The Ocean at the End of the Lane!

For this week's selection, I read the short novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane. While I enjoyed it, I don't think I would list it as my favorite of Neil Gaiman's work. I know in interviews he's stated that if he had to pick one of his books to be known by he would pick this one, and it's certainly well written, crafted, and interesting. It probably comes down to my own personal tastes in literature, where I tend to like stronger fantasy content. I've read Stardust, Coraline, and American Gods, so Anasi Boys is definitely on the list next and I'm definitely looking forward to.
It felt very similar to Coraline, in terms of the demographic and even protagonist. It was a little softer and more subdued than the wacky other-world, and more realistic in some ways. There were some nice quotes about growing up and adulthood which I enjoyed-

“Grown-ups don't look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they're big and thoughtless and they always know what they're doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. Truth is, there aren't any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.” 

also...

“Nobody looks like what they really are on the inside. You don’t. I don’t. People are much more complicated than that. It’s true of everybody.” 

-and I certainly don't regret reading it. It's one of the stronger modern fairytales I've read, and had every element of something I should have loved. It romanticised reading, highlighting the little lovely details of leaving windows open at night to get a cool breeze, and relishing childhood. Thematically, it's spot on. Definitely spooky, though a children's book, it dealt with mature themes and content. I enjoyed the mention of Sarasota in the thanks at the end, when he mentioned his good friend Stephen King. 

Also included, is an interesting makeup look I came across for the novel's villain, some interesting visuals, and an interview from the New York Times that I enjoyed.

https://www.demikaycreations.com

Cathy Dillon

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/30/books/review/neil-gaimans-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane.html

The Tale of Spiritual Education

This week I read selections from "The Magicians," a book that has been recommended to me a few times previously. It has a clear influence from Harry Potter, everyone who's referenced it has pitched it like "Harry Potter, but older with more partying." I also picked up on a lot of influences from "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" which I enjoyed. I did like the world, the urban fantasy setting is a fun one. I have a hard time liking the main character Quintin. His character was pretty depressing and kind of a jerk, and though I understand he had pretty bad depression, the writing didn't do a fantastic job of redeeming himself for his actions or how he treats people. How he treats Alice is especially terrible, I find it almost impossible to relate to a character who cheats. It also really annoyed me that her death was used to motivate Quintin. I found many of the side characters much more interesting, and I liked the concept of the world a whole bunch. Comparing it to Harry Potter, who also goes through an angsty phase mid-series but bounces back, I'd have to continue the series to find if it gets any better.  I liked the way that magic was explained, at the school. It seemed more detailed and scientific than in some other forms of media and made sense for a more mature setting. 

Nick Luzada

roland chambers

Also, a note on "The City of Lost Children" we watched in class. I absolutely love Jean Pierre Jeunet's films, so  I've seen this one a couple of times. All of his work is fantastic, and has a really specific look to his cinematography. I think his world is fantastic, all of the characters are super fun and original. 

"If Terry Gilliam, David Lynch, Tod Browning, Jules Verne and the Brothers Grimm locked themselves away for a couple of years, drank tequila shots until their minds started to bleed and then did copious quantities of LSD, they’d probably make something almost as weird as ‘The City of Lost Children’" x

The Hero's Journey

Keeping with the theme of "Hero's Journey," this week I read Neil Gaiman's "Stardust." A story about a young romantic to find a fallen star. I know the recommended reading was "The Hobbit," which I've tried to read multiple times before. I gave it another go this time, but I've always had trouble with the LOTR series. In terms of the books, I've found them a tad intimidating, partly because there's so much material with an enormous fan base, and partly because it is pretty male-centric. I enjoy the writing, the descriptions, and the world-building, and I've seen the movie a couple of times which I enjoy, but I have a hard time latching on to the story. I'll get through it someday, but until then, Stardust!

