The Book Challenge

It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.  ~Oscar Wilde

As the end of the year draws closer, I feel an anxiety growing as I rush to finish what I have started.  It has nothing to do with shopping or decorating, cooking or social engagements.  This rushing is all due to the challenge I gave myself on January 1^st, 2010.  The challenge to read 50 books in a year.

The challenge has been an interesting experience for me; one that fed on my love of reading and desire for new stories that take me away from the everyday or show me a new path of discovery that was once unknown.  But to put a number on this hobby, this passion for books, was a new spin.  Why 50?  Why not 100 or 25?  I knew I could do 25 with no problem, but 100 was definitely not something I could do, what with working full time and being slightly addicted to the internet.  So I thought 50 sounded like a reasonable number to go with.  Challenging but not impossible.  After all, I wanted this to be fun.  It was supposed to rekindle my excitement in opening a new cover 4 or 5 times a month, help me rediscover what it is about reading that I love so much, and even get me away from the lure and electric glow of the computer and TV for a bit.   If I had made the number too high, then it would feel like homework, and I wouldn’t enjoy it as much.  And so the race was on.

 January started out bright.  I had just signed up on www.paperbackswap.com, a website where you can swap books with thousands of other people and save quite a lot of money on books and audio books.  To date I have mailed out 94 books (all you pay for are the shipping costs) and have plenty of credits.  So getting the books was no longer a problem.  In fact that site’s forum is where I got the idea.  In January I read six books.  It would have been great if I could have kept that number up, but January was also the month that I was just starting 2 different massage therapy jobs.  I was “the new guy” and therefore had fewer appointments than everyone else, so I had plenty of time to read.  Eventually the number of books per month went down, then back up, etc.  Summer brought the excitement of impending vacation and schedule changes, and to be honest I stopped caring about the numbers and didn’t feel like reading much.  After my vacation in September, I made a tentative tally and realized that if I wanted to make it to the end; I’d better get my motivation up and get cracking.  So I did. 

Here are the final numbers:

January            6

February          5

March              4

April                5

May                 4

June                 2

July                  3

August             3

September       2

October           3

November       5

December       Just started

So in case you were counting, that’s 42.  I won’t make it to 50.  But I came pretty darn close.  I’m not upset about it.  I did what I set out to do.  I read some wonderful books, found a new favorite author or two, and remembered why I love reading so much.  It’s not for any of the cliche reasons people give for reading, like feeling smarter or keeping up on vocabulary or grammar.  For me it’s about being transported to another place for a little while.  Opening up my horizons and finding new avenues to stretch my imagination.  Uncramping my brain from its comfortable little box and see what’s out there.  Someday I may choose to make the step and become a professional writer, and every book I read gives me something to lean on and a point to start from.

This challenge also made me realize something about the way that children are being “taught” to love to read by reading the classics.  These kids have absolutely no connection to most of these books.  They see reading as homework, an assignment that their parents dare to enforce on them (or not) during their cherished summer vacations.  I know; I was there.  But I read the books, unlike a lot of kids.  I didn’t enjoy the vast majority of them, but I read them.  I’ll chock that up to being “the smart kid” whose fear of reprimand was greater than the fear of losing a day of summer. (Which was mostly spent sitting around day camp bored anyway)  But regardless, I do think those books ingrained in me that underlying understanding and love of literature that helps so many people enjoy reading.  Because after the summer was over and those boring books were read, I read books that I liked to read.  I remember being swept away to faraway lands.  In between the TV shows and cartoons that took up a pretty big chunk of my time, a memorable book or two would sneak through the cracks and seat itself in my long term memory.  So do I think they should still assign books to kids?  Of course, but maybe they should try to throw in books that the kids will actually enjoy reading from time to time.  Because as much as most kids will hate to admit it, there will usually be one or two books in that endless required list that they won’t want to put down.  Pay attention to what the kids are saying, they will tell you what reaches them.

 So will I do another challenge next year? I don’t know yet.  I have big plans for the upcoming year, and throwing in another deadline for myself might be more stressful than fun.  To be honest, now that I know I won’t make it to 50 my drive to read for the time being has pretty much disappeared.  But hey, I’ve been on a mission for a year.  I deserve a break.  But I will definitely continue to read.  A new stack of books (again, courtesy of www.paperbackswap.com ) is on its way for me to read in the New Year, and I can’t wait to get started. 

Why should I keep all the good stuff to myself?   Here’s the best of this year’s book journey.

