Character Change

I need to get this whole blogging thing onto a schedule. Maybe I will start blogging every Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Sound good? Good.

I've been reading The Vampire Lestat and like I've said before, I can't help but make connections between it and the first book- too many English classes does that too you. Lestat, he is the main person (along with Armand) that I have been making these connections with; mostly due to the fact that he has such a large character change throughout the series. In the first book Lestat is a pompous, arrogant, and slightly obnoxious man who wants everyone to love him. Which makes sense slightly with the second book because Lestat always wants to have another vampire with him, so he made Louis and Claudia in the first book, and Gabrielle and Nicki in the second book. Yet, the personality is what doesn't particularity match up. In Lestat Lestat is emotional and loving, of course he still has the arrogance, but just not as much as in Interview with a Vampire. Ah, what complex creatures vampires are...the well written ones of course.

Me Books and Things

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
The Boneshaker by Kate Milford

Quotes of Quoteness:

"I GIVE YOU THE THEATER OF THE VAMPIRES! THE THEATER OF THE VAMPIRES! THE GREATEST SPECTACLE OF THE BOULEVARD!" Nicki seems to display such a power, a madness of sorts, that Lestat lacks. Yet, Nicki with his madness creates this frightening idea, a theater for vampires, where they will kill humans, but the humans will love them. It's bizarre. Anne Rice has a slightly twisted mind, in an amazing author sort of way.

"I sud more likker look for th' horse. It 'ud be to more sense. Bud I can look for norther horse nur man of a neeght loike this- as black as t' chimbley! und Heathcliff's noan chap to coom at my whistle- happen he'll be less hard o' hearing wi' ye!" Yeah, I just like this one because of the way it looks and sounds when you say it out loud.

"His face was turned to me, but not by design, his hair a tangle of curls and blood. And with his eyes closed, and his hand open beside him, he appeared the abandoned offspring of time and supernatural accident, someone as miserable as myself." This quote is by far my favorite of this week; Lestat and Armand share a connection- yet to be explained- that allows them to love each other, but hate each other at the same time.

Pages this week: 132
All pages read: 1186

Death and Stuff

So I was thinking about death today...wow that sentence sounds overly creepy. I wasn't thinking about it in the 'oh I think dying would be oh-so-fun' kind of way, more the 'Lestat has a really twisted point of veiw on death' kind of way. The point is Lestat spends quite a bit of time pondering death, and worrying about death, and killing other people-which ultimately leads to death. The moral of the story is that vampires think about death ALOT. Which kind of makes sense because they've escaped death in a way, plus they have forever to wonder about the afterlife and what it is to die. I don't think I want to be a vampire...too weird...and morbid.

Moving on.

I have been reading The Boneshaker quite a bit lately; it's not quite what I had orginally suspected it would be like. Although to be fair I didn't have a clue what it was about when I picked it out (hehe I made a rhyme). The whole plot is based around this odd medical show coming into town in the 1918-ish time period. The lead character is this girl and she has an affinity towards mechanical stuff- something I lack. Other than that I don't have to much information into what the novel is truley about, hopefully the plot will really start picking up soon.

A Look at the Past

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
The Bone Shaker
by Kate Milford

Sentences from the past month:

"Don't be a fool for the devil, darling!" I don't know why I like this one, I just do.

"Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwings us together today." I like this one simply for the lols

"I am your Prince and you will marry me," Humperdinck said.
Buttercup whispered, "I am your servant and I refuse."
"I am you Prince and you cannot refuse."
"I am your loyal servant and I just did."
"Refusal means death."
"Kill me then." Of all three of these, this is my absolute favorite.Every time I read it I get chills.

Pages this week: 100 (I need to read more next week)
All pages read: 1054

COVERS!

It's almost FRIDAY!

I have this thing about not wanting to judge books by their covers, but I always do. I know it's terrible; you grow up being told not to judge a book by it's cover, but by it's content. Well, I think that rule is absolutely bleh. My dislike of that rule is...ineffable. I mean everyone judges books by how they look. It is a human trait to judge, most especially how something looks. Ok, so the point of my rant. I picked said book because of it's cover. The book is The Boneshaker by Kate Milford, the cover was very steampunk-esque. I friend said it was great so I will share with you soon what my opinion. Not much other than that. Bye-bye for now.

