I Don't Know What Just Happened.

Kveðja!
That's how you say hello in Old Norse. Vikings! :D
Anyways, I finished Elantris quite a while ago, but just got around to blogging, haha. The book that was at first simple, and somewhat boring, was ridiculously good by the end. Seriously, I couldn't put this book down. Every little mystery, every little question asked, even from page one, all came to an exciting conclusion that was surprisingly... well, conclusional, for lack of a better word. Everything was wrapped up nicely.
While I can't say much without giving the ending away, I will say that Sanderson's trend of super fast-paced plot has yet to get old. The end was a veritable firecracker of excitement and action. All the secrets are revealed, all the questions answered, and every character renewed. It was very satisfying to see everything finish with a bang, yet still give closure. Though there were tons of plot twists, ridiculous revelations, and one very unnecessary death, Elantris ended up being one of the best books I've ever read. I strongly suggest it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy story!
So... yeah, I guess. Again, I really don't want to give away anything of the plot, and trust me, there's a lot to give away. So, well, enjoy the warm weather, and see you all on Wednesday!

What Power Could Have Cursed It?

Good morning/afternoon/night, friends!
For my book report, I decided to read the book Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. Brandon Sanderson is one of my favorite authors, and I was planning on reading this anyways, so it worked perfectly for this report. Elantris revolves around three main characters, Raoden, Sarene, and Hrathen. It takes place in the country of Arelon, ten years after the collapse of Elantris, city of the gods. Elantris was once beautiful and mighty, until a strange power cursed all those who lived there to damnation. The city fell into disarray, and the kingdom soon left it to rot, pretending it no longer existed.
Prince Raoden of Arelon wakes one morning to find that he, too, has been cursed. He is taken from civilization and shoved into the filth of Elantris, where he finds a disgusting cesspool of Elantrians. Many have gone insane, while others maintain enough sense to try to steal Raoden's few scraps of food. Raoden refuses to succumb to the pain, however, and sets to work trying to bring order to the city, all while hoping to find what mysterious power brought the city to its knees.
Sarene is a princess from the country of Teod, far across the ocean. She was set to be married to the Prince of Arelon, but when she arrives, she finds he has disappeared, and people refuse to talk about him. Intent on discovering what plot is unfolding, she finds herself pulled into the political turmoil of Arelon. Putting her original thoughts away, she decides to do what she must to help the struggling country.
Hrathen is the Head Gyorn of Shu-Dereth, the main religion of neighboring country Fjordell. He is told by his master, Wyrn, that he has three months to convert all of Arelon to Shu-Dereth, or the country will be destroyed. He is confident, for he has done the same in Duladel, to the south, but he soon finds the task will be harder than he thought. The people of Arelon are afraid of any theologies, after Elantris collapsed. Hrathen must find a way to remove the people's fear if he is to save them from holy destruction.
Though originally separate, these three characters find their destinies are intertwined from to beginning, as they must do what is possible to save Arelon, stop Fjordell's power, and learn what power cursed Elantris.

At first, this book was surprisingly boring, but now that I'm deep in the story, it's hard to put the book down. Brandon Sanderson effortlessly combines the complex politics and debates of Arelon and Elantris with the action of Hrathen's story. It's interesting to see the stories combine. I'm excited to see how this book turns out!

Family Values? What Family Values?

Hi, everyone!
I finally got off my lazy, tired rear and went to post on my blog. Spring Break's been hard on me, if that's even possible.

This week, we had to compare Tillie's dysfunctional family and the strict, traditional Capulets. I went back and reread The Effect of Gamma Rays Etc. Etc. so I was refreshed on Tillie's family. At first, I thought her family was completely different than the Capulets. After all, they were from two completely different time periods. However, after I thought about it, I realized they were surprisingly alike.
In both families, the daughter (Tillie/Juliet) often had different ideals from their mother (Beatrice/Lady Capulet.) Though the mother tried her best to connect with her daughter, it never really worked out. Also, both Juliet and Tillie loved something/someone that their mother didn't approve of. Juliet loved Romeo (blech) and Tillie loved science. They also both had someone who tried to help them achieve their goals, despite it being unapproved of. Tillie had her sister, Ruth, and Juliet had the Nurse.
The families also had their differences. Beatrice didn't necessarily approve of the whole Science Fair, but she did eventually let Tillie go. Contrasting to this, Lady Capulet never relented and let Juliet marry Romeo. She argued right to the bitter end. Another difference is why both mothers disapproved in the first place. Lady Capulet wasn't willing to let her daughter marry a Montague, due to a (quite silly) house rivalry. Her reasons were selfish, and somewhat immature. On the other end, Beatrice just seemed to want a a simple, easy daughter that she could truly love. She tried her hardest to care for and understand Tillie, unlike Lady Capulet.

