I began reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy this evening. It's a tale of a man and his son, traveling across an ashy, barren America, years after a tragic cataclysm blighted the country. So far, it's been quite an obscure tale, obviously. The characters have no names and are only called The Man and The Boy. There is a movie in production, set to release next year.
McCarthy also wrote All The Pretty Horses and No Country For Old Men, both of which were adapted into films.
The Road, thus far, seems to be a tale of death and desperation. Perhaps atonement. The "sins of the father" could be represented as well, the "father" being America as a whole. How McCarthy sees the future of America by the nation's faults and wrongdoings.
I'm not sure how it will affect me after I'm finished. It's already making me think of things to come: the future is a constant and inconstant phenomenon; a concept one cannot truly grasp.
To think of the future, one can be optimistic or melancholy. McCarthy is a latter thinker.
I also think this story will make me very depressed, but I shall continue to read anyway. Perhaps it is not a story to read in times of merriment, such as the Christmas holiday.
p&l rachel
Tuesday, December 23
Monday, December 22
sookie is MINE
I finished Dead Until Dark this evening, and I have to say, I'm really impressed with several things. One, how HBO took one almost 400-page book and turned it into a 12 episode season. Another thing is how Charlaine Harris can weave a story, and her imagination! I'm sure I could have come up with something similar, had I the thought process she had.
I also purchased the second novel, Living Dead in Dallas, today. It starts out like the HBO season ended - with a dead body in Andy Bellefleur's back seat. Now, I'm really sad this person is actually dead, because I really, really liked him. In the show he's a much more prominent character, but in the books, he seems more of a background character.
I'm also a little curious why in the books there's no Tara, and she's only been mentioned once, and not by name. Tara was Lafayette's cousin (Lafayette being the dead body in the backseat). Very unfortunate stuff, the death of Lafayette. I wonder if this book will be the premise of the second season. They did embellish a lot in the first season, while going along with the first book, but it worked out well in the end. But Tara is supposed to be Sookie's best friend. Sookie had no friends in Dead Until Dark, which is weird, since Sookie had lived in Bon Temps her whole life. Arlene couldn't have been her only friend.
So many questions, so little time. I wish Charlaine would continue to write the Sookie Stackhouse books, but I think she's done with them. Alas.
p&l
rachel
I also purchased the second novel, Living Dead in Dallas, today. It starts out like the HBO season ended - with a dead body in Andy Bellefleur's back seat. Now, I'm really sad this person is actually dead, because I really, really liked him. In the show he's a much more prominent character, but in the books, he seems more of a background character.
I'm also a little curious why in the books there's no Tara, and she's only been mentioned once, and not by name. Tara was Lafayette's cousin (Lafayette being the dead body in the backseat). Very unfortunate stuff, the death of Lafayette. I wonder if this book will be the premise of the second season. They did embellish a lot in the first season, while going along with the first book, but it worked out well in the end. But Tara is supposed to be Sookie's best friend. Sookie had no friends in Dead Until Dark, which is weird, since Sookie had lived in Bon Temps her whole life. Arlene couldn't have been her only friend.
So many questions, so little time. I wish Charlaine would continue to write the Sookie Stackhouse books, but I think she's done with them. Alas.
p&l
rachel
Thursday, December 18
i wanna be your bootlegger, i wanna mix you up somethin' strange
I've fallen in love all over again with ... well, technically True Blood, but I've been reading the books the series is based on, and it's just magnificent to another degree now.
Dead Until Dark, the first novel, is absolutely intriguing. Bill Compton is not only less human, but a more sexual character. Sookie and Bill have sex in almost every chapter, since the first time they made love after Sookie's grandmother was killed. The intimate scenes are very powerful, in dialogue and in detail.
Eric, the sheriff of "area 5" is more kind to Sookie than he is in the series. That is more comforting than every vampire except Bill being courteous to Sookie.
