I did not realize that my last blog was my last for this class. How sad. I would have made it a little better, then again, Terry Woods did not give me much to go on.
It feels very weird to be graduating. I was in the program for two and a half years and going through it I felt every minute of everyday but now that it's over, it feels like it flew by. I guess that's how most things are.
And, now that I won't have class to discuss Twilight in, I hope I don't have to resort to posting on twi-hard message boards to get my Twilight fix.
G-d, I hope everyone knows it was like 60% a joke...
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
True to the Game
I think I have to say this. I just don't like Urban Fiction. I think that must be what it is. I found this book depressing. I am not sure if these books are supposed to be light and trashy or like, somehow subversive commentary on what's wrong with living that sort of lifestyle. But, either way I was depressed.
And, I found the dialogue ridiculous. Like, when Q was randomly Muslim when he answered the phone but otherwise he wasn't. Also, he kills people and is a drug dealer, but he has moral issues with having a christmas tree. REALLY????? Plus, why not just go be a dentist if you are a freakin' dentist.
But, I know teens love this sort of stuff and maybe some of them can relate so they like it even more. But, I just didn't.
I don't have the energy to compare this book to Twilight. I can't think of anything either. Oh, now I feel compelled. Maybe Edward is Bella's drug. Eh, that's not good. But it's all I feel like doing.
But I did love No Regrets. I love tattoos, not those particular tattoos, not that I can ever get one. But I would if I could. Maybe laughing at how terrible those are will make teens pause for a few minutes before getting their own ridiculous tattoos.
And, I found the dialogue ridiculous. Like, when Q was randomly Muslim when he answered the phone but otherwise he wasn't. Also, he kills people and is a drug dealer, but he has moral issues with having a christmas tree. REALLY????? Plus, why not just go be a dentist if you are a freakin' dentist.
But, I know teens love this sort of stuff and maybe some of them can relate so they like it even more. But, I just didn't.
I don't have the energy to compare this book to Twilight. I can't think of anything either. Oh, now I feel compelled. Maybe Edward is Bella's drug. Eh, that's not good. But it's all I feel like doing.
But I did love No Regrets. I love tattoos, not those particular tattoos, not that I can ever get one. But I would if I could. Maybe laughing at how terrible those are will make teens pause for a few minutes before getting their own ridiculous tattoos.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
It's a good thing I don't twitter and follow Demi Moore, because I may have had to post suicidal status updates after reading Living Dead Girl.
I know teens like depressing books. And, I know that bad things happen in the world, however, I am not sure why this book was necessary. I understand she was brainwashed, and afraid to run away from him because he would kill her and her parents. But, just how depressed does one need to get while reading a book?
I wonder if anyone reads this book and likes it. Actually, I'm going to look up book reviews for it right now... Ok people seem to like it. Then again, it's not like I disliked it so much as did not want to deal with the story it told.
This might be my English degrees speaking, (oh I knew that MA would come in handy one day,) but I generally split writing up a few ways. One is books that are "good" i.e well written, well crafted, plotted, thought out, whatever. And, books that I like. These "good" books I don't necessarily have to like, but that doesn't mean I will discount it for it's literary merit. For a few reasons, but most importantly, who the hell am I? I mean, I HATE Mark Twain, but I don't think I'm in a position to say that he was bad at what he did. Clearly, most people disagree with me. So, he's good I just don't like him. (This is probably something teens should learn, their opinion in terms of good and bad usually aren't important, how the author does it is sometimes more important that what they are saying...but that opens whole areas of lit critique and I'll bore myself if I go down that path.)
I'd say Living Dead Girl falls into the "good" category.
And, just to be thorough, I also have a classification of books that I like but are actually not particularly well written or provide any lasting literary value.
Dare I say it? TWILIGHT falls into this category.
And, now for my coup de grace, because I neglected to mention Twilight in my last blog.
Living Dead Girl is like Twilight, in that Alice (the name is the same, but that's too easy) is constantly worried she is going to do something wrong and get killed by Ray, these are fears that Bella has too.
Ugh, I feel dirty writing that and minimalizing the horrors that Alice went through, even if it's fiction, there are probably real-life situations that are far too similar. And, now I'm depressed again. Where's Demi Moore?
I know teens like depressing books. And, I know that bad things happen in the world, however, I am not sure why this book was necessary. I understand she was brainwashed, and afraid to run away from him because he would kill her and her parents. But, just how depressed does one need to get while reading a book?
