I don't usually do horror books. Or movies for that matter. I'm kind of faint of heart, but I've made exceptions in the past, particularly regarding movies.
A couple of years ago, my friends and I had a movie night, in which we stayed up all night watching horror movies. These movies practically forced us to stay up anyway, so I wasn't quite as sleepy as one might think. Directly after finishing Alien (awesome movie, by the way, some cool symbolism and disturbing imagery), we popped in the Shining, to be greeted by perhaps my favorite horror movie of all time.
And now, I've gotten around to starting the novel.
And it starts off quite slow. I suppose this shouldn't come as a surprise, because so did the movie, but it caught me off guard, because very little has happened so far.
Suspense building? Maybe a little. I can draw connections between King's self-proclaimed alcoholism, and the alcoholism of the main character Jack. Maybe as I continue this book, I'll draw a few more.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
December Blog #3: The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Holt, published 1982
I am now finishing up the Tao of Pooh, which will sit upon the shelf of my fave books for a long time to come, I do believe. I am currently doing the Tao, as Ms. Embry would say.
I've learned a lot. I've learned of the Uncarved Block, of which Pooh is undoubtedly a great example. Not the greatest. Greatest isn't much of a Taoist idea.
The basic idea of the Uncarved Block is that things reach their most beautiful state when they reach their simplest. I've used the words simple a lot when talking about Taoism, and that may be a slightly underwhelming term. It also probably doesn't capture the essence of Taoism. Let's see, if I had to choose one word to describe Taoism, it would probably have to be acceptance. I guess.
Let me use the Tao of Pooh to help illustrate, using the example of an old painting called "The Vinegar Tasters." In the painting, 3 men are tasting vinegar from a bowl. The first man, Confucius, has a sour expression, for this vinegar is unsuitable. The second person, Buddha, carries a bitter expression. You see, he would much rather taste some vinegar from the spiritual realms. That vinegar would be much better.
But the last person, Lao Tse, is smiling. He accepts the vinegar for what it is. The vinegar can't do any better, right?
Mind blowing, for me at least.
I've learned a lot. I've learned of the Uncarved Block, of which Pooh is undoubtedly a great example. Not the greatest. Greatest isn't much of a Taoist idea.
The basic idea of the Uncarved Block is that things reach their most beautiful state when they reach their simplest. I've used the words simple a lot when talking about Taoism, and that may be a slightly underwhelming term. It also probably doesn't capture the essence of Taoism. Let's see, if I had to choose one word to describe Taoism, it would probably have to be acceptance. I guess.
Let me use the Tao of Pooh to help illustrate, using the example of an old painting called "The Vinegar Tasters." In the painting, 3 men are tasting vinegar from a bowl. The first man, Confucius, has a sour expression, for this vinegar is unsuitable. The second person, Buddha, carries a bitter expression. You see, he would much rather taste some vinegar from the spiritual realms. That vinegar would be much better.
But the last person, Lao Tse, is smiling. He accepts the vinegar for what it is. The vinegar can't do any better, right?
Mind blowing, for me at least.
December Blog #2: The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Holt, published 1982
Last year, in my 10th grade AP World History class, we read an excerpt from this delightful little book, and it blew my mind.
I've always been a big fan of simpler things, a less is more type of approach. When I play guitar, I have a minimalist approach that focuses on lots of cool little tricks, rather than playing particularly fast. When I write essays, I eschew words like eschew in favor of words that people tend to use in everyday conversation. When I write poetry and stories, I don't use incredible complex rhyme schemes or humongous plot twists, because sometimes the deepest, most complex, and most downright gorgeous things come from simple words.
What does that have to with anything? Well, the Taoist principles promote simplicity and acceptance above all else. And that is exactly why Pooh works as a symbol of Taoism at it's core. Who else could possibly create a conversation as accepting and simple as the following?
"Or how about Li Pooh, the famous Taoist poet?" Pooh asked cautiosly.
"You mean Li Po." [William Holt] said.
"Oh."
'Oh.' Simple as that. If you haven't noticed, I once strongly considered conversion to Taoism.
I've always been a big fan of simpler things, a less is more type of approach. When I play guitar, I have a minimalist approach that focuses on lots of cool little tricks, rather than playing particularly fast. When I write essays, I eschew words like eschew in favor of words that people tend to use in everyday conversation. When I write poetry and stories, I don't use incredible complex rhyme schemes or humongous plot twists, because sometimes the deepest, most complex, and most downright gorgeous things come from simple words.
What does that have to with anything? Well, the Taoist principles promote simplicity and acceptance above all else. And that is exactly why Pooh works as a symbol of Taoism at it's core. Who else could possibly create a conversation as accepting and simple as the following?
"Or how about Li Pooh, the famous Taoist poet?" Pooh asked cautiosly.
"You mean Li Po." [William Holt] said.
"Oh."
'Oh.' Simple as that. If you haven't noticed, I once strongly considered conversion to Taoism.
December Blog #1: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, Published 1979
Oh, how the tides have changed.
What began as a chuckle-filled sci-fi romp quickly deteriorated into a mess of fart jokes. I understand that The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is considered a classic, but I suppose the humor's just not for me.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy this style of humor, usually. But something about this novel kind of grinds my gears. Is it the incessantly pompous humor? I sometimes get the feeling that Douglas Adams thinks he's quite a bit cleverer than he should. Not to say that he's not a clever guy, because quite a few of the jokes are pretty funny. But there can only be so clever, and Adams comes across as thinking he has crossed that boundary.
