Kwaidan Stories and Studies of Strange Things

I read quite a few different short stories in the Kwaidan book. I found the footnotes helpful in explaining what some of the items or words meant. But overall I enjoyed these stories; I do think they are extremely different from our Ghost stories. With some of the stories I stopped and said, okay, that’s it? The stories seem to be different from ours in the way they are not really horrific. I would compare these stories to our urban legends than of our horror stories.

Subtle Knife

I read Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman, which is the second book in his Dark Materials Trilogy. This book definitely has much more of the religious undertones than the first book, The Golden Compass but it still did not bother me, just adds to the story. While reading this book at first, I was confused to who is this Will person, what world are we in but then things starting making more sense. I really do value and like how Pullman makes Lyra and Will both such strong characters since they are children. Although, I wasn’t, as impressed with this version like I was with the Golden Compass, for a fantasy novel it did not have the same detail and fantasy qualities I was looking for in this book like that of which I found in the Golden Compass. I could really put myself into the Golden Compass and in the Subtle Knife I didn't find myself doing that. I think it was just to much like our own world.

Repost Golden Compass

For my rewrite or repost I’m revisiting the Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Since my last post, I also have read the Subtle Knife and shortly will read the Amber Spyglass. Looking back again on the book I still feel bad for Lyra even though she is stubborn and selfish, she is betrayed many times by the people in her life. The people that are supposed to provide her with the most support and protection just constantly betray her. I also still feel that the Golden Compass displays some good character building traits like being independent and having the strength to get through anything no matter how hard it might be. The background and creation of the world that Lyra lives in is just what the fantasy genre is about. Philip Pullman transforms his writings into another world for his readers allowing them to submerge themselves in another world while reading his book. A world with a talking armored bear, flying witches, and daemons. Although I still remain strong on my opinion earlier that the religious undertones in this book should not stop anyone from enjoying it because they are not that significant.

Bloodchild

While reading this I wasn’t sure what to expect and then I found myself thinking, “what am I reading?” This story gave me the chills. Thinking about being some host to an alien child that lives and feeds off you, does not sound to appeasing. I was surprised at how gory and detailed the story was, I haven’t read something that disturbing and gruesome, at times I noticed I had to look away due to the descriptive details At first it was hard to comprehend what was going on, the cage, the eggs but then things started making sense. I don’t think this is a story I would read again, a little to graphic and disturbing for me. I’m not a huge alien fanatic sure I’ve seen Sigourney Weaver in Alien but I don’t think I’ll be reading this story, ever again. Thinking of worms crawling in your body and then later on being sliced open like a grapefruit is an idea I don’t believe I want to dwell on or imagine, even though I can’t get the disturbing pictures out of my mind.

Hobbit

I never read the Hobbit till this semester – Of course like everyone else I have seen the lord of the ring movies in addition, I recall seeing a cartoon when I was younger about the hobbit. But moving on– I read it and liked it, I enjoy fantasy genres where they take you into another world. Especially this book because it’s somewhat adult but it’s still a children’s story. When I was buying the book I was debating on whether to get the regular version or the annotated – the regular version has many colored illustrations but I decided to get the annotated version instead and I’m glad I did. The annotated version was great because along with the story I was able to read all the interesting notes and pieces of information about the creation and explanation of different parts within the book which made the book even more enjoyable. All the pieces of information that you are curious about when reading a book are made available to you through the side notes. I could see myself reading this book again, I will do that over the summer – when I have more time to enjoy it.

The Werewolf

While reading this I was wondering why a mother would send her child out into the woods, armed with a knife, to her sick grandmothers house. Hmm, sounds like little red riding hood but with no knife. I think it’s a bit bizarre how the grandchild acts and helps in the killing of her grandmother but I guess she did try to kill her first. I wish Carter didn’t end the story so abruptly, she seems to delve into more detail in the beginning and middle but then the story just stops with the girl living in her dead grandmothers house and having a prosperous life. You can definitely see the feminism role being played out more in this story. The girl is brave enough to protect herself from the wolf, she doesn't need a male figure to come, protect and save her; no ax man in this version.

Snow Child

When I was first reading this short story I was thinking to myself, okay this is another Snow White fairytale, raven hair, white as snow, until I got to the lower paragraphs, stopped and went, what! Did I read that right? So, I re-read and re-read and then read the story to my boyfriend just to make sure…did he really just have sex with a child’s corpse. That’s when my boyfriend proceeded to ask me, “what kind of sick stories are you reading,” to which I replied, only the best! Anyway back to the story, I decided I had to look into this story further and I am glad I did. While reading the story I did not pick up on all the symbolism and metaphors the story has to offer. But after delving deeper into my research, Snow Child made a bit more sense. The undertones of the story are more towards men's sexual desires, with men treating women like nothing more than sexual objects and mere possessions. Interesting read after you do some research on the author and story.