So, ultimately, both families kind of screwed everything up. Hooray for a complete lack of family values! And before I forget, R.I.P The Rabbit. That was depressing.
Well, hope everyone had a good Spring Break (even though I didn't.) Relax a little more, and see you all next week!

It Was The Gamma Rays!

Privyet, Americans!
That's Russian. Don't worry, it means 'hello.'
Anyways. I read Act I of 'The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds.' And then, since I wasn't looking and was completely wrapped up in the story, read Act II also. But don't worry, I won't spoil anything. It's just really good.
I must say, this play was really enjoyable. I didn't really expect that, but it was, and I was kind of surprised. In only sixty or so pages, Paul Zindel created a deep, powerful play. However, I did have trouble relating to the story. The characters in the story lead very different lives than the people in my life, myself included. However, I can associate with the problems between Tillie and her sister, Ruth. It's clear Ruth loves and cares about Tillie, but she doesn't hesitate to embarrass her or give her problems. My brothers act the same way, giving me crap, but still being kind when they need to be.
Overall, this play was really interesting to read. It's exciting, emotional, and thoughtful. I really wish it was longer than it was! But enough of my talking. Go finish it!

Book- The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins (Why did I put this here? You've all read it already)
Video Game- Tales of Vesperia
Music- Welcome Home- Coheed and Cambria
Classical Music- Anything by Mr. Howard Shore. ANYTHING.

Everyone Dies. The End.

Sorry if the title gave anything away. But it's true.
I finished Romeo and Juliet, in case you couldn't tell. And turns out, it doesn't get any better towards the end at all. It only gets worse. Seriously, everyone in this story is all annoying and whiny and lovey and GAH WHY DOES EVERYONE HAVE TO LOVE EVERYONE TO DEATH-
*deep breath
Anyways. I wrote an essay about the theme of tragedy, as follows. Enjoy.

Romeo and Juliet is a good example of classical tragedy. Shakespeare portrayed this theme throughout the play, affecting everything the characters do, and greatly changing the plot itself. It begins to show from very close to the beginning, when Romeo is depressed about his newest romance issues. No amount of consolation or encouragement from his friends can pull him from his misery.

This changes when he meets the love of his life, Juliet. But of course, they are from rival houses, and are not allowed to love each other. Now, the tragedy is in full swing, as Romeo and Juliet try their hardest to love each other, though it seems no one else wants them to. Juliet, of course, is being forced to marry Paris, which causes more problems.

She decides to pretend to die (tragic death), hoping she can escape the arranged marriage. But she fools even Romeo, who after learning of her death, decides he will kill himself. He goes to Juliet’s tomb to end his own life, but ends up getting in a fight with Paris. He kills Paris (more death) then kills himself at Juliet’s side (more death). Juliet awakens to find Romeo dead, and so kills herself (more death), so they may be together forever. In the end, the family rivalry ends (albeit it at a price) as the Montagues and Capulets find the dead couple. Using tragic themes such as forbidden love, bitter feuds, underlying anger, and overall sadness, Shakespeare creates an air of tragedy and woe around all who read Romeo and Juliet. 

So yeah. Everyone dies. Enjoy.

Book- Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Yep, the next one)

Video Game- Star Fox 64 (Totally re-discovered this. It's so amazing)

Music- Atlantis- Deas Vail

Classical- The Planets- Holst

See you all tomorrow! Have a nice day/week!

Can't Talk Now, Busy Puking

I hate romance.

Yes, I know, I may sound like a bad person. Go ahead, call me a heartless jerk.

Done yet? Good.

