How to Talk to the Moon at Parties

This week, I read a couple of things. I read 'The Distance of the Moon,' by Italo
Calvino, in addition to 'How to Talk to Girls at Parties' by Neil Gaiman, because
I saw the movie trailer and got very excited. This semester has really shaped
a love of Neil Gaiman's writing as one of my primary influences, especially as
I'm finding my footing as a wannabe writer. Written in 2006, my one minor
criticism is that Stella is a bit of the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope. I'm also worried
it'll be a little too much 'manic pixie dream girl.' Other then that the world was
very fun, like 70's Skins but with more sci-fi, which was a very appealing concept
to me. The Itty-Bitty hints of non-humanism were just enough to make Stella a
believable alien, but not enough to make it un-realistic or kitchey. The character
descriptions were still very endearing, I loved the line:

"He looked from her back to me, and he smiled his white smile: roguish, lovable,

a little bit Artful Dodger, a little bit wide- boy Prince Charming."

I found Stella much more interesting then any of the other characters, but that could
also just be my personal taste in characters. I could read her talk about outer-space
and her travels forever. Since the text is fairly short, I'm very curious to see how it will
be expanded into a full length feature film. I also loved the section where she's compared
to a poem. Including some illustrations from a comic that was made on the text,

illustrations by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon.

"The Distance of the Moon" was also enjoyable. I tend to love text written about the
moon, but this was definatley different then what I'm used to. Climbing up to the moon
with a latter reminded me of that pixar short that came out a few years ago, 'La Luna.'
It was very surreal, and left a very 'melancholy achey' feeling. It was whymsical and
magical, so (shocker,) I was all in. I also really enjoyed this animated short that I found
based on it, including here.

Bloodchild Analysis

Octavia’s work is vivid, descriptive, and lush. The level of detail, from the
descriptions of the food to the gore was cringe-worthy, very well done
but hard to stomach.

I connected on a personal level, since I also have a sister I would do
anything for. Wanting to protect and save family is incredibly personal
and a character choice that makes sense.

Very creepy. It was interesting to reverse the role as was discussed,
though I agree with the discussion on what levels of ‘healthy consent’
were present. If his sister was being threatened and he stepped up to
save her, that’s being held over his head. Compare it to the hunger
games, Katniss never wanted involvement either.

Aye and Gomorrah

Aye and Gomorrah was a short piece, but full of interesting concepts and original worldbuilding. The way the world was set up explored gender and identity in a way I haven't seen before in science fiction. All of the themes surrounding sexuality were very clear, though I don’t know how I feel about the idea of being ‘genderless’ or androgynous creatures being the subject of so much sexualization. 

As a concept I feel a little uneasy about it. A product of it’s time I suppose, hopefully it made positive contributions to the diverse world of science fiction.
I was also interested to learn that the author was both black and bisexual. That explained his interest in many of these themes and subjects, I’m glad I got the chance to read some of his work and might look into it further.

You Can't Take the Sky from Me!

When I was in high school I got so much enjoyment out of this show and found the characters so loveable, when I saw it was on the list I knew I had to re-visit it. I only watched a couple of episodes but I do believe they hold up. There isn't a huge budget, the special effects aren't the highest end, (in fact, looking at them with what I know now about animation is surreal,) but the show's best quality, in my opinion, is the interesting story and the fantastic crew of characters, and their development. Aside from Jane, who I don't care for.

Being totally honest, I really don't like westerns. Space westerns even, walk a very thin line. Firefly feels like something unique though.
One modern show that I've considered in the same vein is Sci-fi's 'Defiance,' which is mostly set on earth, but has more western vibes, and plenty of fun and original sci-fi elements.

Although, I do have to say that I completely disagree with the article about Joss Whedon. His definition of "strong women characters" are almost always over-sexualized. During Buffy/Firefly era, his work and characters were alright considering. His recent work, however, is full of flaws and by now should have no excuse. His version of the Wonder Woman script was horrible, incredibly sexist and I'm forever relieved he that version didn't move forward, as well as his version of Batgirl.
Especially significant, is his ex-wife's open letter revealing his emotional manipulation and cheating. I definitely wouldn't consider him or his writing at the peak of feminism.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/08/21/joss-whedons-ex-wife-kai-cole-accuses-feminist-buffy-writer/

https://www.themarysue.com/reconsidering-the-feminism-of-joss-whedon/

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)