The Golden Compass

Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass was an interesting book. I wasn’t going to read the book until someone in class said it was really good (I saw the movie thought it was terrible). I was pleasantly surprised with the book though, absolutely does not compare to the movie. The book delves into spirituality and religion (daemons and souls) personally I think the whole religion debacle is nothing but ridiculous there are plenty of great values and morals to be learned in the story instead of just feeding on one thing. Furthermore the story displays loyalty, friendship and courage; Lyra has all three along with some stubbornness. The story plays with the position of power and innocence. It was beneficial to have the story through a child’s eyes, given children are so innocent which is a nice contrast to the power hungry adults who are anything but. The story starts out with Lyra being powerless while at the College but then throughout her journey this little girl ends up becoming increasingly powerful but using it in a heartfelt way with some added childlike tendencies. Personally I think it’s a great book that teaches some valuable lessons including some great principles and people who dismiss it due to the “religious undertones” need to unwind.

Interview with the Vampire

Ann Rice’s Interview with the Vampire was a gripping book. I was actually not going to read it and instead read something else (I’ve watched the movie several times) but I’m glad I did. I was taken back by some sexual innuendos for example between Louis and Claudia whereby they play the father daughter role but then to a point its maybe more than that, in a creepy weird way and some of the homoeroticism between Lestat, Louis and some of the other Vampires. I guess maybe it’s a prelude to Anne Rice’s pornography writing….Another thing that troubled me was the great detail that goes into the killing of the children, ie. Claudia and the two small boys, I could have done without those details. Besides that I love the book! Obviously it deals with good vs. bad, (Louis the “good” guy and Lestat the “bad” guy and then you have poor Claudia who is completely innocent) caring and sympathetic vs. cold and unfeeling, immortality vs. death. To loose your human compassion and emotions in exchange to gain immortality might not be so great. Your gaining existence forever but without living life. You’re given immortality but at what cost….

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Seth Grahame Smiths Pride and Prejudice and Zombies….hmmmm….what to say, what to say. I have to honestly say I couldn’t make it through the whole book. I have never read the real Pride and Prejudice so I can’t comment on the original (I might like the original) but I don’t like this one. I find it exceptionally hard to fathom Zombies during that time, when women are going to balls and being married off on one hand but on the other carrying weapons and becoming a fleet of crazy zombie fighting chicks. It doesn’t work!! I found the whole concept of zombies, ninjas irritating. If you’re a freshman in high school this might work by getting students attention, etc. but I do not feel it flowed properly and there is just too much of a contrast between that era and throwing zombies in it. If you look at Pirates of the Caribbean where Keira Knightly is not “supposed” to be wielding a sword but does so…that works, this does not.

Mary Shelley Frankenstein

Mary Shelleys Frankenstein was a compelling book, portraying the outcomes of human arrogance and ignorance. In addition to people’s actions and undeniably their reactions to a situation. Specifically the book describes an individual’s choice and choices made, and the repercussions of those specific choices and their heartbreaking effects.

When you dissect the narrative and look back on the book you almost don’t realize who the victim is and who the villain is. You feel bad for both parties. In regards to the monster, he did not ask to be made this way, this was not his request. The only desire he initially had was to be accepted and loved, which unfortunately no one was willing to give to him which ended with dire results. The monster was left with his creator hating him and being in complete disgust towards him, in addition to every other person the monster ran into. Frankenstein created the monster and to be shunned and hated by your creator to that extent it makes you feel a great deal of sympathy for the monster. When the monster acts out it’s almost the acting out of a child throwing a temper tantrum or a child acting out to get attention from a parent, obviously though a little more dangerous and with more extreme consequences. But then you have Victor and you feel terribly for him when the monster goes and kills his family and friends because of his own ignorance, especially when he realizes what a terrible mistake he had made.

This book was anything but what I was expecting it to be. You are brought up with Frankenstein being a certain way and acting a certain way, nothing like the way Hollywood has made it. This book is begging for you to think about how far is to far when pushing boundaries when it comes to science, knowledge and power. Accepting people who are different and simply thinking before you do. How much rope do you need before you strangle yourself but what about the other people that might get caught in that rope as well. Really, the only true victims in this book are Victors family and friends that suffered from the monsters and his own selfish needs.