I'm a fan of the movie, (which I also watched part of recently,) but reading the text gave me an entirely new appreciation for the world and characters. The visual descriptions completely blew me away, as was expected. There were so many fantastic moments, character's emotions, themes, descriptions, that were never captured in the film. It felt like falling love with the characters and story all over again. (Of course, the bulk of this was read on Valentine's day.) It's ultimately romantic, possibly one of my favorite love stories. It takes the idea of a fantasy fairytale and turns in into something entirely original. A fallen star? Broke her leg on the way down! Characters at a standstill? Add a Unicorn! The ethereal love interest? Curses like a sailor. Neil Gaiman takes all of our expectations and twists them around, turning them on their ear. All of the characters were so much more developed, from Dustin and Una's backstory, to Victoria and the Captain.

The King's Sons are even more insufferable, Victoria is even more Snobbish, and the Witches are even more macabre. The literal star and heart of the story of course, Yvaine, is what makes this story one of my favorites. It's such an interesting concept to me, and I'm sure many other readers.

"Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?" Pointless, really..."Do the stars gaze back?"

Tristen is all heart, 100%. Seeing him develop from the head-over-heels Victoria obsessed lovesick puppy to a fully formed headstrong and free-thinking hero was delightful, and I couldn't help but feel a bit proud. And Yvaine is spunky and fearless, with fantastic wordplay and a spitfire wit.

“He stared up at the stars: and it seemed to him then that they were dancers, stately and graceful, performing a dance almost infinite in its complexity. He imagined he could see the very faces of the stars; pale, they were, and smiling gently, as if they had spent so much time above the world, watching the scrambling and the joy and the pain of the people below them, that they could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” 

All of the themes of freedom, deception, and love were engaging and expertly done, and the character's connections woven throughout the novel gave me such a satisfying sense of "oh! that makes sense!" and "haha! so that's why it happened!" like solving a puzzle, or a Rubix cube. The interaction with the tree nymph was completely lost in the film, and I found that moment really lovely. Also, one change from book to the movie that I really preferred in the book was Victoria not initially telling Tristen about her engagement, and then Tristen's wish for her to marry Robert anyway. I think it showed a great deal of character development and growth, and also his growing attachment to Yvaine. Her development too, in the end finding more softness and warmth, even for the witches, was well written and well.

I'd also like to bump Chris Riddell's illustrations of the characters because they're fantastic. Picturing these characters in the story gave everything made everything feel so fresh and new. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone who likes well-written fantasy stories, stars, and poetic/imaginative worldbuilding.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3pCwPrlFPpPXgHK2QCJKrYQ/chris-riddells-stardust-sketches

Snotgirl

I wanted to do a quick post about Snotgirl, since it's been consistently crazy good. The ending panels always get to me, so included a couple of favorites. Lottie is dramatic, sometimes vain, a bit of a try hard, and finding authenticity in this hyper-media crazed world had been such a fun ride, along with the wicked cool style and on-going murder mystery.

Witches!

For this week's selection, I read bits from Terry Pratchett's "Equal Rites," and an added bit of  "The Witches" by Roald Dahl, since it seemed topical. 
Terry Pratchett is an author who has been recommended to me for an incredibly long time. He writes for a genre I'm very fond of, though my only other experience with his work is "Going Postal." His writing is incredibly witty, full of fun wordplay and humor, and sprinkled with wisdom and prose.
I found the concept incredibly interesting and progressive, classic fantasy novels put a lot of weight on being 'the x'th son of an x'th son' so making the protagonist a surprise daughter was a creative twist. Granny Weatherwax especially, felt like an incredibly well-formed character, being clever, sarcastic, non-traditional character. She still had flaws, but they all made sense given the word she existed in, and from what I understand, she goes on for a few more novels, and hopefully progresses.
I did think that the bit in the end about witches needing a head and wizards needing a heart was a bit dated, though given the novel was written in the 80's and otherwise very good, I allowed it some slack.

“Granny sighed. "You have learned something," she said, and thought it safe to insert a touch of sternness into her voice. "They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.” 

