Banned Books Week Vlog

There is a longer version of this with more factual information and opinion, but uploading it was a bit of a pain.  If needed, I can try again or upload a transcript if this modified video is not up to standards.

Week of 15/9/14: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Prompt: Fanfiction!  (Future reference - don't trust me with open prompts)
Pages read: 0-120/262


This isn't going to be like the a lot of you weirdos read, there's no love triangle or long-term friendship blossoming into true love; just a short little spin-off of Captain Nemo's past life.  His hatred for humanity and compassion is truly and morbidly inspiring, and reminds me of Heathcliff, one of my all time favorite fictional characters.  I'm not far enough along in the book to know what events and people led to Nemo's isolation in the mystical depths of the unknown, with only castaways for company, but I would like to take my best, if a bit exaggerated guess.  To make this legit fanfic, I'll have to categorize it.  Let's call this an angst fic (fine, boyxboy undertones, freaks.)  Oh, and the time period is changed.  Mostly for my convenience, but hey, its "transformative".

*Told from (the future) Captain Nemo's POV in modern times*

**"All men have secrets and here is mine"**  Once again, I found my weary self in the university's library.  The volumes closed in upon, enveloping me in their musky smell.  It's what protected me, the isolation and the whimsical words upon the torn pages.  The more my stress increased, the more time I spent in this dusty old place; which is counterproductive I know, but I'm tired of living by the predetermined rules of mankind.  There is no room for thought, only action and oppression.  I'm not effeminate or anything like that, but no one takes the time to ponder the truly valuable in life, the beautiful and the complex.  It's a done deal then, I have given up my faith in humanity.

It was time to catch the subway train, and so I quickly checked out a new volume on nautical physics and rushed to the underground station.  Running late is a common occurrence, it usually pisses my "family" and acquaintances off, but I can never bring myself to care. I boarded the cramped train, and found myself in a reverie with my head resting uncomfortably on the window pane.  It's strange for me to be reverting back to my old childish fantasies, but I couldn't help but to think of a life under the sea; so far away from everyone here.  I dreamt of literally being 'under' the influence of all of the world, no one to bother me to such the extent the portly man beside me was at this moment.  I snapped out right when my phone started to ring, much to the annoyance of the other passengers. I didn't care, so I answered the call from my boss.  It looked like another day at the wharf was in store for me.  Although it was a lot of mindless physical exertion, getting to see the structure of the ships was fascinating to me. Well I'm off, if I'm still above ground by next week I'll write some more.


Author's note:  I fully intend to write another blog on this book next week, should I continue this storyline?  Or skip the fanfic idea altogether?  Comment your thoughts :)

The Stranger

Prompt: Analyze the impact imagery and figurative language have on the meaning and tone of your text.

I have an odd sense of reluctance to write this blog, and not from my usual weariness of monotony.  The Stranger (or if you prefer, L'etranger) is truly one those novels that is on such a mystifying level of thought you are forever haunted by its themes.  Neither positive, nor negative, The Stranger could be considered amoral.  Though I do not believe that is the case,  Certainly, the narrator (it feels incorrect to refer to him as the protagonist) Mersault knows what is deemed right and wrong in society, but his indifference is what in the end, well as to not spoil anything, consummates his beliefs on the universe. You've probably noticed I haven't stuck to the prompt, but I'll get to that.  See, I was so wrapped up in the breezy and well, indifferent style of writing that whatever imagery or figurative language was used passed by without altering anything.  Figurative language would be out of place in Mersault's honest narration, and would add a sort of sentimentality that would not contribute to its style.

However, style is what has made this book have a profound impact upon its many readers.  Mersault's accounts of the dramatic events (if I spoiled just one bit of this book I would feel remorse, something unusual for me) are written to be blunt and senseless.  Not senseless in in a cold-hearted way, but lacking "ordinary" human emotion.  As the author said, this book explores "the nakedness of man faced with the absurd".  After he perpetrates a murder, unpremeditated;  his lack of empathy and "morals", as prosecutor so diabolically points out skews the opinions of the jury and judge.  This leads to pondering upon whether or not to play the game of society and ultimately, the unfeeling universe.

Camus's style, although translated from French to English, still holds the tone of which haunts me, and many of its readers.  Insensitivity in the human conditioned fascinates me, and I feel repetitive talking about the subject so much, but it is a side of all that should and needs to be explored in order for us become worldly and fair to all types of people.  This becomes a prominent issue in the United States Court of Law, where sentences are emotionally and prejudicially based.  I would like to say more, but at the expense of keeping you all in the innocent dark about this book,  I'm signing off.

The Ten Novels That Have Changed my Perspective

*In no traditional order*

1 - Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables, as well as the rest of the "Anne series" captivated me not only with its strong female protagonist, but with its beautiful setting.  Anne Shirley and I shared many of the same ambitions, and we both have a knack for embarrassing ourselves. Her imaginative mind and bold, forthright manner inspired me.  The novel confirmed my belief that being smart holds so much more value than being pretty.  

2 - A Wrinkle in Time/Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle 

Never had a book (or rather, books) filled me with wonder in the way this series did.  Despite my young age when I read A Wrinkle In Time, I completely absorbed myself in the universe.  A far-out and scary universe it was.  Although these novels were science-fiction, many elements were based upon biblical events which were not from the writer's own beliefs.  This would keep me up at night, pondering the existence of aliens and civilizations before the Great Flood.  A question I am often asked, and never have an answer to is "If you could live in any book's universe, what book would you choose?"  and now I have my response.  