January

I read 6 books in January, all pretty good, so it’s hard to pick my favorite.  Making History by Stephen Fry was definitely original and well written, as well as having that wry wit that Fry is famous for on the screen.  Life of Pi by Yann Martel was uplifting and inspiring, as well as being wonderfully entertaining.  Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton became the first book that I prefer the movie version of over the book, although I did enjoy the book immensely.  American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson was a wonderful memoir, documenting his battle with alcoholism and eventual rise to fame.  The other two books I read in January, Mind Over Matters by Michael J Nelson of MST3K fame (a collection of funny essays) and The Second City Unscripted by Mike Thomas, featuring interview segments and memories from the cast of the famous Improv comedy venue, were runners up.

February

Five books in February, not all worthy of mention.  I read the classic Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie.  I had seen many different interpretations and spinoffs of the story, but I had never read it for myself, and I was not disappointed.  Probably the quickest read of the year, it transported me to another world and made me miss that singular feeling of being a child.  It also made me want to meet the author, since he seemed to have such a vivid memory of what it was to once be young.  Just read it, please! Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen was a light but enjoyable story about women finding their confidence and place in the world, with a little bit of magic thrown in.  The honorable mention for the month is A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, the author’s account of his journey on the Appalachian Trail.

March

March was a month of finishing off the first pile of books for the year while I waited for the next, so I wasn’t too blown away by anything this month.  Improvisation for the Spirit by Katie Goodman was the best of the bunch.  It’s a self help book using all of the rules and guidelines of Improv acting and comedy to help you live a better life.  

April

Hands down my favorite from April was Kingdom Keepers 3: Disney in Shadow by Ridley Pearson.  I had been anticipating the book for quite a while and I wasn’t disappointed.  Definitely written for young adults, but it’s good for kids of all ages, especially Disney fans.  The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova was kind of disappointing.  I LOVED her first book, The Historian, so I was really looking forward to this one.  It ended up being very slow and a mystery with an unsatisfying ending.

May

Ah, May, an interesting month for reading.  Here is where I discovered a new favorite author in Cornelia Funke with Inkheart.  Another book for young adults, it had everything I look for in a good story: adventure, heart, a little (ok a lot) of fantasy, humor, and did I mention a good story?   I had decided that in this yearlong challenge I would read at least one Romance novel, and that book just happened to be The Care and Feeding of Pirates by Jennifer Ashley.  It was as pointless and ridiculous as I thought it would be, but that didn’t make it any less fun.  Oh and just so you know, pirates apparently get really horny.  A LOT.  Runner up this month was Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly, a non-fiction book telling the real story behind the real pirates in history.  (Gotta love the stories of those famous female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read!)

June

This was a pitiful month for the numbers, and the only thing to report was that Inkspell, the sequel to Inkheart, was just as good as the first.

July       

                                                                                         

Another slow month.  Inkdeath, the final book in the Inkheart series, was wonderful, as I expected.  The Sugar Queen, the next book by Sarah Addison Allen, was just as whimsical and enjoyable as her first, Garden Spells.  

August

After finishing the Inkheart series, I wanted to read more Cornelia Funke, so next on the list is The Thief Lord.  It’s a young adult book, but like her other works, deals with deep issues and doesn’t shy away from difficult life situations.

September

September was vacation month, so my mind wasn’t really on reading.  Dragon’s Milk by Susan Fletcher was the only book really worth mentioning.  An older children’s book that was a fairly easy read but pleasant and enjoyable just the same.

October

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs was a very interesting read that got me thinking about religion and how it affects peoples’ lives.  It was funny and poignant at the same time.

November

This one I have to mention just for the ridiculousness of it.  The Fine Art of Flirting by Joyce Jillson is a book from the 80’s and I swapped it on a whim (What the hell, it couldn’t hurt, right?)  Except it DID hurt!  Some of the stuff in the book was so out there that I think it would end up doing more harm than good for anybody, then or now.  It was shallow and cocky and annoying.  Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is the third book in the Hunger Games series.  I had been anticipating it and it turned out to be the darkest and most depressing of the series.  That being said, I think the author took the story to its logical conclusion and I found myself not wanting to put it down.  I just don’t usually enjoy reading about massacres and mental breakdowns and wars.  Don’t ask me why it is, then, that I enjoyed the first two.  I just did, very much.  