Now, "The Witches."
I love Roald Dahl's work, and this story is no exception. It's a fun, quirky read that makes you think. Almost a "Fractured Fairytale," we follow the narrator's journey of discovering witches, what it means to be a witch, the powers they possess. His writing challenges us to consider what a witch looks like, and even the importance of appearances, when you truly care for someone. Though the plot was silly, sometimes non-sensical, mouse-maker filled, the story manages to find incredibly sweet and thoughtful moments. 

“It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like, so long as somebody loves you.”

It's moments like that that set apart Roald Dahl's work in a category of his own, for we can laugh and enjoy the wit of the narrative, while still end on a warm and thoughtful note. The relationship between the narrator and his Grandmama, especially when he is a mouse, goes straight to the heart. Completely and utterly bittersweet.

Writing Prompt Feb.6.2018

“You finally get the superpower you’ve always dreamed about, and you
realize that it sucks.”

The wind was ice - sharp, a slap in the face. It pulled at my clothes, my
hair, my skin, and I plummeted through the sky. The air was crisp to
breathe, and my breath was short this high up. Quick. Trying to get
enough oxygen.

I finally came to a rest, a stagnant motionless suspension among the
wisps of clouds, lazily drifting by. Golden, from the sun.

I didn’t feel at peace, I didn’t feel free. This icey solitude was an
introverts dream - had been mine, for years. The question, the
problem, the dilemma, (as there always was for me) was now
how to return to the ground. Physically, and emotionally.

“Space cadet” had been a term thrown at me my whole life.
“His head is up in the clouds.” “He’s so spaced out, he can’t even
think straight.” Dreaming of a pure, isolated abyss had been a pleasant
daydream, a comforting home my mind could return to, at the end of a
long emotionally exhausting day.

Back on earth, sure there was talk of powers. Maybe from the pollution,
or the chemicals, or whatever scientific mistake had recently leaked into
the atmosphere. Once in a while, we’d hear stories about kids that were
just Different. I think I had a second cousin that could see through walls,
or something like that.

Other Stuff!

Quick post on other things I've been really loving lately.
I started watching "The End of the F***ing World," which is kind of like edgier, Brittish Wes Anderson. So far its pretty fun, a little graphic but the soundtrack and cinematography is killer. I totally want to check out the comic and compare, it looks really simple in terms of style but I'd love to see where it originated.

I also watched "Desert Hearts" in my LGBTQ film class which was FANTASTIC. It was like Thelma and Louise meets Carol. It was actually the first honest, non-satyrical representation, of a lesbian couple in film which is awesome. The costuming was awesome, all cowgirl boots and one pieces with tassels. Really Really Good.

Also, 7 days until the next episode of Snotgirl. B)

Romantic, Whimsical Horror!

For this week's Horror selection, I read "What the Moon Brings" by H.P. Lovecraft, and some of his other work. I loved how lyrical and surreal the prose was in the Moon piece especially. I usually don't like horror, but his writing felt a lot like poetry, almost like Edgar Alan Poe's work. It was creepy, but it wasn't gory or bloody which is what usually trips me up.
"And as I ran along the shore, crushing sleeping flowers with heedless feet and maddened ever by the fear of unknown things and the lure of the dead faces, I saw that the garden had no end under that moon; for where by day the walls were, there stretched now only new vistas of trees and paths, flowers and shrubs, stone idols and pagodas, and bendings of the yellow-litten stream past grassy banks and under grotesque bridges of marble." The picture he paints sounds like a dream, or a creepy vaguely romantic nightmare. The ending was less so, which where the "horror" element came in I suppose. I looked at a couple of his other works, but this one was definitely my favorite. I did like the line in " The Unnamable," referring to the trees as "patriarchal." Not entirely sure what that means, but its a funny concept.
I also watched "Delicatessen" by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. I'm a massive fan of his other work, I'd probably site him in my top 3 directors (along with Guillermo del Toro and Wes Anderson.) Whimsical horror, (which is how I'd describe this creepy cannibalistic hotel flick) is something I can get kinda behind. Post-Apocalyptic France sounds like one of the most fun settings for a film, if I had to survive the apocalypse anywhere I'd probably pick someplace similar. I'd cross my fingers for less flesh-eating, though. I grew really attached to the main characters, despite the comically dark setting, they were both very sweet and likable. They also weren't "traditional Hollywood couple" which was refreshing, they both had so much more character, appeal, and likeability. It was also kind of "Horror Romance," which is what pulled me in more.



