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!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
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!
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!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
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!
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!
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