#10: Reading Wishlist

1. Dresden Files #2 by Jim Butcher
2. House of Hades by Rick Riordan
3. Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
4. Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin

Book 5: Dresden Files #2 by Jim Butcher.

#9: Book Talk Presentation

#8: Book 2 Trailer

#7: Book 4 Reflection

Intro: Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons is not only the book that changed how we view comics, but it’s a book that ponders ideology and how much a life truly is worth.

1.       The end of the book shows the “villain” killing off almost all of New York, declaring it a victory for the survival of mankind on the brink of Nuclear War. To avoid Nuclear war, Adrian van Viedt was able to create “artificial life from another dimension”, “killing” it in New York to set off a psychic shockwave that killed most of the city as a way to scare the nations of the world to stop fighting each other. It works, and ends up being justified in the same way that the atomic bombs in Japan were justified. In fact, Rorschach (the one who supported Truman’s decision during WWII) is disgusted by this plan, and ends up having Dr. Manhattan kill him when he realizes he can’t stay silent about what really happened.

2.       Towards the Climax, the almost-god Dr. Manhattan realizes that all life is miracle. Throughout the book, the reader sees this “living god” grow more and more disconnected from mankind. Only to realize at the end that even though he can see the strings that everyone dances to, that doesn’t mean it’s not a miracle. He cites the existence of his wife to be the example, claiming that out of all the possibilities, her egg was fertilized and grew up to be a living human being. A one-in-a-million chance, the same chance that happened to every single human being on the planet. He even remarks about this, saying that, “… The world is so full of people, so crowded with these miracles that they become commonplace and we forget… I forget. We gaze continually at the world and it grows dull in our perceptions. Yet seen from another’s vantage point, as if new, it may still take the breath away. Come… Dry your eyes, for you are life, rarer than a quark and unpredictable beyond the dreams of Heisenberg; the clay in which the forces that shape all things leave their fingerprints most clearly.”

3.       One of the main characters, Rorschach, declares society to be nothing but a debauchery, yet decides to save the world for the greater good of all. It’s stated continuously that Rorschach hates what the world has become. How people have trivialized love, drugs, crime and the American dream. At the end of the novel, and at the end of his life, he asks for Dr. Manhattan to kill him, saying, “Of course. Must protect Veidt’s new utopia. One more body amongst the foundations makes little difference. Well? What are you waiting for? Do it.”

4.       Characters often muse on the meaninglessness of life, especially when Rorschach claims that we have nothing in life except for the ability to help others. Mused upon heavily by others, especially the people that Rorschach talk to. In fact, his psychologist ends up trying to help break up a fighting couple over trying to work out his relationship with his wife. “Gloria, please. I have to. In a world like this… I mean, it’s all we can do, try to help each other. It’s all that means anything… Please. Please understand.”

5.       Characters constantly try to see if it’s “worth it” to help and save others, even at the cost of innocents or their own lives. Demonstrated continuously (this is a story about superheroes), even by people who try to break up fights before New York dies.

In conclusion? It matters. Humankind has always bickered about what the true meaning of what life and happiness is. If you read Watchmen, it may state that even though everything could be for nothing, you should help those two people. Especially since sometimes, it really is all that means anything. If not for you, then others.

#6: Book 3 Listicle

Intro: Storm Front by Jim Butcher is a clever and ingenious take on the genre of “Urban Fantasy”.

1.       Firmly planted in reality. Storm Front revolves around a detective, Harry Dresden, as he figures out why people’s insides are exploding. He works with the police, and is firmly bound by the police’s procedures and doctrine at several points throughout the book. Harry is limited by his powers as much as they help him, being unable to use most modern technology at the cost of being considered one of the singular most powerful magical people in Chicago.

2.       Real Consequences for the characters. Every time Harry runs into an obstacle, he doesn’t get away unscathed. By the end of the book, he’s had a concussion, thrown up more than several times, almost died, and has almost lost a leg in the process. Not only did he lose the support of the Chicago police through this adventure, but he also had ran afoul of two different crime Syndicates as well.

3.       Witty Dialogue.  “Who’s the real wizard here, huh? Who’s the one with all the cards and who’s the one bleeding on the kitchen floor? You’re nothing, Dresden, nothing. You’re a loser. And do you know why?” “Gee, let me think.”