Another thing about the book is that half the series has already happened in the first novel. It's amazing, realizing that I'm going to get to experience more than just what I saw on HBO. I wonder how true to the books the HBO series is... it's been pretty identical thus far in my reading. It has sparked a new interest in wanting to watch the series again.
Although the books are rather ... trashy in the sexual department... the book is written in a way that it's very easy to read. It's a wonderful read, though, don't think that since it's easy to read that it's lacking depth... quite the contrary... Sookie is much deeper in the book than she is in the series. The characters, both in the book and the series, are similar. Strong willed, modest (but not with Bill, sometimes), and vocal on her opinions.
I'm almost done with the first book, and I'm third in line to get the second one, Living Dead in Dallas. Something else I question is when Tara is going to make her appearance. Lafayette Reynold has already been in quite a few scenes, and is as flamboyant as he is in the series.
I'm actually quite surprised at how much of the series is in the first novelization. It makes me anxious to read the rest of the series, hoping to find out spoilers for next season's excitement...
But.. enough about Sookie Stackhouse. Let's talk about my Woodwose's.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about it. I've decided that they grew up as slightly "feral children" in the wilderness of the Olympic National Park (which is beautiful, btw, I looked at pictures on Google). Perhaps either they all get anxious about the impending evil coming to destroy Earth and finally integrate themselves into human society (in Seattle), or only one of them gets bored and intolerable of the others and runs off to find something more exciting. I can't decide.
I also can't decide how to actually start it. I mean, the prologue is a prologue. It doesn't actually tie in to the story, it's just like a "Starter Guide" on how the Woodwose's actually work. In the story, however, there will be more information on how they were actually created and what purpose they serve for Earth. They're kind of like aliens, but were born/spawned/created on the planet Earth. I think that once they do integrate themselves in with humans, they will do something environmental like start some volunteer program, or join one, so that there is human contact, also since they don't have social security numbers, last names, or real birthdays, parents, etc.
Something I was thinking about earlier... how I said that wizards were popular first, before vampires... well, Robert Pattinson (Edward in the film version of Twilight), was Cedric Diggory in the film version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (which I have put on hold at the library, just so I can watch him and pay attention to him this time).
Anyways... I'm completely done with school for the Fall semester 2008. No more class until January 7th. My online classes don't start until Jan. 19th, which is a plus; it's also the week that Lost returns. Whoopee!
Another Whoopee: I read that Desperate Housewives has been extended through season NINE. That is quite exciting, do you not agree?
I hope to get my final grades soon. I was exempt from my World Civ 2 final, with a final average of 90 (an A), which was amazing. Today, I took my last two finals: Biology and World Civ 1. I made a 88 on my Bio lab final, which makes me very happy. I'm positive I made an A in my World Lit 2 class, since I made a 100+ on every test we did in class, and a 99 on the research paper I did on "Religious Undertones in the Short Fiction of Flannery O'Connor." I'm quite the genius, if you didn't know already.
p&l
rachel
Dead Until Dark, the first novel, is absolutely intriguing. Bill Compton is not only less human, but a more sexual character. Sookie and Bill have sex in almost every chapter, since the first time they made love after Sookie's grandmother was killed. The intimate scenes are very powerful, in dialogue and in detail.
Eric, the sheriff of "area 5" is more kind to Sookie than he is in the series. That is more comforting than every vampire except Bill being courteous to Sookie.
Another thing about the book is that half the series has already happened in the first novel. It's amazing, realizing that I'm going to get to experience more than just what I saw on HBO. I wonder how true to the books the HBO series is... it's been pretty identical thus far in my reading. It has sparked a new interest in wanting to watch the series again.
Although the books are rather ... trashy in the sexual department... the book is written in a way that it's very easy to read. It's a wonderful read, though, don't think that since it's easy to read that it's lacking depth... quite the contrary... Sookie is much deeper in the book than she is in the series. The characters, both in the book and the series, are similar. Strong willed, modest (but not with Bill, sometimes), and vocal on her opinions.