Rather Pointless Ramblings

I have been uber busy this week, so my reading has been pushed back a little. Plus, I'm in the middle of reading a book for class, "Heart of Darkness", not something I would recommend :P I have just started back up with Lestat, which is wonderful. *spoiler alert* Lestat just changed Nicki into a vampire, which is quite interesting; I didn't think he would actually change Nicki. I figured that Lestat wouldn't give into his want. Oh well, Nicolas was going to live a screwed life anyways. He had two options at that point: 1. become a vampire or 2. be a a crazy madman for the rest of his life. Personally I would have gone crazy simply from the decision (although that's just me, I suck at making decisions...it's pretty bad...I have problems deciding what to have for breakfast...yeah) Anyways. I have also been making some connections to Interview with a Vampire, the first book in the series, and some of them are kinda laughable...in my mind. At one point Lestat gives over his theater to a group of vampires; which I believe will eventually become the theater in the other book. Yeah, not that funny, but it was kind of an AH! moment for me. Oh, and if anyone has read the book and would like to clarify for me...Armand is a kid vampire that is extremely old right? I was rather confused because in Interview I had figured that he was a grown man, but it's saying that he is a kid...did I just formulate some obscure idea in my mind that he was an adult?

I will pick up with my reading on Wuthering Heights soon. I think that's it for today. Goodnight :)

Claims of Goodness

Claims of my liking:

This refreshingly bright photograph taken in the environmental center reflects an existence of both dreamlike tranquility and effortless freedom.

In this scene from Grease, the director's melodic sound, crazy setting, open facial expression, and clean clothing expresses a sense of intimate playfulness, romantic energy, and loving animation.

In Todrick Hall's "I Wanna Be On Glee," Hall's plea to Glee creator Ryan Murphy shows Hall's inventiveness and artistic talents through the music video's cleverly pariodistic lyrics, assertive instrumentals, and effervescent choreography.

In this flash mob by Todrick Hall, the mischievous and adventurous expressions, jubilant sounds, and bustling moves, show the explosive creativity and confident energy of the dancers.

In the album art for United Paper People‘s Kisschasy, the foreboding colors, overwhelming space, and perilous actions reflect a sense of destructive loneliness and irrational wonder.

I would have to say that I the last claim and the third claim are my favorite. I like the descriptive language that they both use. They are quite specific in their usage of language in reference to their topics.

Favorite artifact:
http://budinthegarden.blogspot.com/
I love the picture this person chose for their close reading. Absolutely gorgeous.

Shawn Johnson

Observe:

Dance

-Arm and leg movement
o Graceful
o Swift
o Energetic
o Fluid
- Facial expression
o Concentrated
o Intense
o Happy
o Cheerful
- Posture
o Steady
o Flexible
o Strong
Tumbling
- Powerful
- Strong/vigorous
- solid
Music
- Loud
- Forceful
- Acoustic
- Dramatic

Clothing
- Meaningful
- Representative
- Colorful
- Sparkly
- Bright/shiny

Infer:

Energetic
Confident
Calm
Passionate
Vibrant
Wonder
Cheerfulness
Exuberant
Enthusiastic

Claim

[During her routine, Shawn Johnson displays powerful tumbling, gracefully swift dance, intense expression, and representative attire; which sets forth a confidently energetic, yet cheerful routine.]

Here's the link to the routine I'm talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9OYS4Th0zk

What's Broken

What’s Broken
By Dorianne Laux

The slate black sky. The middle step
of the back porch. And long ago


my mother’s necklace, the beads
rolling north and south. Broken


the rose stem, water into drops, glass
knobs on the bedroom door. Last summer’s


pot of parsley and mint, white roots
shooting like streamers through the cracks.


Years ago the cat’s tail, the bird bath,
the car hood’s rusted latch. Broken


little finger on my right hand at birth—
I was pulled out too fast. What hasn’t


been rent, divided, split? Broken
the days into nights, the night sky


into stars, the stars into patterns
I make up as I trace them


with a broken-off blade
of grass. Possible, unthinkable,


the cricket’s tiny back as I lie
on the lawn in the dark, my heart


a blue cup fallen from someone’s hands.

*Insert Creative Title*

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Likable sentences:

"Don't be a fool for the devil, darling!" By far my favorite, at this part Lestat is talking to a vampire who lives in rags underneath a cemetery. A vampire chastising another vampire for following the devil's ideals...irony anyone?