December

I’m honestly not doing a lot of reading this month.  I had a few false starts, thinking I would get some quick numbers by reading some shorter classics books from my parents’ bookshelf.  I kept falling asleep.  So I put them down.  If there’s one thing I learned from this year, it’s not to read a book for leisure unless you’re enjoying it. (Unless of course, you’re putting yourself through a silly challenge to read 50 books.  Then you may have to suffer a bit).  Honestly, knowing that I wouldn’t make it to 50 anyway really made me realize that I didn’t HAVE to read a book just because it’s there.  There are enough genres and authors to go around so that everybody can find books that they will enjoy.  I challenge those of you who don’t enjoy reading (or don’t THINK that you do) to try again.  Pick up a book, even if you’re judging it by the cover, and try reading again.  It may not be for you, and that’s fine.  But maybe, just maybe you’ll realize that not every book is Moby Dick or Tom Sawyer (two books I just can’t get into personally) and that you really can enjoy a book once in a while.  Turn off the TV, stop texting, and make all that background noise go away.  Grab a book, find a cozy spot, and go have an adventure.

Pixar: Story is King - Dreamworks: Story is What, now?

For years I have been singing the praises of Pixar and wishing that Dreamworks would get its act together.  And I wish that this post was different.  But alas, after seeing MegaMind last night, I again have say that Dreamworks' story writing just doesn't make the cut.  Not by a mile.

Now here's the thing.  Dreamworks has potential.  Soooo much potential.  They made it big all those years ago with Shrek.  Shrek had everything you could want out of an animated film.  Beautiful character animation, gorgeous background art, great voice actors, great comedy, suspense, adventure, and oh yea,  A GREAT STORY.  The reason people went crazy over Shrek, besides it's uniqueness and originality, was it's amazing story.

Did I mention that Shrek was based on a book?  Unless I am mistaken, Shrek is the only Dreamworks animated film that was adapted from a book.  The writing for the rest of their films, even the Shrek sequels, is just plain sloppy and unmoving.

While I really don't want to compare them to Pixar, I kind of HAVE to.  Pixar doesn't even begin animating a film before they have a script so tight that the Oscar committee would probably nominate it without even seeing the movie.  They make sure that they have a story that is sure to blow people away, and with very very few exceptions, they have done so every single time.  The writers at Pixar push boundaries, they challenge their audience's imagination and preconceptions about what an animated film can be.  They don't assume their audience is too dumb to get a concept and they're not afraid to expose an audience that's largely children to things like death, love, redemption, and faith, just to name a few.  They make films about things that are important to them, not what they think will sell.  (Of course Disney's involvement has diluted that quality in them in past years).  The point is, the reason that Pixar is at the top of the entertainment mountain is because of the slogan that they follow every single day: STORY IS KING.

Why is it so difficult for others to grasp this concept?  Dreamworks, Disney without Pixar, hell, all the live action studios just don't seem to understand this.  Is everyone so money hungry and scared of bankrupcy that they can't see this?  Walt Disney did not make Snow White by seeing what Dwarf names would sell the most plush toys.  He made it by putting a third mortgage on his own house just to get it made.  And it shows.  When you watch a Pixar movie, you can tell that people's souls have been poured into every aspect of the creation.  Writing, animation, lighting, backgrounds, everything.

When you watch a Dreamworks film... you might laugh a bit but you won't remember the movie after about a month.  Maybe you'll remember the joke that had you laughing, but 9 times out of 10 it was the voice actor that made the joke funny, not the writing.

Every time I go to a Dreamworks animated film, I go in hopeful but wary.  Just look at the trailers.  They usually contain one funny joke after another, with no indication of what the story is about or why we should care.  Ok, so comedy is their thing, I get that.  But make us care about what we're watching.  Make us WANT to laugh with these characters instead of a funny line every 20 seconds.  Pixar's trailers usually have a few jokes in there too, but for the most part they suck you into the completely new world that they've created and make you want to be a part of it.  And the jokes are just a bonus. (Toy Story 3 was an exception, since we already knew the world and so we needed the jokes to suck us in, but the movie was still awesome)

My main gripe is that Dreamworks has SO MUCH POTENTIAL.  Yet every time I go to a Dreamworks film, it falls flat.  They're excellent at creating worlds, but there's nothing in those worlds.

I feel like this is a story meeting at Dreamworks:

"Hey, lets make a movie about a panda who wants to do karate!"
"Ok, cool! We can set it in China and have some really gorgeous backgrounds and scenery!"
"Awesome! Now what's gonna happen to this Panda?"
"...Ninja stuff."
"Ok...."
"...It'll be cool ninja stuff! And we'll make him like a fat guy that wouldn't usually do karate! It'll be hilarious!"
"Didn't they already do that with Chris Farley?"
"No, no, this will be better, we'll get someone not as fat.... How about Patton Oswald?"
"Naahh, Pixar just used him, wait how bout Jack Black?!"
"Perfect!"
"Awesome!"
".....so what happens to Jack Black panda?"
"....Ninja stuff...."
"......This is gonna be awesome."

