What makes Sci-Fi?
I personally do not watch or read a lot of science fiction, but out of the few I have seen, there are many similarities...
monsters or aliens
chessy effects
bad acting
distant planets
stories based on urban legends (ie Chupacabra)
suspension of disbelief
alternative timelines
time travel
robots
outerspace
future
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Sirens of Titan
This week I chose to read a novel off of the alternative reading list. Kurt Vonnegut is by far one of my favorite authors. His writing style is very unique and I just love how he tells stories. I was able to read part of Vonnegut's novel The Sirens of Titan. This week I was unable to spend as much time as I would have preferred reading his novel, but from what I was reading, the novel was very interesting. I was getting into the plot and was starting to think of questions of how certain scenarios were going to pan out.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Warbreaker
The week's theme was traditional fantasy where we were to read Brandon Sanderson's Warbreaker. The novel started off interesting, and yet very confusing. Sanderson jumped right in with details of BioChroma, but did not really explain what that was. I did not know what Breathe was either and the purpose of it. I was still unsure until around chapter five when the God's were introduced. When Sanderson introduced Lightsong, I had no idea who that was until the end of the chapter. The characters' introduction into the novel was very abrupt and I was unsure what was happening each time a new character took the perspective.
I stopped reading the novel on purpose this time; not because I ran out of time. I did not enjoy the confusion while I was reading, but also the plot. The story line seemed interesting at first, but as I got further in, the plot seemed to be going nowhere. The novel was pregressing too slowly to keep my interest. I am unsure why some details were in the novel or some random dialouge that seems to have no purpose. I enjoy a novel that goes into detail about places, people, or situations, but I can see a purpose in the writing. In Sanderson's Warbreaker, some things just seem unnecessary.
I stopped reading the novel on purpose this time; not because I ran out of time. I did not enjoy the confusion while I was reading, but also the plot. The story line seemed interesting at first, but as I got further in, the plot seemed to be going nowhere. The novel was pregressing too slowly to keep my interest. I am unsure why some details were in the novel or some random dialouge that seems to have no purpose. I enjoy a novel that goes into detail about places, people, or situations, but I can see a purpose in the writing. In Sanderson's Warbreaker, some things just seem unnecessary.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Anansi Boys
This week was a week for mythic fiction, where we read Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys. Anansi Boys was my first Gaiman novel and I really enjoyed reading it. I do not tend to read this genre either, but II will probably read more Gaiman. I found Anansi Boys to be very humorous and enjoyable.
As I began to read, it took me awhile to figure out who Fat Charlie was. Gaiman automatically names Fat Charlie as he introduces his father, but as a reader I did not know who Fat Charlie was making the beginning confusing for me. Of course, as I continued on further through the novel, I realized who Fat Charlie was and how he was the main character. Actually, the way that Gaiman introduces his characters in this novel is different than what I have read before, which made my experience reading this novel even more enjoyable.
The character Fat Charlie seemed very weak; he was not in control of his work life or really his personal life. It seemed as if he could not hold a job and the only reason his fiancé had agreed to marry him was because her mother hated the idea.
Unfortunately, I did not have time to complete Anansi Boys during the week. I have reached the part where Fat Charlie has just asked for help from a God to get rid of his brother, Spider. Now, figuring out his father was a God was a twist I had not seen coming and then also that Fat Charlie had a brother who had gotten all of the God-like abilities. The contrasting characters of Fat Charlie and Spider created a nice dramatic encounter between the two and also created the conflict of the novel.
It took me a few chapters to realize that the characters in the novel are of African descent. Gaiman never comes out to reveal what his characters actually look like, but through his descriptions of other aspects of the characters it starts to become clear.
I would really enjoy finishing Anansi Boys and begin to read more of his novels. Gaiman has a nice sense of humor throughout the novel and it never seems to get stiff. I look forward to finishing Gaiman’s Anansi Boys when I get the opportunity.
As I began to read, it took me awhile to figure out who Fat Charlie was. Gaiman automatically names Fat Charlie as he introduces his father, but as a reader I did not know who Fat Charlie was making the beginning confusing for me. Of course, as I continued on further through the novel, I realized who Fat Charlie was and how he was the main character. Actually, the way that Gaiman introduces his characters in this novel is different than what I have read before, which made my experience reading this novel even more enjoyable.
The character Fat Charlie seemed very weak; he was not in control of his work life or really his personal life. It seemed as if he could not hold a job and the only reason his fiancé had agreed to marry him was because her mother hated the idea.