I'm almost done with the first book, and I'm third in line to get the second one, Living Dead in Dallas. Something else I question is when Tara is going to make her appearance. Lafayette Reynold has already been in quite a few scenes, and is as flamboyant as he is in the series.
I'm actually quite surprised at how much of the series is in the first novelization. It makes me anxious to read the rest of the series, hoping to find out spoilers for next season's excitement...
But.. enough about Sookie Stackhouse. Let's talk about my Woodwose's.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about it. I've decided that they grew up as slightly "feral children" in the wilderness of the Olympic National Park (which is beautiful, btw, I looked at pictures on Google). Perhaps either they all get anxious about the impending evil coming to destroy Earth and finally integrate themselves into human society (in Seattle), or only one of them gets bored and intolerable of the others and runs off to find something more exciting. I can't decide.
I also can't decide how to actually start it. I mean, the prologue is a prologue. It doesn't actually tie in to the story, it's just like a "Starter Guide" on how the Woodwose's actually work. In the story, however, there will be more information on how they were actually created and what purpose they serve for Earth. They're kind of like aliens, but were born/spawned/created on the planet Earth. I think that once they do integrate themselves in with humans, they will do something environmental like start some volunteer program, or join one, so that there is human contact, also since they don't have social security numbers, last names, or real birthdays, parents, etc.
Something I was thinking about earlier... how I said that wizards were popular first, before vampires... well, Robert Pattinson (Edward in the film version of Twilight), was Cedric Diggory in the film version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (which I have put on hold at the library, just so I can watch him and pay attention to him this time).
Anyways... I'm completely done with school for the Fall semester 2008. No more class until January 7th. My online classes don't start until Jan. 19th, which is a plus; it's also the week that Lost returns. Whoopee!
Another Whoopee: I read that Desperate Housewives has been extended through season NINE. That is quite exciting, do you not agree?
I hope to get my final grades soon. I was exempt from my World Civ 2 final, with a final average of 90 (an A), which was amazing. Today, I took my last two finals: Biology and World Civ 1. I made a 88 on my Bio lab final, which makes me very happy. I'm positive I made an A in my World Lit 2 class, since I made a 100+ on every test we did in class, and a 99 on the research paper I did on "Religious Undertones in the Short Fiction of Flannery O'Connor." I'm quite the genius, if you didn't know already.
p&l
rachel
Monday, December 15
i've found it
I've been searching for a creature that can become the next biggest thing. First, there were wizards with Harry Potter... now it's vampires with True Blood and the Twilight saga. I read an article about how in 2009 they're going to try to bring the werewolf into the limelight.
Now, it's a little sketchy on if people will connect to this storyline. My creature is called the Woodwose. They first appeared in the artwork and literature of medieval Europe. They are seen as a link between civilized humans and the dangerous elf-like spirits of natural woodlands. Physically, they're supposed to be very hairy and feral.
However, in my story, the "woodwose" are regular people. There are five of them, each coming from a different aspect of the elements - earth, air, fire, water and spirit. They have powers relevant to the element they came from. The idea of these people just being born from the elements is very enticing to me. The conflict is this force that is coming to Earth to destroy everything. They were born to stop it from happening. Very environmental it will be.
Now... my problem is the setting. Where will it be? How old are these characters and what stage of their life are they in? Too too many things to think about. We shall see how it turns out.
I've written the prologue, (in Stephenie Meyer style) and I'll post it here:
rachel
Now, it's a little sketchy on if people will connect to this storyline. My creature is called the Woodwose. They first appeared in the artwork and literature of medieval Europe. They are seen as a link between civilized humans and the dangerous elf-like spirits of natural woodlands. Physically, they're supposed to be very hairy and feral.