And so a huge animation studio is put to work on Ninja Bear Movie while the writing team tries to make it awesomer and awesomer till they realize they're stuck.  When the higher ups realize this, they fire them, hiring new writers who have completely different ideas about what the film should be.  Do that a few more times and now you've got a hideous stew of premises and plots that all add up to one thing: "Let's hope Jack Black is funny enough to carry this thing."

I just wish that people would start to realize that cutting corners doesn't get you money faster, it cuts your standards faster, till all you've got is sequel after sequel of films that did well because there was nothing better to go see and at least it looked pretty.  Funny jokes will get you box office success but how many people will remember your film when they leave?  What will your legacy be? 

At times I feel like Salieri in Amadeus, who can appreciate others' genius in music but cannot write it himself.  I know great writing when I see it, and conversely, I know crappy writing when I see it.  I may not be the best writer in the world, but then I'm not working for one of the biggest studios in history.  STEP UP THE GAME and prove me wrong Dreamworks writers.  Knock my socks off and prove that you have what it takes to make a film that moves people and doesn't just make them laugh.  You have a great gift, please don't waste it.  I'll be watching.

The Cartoons In My Head

I was recently asked the question:

"If you had to choose one fictional character that personifies your personality, who would it be and why?"

After a lot of thinking I realized that there is not 1 but 2 characters that I simply cannot deny are the perfect representation of my personality and how my brain works.  Are you pondering what I'm pondering?

I think so Brain...

That's Right.  Pinky and the Brain are a perfect example of the constant back and forth that goes on in my head on a daily basis.  Two halves of a personality that is in constant bickering (not quite a battle) with itself.  This is not to say that I have multiple personalities or anything like that. ("Not that there's anything wrong with that!")  Allow me to explain.

When I was growing up, I watched a lot of TV.  I blame this for the reason why instead of understanding Calculus in High School, my brain was already full of useless trivia and theme songs, and therefore could not grasp how x could possibly equal 5 (or any other arbitrary number for that matter).  At the age of 10 I could list for you the entire afternoon lineup of Nickelodeon, and what I flipped to when Mr. Wizard came on.  (It was Bill Nye in case you were wondering.)  THE SHOW that I raced home after school to watch well into High School was Pinky and the Brain. (and of course Animaniacs.  Thank you Steven Spielberg!)  I could totally relate to them, and knew instinctively that one would never survive without the other.  And my brain is the same way.  My personality is the same way.

For example, let's look at a current issue in my life.  Weight loss and fitness.  The Brain says that I need to lose weight and that to do that all I have to do is eat less, exercise more, and simply forget about the fact that sugar is one of my main reasons for being.  Pinky on the other hand, rejoices in fun, fun, silly willy! and couldn't care less about diets and muscle tone.  If it were up to Pinky, I would already be 400 pounds and gleefully finishing off a pie as I type (or at least try to reach the keyboard).  So obviously Pinky doesn't have all the say, and neither does Brain.  It's like one of their (of course) failed attempts to take over the world.  Brain plans and scrutinizes every little detail and corner of a plan, while Pinky plays with his dryer lint.  Then when Brain is finally at a stopping point and looking for a little encouragement, he springs the plan on Pinky, who being unfettered with calculations and graphs, immediately sees the blatant flaw in the logic of the plan.  But it's too late.  Brain has already congratulated himself on a flawless plan and what the hell does Pinky know anyway?  So they proceed and inevitably the flaw that Pinky saw at the very beginning is their downfall.

STORY OF MY LIFE.  Remeber that weight loss analogy?  Brain is all set to exercise and get fit and finally look good in a size small when all of a sudden Pinky walks in and says "Hey Brain, don't forget about that cake in the fridge! Nah ha ha!!" Brain rolls his eyes at the idea that my will power could ever fail me again, now that I'm determined, and starts exercising.  Not just exercising, but working out, upping levels before my heart and lungs even knew that we were warming up.  When the working out is done, I limp and pant over to the fridge to get some water.  But guess what's in the fridge.  Yup, the yummy nummy cake that Pinky pointed out at the very beginning. Narf.

"What are we gonna do tomorrow night, Brain?  Same thing we do every night Pinky, try to take over the world."

Light Cool Relief

Hey all.  I found a recipe a few days ago that called to me from the page.  I'm not usually the kind to try a recipe as soon as I find it, let alone cook very much at all.  But this one is so simple... and it involves chocolate syrup.

Joy's Frozen Hot Chocolate.

I tried it as soon as I got home and it was SO DELICIOUS!!
The recipe made about 3 large glasses full.  I think next time I will use a bit less chocolate syrup than the recipe suggests because it was VERY chocolaty.  Which is usually not a bad thing but when you're really hot sometimes you just want ice.  Try it and let me know what you think, or if you have another smoothie type recipe you think I might like post a comment!