"Every object she saw, the moment she crossed the threshold, appeared to delight her" SHINY!!!! Sorry I couldn't help myself. In my mind I picture a young woman walking through a house, looking in awe at everything. Quite a funny picture if you think about when the book was written.

"Yet it seemed an arrogant thing, an obscene thing to move the lid of the coffin again and gaze at her in sleep as I had done last night." At least Lestat had the decency to not watch her anymore; unlike another known vampire *coughedwardcough*.

Pages this week: 136
A pages read: 954

P.S. I read 172 pages last week

MY EYES!

Ok, so I meant to read last night...(here it comes)....but I ran into some problems. I went to the eye doctor, so that they could fixith my eyes. Unfortunately, while I was there they dilated my eyes...not fun. I had never had that done before; I didn't know what to expected. Ordinarily when I went to the eye doctor they would use this giant machine thingy that you had to stare into and eventually (after 10 tries) they would have a picture of the inside of your eyeball. This new eye place that I'm going to does not have said magical machine. So, instead of reading, I spent my evening run into objects that were too blurry to make out. Although, I did try to convince my mom to read Wuthing Heights to me; let's that is a book that should not be read out loud, it becomes even more confusing. Listening to her was quite interesting because it sounded like she had fallen out of a different century; you gotta love old english. The whole point of this story was to inform that I have yet to read anything more than when I had last updated.

Ponderings on Heathcliff

Ok, so Lestat has been put on the back burner lately because I have just started reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Thus, I am going to delve into the world of Heathcliff and Catherine. The set-up of the book wasn't exactly what I had expected it to be; especially the narration. Rather than being from the point of veiw of either Heathcliff or Catherine, the book is from the point of veiw of one Mr. Lockwood (after seeing this name I immediately thought of Lowood, from Jane Eyre). There are also parts of the book where the housekeeper from Thrushcross Grange tells of her life at Wuthering Heights. I have yet to decide who is my favorite character in the book; although I do kind of like Heathcliff. Maybe it's the anger that he displays at life, or it's the fact that he is pushed aside while Catherine is placed in the spotlight. I kind of feel bad for him...just let him know.

Oedipus and 103

Ok so I think that Lestat has some Oedipus complex or something...at first I thought that Lestat was in love with Nicolas, but now I'm just confused.*SPOILER ALERT* Maybe I read the part wrong, but Lestat started kissing his mom before he turned her into a vampire. Am I the only one who finds that odd? Eh, whatever. I do think that it shows Lestat's deep love for his mother when he turns her. He didn't know what would happen to him if he turned her, but he took a leap of faith and he saved her from a death that she feared. That takes true commitment.

*Random Change of Subject*

Ok so yesterday I mentioned that I have a Life List of Classics. Pretty much it's a list of books that I want to read before I die. Like a bucket list, but in book form. I know that I will keep adding books to the list but at the moment I am up to 103 books. Yeah I really like mah classics. The most popular authors on there include: Verne, Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen and Bronte (all 3). Some of the lesser known authors are....drum roll please...: Ali, Boulle, Burnett, Swift, Plye and Dahl. Looky them up and then you shall be learned. Until tomorrow.

Personality Test

So I took this personality test and I think that it got it ok-ish. Here are my results:

distinctively expressed introvert

distinctively expressed intuitive personality

moderately expressed thinking personality

moderately expressed judging personality

I don't think I'm totally introverted, I just kind of like my own personal time. Although I do like to spend time with other people, I am actually a really outward person when I'm with other people. The rest is pretty correct...although I don't know what it meant by judging personality. Does it mean that I judge people? Or does it mean that I have good judgement? Oh well. Just thought I would share. That's all.

LESTAT PWNS EDWARD

VAMPIRES DON'T SPARKLE!!! Sorry Ms. Meyers but no...just no...

Anyways, I have only read The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice this week which means that I am on a total vampire rampage. And no I don't mean the supernatural romance blehy crap that authors have been mass producing lately. I have nothing against supernatural, heck I actually liker most fantasy/supernatural/mythical stories...but I do like some variety in my reading. Which leads me back to Lestat. As much as I disliked him in Interview With a Vampire I absolutely love him now. Unlike Louis there's so much more emotion and feeling. Lesat goes out an experiences the world, while all Louis did was spend time with Claudia and Lestat and Armand. Oh, and while I'm talking about vampires...maybe I might start reading Dracula by Bram Stoker. I think I'm on a vampire theme.

