I try to stay away from the news. Rarely is it popular to report good news. Is it only me or does the news of one's good fortune usually leave you feeling more jealous and resentful than joyous? Must be my cynical side coming out. I want to be happy for others but envy soon follows. When it is my turn to reap some good fortune? Why does God give us the trials more than others. Yes, we should be thankful for our trials and look at them as an opportunity than a curse. Sounds good. Raise your hand if you are the first one willing to sign up to adopt a special needs child that has a short life span. I give so much credit to those that do. You are amazing people. My point. Nobody wants to have a difficult life right. We accept the lot given and move on but there's envy of those who's lot seems easier even though it may not be. Is this only me?? There is a time for sorrow and a time for laughter.
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", a good time of laughter science fiction novel filled with surprises just about around every corner. A man by the name of Arthur Dent is about to unexpectedly loses his house to make room for a bypass being told "the plans have been available in the local planning office for the last 9 month" while Dent found earlier "sitting in a cellar, in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet, stuck in a disused lavatory(bathroom) with a sign on the door saying 'Beware of Leopard'". In its irony the author of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", alien Ford Prefect was just finishing his research for the planet Earth to write down it's "mostly harmless", runs into Dent telling him there's no need to fret about his house since "the world is about to end in ten minutes". The Vogons immediately appear into Earth atmosphere to announce on the PA of the plans to make room for a hyperspatial express by eliminating the planet. "All planning charts and demolition orders have boon on display in your local planning department in the Alpha Centauri for fifty of your Earth years." This is the subtle use of the novel's humor throughout.
Dent along with Prefect barely escape the fate of the rest of Earth's inhabitant by the use of Prefect's Sub-Etha Sens-O-Matic to hail a passing spaceship for a lift. The mode of travel for hitchhiker's, "Don't Leave Home Without It" and also don't forget your towel. Wait...what?? Yeah you will have to find out why for yourself. The two travelers get discovered as a stow away on the Vogon ship, get kicked out into space to die of asphyxiation at the loss of oxygen in the matter of minutes. Along comes the Heat of Gold ship stolen by the president of the Imperial Galactic Government, Zaphod Beeblebrox to the rescue. The ship powered by the Infinite Improbability Drive found the least probable event to happen in space at that time is the rescue of these two doomed victims. The result. Again they barely escape with their lives.
On board "The Heart of Gold" they encounter an Earth woman, Trillian, who actually had a conversation with Dent at a party right before Zaphod persuaded her to come with him on grounds that he was "from another planet. Along with her and Zaphod the ships occupants were a depressed robot constructed with a Genuine People Personality feature and an cheery annoying know-it-all Sirius Cybernetics Shipboard Computer which controlled every part of the ship.
Once they all become acquainted with each other again Zaphod's mission is revealed. The purpose of stealing "The Heart of Gold" is to find the most improbable planet that ever existed. Magrathea, the planet that custom made other planets for their suitors, "gold planets, platinum planets, and soft rubber planets with lots of earthquakes". Folklore stated that it fell out of existence when "became the richest planet of all time and the rest of the Galaxy was reduced to abject poverty.
Who purchased Earth? Yes, Earth too was created by the Magratheans but I will not cheese up the surprise. Whomever had Earth created was preparing the prophetic planet and its inhabitants to discover the question to the answer of the question posed to the greatest computer ever to be made designed by the second greatest computer, Deep Thought, of "the meaning of life, the universe, and everything." However, Earth was destroyed right before the time when the greatest computer was to reveal the Ultimate question to the answer, 42, to the aforementioned question.
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is the first book of a trilogy so naturally I will have to continue the series or be satisfied with not knowing the Ultimate question to...you know the rest! Not a dull moment throughout this exciting adventure story that takes the reader through Adams version of life in the great known. I have quoted more than a few lines from the book to prepare who choose to undergo a brain lobotomy in English style humor. After reading a few chapters my wife commented that it's many crazy made of words reminded her of doing a MadLib. I have filled out a few with her family and they have come up with some very descriptive off the wall words. If anyone reading this blog would like to share in their best made up words I would love to hear them. Perhaps I will bust out the best ones next time we fill out a Mad Lib.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
#26 "The Robber Bride" by Margaret Atwood
I am quite comfortable not talking for days. No pressure to sound funny, intelligent, pretending to be someone that I'm not. I remember during my insecure days telling my future wife that I'm not that funny. Makes me think of George on "Seinfeld" doing the exact opposite of his instincts since following his instincts has led him nowhere. Mine were to try to be what the ladies wanted and who knew being myself would land me such a HOT BABE!! I am just as comfortable being with my wife as I am by myself. Relaxing on the couch after the girls are asleep, discussing our relationship after the girls are asleep, and talking about random things after the girls are asleep.