I wonder if anyone reads this book and likes it. Actually, I'm going to look up book reviews for it right now... Ok people seem to like it. Then again, it's not like I disliked it so much as did not want to deal with the story it told.
This might be my English degrees speaking, (oh I knew that MA would come in handy one day,) but I generally split writing up a few ways. One is books that are "good" i.e well written, well crafted, plotted, thought out, whatever. And, books that I like. These "good" books I don't necessarily have to like, but that doesn't mean I will discount it for it's literary merit. For a few reasons, but most importantly, who the hell am I? I mean, I HATE Mark Twain, but I don't think I'm in a position to say that he was bad at what he did. Clearly, most people disagree with me. So, he's good I just don't like him. (This is probably something teens should learn, their opinion in terms of good and bad usually aren't important, how the author does it is sometimes more important that what they are saying...but that opens whole areas of lit critique and I'll bore myself if I go down that path.)
I'd say Living Dead Girl falls into the "good" category.
And, just to be thorough, I also have a classification of books that I like but are actually not particularly well written or provide any lasting literary value.
Dare I say it? TWILIGHT falls into this category.
And, now for my coup de grace, because I neglected to mention Twilight in my last blog.
Living Dead Girl is like Twilight, in that Alice (the name is the same, but that's too easy) is constantly worried she is going to do something wrong and get killed by Ray, these are fears that Bella has too.
Ugh, I feel dirty writing that and minimalizing the horrors that Alice went through, even if it's fiction, there are probably real-life situations that are far too similar. And, now I'm depressed again. Where's Demi Moore?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
A really nice paper town
Ok, I couldn't think of a title.
I loooooooved both of these books. I think I liked Prom Mess a little bit more though. Every time I thought ok, nothing else crazy can happen, something else happened. But, I would like to point out this book has another instance of the closeted, douche bag, football player. And, I'm pretty sure this book held my favorite line where he describes his former best friend as having, "Jew fro" hilarious.
I think kids would love this book too, or maybe I'm being swayed by my love of it. And, I'm a sucker for a happy ending, so I liked that by the end he had a new love interest. Also that he came out of the closet and basically everyone was fine with it (which is how the world is in my head--even though I know I'm lying to myself). I sort of think this book could be read by boys too, it's a lot more accessible than Freak Show.
I think that the comedy in the book comes from his having to lie about who he is, but there's so much truth that winds up being exposed because of the lie.
Although, I think the scene where Cameron says, "you know, all the bad choices I made were because I smoked pot. Pot leads to bad decision making, you should not do drugs," was kind of a cop out. But it's a book for teens, so I get it.
Now, Paper Towns. I love that everyone calls Milwaukie's Best- Beast. I loved this book too, but I am not sure that it holds up to inspection (much the way Twilight does not...hehe). This is why- I am not a big fan of the, "I can't relate to the character so it is not a good book," theory. But, towards the end, I got kind of sick of Margo. The beginning was awesome, the level of detail and planning that she put into her revenge was amazing and I wish I had thought of that when (TMI maybe) my high school boyfriend felt the need to sleep with not one, but two of my friends. However, when she ran away and he thought she was dead, and I too, kept holding my breath for when he'd find her body, I got annoyed with her. And, I read looking for Alaska after, otherwise I'd definitely have thought she was dead. (Parenthetically, I loved Looking for Alaska, but I really dislike sad books in theory and I cried for like, 4 days after that.)
She didn't feel bad enough (in my opinion) that they missed graduation to chase after her, and that they thought she was dead for a month. Also, really, who runs away a month before graduation? Suck it up, finish high school and get out the way everyone else does. Parental neglect is no reason to ruin your future chances by not even having a high school diploma. But, maybe I'm showing my age there. Maybe it's the ultimate teenage fantasy to run away from home and do it on your own.
Come to think of it, my boyfriend cheating thing happened right around the same time that hers did. I am Margo Roth Spiegelman! Except, you know, I sucked it up, stayed in school and then went off to college and got away from them all that way (with a summer of working with all guilty parties in between there, it was a nightmare actually, but hey, whatever doesn't kill you...)
Yeah, anyway. Loved these books.
