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.
Friday, March 5, 2010
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.