However, in my story, the "woodwose" are regular people. There are five of them, each coming from a different aspect of the elements - earth, air, fire, water and spirit. They have powers relevant to the element they came from. The idea of these people just being born from the elements is very enticing to me. The conflict is this force that is coming to Earth to destroy everything. They were born to stop it from happening. Very environmental it will be.
Now... my problem is the setting. Where will it be? How old are these characters and what stage of their life are they in? Too too many things to think about. We shall see how it turns out.
I've written the prologue, (in Stephenie Meyer style) and I'll post it here:
Myths aren’t actually myths – they’re real. There are five of us, and we were all spawned from the earth and its other elements: air, water, fire and spirit. Each of us has powers relevant to where we came from. We were generated with all the knowledge of our beings, the history of the Earth, and our task at hand. Something is coming to destroy this planet, and we were created to stop it from doing so. There are lots of names for what we are, but you can call us the WoodWose.p&l
rachel
Sunday, December 14
ps - i love buster
Ah, so recently, I've been thinking a lot about the past. How naive I was. Well, I've also been watching some tapes my friends and I made the summer after we graduated from high school. Almost four years ago.
It's weird to think back, look back and remember how the people who used to be important to you at one point just vanish from your life in all aspects. Best friends who've lost contact. Exes who are too proud to actually be friends.
So many people love looking back on these things, and it's very refreshing to see these moments of your life relived in front of you. Seeing these things remind me about how these moments were important in the process of becoming who I am. It shows me how far I've come in these past four years in personality, morality and vitality. HAHA, just kidding really, but who knows how far I've really come. Oh, well, I know I've come far since freshman year of college. That year was a real rough and tumble year for me. Even though those are some of the best moments I've ever had.
Another thing that reminds me of the past is my sister. She just turned 14 and she had this huge birthday party. My birthday parties were never that extravagant. My sister and I are completely different people though. She's always been so much more out going than I was in grade school. Thinking about it, if I had been that extroverted, then I might have had more friends, but I might not have turned out the way I am now.
Who knows. It's like a "What if?" scenario.
p&l
rachel
It's weird to think back, look back and remember how the people who used to be important to you at one point just vanish from your life in all aspects. Best friends who've lost contact. Exes who are too proud to actually be friends.
So many people love looking back on these things, and it's very refreshing to see these moments of your life relived in front of you. Seeing these things remind me about how these moments were important in the process of becoming who I am. It shows me how far I've come in these past four years in personality, morality and vitality. HAHA, just kidding really, but who knows how far I've really come. Oh, well, I know I've come far since freshman year of college. That year was a real rough and tumble year for me. Even though those are some of the best moments I've ever had.
Another thing that reminds me of the past is my sister. She just turned 14 and she had this huge birthday party. My birthday parties were never that extravagant. My sister and I are completely different people though. She's always been so much more out going than I was in grade school. Thinking about it, if I had been that extroverted, then I might have had more friends, but I might not have turned out the way I am now.
Who knows. It's like a "What if?" scenario.
p&l
rachel
Sunday, December 7
what did max mean when he said he'd see me at school?
**Note: I’m writing this while our internet is on the fritz, so it might be a little lengthy before we get it all sorted out**
Like I mentioned, I’ve been watching Heroes, season one, and I’ve seen a few plot hole connections in the third season. In the latest episode, Hiro and Ando are in that Texas comic book store. There have apparently been several more Isaac Mendez since his death almost a year ago, and in episode “.07%” Isaac says that the “last” comic about Hiro was the one where he went to the future.
First of all, how did Isaac Mendez write so many comics about Hiro already, when in reality the first time Hro really time travels it’s when he goes to NYC for the first time, the first real view of the “bomb?” It’s just a tiny plot hole, I guess I can let it slide…. I know I’ve had a plot hole or two in my day. But this is an epic show, and I will not say any more negative things about it.