3 - The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 

Perhaps I was too young when I read this deeply twisted novel to fully understand its theme and motifs. I had yet been fully converted to the darker side of human nature, although this book furthered my descent.  Even though I was often confused, I understood and was enthralled with each complex character.  The 19th century language was foreign to me at that time, but the words soon began to paint a dark, distorted picture.  One of the most important aspects of a novel, to me, is its setting.  As you will read in my description of Wuthering Heights, the gloomy English moors thrill me.  Though The Hound of the Baskervilles is not my favorite book of all time, it is certainly one I will read again, and again.

4 - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
My absolute favorite work of prose, so far.  I'll keep this brief, as I've written about this novel quite a bit (you can refer back to my earlier blog posts to fully understand), though I feel as if I am committing an act of injustice.  Dorian Gray's internal struggle between himself and society's morals is the basis of my insomnia.  Morals and psychology are in my top three subjects to learn about, only second to space.  The way human nature is portrayed in this book engaged me like no other, and the Late Victorian Era setting furthers Wilde's own beliefs on morals and behavior.  Whether you find Dorian daring and complex, or just a whiney dandy, this is a book I think everyone should analyze or at least read in depth.

5 - In The Time I Get by Chris Crutcher
The shortest stories leave the deepest wounds.  There are only two stories I have cried during, both with the same circumstance/outcome and both very short.  Had this book dragged on any longer, I wouldn't have been able to reread it.  See, this is probably my most reread book, and each time I feel a different emotion.  Such is the power of Chris Crutcher, who often writes about everyday occurrences or rather, afflictions, that nobody has to courage to bring to focus. In The Time I Get does not have an inspirational tone, and if it did it would not be on this list, but it does leave a deep message.  One I dare not spoil.


6 - Nausea by Jean Paul Sartre
A popular topic for my rambling summer blogs, Nausea, like Dorian Gray, was almost a coming-of-age for me.  I truly hate that expression, but I fear it is the only way to get my message across.  Nausea challenged my previous beliefs on existence and purpose, and set me in a trance.  I consider myself, as of this minute (my opinions change frequently) either a nihilist or existentialist, so I did not have the "existential crisis" many readers of the novel were brought to, although I did have a productivity crisis.  Like Antoine, I would look at ordinary objects and suddenly feel disconnected from my usual sense of comfort.  To avoid boring you to death, I will discontinue this so-called "blurb".

7 - Goodnight Moon by Magaret Wise Brown and Pat Hancock
On a lighter side, although this book was set in the dead of night, this was one of my favorite "books" when I was a child.  It wasn't the first story I ever read, or the one that had the most profound impact on me, it was the amount of times I read this.  I loved the illustrations, and often times before I learned to read I would make up a story to go along with the pictures.  When I was four, and finally learned to read, it was a revelation in a sort.  That sounds melodramatic for something as unsophisticated as a childrens book; but after learning what was actually written on those pages instead of the stories I made up I grew bored and moved on to more challenging books.  Thus began my perpetual reading adventure.

8 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (collective series) by Douglas Adams
One of the most inspiring volumes I've ever read, and that's not a false statement to grab your attention (not that you're paying any).  I liked to think I was a Zaphod Beeblebrox, when really I am as hopelessly clueless as Arthur Dent.  It felt like I had read these novels in hyperspace, that's how fast I flew through them.  They weren't just silly science fiction stories, they actually held some meaning and had themes more profound than a lot of today's "ground-breaking" YA novels.  I'd like to say more, but this is a topic I've blogged upon quite a bit long ago, so feel free to refer back to my previous posts.  I know you won't.

9 - Paper Towns by John Green
I feel a bit, well, basic, to include a John Green novel in this list.  No offense to John, however.  Moving on, this novel gives the reader an incomprehensible feeling of ennui.  Although it does not manifest itself at first as ennui, you get a strong feeling of wanderlust.  You feel hopeless and confined in this large world,  and strangely alone.  What I look for most in a book is well-developed characters, and while this book is not the strongest in that sense, you do feel for the characters.  You are jealous of Margo, and feel pity for Quentin.  This novel gives me a "summer" sort of vibe except it applies to the teenage years.  In summer, there's too much expectation to "enjoy yourself", and during your teenage years, you're supposed to sneak out and run away (per stereotype).  In a way, that's inspiring, but mostly upsetting because, well, does anyone really do that? Or at least, to the extent that Margo does.  That being said, this book took me on an adventure I could picture myself in, if only while reading it.

10 - Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
This will undoubtedly be the most popular entry on these Top Ten blogs of ours.  Deservedly so, even if it is "over-hyped".  I read this series in the first half of second grade, and became so enthralled it took away from my school work.  We all know how rigorous second grade was...  Although there wasn't a profound perspective impact on me, this book held a certain power over me.  It felt wrong to exclude this series from my list, owing to years of obsession with it.  I've never pictured myself in a book's universe so much as I did with Harry Potter (what a cultural icon, I still revel in its glory).  PS - I consider myself a Ravenclaw, with cunning Slytherin traits!

Ah yes, the boring picture time