Five Stars!

Local Host

(Re-Post from my old blog)

Local Host by Aether Interactive is a charming yet eerie pixel art style point and click game, where the player is tasked with wiping 4 artificial intelligence drives of varying levels of like-ability. 

Gosh Darn, this game has me shook. The art and design of the full package, pixel art, music, gameplay, even how the product was packaged with a physical retro-style cd felt so specific and detail oriented. 

The User meets a green, pink, yellow, and red host, all who operate in a single broken down and deteriorating body. Each has an opinion on being wiped. The game-play itself is surreal, we actually feel things for this game, this product and characters made to test our own ability to follow instructions. Do we sympathize with the host in love? With the broken host, irreparable and in pain? With the host that dreams on a bigger scale, and aspires for more? Our boss’s instructions are clear, wipe the drive and leave no trace. Our own human emotions are actually something we must face, which is surreal to experience.

Book Review - Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Juliet takes a breath was the first book I've read in a while that I really couldn't put down. I don't know if I've ever read a book that puts so much emphasis on intersectionalism, especially with the main character. She was quite literally close to home, I grew up in Westchester NY so that was a really cool connection to her. I wish I could send this book back to myself when I was first figuring all this out, in terms of the story and narrative, in addition to the writing. I've never read a YA novel that actually discussed polyamory, let alone had a protagonist that was gay, non-white, and chubby. The story and the characters were also wicked funny, the sense of humor game through, in addition to great discussion on what romance means in more modern LGBTQ circles. I believe it takes place in the early 2000's, so her introduction to all of these terms was one that I could have related to, at that age. The romance was sweet, especially one exploring interracial relationships. It reminds me of this other book I'm currently reading, "Lies we tell Ourselves," which is about a highschool romance between two girls during the civil rights movement. There are a lot of overlapping themes, I actually couldn't have planned for a better pair to read in parallel. All of the themes of forbidden love, layers/contrast of culture, inclusivity/exclusivity, and more gay romance. 

Its been a long time since I read a book that was equally educational and engaging, and its one I would definitely recommend, honestly to anyone who will listen.

Call Me by Your Name - Review

Call Me by Your Name - Directed by  Luca Guadagnino

Interesting film, very poetic and a sort of “classically queer” film. Coming of age story, set in the 80′s about a teen in the Italian countryside who becomes involved with an older male student, staying with his parents over the summer.

I think the story differed greatly from the traditional story structure, perhaps because it was based on a novel, and had a very “slice of life.” kind of feeling. I still found a lot of novelty in the characters, their emotions and experiences especially involving young love, and queer attraction. 

Opening Image: Elio hanging out with his friend  Marzia. Shirtless, summer, he looks and feels very naive and young. 

Theme Stated: I don’t know if this was stated early on, but the theme seemed to be “Call Me by Your Name.” They each believed the other was the better of the two, thus calling each other by their own names.

Set up:

Catalyst: Oliver, a friend of Elio’s fathers and traveling student visits the home to stay for the summer.

Debate:

Break into two:

B story:

Fun and Games:

Midpoint:

Bad Guys Close in:

All is lost:

Dark Night of the soul:

break into three:

Finale: Elio gets a call from Oliver, who announces that he is engaged. They still call each other by their own names, it still feels special and significant, even though it hurts.

Final image: Elio staring into the fire, finally accepting and embracing his heartbreak over Oliver. bundled up in layers, change of season, cold. 

http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2017/11/30/blueprints-call-me-by-your-name.html

https://blog.blcklst.com/anatomy-of-an-opening-scene-call-me-by-your-name-a9c5474f0a92