One conversation we discussed a couple on a movie where a girl at the attractiveness of an eight was dating maybe a six, if Tom Arnold were to be considered a six. My wife pointed out that if the tables were turned there is little
chance an eight guy would choose to be with a six girl. It's not fair. What can I say?? I don't know why guys get duped by the physical beauty of a woman while the gals can look past the appearance to more important attributes. Yeah you look good but you're thirty years old and still shoveling out popcorn behind the counter of the movie theater. All I can say is blame it on the te te te te testosterone.
Entering the world that Margaret Atwood created in "The Robber Bride" we encounter the lives of three middle aged women: Roz, Charis, and Tony, friends since college, standing at the funeral of another woman who at one time robbed each woman from the man they loved. Zenia, the sneaky, charming, vixen deceptively entered into a deep bond by telling each lady conflicting harrowing stories of survival through the harsh elements of her past. In their confidence she slowly and methodically duped all three ladies and their men into thinking she cared for them only to steal the men away and ditch them as soon as she got bored.
As they walked away from the funeral they reminisce over that heartrending chapter of their lives that seems to have come to an end providing, hopefully, some needed closure.
Tony, at the present, is a history professor in her spare time enjoys recreating major battle scenes in history to give the losing side a chance to win. She married her college lover West. In her college days she was a short hobbit-like woman with the insecurities to boot. Many acquaintances but few friends she was treated by most like a child. She was invited to a party by West where she was subsequently introduced to Zenia. Zenia was everything that Tony wanted to be. Smart, sexy, quick-witted, and most of all desired by many men. Zenia invaded Tony's space with her magnetic personality bringing her out of her shell. Being friends with a woman like Zenia makes you feel special. They bond sharing with each other their dark secrets and stories of their heartrending pasts. How painful it was when Zenia stole Tony's love, West, and ran away with him only to abandon him once she stole his money.
Charis, at the present, a spiritual, naturalistic woman working at a store named Radiance which sells items such as healing crystals, tarot cards, and new age music (you know these stores). When she met Zenia, Zenia was wearing sunglasses in the yoga class that Charis was teaching. Approaching her after class Zenia revealed a story of struggle with cancer and searching for alternative methods for healing. Right up Charis' alley. You know Charis is all about alternatives to modern medicine. Taking Zenia into her home where she is also harboring a draft dodger and lover, Billy. Billy, unemployed, meets up with other friends to discuss antiwar sentiment and treats Charis like she's an idiot. He initially dislikes Zenia but one day runs away with her to be abandoned after she steals away his money and possessions resulting in Billy's suicide.
Roz, at the present, is a mother of three children president of a fashion magazine and close friends with Charis and Tony. These three bond through the similar experiences of tragedy after encountering Zenia. Roz recognizes Zenia from her college days now working as a waitress at a restaurant. They eventually bond via Roz's father who supposedly saved Zenia during the war. Roz who's memory of her father is limited and the desire to know more about him set the stage for their relationship to begin. You know what happens. YUP, Roz's husband who is a philanderer, moves in with Zenia under Roz's nose and YUP gets ditched soon afterwards with a load of money.
Gathered together at their emo-style restaurant where the servers and occupants are tatted and pierced in a variety of places and clad in dark clothes, they discuss their feelings after the funeral. They notice a woman entering that closely resembles Zenia only slightly skinnier standing at the bar now. Is this a look-a-like or was her death also a lie? If so, why is she here? Scouring the room for another victim or preparing for a second go-around with us. She looks straight through us like she doesn't recognize us. The three friends cannot rest until they find out the truth. Whatever that is.
To be frank, Margaret Atwood created a well articulated, "Lifetime" style story. It kept me on the edge of my seat as I became engrossed in each woman's world. The raised from the dead Zenia added more intrigue. I am not a "Lifetime" channel type of guy but if my wife were watching this movie I would find myself putting down the book or closing my laptop to see how this one will end. I will not recommend for the typical male reader but I will add this to my accumulating list of books for my wife to read. By the way it was made into a TV movie.
For your information other books on my wife's list. "The Life of Pi", "The Poisonwood Bible", "NurtureShock", "11/22/63", "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", and a few more.
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| Independent Movie "It's a disaster" |
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| From left to right Roz, Tony, and Charis |
As they walked away from the funeral they reminisce over that heartrending chapter of their lives that seems to have come to an end providing, hopefully, some needed closure.