I'm sorry, but romance always seems to ruin a good story. And when the entire story is a bunch of romance... Blech. But here I am, so I guess I have to talk about Romeo and Juliet.
This story was actually not that hard to read, contrary to the popular opinion. I found it to be a little bit clunky and such at some parts, but for most of the story, I could understand it pretty well. There were a few parts where I thought it was really stupid, like when it said "This love feel I, that feel no love in this." Silly Shakespeare and his backwards sentences. I was also a little confused at the beginning. After they all bit their thumbs at each other, (New favorite insult? I think so.) they randomly started arguing and fighting. A bunch more people came, and they too jumped into the fray. Why? Why are they fighting? Why did everyone jump in? Why didn't anyone stop them or run for help? These are things I shouldn't be wondering while I'm reading... but maybe Shakespeare wanted that?
I was surprised to find Shakespeare to be quite the dry-humored fellow, and even found myself laughing a couple of times. For example, when Romeo is talking to Benvolio, Romeo says, "In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman." Benvolio sarcastically retorts, "I aim'd so near, when I supposed you loved."
Wow. That sounded a lot less funny when I put it down. I assure you, it was humorous at the time... *sigh
Finally, Romeo is so annoying. All he does is go on and on about how, "I love her!" and, "We can't be together!" and, "O, woe is me!" and whatnot. It's obnoxious. I understand it would kind of suck to love someone who is related to your mortal enemy, but come on, it doesn't have to take over your flipping life!
Anyways. Enough ranting. I found this to be a surprisingly enjoyable book, despite its bad reputation among most people. I'd like to see how it ends- oh... wait.

Book- The Fellowship of the Ring- J.R.R Tolkien (I honestly haven't read this yet, and after watching the movies, you know...)
Video Game- Call of Duty: World At War
Music- Losing You- Dead By April
Classical Music- Mahler's Symphony No. 1 "Titan"

Have a great week, and see you on Wednesday!

Error 404- Failure to Stay in Jail

Hidey-ho, bloggerinos!
I have finished The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail (in case you hadn't guessed) and found the ending to be surprisingly satisfying. From how the book was going, I thought it would have some really stupid ending that no one liked, but it wasn't all too bad. And for once, I can actually say my reading has taught me something...
After much perusing of the play, I finally got a couple of examples of irony. I think it's ironic how Henry tried so hard to 'rebel' against the system, but in the end, his Aunt Louisa got him out of jail. All his work, his night spent in jail, was foiled by his Aunt's blunt regard for Henry. It was also somewhat ironic how Henry was seen by people as some sort of 'crazy' guy who just wanted to stir the people up. However, in the end, he seemed to be smarter and more passionate about what he cared about than anyone else.
Adding to this, in the end of the story, I don't think Henry's protest proved successful. The whole point was to do whatever it took to not support the Mexican war by paying taxes. While at first, he ended up in jail and it was seemingly working, he was just bailed out by Aunt Louisa. He was forced to re-enter society, which was the exact opposite of what he wanted to accomplish with his protest.
And before we go any further, I'm afraid to say I am absolutely clueless as to what to say for the actors and whatnot. Like, I can barely think of any actor's names, let alone which ones would make good characters. My three important characters were Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and John Thoreau, if that helps any, but I can't think of any actors at all to play these people...

I apologize.

A Perfect Night Spent For Thoreau in the Bananafish Jail

Hello, all! It's been a while, but it's kind of hard to blog when you've got nothing to talk about except, "Yeah, I did some reading and stuff, and it was kind of cool and stuff. So, like, reading and stuff. Yeah." But, anyways. We had lots of reading to do this week. First up is J.D. Salinger's short story, "A Perfect Day for Bananafish."
Well then.
That was a story I had to re-read a couple of times. I'm still not totally sure what happened. But, I still have to compare the characters to those in The Catcher in the Rye, and so I shall do that. I would say Seymour Glass was most similar to Holden Caulfield. They both don't really care what others think, and mostly want to be unique. Both seem to go out of their way to annoy others, but seem to do it in a joking manner. However, Holden is a little less... unstable.
The girl in the room, Muriel, reminded me of Sally. Both are more focused on themselves, and seem to care about their image. They both seem somewhat annoyed by the 'Holden' in their lives, but both still care about him.
The last main character, Sybil, reminded me, in part, of Phoebe. Both have childish attitudes, but both still hold a special place in their heart for those they care about. However, Sybil struck me as a little annoying, which is a stark contrast to Phoebe's caring nature.
So, it's easy to see some of the similarities between this story and The Catcher in the Rye. Except, you know, the crazy ending. That was just weird.