Unfortunately, I did not have time to complete Anansi Boys during the week. I have reached the part where Fat Charlie has just asked for help from a God to get rid of his brother, Spider. Now, figuring out his father was a God was a twist I had not seen coming and then also that Fat Charlie had a brother who had gotten all of the God-like abilities. The contrasting characters of Fat Charlie and Spider created a nice dramatic encounter between the two and also created the conflict of the novel.
It took me a few chapters to realize that the characters in the novel are of African descent. Gaiman never comes out to reveal what his characters actually look like, but through his descriptions of other aspects of the characters it starts to become clear.
I would really enjoy finishing Anansi Boys and begin to read more of his novels. Gaiman has a nice sense of humor throughout the novel and it never seems to get stiff. I look forward to finishing Gaiman’s Anansi Boys when I get the opportunity.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Golden Compass
The novel for this week from Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass; a novel of spiritual education. I was able to read half of The Golden Compass and it was different than what I had expected. Lyra,as the main character, definitely makes her the most interesting since the reader follows her journey. Since, I have only made it half way through the novel, Mrs. Coulter has not played a major role, but Pullman set up the plot in a way that the reader knows she will begin to play a more prominent role in Lyra's journey, which finding out Lyra's origins was definitely a surprise. After Lyra had run away from Mrs. Coulter, Lyra finds out that Mrs. Coulter was truly her mother and her "uncle" Lord Asriel, was in actuality, her father.
Pullman's character development allowed me to envelop myself in the reading. The mystery of Mrs. Coulter and her purpose was intriguing. Her daemon, the golden monkey, revealed some of her personality, especially when he would lash out in anger at Pan, Lyra's daemon. Pullman's invention of the daemon gave the novel and characters more depth. From what I noticed while reading, the daemon's were a part of the character's souls. For example, Pan was an extension of Lyra's life force, and whenever something happened to Pan, Lyra could feel it. The daemon’s helped with the fantasy of the novel and they acted kind of like the consciousness of the characters.
As I was reading The Golden Compass, I did not pick up on the spiritual aspects throughout. I am not entirely sure if it was because Pullman had embedded the teachings to certain happenings throughout. If the spirituality of a book is not obvious, it is hard for me to find it. When we had discussed the novel in class, the teachings and spirituality became clear, but it was through discussion that I finally realized. Pullman most likely embedded the meanings on purpose so it would teach morality and lessons, but the novel could also be entertainment. This would allow for multiple types of readers.
Pullman's character development allowed me to envelop myself in the reading. The mystery of Mrs. Coulter and her purpose was intriguing. Her daemon, the golden monkey, revealed some of her personality, especially when he would lash out in anger at Pan, Lyra's daemon. Pullman's invention of the daemon gave the novel and characters more depth. From what I noticed while reading, the daemon's were a part of the character's souls. For example, Pan was an extension of Lyra's life force, and whenever something happened to Pan, Lyra could feel it. The daemon’s helped with the fantasy of the novel and they acted kind of like the consciousness of the characters.
As I was reading The Golden Compass, I did not pick up on the spiritual aspects throughout. I am not entirely sure if it was because Pullman had embedded the teachings to certain happenings throughout. If the spirituality of a book is not obvious, it is hard for me to find it. When we had discussed the novel in class, the teachings and spirituality became clear, but it was through discussion that I finally realized. Pullman most likely embedded the meanings on purpose so it would teach morality and lessons, but the novel could also be entertainment. This would allow for multiple types of readers.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The Hobbit
The topic for this week's reading was the Heroic Journey, so of course it was only fitting for the novel of choice to be The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein. I had never read The Hobbit before, but I am a fan of Tolkein's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, especially the movies.
Reading the origins of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins is an adventure for the reader. The Hobbit was escapism for me as I read the novel, since it put me in a completely different time and space that I could not really connect to on any deeper level other than pure entertainment.
I can not say that The Hobbit is the best book I ever read, but I did enjoy the novel. I could not really connect with the characters though; it was more as if I was looking in on their adventure than being apart of it.
The novel went full circle. Bilbo is greeted by some uncanny fellows,the dwarfs and Gandalf, at his door one afternoon around tea time at the beginning of the novel. Bilbo is forced upon this long adventure for the head dwarfs family's gold that was stolen by the dragon. When the gold is finally seized and returned to the dwarfs, Bilbo goes home to the Shire. At the end of the novel, Gandalf gives Bilbo a visit, which if the beginning was any indication, means Bilbo is bound for another adventure.