Tony, at the present, is a history professor in her spare time enjoys recreating major battle scenes in history to give the losing side a chance to win. She married her college lover West. In her college days she was a short hobbit-like woman with the insecurities to boot. Many acquaintances but few friends she was treated by most like a child. She was invited to a party by West where she was subsequently introduced to Zenia. Zenia was everything that Tony wanted to be. Smart, sexy, quick-witted, and most of all desired by many men. Zenia invaded Tony's space with her magnetic personality bringing her out of her shell. Being friends with a woman like Zenia makes you feel special. They bond sharing with each other their dark secrets and stories of their heartrending pasts. How painful it was when Zenia stole Tony's love, West, and ran away with him only to abandon him once she stole his money.Charis, at the present, a spiritual, naturalistic woman working at a store named Radiance which sells items such as healing crystals, tarot cards, and new age music (you know these stores). When she met Zenia, Zenia was wearing sunglasses in the yoga class that Charis was teaching. Approaching her after class Zenia revealed a story of struggle with cancer and searching for alternative methods for healing. Right up Charis' alley. You know Charis is all about alternatives to modern medicine. Taking Zenia into her home where she is also harboring a draft dodger and lover, Billy. Billy, unemployed, meets up with other friends to discuss antiwar sentiment and treats Charis like she's an idiot. He initially dislikes Zenia but one day runs away with her to be abandoned after she steals away his money and possessions resulting in Billy's suicide.
Roz, at the present, is a mother of three children president of a fashion magazine and close friends with Charis and Tony. These three bond through the similar experiences of tragedy after encountering Zenia. Roz recognizes Zenia from her college days now working as a waitress at a restaurant. They eventually bond via Roz's father who supposedly saved Zenia during the war. Roz who's memory of her father is limited and the desire to know more about him set the stage for their relationship to begin. You know what happens. YUP, Roz's husband who is a philanderer, moves in with Zenia under Roz's nose and YUP gets ditched soon afterwards with a load of money.Gathered together at their emo-style restaurant where the servers and occupants are tatted and pierced in a variety of places and clad in dark clothes, they discuss their feelings after the funeral. They notice a woman entering that closely resembles Zenia only slightly skinnier standing at the bar now. Is this a look-a-like or was her death also a lie? If so, why is she here? Scouring the room for another victim or preparing for a second go-around with us. She looks straight through us like she doesn't recognize us. The three friends cannot rest until they find out the truth. Whatever that is.To be frank, Margaret Atwood created a well articulated, "Lifetime" style story. It kept me on the edge of my seat as I became engrossed in each woman's world. The raised from the dead Zenia added more intrigue. I am not a "Lifetime" channel type of guy but if my wife were watching this movie I would find myself putting down the book or closing my laptop to see how this one will end. I will not recommend for the typical male reader but I will add this to my accumulating list of books for my wife to read. By the way it was made into a TV movie.
For your information other books on my wife's list. "The Life of Pi", "The Poisonwood Bible", "NurtureShock", "11/22/63", "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", and a few more.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
bookinthroughbooks: #25 "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel
bookinthroughbooks: #23 "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel: Nope, this isn't "Water for Elephants" or "Chocolat". I am however enjoying my tasty coffee beverage with some homem...
#25 "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel
Nope, this isn't "Water for Elephants" or "Chocolat". I am however enjoying my tasty coffee beverage with some homemade mint chocolate creamer, minus the OH SO yummy hydrogenated oil to help reduce my high cholesterol, in honor of my new blog post. My coffee is much better than the book though.
"Like Water for Chocolate" is a story of love, mysticism, heartbreak, and food. Tita, a fifteen year old girl and the youngest of three sisters, falls in love with a neighbor boy named Pedro who comes to ask her Cruella Deville-like mother, Elena for Tita's hand in marriage. Elena denies this request on grounds that family tradition states the youngest daughter's role is primarily to take care of her mother until she dies. As a consolation Pedro marries Tita's sister Rosaura as a way of staying near to Tita. Their odd love for each other continued through Rosaura and Pedros' marriage, children, Tita's marriage to Dr. John Brown and Rosaura and Elena's death. By their forties Pedro and Tita finally get to be with each other.
The end to me was like the finale of "How I Met Your Mother". Throughout the story you are rooting for Pedro and Tita to run away and damn the rest of the family. At the end you like Dr Brown who helps to free Tita from her tyrannical mother and to live her own life. Passion overrides and her loins tell her to be with Pedro instead. Just like in "HIMYM" I don't think Robin and Ted were meant to be or it would have BEEN from the start. Sorry, I've been harboring that resentment since the "HIMYM" finale. Time to cast off the series into the wild blue yonder (is that the correct term YONDER?). "Bobs' Burgers" anyone?