Text me Goodnight

There are some times when maybe it should be all about me.

I know I'm old fashioned compared to the rest of my generation.  Everyone is a high tech, high speed, multitasking machine.  It's not like I'm in the Stone Age.  I know how computers work (mostly) and I can fix more than basic problems on them.  But I don't have the newest model and I don't shell out big bucks for the latest versions of programs I use.  I have a cell phone and it takes pictures and I can text.  But again, I don't have the latest phone and shell out my paycheck for internet service and apps that are cool once and then I'm over them.

My point?  Those things are cool and if you like them that's great.  But I think too much technology (Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto) really is a problem.  Case in point:  When I'm out with a friend-and this has happened with a couple of different good friends of mine-we'll be walking down the street talking and enjoying the sights or sitting at a table in a restaurant waiting to be served.  They pull out their cell phones and start texting with other people or even answer their phones and start talking to someone else. 

This is RUDE. 
Don't do it. 

At least when you're with me.  How big of an idiot do I feel like when I'm sitting in complete silence while you're having a conversation with someone who's not even there.  Why did you even come out with me?  Should I have saved you the time and just texted to you how the food was or what I did by myself? 

I refuse to pull out my cell phone and ignore them back while I'm out with them.  The amount of time that I get to spend with my friends lately is very small so I look forward to seeing the people I care about.  My cell phone is for emergencies and convenience.  Your cell phone should not be the main focus of your attention, especially when you're on a social outing with someone in the flesh.  I get scared sometimes that this society really is going to be like the predicted future in Wall-E.  Everyone will be an obese baby staring at screens from morning to night.  I'd rather be the quirky robot given my choices. 

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not against using your cell phone EVER while you're out with others.  One text here, a minute or two call with someone there.  But only if it's important and in moderation.  It seems like the rules of common decency are changing.  And I don't like it.  The times that I spend with my friends are special to me. Rare and appreciated.  To be ignored in favor of a little machine that gives a false connection to someone else while I'm having that time hurts a little, I'm not going to lie.  I know no offence is meant, but I guess I just haven't caught up with the rest of my generation yet.  I still think it's normal to have conversations face to face.  What do I know? I'm old fashioned.

Yes. I'm Here. Posting. Yay.

So yet again it's been forever since I posted and blah blah I'm so ashamed, angst. (Seriously I really did want to write in the last six months, it's just, I had this thing...a job...that happened and now... *sigh* I have no excuse)

I got inspired to write again tonight because of another blog on Blogspot called Hyperbole and a Half. It's literally the funniest blog I've ever read (not that I've read a ton, admittedly). Go explore it, you will cry laughing.

Anyway. I figured instead of waiting for a topic to show itself in my overworked, undermassaged brain I would just write so that I could say that I started writing again. So I did. And I am. This is it. Writing. Booya. There, some more writing. I am awesome already.

Seriously there's no topic today. Just mental excrement. It's late and I had a very long day. You understand.


Again in all seriousness, I really would like to get this blog back up and running. Especially since Hyperbole and a Half has proven to me that you don't need an overall theme or direction to keep one going and for it to be successful. (Thanks for the inspiration Allie!) You just have to do it and keep at it. So try I will. No I won't try. I'll do. There is no try. (I learned that from Yoda, my Muppet friend.)

Is there anything that you would like to see from this blog, or want from me? I don't know who I'm talking to but I'm sure you'll know who you are when you read this. All of you. I'm babbling, I'm very tired. But I'm also...oh shit...what's that word where you sleep during the day and are awake at night? Seriously this is scaring me why can't I think of it? Narcoleptic? No that's when you fall asleep for no reason. Ummm... Narcotic. No......... (I had to look it up, I'm so ashamed) NOCTURNAL was the word I was looking for, as I'm sure you already knew and were thinking I was damaged as you read that. I'm sorry you had to see that. At least I was close. Sort of.

As I was saying before my head exploded, I'm pretty much nocturnal so even though I'm wide awake my brain is fully aware that I did a shit ton of stuff today and therefore should be very unconscious right now so as to recharge. But bah. I work evenings during the week so I can sleep in. ("Hah" says fate, as it warms up the lawnmowers that pick a different morning each week to smite my peaceful 9 AM slumber)

Anyway, welcome back to me, says I. Life has been pretty good lately. I've been working steadily for six months, two jobs, working six days a week, new car as of last month, going to Disney World in September so summer needs to end as soon as possible, and as long as things continue like this my plans of moving to Florida within a year and a half are still on track... Life is good.