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.