Our other reading was from "The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail," a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. This was surprisingly enjoyable literature, though I was slowed down by the format. It was actually harder for me to figure out who was talking and doing what than in regular reading. But, I suppose it's all another part of active reading.
Anyways, we were supposed to take a quote, and describe how it fits Transcendentalist thought. I chose the quote, "Our own school, John. No buildings. Break out of the classroom prison. All we need is the sky!" This is a good representation of Transcendentalist ideals, as it embodies the whole idea of freedom that I associate with Transcendentalism. They try to be free-thinking people, who aren't held down by earthly chains and needs. Henry encourages his students to ask questions and really think about their learning, and I feel a prison-like classroom could hinder his goals. He ultimately wishes for a free, unrestricted school where kids will not only live, but also be.
On a somewhat related note, I found the descriptions of actions and emotions in the play to be... bemusing. For example, on page 60, it says in parentheses, "Now all the molten outrage within Henry David Thoreau bursts out like lava from a live volcano."
Aw, darn, I hate when my molten outrage bursts out like that. But thankfully, I'm taking medicine to fix that problem XD

Book- Skeleton Crew- Stephen King (For you horror people out there)
Video Game- Halo: Reach
Music- Stare at the Sun- Thrice
Classical Music- Beethoven's 7th Symphony

Well, that's about it. It's been nice ranting to you. Hope you have a good week!

Losing Innocence

Yeah. Sounds about right. They say it's Holden who loses his childhood and his innocence, but I think it's really the readers instead...

But anyways. I've been surprisingly wrapped up in the Catcher in the Rye. It's nothing like the Odyssey, which I really appreciate. This one I can actually READ! All joking aside though, it's great to have an at least somewhat normal book. Emphasis on the 'somewhat'. This book is the strangest book I've ever read, to be honest. But I don't have to go into detail about THAT, do I? Good.

As for the questions... If I were Holden, and I had just been kicked out of school, I think the first place I would go would be home. If I had truly deserved my expulsion, I would first want to reconcile with my parents., and find a way to get into another school, and try again. I would also send a letter to the principal, and apologize for what I had done. Then I would probably mope and be all angry and whatnot. Which, of course, Holden does first, but I'M Holden here, not... the actual Holden..? Never mind.

Jane, to me, represents innocence, hope, and all that is good. I think she was and could be a very good influence on Holden, someone he can look up to and talk to. To Holden, she represents what could have been or could be, and someone he can always rely on. He spends lots of time thinking about her, and hoping her relationship with Stradlater doesn't go too far, which tells me he still holds lots of feelings for her. Though that was pretty obvious...

I think the phrase 'people are always ruining things for you' is both true and false. Yes, it's true that very often, other people are getting in your way and screwing things up. But the only reason you think that is because you let them get in your way and screw things up. For example, if someone ate the last slice of cake, they did 'ruin' it for you, persay. But it's up to you to be better than that, and not start petty disputes over cake. Although I must admit, it is very annoying to lose that last piece ;)

Book- Mistborn- Brandon Sanderson
Video Game- Bioshock
Music- M.I.A- Avenged Sevenfold
Classical Music- Prelude of Bach's Suite No.1, in G Major, For Solo Cello (Y'know, the famous one? That one.)
 
Well, that's about it for me. If anyone feels so inclined, the All State Concert is in Grand Rapids... at 8:30 in the morning... And who gets to get up at 5:00 in the morning? Haha... ha... *sigh
Being good at things kind of sucks sometimes. But have a good week nonetheless!

