'm saving orphaned children from a neglected life sitting on a dusty old shelf.
Anyways, I digress from the point (a terrible habit I have no intentions of dropping). Next I search to my brothers bookshelf. He too, hasn't updated his bookshelf in a while, but for an entirely different reason- he doesn't like to read (I know what you're thinking- the horror!). So, on his bookshelf you will find 3 types of books; Ones he had from 4th grade, such as Artemis Fowl, the Alex Rider series and so on; Books that were brought as gifts from relatives who mean well or from my parents who really want him to read; Or mandatory reading books, such as Romeo and Juliet and The Scarlett Letter- old copies from his school that are falling apart and that the consequences are so great if I touch them I don't find it worth it.
Lastly, I head to my father's room, my last hope. As I stand on a chair scanning his shelfs, I see unfamaliar, uninteresting and in some cases unpronouncable tittles. Smith's Recognizable Patters of Human Malfunction, Mechanisms of Microbial Disease, A Simplified Approach to Electrocardiography, and Freakanomics. Boring-wait, what? Freakonomics, the tittle sounds familiar.
So, I grab the orange harcover book off the shelf, where it obviously hasn't been moved for a while because it sprinkles dust on the floor, and head off.
Maybe I didn't get my fantasy book, but it's better than nothing.
Monday, December 6, 2010
If No One Stops Me...
This week I read 13 Reasons Why. It's about a girl named Hannah who sends out 13 audiotapes to the people who in someway influenced her to commit suicide. Its from the point of person number 9, and we listen to his thoughs and conversations, and alternatly going from him to Hannahs words which are writtien in italics.
Spoiler Paragraph, Please Skip This Section of the Post if You Haven't Read the Book and Would Like to.
This post is based on the last side of the last audiotape, which is the big *twist* in the story. Hannah goes to Mr. Porter, the school guidance counselor, and tells him shes considering committing suicide. And, after talking for a few minutes he tells her to move on from the problems shes facing, that there's nothing she can do. Shes says, Okay she will, and she's done. Done with life. Done with everything. And Mr. Porter lets her walk out those doors, he doesn't make any moves to stop her.
Continue Here
This was so confusing. Honestly, if I knew anyone was considering suicide I'd stop them. I don't care who it is, I would try to save their life, wouldn't you? Even the person I hate the most I would try to stop her/him from dying- from taking their own life. Maybe thats all some people need, just another person telling them not to do it, not to end their life. To know their needed or wanted may just be enough.
It reminds me of the song, "Leave Before the Lights Come on" by the Arctic Monkeys. The video is of this woman, who stands on a roof, contemplating suicide. She drops her left shoe on a man, giving him a chance to look up, know what she's doing, to save her. And of course, he does, as everyone will say they would. It ends up all she wants is attention, love from someone, something he can't give- he's engaged, and not interested in her that way. She follows him, trying to get him to love her and to want her, but he doesn't. So, she runs back to that very same building and repeats... She stands, looks down, and drops her left shoe...
If you want to watch it here's the link- you may not like the song but just watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEukS2YN9B8&feature=related
I've kind of felt like we all consider it at some points, but a second later I'm just like "God no, Im not ready to die! There's nothign in my life worth dying over. I can't believe I even thought that for a second- There so much more, so much I'll miss, so many people I'll miss- Plus I bet death is boring." Before I read this book I though suicide was just quitting. But now I realized how wrong I am. Sometimes people just can't bare living anymore, and they think anything would be better. Sometimes people think they're doing other people a favor, they feel everyone wants them dead. Sometimes all they need is someone there to stop them. The thought that someone would just ignore such a blatant plea for help makes me sick. It's like assisted suicide, even murder, knowing someone will kill themselves and not stopping it.
Maybe he didn't think he could stop her? But the fact that she was still alive that day meant that she wasn't fully ready... Maybe I'm just makign excuses for him?
But maybe there's something I don't know, a point or idea I hadn't thought of. Maybe there's some reason you can think of that someone wouldn't stop Hannah from killing herself.
Would you stop someone if you could? And if you don't, is that like murder?
Spoiler Paragraph, Please Skip This Section of the Post if You Haven't Read the Book and Would Like to.
This post is based on the last side of the last audiotape, which is the big *twist* in the story. Hannah goes to Mr. Porter, the school guidance counselor, and tells him shes considering committing suicide. And, after talking for a few minutes he tells her to move on from the problems shes facing, that there's nothing she can do. Shes says, Okay she will, and she's done. Done with life. Done with everything. And Mr. Porter lets her walk out those doors, he doesn't make any moves to stop her.