I also started writing a new short story. I’m still a little unsure of how things are going to work out for my character, but I know the path she’s going to go in. How things are going to happen, but I don’t know how everything is going to end up yet. What kind of epiphany she will have, or what the “resolution of the conflict” will be. I do know the conflict though, which is usually my biggest problem (haha).
I’m really craving some pie a la mode. I’m not sure what kind of pie I want though. I could try some peach pie. Cherry pie. Apple pie. Those kinds of pies. I wish we had a diner that served pies, or a place like Big Pattie’s Pie House like on True Blood. I bet they’d serve their pies with ice cream. Yum.
We did a “group presentation” in World Civ 1. It was just like going back to high school. Only, the topic was slightly scholarly: a what if kind of situation for history: What if the Black Plague never reached Europe in the 14th century? It was rather interesting when I finally got around to really reading about it. I think we did a pretty good job with our class presentation though, I hope.
I realized while re-reading what I wrote for this blog, that I pretty much summarize the rambling I do. Each paragraph is pretty uniform and similar. I don't know how I do that or how it actually takes form that way.... It's just strange all-in-all.
I've been watching season one of Roswell. I forgot how wonderful it was, all those years ago, when I was still in middle school. 8th grade I think.... I finished Heroes, and now I'm almost done with Roswell. I have to go to the library tomorrow and get my blocked status taken care of so I can put seasons two and three on hold (of Roswell). I also need to put season two of Heroes on hold.
Our internet is working now, for the most part.
p&l
rachel
Like I mentioned, I’ve been watching Heroes, season one, and I’ve seen a few plot hole connections in the third season. In the latest episode, Hiro and Ando are in that Texas comic book store. There have apparently been several more Isaac Mendez since his death almost a year ago, and in episode “.07%” Isaac says that the “last” comic about Hiro was the one where he went to the future.
First of all, how did Isaac Mendez write so many comics about Hiro already, when in reality the first time Hro really time travels it’s when he goes to NYC for the first time, the first real view of the “bomb?” It’s just a tiny plot hole, I guess I can let it slide…. I know I’ve had a plot hole or two in my day. But this is an epic show, and I will not say any more negative things about it.
I also started writing a new short story. I’m still a little unsure of how things are going to work out for my character, but I know the path she’s going to go in. How things are going to happen, but I don’t know how everything is going to end up yet. What kind of epiphany she will have, or what the “resolution of the conflict” will be. I do know the conflict though, which is usually my biggest problem (haha).
I’m really craving some pie a la mode. I’m not sure what kind of pie I want though. I could try some peach pie. Cherry pie. Apple pie. Those kinds of pies. I wish we had a diner that served pies, or a place like Big Pattie’s Pie House like on True Blood. I bet they’d serve their pies with ice cream. Yum.
We did a “group presentation” in World Civ 1. It was just like going back to high school. Only, the topic was slightly scholarly: a what if kind of situation for history: What if the Black Plague never reached Europe in the 14th century? It was rather interesting when I finally got around to really reading about it. I think we did a pretty good job with our class presentation though, I hope.
I realized while re-reading what I wrote for this blog, that I pretty much summarize the rambling I do. Each paragraph is pretty uniform and similar. I don't know how I do that or how it actually takes form that way.... It's just strange all-in-all.
I've been watching season one of Roswell. I forgot how wonderful it was, all those years ago, when I was still in middle school. 8th grade I think.... I finished Heroes, and now I'm almost done with Roswell. I have to go to the library tomorrow and get my blocked status taken care of so I can put seasons two and three on hold (of Roswell). I also need to put season two of Heroes on hold.
Our internet is working now, for the most part.
p&l
rachel
new spring 2009 schedule
No classes Monday or Friday.
Film as literature: Tuesday/Thursday
Theatre Production: Tuesday/ Thursday
Intro to Criminal Investigations: Wednesday night
Two online classes:
General Bio 1
New Testament Survey
Total hours: 14
This looks like more fun than my schedule before.