Kicked Out for Good Reasons

Nope, definitely don't miss The Odyssey, not one bit.
I finished the reading for the Catcher in the Rye, and have been surprised with how much I liked it. The writing is actually easy to read, unlike the Odyssey, and the whole don't-have-to-write-in-the-margins thing is pretty relaxing. I've found myself wrapped up in the story of CITR and have really enjoyed it so far. Except for the main character. Honestly, he's really bugging me. He just seems like an arrogant jerk. He talks like he knows he's a jerk, and doesn't care about it, which also tends to get on my nerves. He's abrasive, uncaring, and mostly just annoying. Most people would probably say he's just 'unique' or 'misunderstood' but I have to disagree. When I think of unique, I think of someone who's their own person, within reason! The main character is basically breaking all the rules. Uniqueness is when you don't break the rules, but follow  them in your own way. I think Holden is just a jerk. Just because you're unique, doesn't mean you're useful.
I think the way to keep our individuality and sense of self is through childhood tradition. Eat your favorite childhood meal. Watch your favorite childhood show. Read your favorite childhood book. These little things can help us remember who we are, and how we too were once children, with our own wants and needs. It's important that we keep our individuality in order to keep ourselves, and not just fade into another face in the crowd.
Allie's character has been my favorite character in the story, mostly because he reminds me of... well, me. Yes, this is going to sound arrogant and vain, but it's true. I'm not necessarily my favorite person, but the parallels between Allie and I are surprising. He's smart, kind, and never seems to stop laughing. While I don't necessarily connect to the last part, I'm always trying to excel in school, and be an overall good person... but I don't know. He also helps out wherever he can, and always manages to put a smile on his brother's face.
Wow, that sounded really, really arrogant. I apologize, it's hard to compare without bias. But I do think Allie and I are very similar. Except he has red hair and plays baseball, neither of which applies to me...
But anyways. I can't wait to see how the story turns out!

Book- The Lost Stories- John Flanagan
Video Game- The Elder Scrolls IV- Oblivion (Yes, this is the 3rd Elder Scrolls game I've put here. Deal with it.)
Music- Faceless- Red
Classical- Haydn's Cello Concerto in C Major

Have a great week, and see you all on Wednesday!

A Good Man is Hard to Read

Sorry about the complete lack of posts for a while, and a very late one this week. Christmas was hectic, to say the least. I wanted to at least try to get a post in once a week, but there was so much family and friends and forks... ANYWAYS. I read "A Good Man is Hard to Find". And didn't like it at all.

Alright, that's not entirely true. I did like how the author told the reader everything they needed to know without saying much at all, a trait I believe is necessary for a good short story. The story was written well, making for a good setting without lots of clutter. In fact, I really only found two glaring problems. I didn't like any characters, and found it hard to connect. And the actual plot was, in short, annoying. I found myself asking, "Why are they doing this? Why are they doing that?" way too much in the story. If there's one thing I'm fickle about, it's having a clear-cut plot. Sure, I like the occasional plot twist as much as the next guy, but I like to have an actual plot in the first place, something this story couldn't really deliver. The scrapes of story it did have were crushed by how illogical they were. The ending made NO sense whatsoever. Maybe I wasn't 'reading deep enough' or 'focusing on the themes' or whatever, but I just plain didn't enjoy the story.

But I still have to answer some questions, so here I am. I think fate plays a heavy role in the story. The Misfit describes how he couldn't really remember why he ended up in penitentiary, implying that it was fate more than anything else that led him there. This was the start of his life of crime, which eventually led him south to Florida. Fate just so decided to send the family south to Florida, and in the end, they ran into The Misfit himself. It just so happened that the family's car crashed, which happened because the grandmother remembered a house from Tennessee. Coincidence? I think NOT.

I think the grandmother's idea of a 'good man' is... Okay, I'm going to blunt here. I have no clue. Because she keeps saying the Misfit is a good man, because he's not just a 'common man' and doesn't shoot a lady. But this makes no sense, because in the end he kills the family, one of which is a lady! He doesn't believe in God, all he does is go around and kill and steal, because according to him, 'It doesn't matter.'! And still the grandmother says he's a good man! I was utterly confused by this story, and found the title to be truly apt, because throughout the entire story... I never did find a good man!

Ahhh, glad to get that off my chest. And in case you're wondering about the forks from earlier, I accidentally stabbed one of my brothers with a fork on Christmas because he was a big jerk face. But ANYWAYS.

Book- The Son of Neptune: Rick Riordan
Video Game- Portal 2
Music- Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (Yes, this is a musical, but it has fantastic music. WATCH IT.)
Classical Music- Haydn's Cello Concerto in C (Not sure of the exact number...)

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and see you all tomorrow!