Continue Here
This was so confusing. Honestly, if I knew anyone was considering suicide I'd stop them. I don't care who it is, I would try to save their life, wouldn't you? Even the person I hate the most I would try to stop her/him from dying- from taking their own life. Maybe thats all some people need, just another person telling them not to do it, not to end their life. To know their needed or wanted may just be enough.
It reminds me of the song, "Leave Before the Lights Come on" by the Arctic Monkeys. The video is of this woman, who stands on a roof, contemplating suicide. She drops her left shoe on a man, giving him a chance to look up, know what she's doing, to save her. And of course, he does, as everyone will say they would. It ends up all she wants is attention, love from someone, something he can't give- he's engaged, and not interested in her that way. She follows him, trying to get him to love her and to want her, but he doesn't. So, she runs back to that very same building and repeats... She stands, looks down, and drops her left shoe...
If you want to watch it here's the link- you may not like the song but just watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEukS2YN9B8&feature=related
I've kind of felt like we all consider it at some points, but a second later I'm just like "God no, Im not ready to die! There's nothign in my life worth dying over. I can't believe I even thought that for a second- There so much more, so much I'll miss, so many people I'll miss- Plus I bet death is boring." Before I read this book I though suicide was just quitting. But now I realized how wrong I am. Sometimes people just can't bare living anymore, and they think anything would be better. Sometimes people think they're doing other people a favor, they feel everyone wants them dead. Sometimes all they need is someone there to stop them. The thought that someone would just ignore such a blatant plea for help makes me sick. It's like assisted suicide, even murder, knowing someone will kill themselves and not stopping it.
Maybe he didn't think he could stop her? But the fact that she was still alive that day meant that she wasn't fully ready... Maybe I'm just makign excuses for him?
But maybe there's something I don't know, a point or idea I hadn't thought of. Maybe there's some reason you can think of that someone wouldn't stop Hannah from killing herself.
Would you stop someone if you could? And if you don't, is that like murder?
If you or someone you know is or may be considering suicide, please call 1-800-SUICIDE, 212-532-2400, 1-800-273-TALK. There is treatment, and you can help stop someone from commiting suicide, or even stop yourself.
Monday, November 29, 2010
So... Wow. I have no tittle.
This week, I re-read Sold by Patricia McCormic (twice). Honestly I don't even know how to respond to this book. My first reaction would get my blog censored (For curses- don't get the wrong idea, becuase honestly, even though there was a LOT of sex in this book, it wasn't written in a vulgar or perverted manor). It got me so mad, even the "happy ending."
*Hi, there are spoilers there, so go away if you havn't read it- also I'm going to refer to characters by name, so you won't get it. I'm seriously doing border patrol right now, and if you don't follow my requirments GO HOME or go read Sold*
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How is it happy at all? Sure, she gets away after being scarred for life, and having to leave her only friend, the only person who means anything to her anymore. After a year of being a sexual slave, she goes to a maybe happy ending. It leaves me wondering, about so much. We're obviously supposed to assume that Mumtaz was lying about the Americans, and that they were truly nice people who were there to save anyone who was willing to leave. We're left to assume Lakshmi is okay, now that she has come for help from the Americans.
But how do we? How do we know what becomes of Lakshmi once she steps out of the brothel? This book was amazing, and ispiring, but the end is something of which I despise. Almost like a choose your own adventure ending. It leaves you wondering and wanting so much more. I want to know what happens to Lakshmi, and where she ends up after it's all said and done. Does she end up in a safe house, or perhaps on the streets, like Mumtaz promised would happen. When the americans come back, will anyone venture after her, inspired by her courage to leave? Will Mumtaz's brothel be shut down, or will she continue on, paying off anyone who needs to "look the other way." Will the policemen continue to be discusting spine less money-hungry savages who will let anything become of these girls for a few extra rupees?
I suppose you could have a different view of the ending though. You could be glad you're left to imagine, left with some hope that Lakshmi, and all the other girls will be a-okay - but come on, we know they won't- its realistic fiction, not fantasy.)
So I guess really as I'm sitting here writing this, I'm trying to figure out what comes next for Lakshmi. And also I find myself thinking, if this is Social Justice based book, what is it asking from me?
What can I do anyways?
I feel like this.
When they're like this.
I feel poweless.
While they have so much power they're nearly unstoppable.
What can I do? What can yo do? How can we stop this alone, when they're banded together- and even still, how can we stop it together?
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