As we learned in class, epic journeys tend to be circular in structure. The hero begins the journey, the hero goes on the journey, the hero makes his way home, and at some point will go on a journey again. It seems as if once on an adventure, the hero always wants to be on an adventure. Maybe at the time of the journey, the hero does not, but once he is home all he can think about is being out in the world discovering new things.
The Hobbit is my first J.R.R. Tolkein book I have read, and now I may go on to read The Lord of the Rings. I do not tend to read epic journey novels, but as my first one, I will probably branch out of my usual genre and read more.
Reading the origins of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins is an adventure for the reader. The Hobbit was escapism for me as I read the novel, since it put me in a completely different time and space that I could not really connect to on any deeper level other than pure entertainment.
I can not say that The Hobbit is the best book I ever read, but I did enjoy the novel. I could not really connect with the characters though; it was more as if I was looking in on their adventure than being apart of it.
The novel went full circle. Bilbo is greeted by some uncanny fellows,the dwarfs and Gandalf, at his door one afternoon around tea time at the beginning of the novel. Bilbo is forced upon this long adventure for the head dwarfs family's gold that was stolen by the dragon. When the gold is finally seized and returned to the dwarfs, Bilbo goes home to the Shire. At the end of the novel, Gandalf gives Bilbo a visit, which if the beginning was any indication, means Bilbo is bound for another adventure.
As we learned in class, epic journeys tend to be circular in structure. The hero begins the journey, the hero goes on the journey, the hero makes his way home, and at some point will go on a journey again. It seems as if once on an adventure, the hero always wants to be on an adventure. Maybe at the time of the journey, the hero does not, but once he is home all he can think about is being out in the world discovering new things.
The Hobbit is my first J.R.R. Tolkein book I have read, and now I may go on to read The Lord of the Rings. I do not tend to read epic journey novels, but as my first one, I will probably branch out of my usual genre and read more.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
A Wild Sheep Chase
The J-Horror reading this week was A Wild Sheep Chase. I did not know anything about Japanese Horror going into this week's reading. I am personally not a horror fan, so I never ventured to foreign versions. As I was reading I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Haruki Murakami's novel. I am so used to fast pace novels where there is so much action taking place that having an author slow me down and take in the surroundings and the main character's daily life was refreshing, to say the least.
It was also interesting that in class someone had pointed out that Murakami never gives the characters names, except for the cat, Kipper. It is something I never realized as I was going through. It seems now that names are trivial to the actual plot and the author's storytelling abilities. I suppose sometimes author's rely on the names of characters than the actual personalities and what they have to offer the story.
The girlfriend is my favorite character in A Wild Sheep Chase. She is really interesting and I love how Murakami decided to portray her; her beautiful ears that she hides and her sixth sense. I think it is cute that she will reveal her ears only to the main character, kind of proving their relationship to the audience in a way.
I have not yet finished this novel, but I fully intend to. I am currently at the part where the main character and his girlfriend have just met and interacted with the Sheep Professor. The novel is beginning to pick up in pace, and yet still manage to capture the essence of the slow pace of Japanese life. Only now is the mysterious sheep with the star actually having a part in the novel. The first half did not really mention what the sheep had to do with anything. Everything was very wide open and ambiguous; leaving the reader’s mind to wonder and question. I enjoy novels that give me the chance to think and attempt to figure out the mystery for myself before it is revealed.
It was also interesting that in class someone had pointed out that Murakami never gives the characters names, except for the cat, Kipper. It is something I never realized as I was going through. It seems now that names are trivial to the actual plot and the author's storytelling abilities. I suppose sometimes author's rely on the names of characters than the actual personalities and what they have to offer the story.
The girlfriend is my favorite character in A Wild Sheep Chase. She is really interesting and I love how Murakami decided to portray her; her beautiful ears that she hides and her sixth sense. I think it is cute that she will reveal her ears only to the main character, kind of proving their relationship to the audience in a way.
I have not yet finished this novel, but I fully intend to. I am currently at the part where the main character and his girlfriend have just met and interacted with the Sheep Professor. The novel is beginning to pick up in pace, and yet still manage to capture the essence of the slow pace of Japanese life. Only now is the mysterious sheep with the star actually having a part in the novel. The first half did not really mention what the sheep had to do with anything. Everything was very wide open and ambiguous; leaving the reader’s mind to wonder and question. I enjoy novels that give me the chance to think and attempt to figure out the mystery for myself before it is revealed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)