4.       Explained Magic. Magic gets explained as energy, potential force refined into power beyond our usual comprehension. Just the ordinary sort of explanation (p.s. the title of the book comes from the villain using the natural power of a storm to boost is magic to make peoples heart’s ‘esplode).

5.       It’s just that good. I mean, what do you expect? A serious objectification debate stating the reasons why I think it’s just that good? It’s funny, clever, strongly written, well described… Oh wait. Auhm. You should read it.

In conclusion? The genre of “Urban Fantasy” has become more and more popular in recent years, especially as cities grow and the wild vanishes. As proved by Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Charlie Bone, and now Harry Dresden, nothing is more excitable than magic in the big apple. Or any other sort of city.

#5: Truth in Memoir

"Memoir (from French: mémoire: memoria, meaning memory or reminiscence), is a literary nonfiction genre. More specifically, it is a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events, both public or private that took place in the author's life."
                                                                                                            -Wikipedia Definition of Memoir

If a memoir is nonfiction, then why is it okay for writers to fabricate events to suit their needs? Sure, there is a line between slightly altering an event to elicit a particular reaction from the audience, but there's a line between slightly tweaking an event and creating an event that never happened. Thinking about "bending the truth", there's also a line between what can truly be considered acceptable for "bending the truth". My opinion, is that if the event is changed to elicit a particular reaction, and remains at the bare minimum 90% accurate to what actually happened, then sure. Bend it. But only a little. A bent truth is still a crooked lie.

Thinking about it, Dave Shields is right in a way. We still need genre lines, but only two. Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

#4: Adapting my book

As someone who would be trying to turn The Hobbit into a movie, I would make it either a TV show or a Movie, as with a TV show I could split the novel up into sections, and be able to cover the entirety of the book within a TV show. As a movie however, it has already been proven that The Hobbit could be split up into at least three separate movie and accurately cover almost all the events in the book, with the note that in the movie several changes and additions were added into the current movie. Without said changes, the movie could be cut down to a more accurate two-set movie, or perhaps a single movie. As a director, I also feel as though I would have to limit the number of changes and cuts to an absolute minimum, removing what is only necessary to keep the flow of the TV show/movie going. To ensure that the audience would be captivated, the cast would require a group of diverse and talented individuals. Re-using some of the actors from the movie series would be preferable, as many actors were more than adept at their roles. The soundtrack would also have to be similar to what is currently played in the movies, great epic music that sound like it's taken from the mind of a bard or minstrel. Something that captures the grandeur of the world that they're in, while also fitting with the fantastic adventure that the group goes through. Lastly, the true challenge wouldn't be truly any of those things, but instead it would be much more simple. It would have to show that it wasn't the plot of the book that was spectacular, or what threat was conquered, but the journey that took place and the change that happened in all places of the world touched by this company of companions.

#3: Book Project 1

For the final project of book one, I  have made the following decision.

Regulating the characters of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar children into the Major Arcana of the infamous Tarot Cards.

The Fool: Jacob's Family represents the fool, in this case a group of people who are constantly in danger (from the Wights), but are ignorant and manage to be unharmed by them.

The Magician: Hugh Apiston represents The Magician, not only because of his friendly demeanor and bee-related pranking abilities, but because he's one of the few Peculiars more in touch with nature, due to the fact that bees live in his stomach.

The High Priestess: Miss Peregrine herself is a woman (not necessarily described as old) who commonly wears a veil, and holds many secrets involving the peculiars, and time travel itself.

The Empress: Represents Emma Bloom, the love interest for the protagonist Jacob Portman. Aside from this, she embodies creativity, power, and comfort, several aspects of her character.

The Emperor: Enoch O'Conner represents The Emperor, due to his tendency to act as a group leader, and primary decision maker. He often leads the other children, and helps to the overall stability of the orphanage.

The Heirophant: Millard Nulling represents The Heirophant, which translates into education, conservative action, and obedience. Definite traits of Millard's personality, as he follows the rools, and rarely gets up to mischief with the others.

The Lovers: Cairnholm represents The Lovers card, due to this is where Jacob learns about his heritage, and actually beings to become conflicted about him leaving with his father, or staying with the Peculiars.