I loooooooved both of these books. I think I liked Prom Mess a little bit more though. Every time I thought ok, nothing else crazy can happen, something else happened. But, I would like to point out this book has another instance of the closeted, douche bag, football player. And, I'm pretty sure this book held my favorite line where he describes his former best friend as having, "Jew fro" hilarious.
I think kids would love this book too, or maybe I'm being swayed by my love of it. And, I'm a sucker for a happy ending, so I liked that by the end he had a new love interest. Also that he came out of the closet and basically everyone was fine with it (which is how the world is in my head--even though I know I'm lying to myself). I sort of think this book could be read by boys too, it's a lot more accessible than Freak Show.
I think that the comedy in the book comes from his having to lie about who he is, but there's so much truth that winds up being exposed because of the lie.
Although, I think the scene where Cameron says, "you know, all the bad choices I made were because I smoked pot. Pot leads to bad decision making, you should not do drugs," was kind of a cop out. But it's a book for teens, so I get it.
Now, Paper Towns. I love that everyone calls Milwaukie's Best- Beast. I loved this book too, but I am not sure that it holds up to inspection (much the way Twilight does not...hehe). This is why- I am not a big fan of the, "I can't relate to the character so it is not a good book," theory. But, towards the end, I got kind of sick of Margo. The beginning was awesome, the level of detail and planning that she put into her revenge was amazing and I wish I had thought of that when (TMI maybe) my high school boyfriend felt the need to sleep with not one, but two of my friends. However, when she ran away and he thought she was dead, and I too, kept holding my breath for when he'd find her body, I got annoyed with her. And, I read looking for Alaska after, otherwise I'd definitely have thought she was dead. (Parenthetically, I loved Looking for Alaska, but I really dislike sad books in theory and I cried for like, 4 days after that.)
She didn't feel bad enough (in my opinion) that they missed graduation to chase after her, and that they thought she was dead for a month. Also, really, who runs away a month before graduation? Suck it up, finish high school and get out the way everyone else does. Parental neglect is no reason to ruin your future chances by not even having a high school diploma. But, maybe I'm showing my age there. Maybe it's the ultimate teenage fantasy to run away from home and do it on your own.
Come to think of it, my boyfriend cheating thing happened right around the same time that hers did. I am Margo Roth Spiegelman! Except, you know, I sucked it up, stayed in school and then went off to college and got away from them all that way (with a summer of working with all guilty parties in between there, it was a nightmare actually, but hey, whatever doesn't kill you...)
Yeah, anyway. Loved these books.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Dead High Yearbook
According to the syllabus online, Dead High Yearbook is the only reading due this week. Maybe because the talk to teen papers are due this week too.
I am not sure how to write an entire blog about that book. I am sure teens like it, it's a cool concept and the pictures are big and colorful. I kinda liked it. But not enough to really write something lengthy about it. I liked how some of the stories were interconnected. And, I didn't feel particularly bad for any of the teens who died. I guess that says something. I guess since the deaths were all supernatural, it made it more amusing than sad. Unlike, Looking for Alaska where a teen dies (and makes you cry for, I dunno, hours on end.)
I think for this week we were also supposed to watch the Dark Knight. I think I am the only person in the world who has yet to see that movie. But, I really don't like superhero movies. I don't like Spiderman, or Superman or the last million Batman movies. So, I will apologize for not watching it but I just can't bring myself to do it. I find them dark and depressing and Batman is especially depressing, and I'm not even referring to Heath Ledger.
Oh, and I'll take this time to mention that I will be doing my annotations on something related to Twilight. I know this is shocking.
I am not sure how to write an entire blog about that book. I am sure teens like it, it's a cool concept and the pictures are big and colorful. I kinda liked it. But not enough to really write something lengthy about it. I liked how some of the stories were interconnected. And, I didn't feel particularly bad for any of the teens who died. I guess that says something. I guess since the deaths were all supernatural, it made it more amusing than sad. Unlike, Looking for Alaska where a teen dies (and makes you cry for, I dunno, hours on end.)
I think for this week we were also supposed to watch the Dark Knight. I think I am the only person in the world who has yet to see that movie. But, I really don't like superhero movies. I don't like Spiderman, or Superman or the last million Batman movies. So, I will apologize for not watching it but I just can't bring myself to do it. I find them dark and depressing and Batman is especially depressing, and I'm not even referring to Heath Ledger.
Oh, and I'll take this time to mention that I will be doing my annotations on something related to Twilight. I know this is shocking.
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