By the way, I have also finished reading The Princess Bride. Other than my latest vampire rampage, I think I might start working on my Life List of Classics. Yeah, more about that later.

Friday Books of Bookiness

Paper Towns by John Green
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Sentences of Interest:

"...maybe the strings break, or maybe our ships sink, or maybe we're grass-our roots so interdependent that no one is dead as long as someone is still alive." Paper Towns I went on a rant yesterday about how I didn't like the book but...I genuinely liked the ending. I expected some dumb, clique ending that would suck. It didn't though so it kind of made up for the parts that I didn't like. This sentence itself I found interesting due to the fact that it's true...everyone is connected, we all live inside each other's memories.


"I want to sing and to dance." The Vampire Lestat I found this sentence quite funny. Mostly because in the last book Lestat was stuck-up and rather annoying. Yet, now he wants to be a rockstar. A rockstar. He used to be a rich, pompousm, killing aristocrat and now he is wearing leather and dancing on a stage. And for some reason I find that extremely funny.


"Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwings us together today." The Princess Bride This one is pretty self-explanatory as to why I like it. Its pretty darn funny and if you can't admit that you obviously don't have a sense of humor. Also, they used the exact same quote from the book in the movie. Which makes it infinitly better.

Pages this week: 203
All pages read: 646

Forgetfulness

Dear People,

I forgot to mention last night that I am also reading Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Mostly I want to finish it before the new movie comes out so I have some time.

Sincerely, Reading too many books to keep track of

Rambling...

“My Name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”. If this is the first time that you have ever heard this phrase then you have not fully lived. Go this site and feel the wonderful joy that is watching Inigo say this line: http://youtu.be/6JGp7Meg42U . To fill in those people who haven’t heard of this; it’s a line from a book called The Princess Bride by William Goldman. The book was adapted into an amazing movie that is and will forever be one of my favorites.

*Totally different train of thought*

Alongside reading the Princess Bride I am also reading The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice. I read the first book in this series in about two days; it was good book to say the least. Unlike recent vampire books, The Vampire Chronicles excludes sparkly vampires *coughstupidcough* and petty romances which makes it quite a relief from the more recent stories (not that I’m biased or anything). I started the book yesterday so I haven’t gotten too far, you since my life doesn’t totally revolve around reading, although it would be nice if did. Ah, the good old days, when school was easy and I could read whenever I wanted. Wait…now I’m getting sidetracked. Back to my original point- Lestat. In the last book I wasn’t much of a Lestat fan, but from what I’ve read I really like him so far. He’s not as much of a pushover as Louis was. Plus I like the way that Rice set up the book; it goes from Lestat in the present day into a book that Lestat is writing. It’s a book within a book. Oh Merlin! It’s INCEPTION! It’s a nice twist, I quite like it.

*New thought (I have a slight lack of attention span)*

I’m finishing up reading John Green’s Paper Towns and I am literally pages away from ending the book and…I’m not sure if I liked the book. Have you ever read a book and gotten to the end and you’re just so ready for the book to end that you don’t even want to read the ending. Well that’s where I’m at right now. I feel like the story has been drug out for so long that it kind of got over emphasized…GRRR…I don’t know how to phrase it properly. This is irritating. I want to end the book, but because I am tired of the book I don’t want to read it. Does that make sense? Now I’m not saying that I don’t like John Green as a writer, I think it’s this certain plot, it’s so un-relatable. Plus there was this point where I was thinking wow, here comes a great plot development and then it crash landed into a big heap of “well that was pointless”. Yeah…anyways I would still recommend the book, maybe it’s just me and I’m over analyzing the whole thing. Oh well, life goes on. John Green is coming out with a new book called The Fault in Our Stars and I am looking forward to seeing what it is actually about. I believe he mentioned that it is from the point of view of a girl, which is new for him. Also, I have yet to know anything about the book- other than the title, obviously- so I am kinda hoping that he branches out a little and trying going for something other than a teen romance. Not that his love stories aren’t interesting or anything. It’s just that a lot of authors now are writing about two things: Vampires or Romance. Which makes sense, those two things sell, but I want to read something with a little more umph. I can’t be too critical of these authors; I have yet to even finish anything that I have written lately. On that note, I bid thee goodnight…or good morning depending on where you live…