The Chariot: Miss Avocet is representative of The Chariot, as when she appears in the book it is to warn Miss Peregrine that the Wights were hunting the orphanage.

Strength: Is represented by Bronwyn Bruntly. She has immense strength, and although isn't the smartest of the children, she has a kind soul, as related to the arcana itself.

The Hermit: The Ill-fated Martin Pagett represents The Hermit, as his death would finally bring the characters into conflict with Malthus and Golan, and the revelation that in addition to Jacob being able to see the Hollowgast, that he can also kill them.

The Wheel of Fortune: Ricky, Jacobs friend at the start of the book seems to leave Jacob just as easily as the two become friends.

Justice: The Ymbrynes, Peculiars who can become birds and manipulate time are representative of the logical analysis, balance and order, especially when considering they manage to keep the Peculiars safe.

The Hanged Man: Jacob Portman's grandfather, Abraham Portman is the representation of The Hanged Man. At the start of the book, his death leads Jacob on to learn more about the Peculiars, and sparks most of the events of the book.

Death: The protagonist, Jacob Portman represents Arcana #13, Death. The similarity isn't due to his ability to see the Hollowgasts that threaten the Peculiar children, but from the fact that his arrival represents a deep change for the other characters of the book, which is the true meaning of the Arcana.

Temperance: The Hollowgasts and Wights are representative of Temperance, in the sense that the Hollowgasts and Wights are representative of what will happen to one who tries to disturb the harmony that has been set in place.

The Devil: Victor Bruntly is representative of The Devil, due to his constant resurrection at the hands of Enoch. This ties into the card's connotation of giving into selfish purposes, in this case waking the peaceful dead.

The Tower: Doctor Golan, the actual antagonist is representative of The Tower. When he is first named, it seems as though he is but a minor character, but the revelation that he is the Wight who accompanies and hunts for Malthus turns his connotations into the sinister. The fact that he apparently had been stalking Jacob for his whole life makes the character even more sinister and disturbing.

The Star: Fiona Frauenfield represents The Star in all ways but one. She is very altruistic to her fellow Peculiars, and before she came to the orphanage she helped her town out during the Potato Famines in Ireland.

The Moon: Horace Somnusson is a perfect representation of The Moon card, due to his innate ability to see vision of the future.

The Sun: Olive Elephanta is the representation for The Sun Arcana, although her picture at the beginning of the book would not suggest as such. In the book, she is one of the most happy, positive and energetic characters in the whole novel, which aligns perfectly with The Sun card.

Judgement: The Hollowgast Malthus would be the card for Judgement, as his sole appearances result not only in the death of Abraham Portman, but also the conclusion of the story itself.

The World: The World in this case is a representation of the orphanage that the Peculiars live in, representing how the children all desire to protect their home and themselves.

This all ties into the book, considering the mysticism that the characters invoke. Also, many of the Peculiars acted as circus freaks at some point in their lifetime, due to their strange and unusual powers. While tarot cards do not actually appear in the book, the connections between the cards and the characters are overwhelmingly strong at various points, making it a logical choice.

#2: What is a book?

A book is an idea.

Books are the pure thoughts and ideas of the writer, refined and given 'proper' direction by an editor. While a book is the common vessel for the stories, a tablet or a computer seems to be an equally appropriate. However, all of that is unimportant. What matters is the idea. Burning books prevent people from reading the ideas, but there's always the people who hide the ideas and save them for others to find. The computer data that can hold the ideas may be splintered and divided among a bunch of computers, but someone could just delete the data wherever it may be.

So then what's the deal? Computers are just the inferior format and progression just worked itself into stupidity? Not exactly. Everything could be written out of existence by anyone with the sufficient will to do so. As a personal preference, I enjoy reading and holding books, but I know there are people who enjoy reading off a computer screen. The whole debate between which format is "right" is meaningless. Books are books, ideas are ideas. And the purpose of the book was to spread ideas.

Mission accomplished.

#1: Why do I read?

Why do I read? I read not only because it's fun, but I read because when you read, you learn more about the world. Books, good books especially, are written with knowledge and experience of the situations in the book, so that they're more than just a few scripted scenes. As well as this, the more you read, the more you learn how to write. As a writer, these two things are all the world to me.