Film as literature: Tuesday/Thursday
Theatre Production: Tuesday/ Thursday
Intro to Criminal Investigations: Wednesday night
Two online classes:
General Bio 1
New Testament Survey
Total hours: 14
This looks like more fun than my schedule before.
Tuesday, December 2
i can't really explain it, i heard the little girl whispering... -matt parkman
I'm watching season one of Heroes, and I'm reminded why this show is definitely worth watching.
It's so epic, even in the third episode. Hiro persuades Ando into going with him on the journey. He's like "So you'll come with me?" expecting Ando to drop everything at Yamagata Industries and go with Hiro on the epic quest to save the world. Then, save the cheerleader, save the world.
Mr. Sylar. Mohinder's Indian accent more prominent in the first episode than in any other episode. He sounds Indian-British mixture. Not as Indian as he started out in episode uno.
Also, Claire's Texan accent is pretty good, and keeps its swagger at the right times, and constantly. Ahem, Mohinder. Everyone in the "Texas" segment of the first season have decent accents, and keep it up. I guess Mohinder still has an "accent" but it just doesn't sound as Indian as before.
Whatev "Mohinder's accent."
Sylar (Gabriel Gray) has so many books in his apartment in episode three. Mohinder and Eden are checking it out, and they find the secret room with the map with "dozens more" ropes than Monhinder's father's map. FORGIVE ME! Chandra Suresh.
Parkman just saved Molly Walker. Sylar's getting away.
So epic. So wonderful season one is. I just love it so much.
It's probably the number one season of tv shows I've ever watched. My most favorite.
I don't really want to compose a list of my favorite first seasons right now, so I'm just gonna have to figure one out eventually.
Simone Deveaux, not shot dead yet.
p&l
rachel
It's so epic, even in the third episode. Hiro persuades Ando into going with him on the journey. He's like "So you'll come with me?" expecting Ando to drop everything at Yamagata Industries and go with Hiro on the epic quest to save the world. Then, save the cheerleader, save the world.
Mr. Sylar. Mohinder's Indian accent more prominent in the first episode than in any other episode. He sounds Indian-British mixture. Not as Indian as he started out in episode uno.
Also, Claire's Texan accent is pretty good, and keeps its swagger at the right times, and constantly. Ahem, Mohinder. Everyone in the "Texas" segment of the first season have decent accents, and keep it up. I guess Mohinder still has an "accent" but it just doesn't sound as Indian as before.
Whatev "Mohinder's accent."
Sylar (Gabriel Gray) has so many books in his apartment in episode three. Mohinder and Eden are checking it out, and they find the secret room with the map with "dozens more" ropes than Monhinder's father's map. FORGIVE ME! Chandra Suresh.
Parkman just saved Molly Walker. Sylar's getting away.
So epic. So wonderful season one is. I just love it so much.
It's probably the number one season of tv shows I've ever watched. My most favorite.
I don't really want to compose a list of my favorite first seasons right now, so I'm just gonna have to figure one out eventually.
Simone Deveaux, not shot dead yet.
p&l
rachel
Monday, December 1
bs
Why is Christmas the only time of year, other than birthdays, that we give gifts to people we care about? Why can't we just keep giving gifts all year round?
I think when I have my own family, we're not going to do Christmas. We'll give gifts constantly. Perhaps if people gave more than they took, people would be happier, generally. Probably not completely happy, but it would be something to look forward to all the time rather than in June or July waiting for months for gifts to look forward to.
I just feel like it's such a crock. Christmas. Who knows what I'm actually talking about.
p&l
rachel
I think when I have my own family, we're not going to do Christmas. We'll give gifts constantly. Perhaps if people gave more than they took, people would be happier, generally. Probably not completely happy, but it would be something to look forward to all the time rather than in June or July waiting for months for gifts to look forward to.
I just feel like it's such a crock. Christmas. Who knows what I'm actually talking about.
p&l
rachel
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