I hate to be a negative and overly critical person, but I humbly have to put down the Hitchhiker's Guide. I haven't even passed the halfway mark. I hate it too, because my Dad loves it, and everyone I know lauds heaps of praise on it (tautology, anyone? Lauds praise?).
I'll end it with this. I get the idea, and the appeal. Just not for me.
What began as a chuckle-filled sci-fi romp quickly deteriorated into a mess of fart jokes. I understand that The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is considered a classic, but I suppose the humor's just not for me.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy this style of humor, usually. But something about this novel kind of grinds my gears. Is it the incessantly pompous humor? I sometimes get the feeling that Douglas Adams thinks he's quite a bit cleverer than he should. Not to say that he's not a clever guy, because quite a few of the jokes are pretty funny. But there can only be so clever, and Adams comes across as thinking he has crossed that boundary.
I hate to be a negative and overly critical person, but I humbly have to put down the Hitchhiker's Guide. I haven't even passed the halfway mark. I hate it too, because my Dad loves it, and everyone I know lauds heaps of praise on it (tautology, anyone? Lauds praise?).
I'll end it with this. I get the idea, and the appeal. Just not for me.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
November Blog #8: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, Published 1979
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: First Impressions
Having only read the first few chapters of the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, I can't cast a final judgment on the novel, but what I have read is very British, and conversely very witty. It also sports a lot of references to popular culture, such as when Ford throws away his copy of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Gotta love that name.
There is also a pretty funny shout out the soccer team the Arsenal, who I could honestly live without (go Liverpool!), and lots of digital watches. Adams' style is very tongue in cheek, quite hysterical.
My only problem with Hitchhiker's is it's inherent "Britishness." Don't get me wrong, Hitchhiker's is quite funny, but after seeing Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, and watching the UK version of The Office (which is hysterical), they all sort of meld together.
Having only read the first few chapters of the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, I can't cast a final judgment on the novel, but what I have read is very British, and conversely very witty. It also sports a lot of references to popular culture, such as when Ford throws away his copy of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Gotta love that name.
There is also a pretty funny shout out the soccer team the Arsenal, who I could honestly live without (go Liverpool!), and lots of digital watches. Adams' style is very tongue in cheek, quite hysterical.
My only problem with Hitchhiker's is it's inherent "Britishness." Don't get me wrong, Hitchhiker's is quite funny, but after seeing Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, and watching the UK version of The Office (which is hysterical), they all sort of meld together.
November Blog #7: The Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, Published 2001
Wacky it gets, then. A floating, acidic, predatory island made entirely of algae? Check. An ending that presents an entirely different take on the entire story? Check. A layered look at atheism, agnosticism, and faith? Check.
The Life of Pi captures the readers thoughts, bottles them, and gives you one of three choices. Or something like that.
Early in the book, Pi gives his thoughts on Agnosticism, and explains that those who do not choose are lost. They have nothing. Then, at the end, Pi presents two stories, and lets you decide which one is better.
So what exactly is the point Martel trying to make? Is he stressing that the more fascinating story is just that, a story, and yet the one the masses will accept? Is he showing you the beauty of the unknown? Whatever the case, Martel makes it obvious that if you refuse to accept either story, you are missing out on both the beauty and the logical, leaving you with next to nothing.
Is that the point he is trying to make?
The Life of Pi captures the readers thoughts, bottles them, and gives you one of three choices. Or something like that.
Early in the book, Pi gives his thoughts on Agnosticism, and explains that those who do not choose are lost. They have nothing. Then, at the end, Pi presents two stories, and lets you decide which one is better.
So what exactly is the point Martel trying to make? Is he stressing that the more fascinating story is just that, a story, and yet the one the masses will accept? Is he showing you the beauty of the unknown? Whatever the case, Martel makes it obvious that if you refuse to accept either story, you are missing out on both the beauty and the logical, leaving you with next to nothing.
Is that the point he is trying to make?
November Blog #6: The Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, Published 2001
"I have a story that will make you believe in God." -Author's Note
As unlikely as that may be, The Life of Pi is an enchanting story, at least to this point. Pi describes his life in India, which all comes across as rather boring and ordinary. He begins comparing zoology with religion in an unnaturally sophisticated matter for someone so young, and then his Dad decides to move the zoo (oh yeah, his Dad owns a zoo).
Unfortunately, the boat sinks, and that's when Pi is forced to share a boat with Richard Parker, a tiger. And the book gets even better.
There is a lot of symbolism in this novel, and a lot of rather beautiful descriptions. I can't decide if this book is a tad too preachy for me or not, but it certainly is enjoyable. My Mom told me it gets a little wacked out towards the end, and has a bunch of religious references.
As unlikely as that may be, The Life of Pi is an enchanting story, at least to this point. Pi describes his life in India, which all comes across as rather boring and ordinary. He begins comparing zoology with religion in an unnaturally sophisticated matter for someone so young, and then his Dad decides to move the zoo (oh yeah, his Dad owns a zoo).
Unfortunately, the boat sinks, and that's when Pi is forced to share a boat with Richard Parker, a tiger. And the book gets even better.
There is a lot of symbolism in this novel, and a lot of rather beautiful descriptions. I can't decide if this book is a tad too preachy for me or not, but it certainly is enjoyable. My Mom told me it gets a little wacked out towards the end, and has a bunch of religious references.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)