I'll elaborate even more. Poor Tita forced into the life of servitude to her mother only to find a little respite cooking in the kitchen. Here is the location where Tita's passion finds its release from the frustrations and joys of life. As she creates meals for special occasions like Pedro and Rosaura's wedding the partakers of the meals have unusual reactions to the way the meal was made. During a passionate exchange in the kitchen between Pedro and Tita while preparing a meal, Tita's aunt Gertudis reaction after eating the meal had her burning with lust to the point she tore her clothes off and ran for a cold shower eventually running away with a Mexican general on a horse.
The Pedro and Tita exchanges were rife with deep emotions. She loves him and he loves her. What love can endure the fact that he was married, doinking and having a child with Tita's sister. Unfortunately after her young niece died, blaming her mother, she escaped to Dr. Brown's home where he looked after her and helped her to recover from the traumatic experiences of living with her mother, the love of her life doing the nasty with her sister, and her niece's death. At the same time that they planned their wedding Rosaura dies. So now Pedro comes calling in his jealous tirade for her to choose him over the doctor now that both Rosaura and Elena are dead (oh yeah her mother died too).
Who to choose, the respectful doctor who was by your side during the hard times whom you love or the guy that was married to your sister and did I mention this included sex with her too but you feel great passionate "LOVE" towards. Oh yeah when Pedro called for her hand in marriage they really didn't know each other that well. Not like they were friends for years.
Not all good stories leave you feeling happy.
"Like Water for Chocolate" is a story of love, mysticism, heartbreak, and food. Tita, a fifteen year old girl and the youngest of three sisters, falls in love with a neighbor boy named Pedro who comes to ask her Cruella Deville-like mother, Elena for Tita's hand in marriage. Elena denies this request on grounds that family tradition states the youngest daughter's role is primarily to take care of her mother until she dies. As a consolation Pedro marries Tita's sister Rosaura as a way of staying near to Tita. Their odd love for each other continued through Rosaura and Pedros' marriage, children, Tita's marriage to Dr. John Brown and Rosaura and Elena's death. By their forties Pedro and Tita finally get to be with each other. |
| "Turns out dad has been putting murdered cows in our hamburgers." |
The end to me was like the finale of "How I Met Your Mother". Throughout the story you are rooting for Pedro and Tita to run away and damn the rest of the family. At the end you like Dr Brown who helps to free Tita from her tyrannical mother and to live her own life. Passion overrides and her loins tell her to be with Pedro instead. Just like in "HIMYM" I don't think Robin and Ted were meant to be or it would have BEEN from the start. Sorry, I've been harboring that resentment since the "HIMYM" finale. Time to cast off the series into the wild blue yonder (is that the correct term YONDER?). "Bobs' Burgers" anyone?
I'll elaborate even more. Poor Tita forced into the life of servitude to her mother only to find a little respite cooking in the kitchen. Here is the location where Tita's passion finds its release from the frustrations and joys of life. As she creates meals for special occasions like Pedro and Rosaura's wedding the partakers of the meals have unusual reactions to the way the meal was made. During a passionate exchange in the kitchen between Pedro and Tita while preparing a meal, Tita's aunt Gertudis reaction after eating the meal had her burning with lust to the point she tore her clothes off and ran for a cold shower eventually running away with a Mexican general on a horse.The Pedro and Tita exchanges were rife with deep emotions. She loves him and he loves her. What love can endure the fact that he was married, doinking and having a child with Tita's sister. Unfortunately after her young niece died, blaming her mother, she escaped to Dr. Brown's home where he looked after her and helped her to recover from the traumatic experiences of living with her mother, the love of her life doing the nasty with her sister, and her niece's death. At the same time that they planned their wedding Rosaura dies. So now Pedro comes calling in his jealous tirade for her to choose him over the doctor now that both Rosaura and Elena are dead (oh yeah her mother died too).Who to choose, the respectful doctor who was by your side during the hard times whom you love or the guy that was married to your sister and did I mention this included sex with her too but you feel great passionate "LOVE" towards. Oh yeah when Pedro called for her hand in marriage they really didn't know each other that well. Not like they were friends for years.
Not all good stories leave you feeling happy.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
bookinthroughbooks: #24 "Youth" by J.M. Coetzee
bookinthroughbooks: #22 "Youth" by J.M. Coetzee: He went, ever on the move, with the slow, shuffling step of wandering beggars who are nowhere at home. Stijn Streuvels Read more at htt...
#24 "Youth" by J.M. Coetzee
He went, ever on the move, with the slow, shuffling step of wandering beggars who are nowhere at home.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/stijn_streuvels.html#TfEG1h7g0W4lolER.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/stijn_streuvels.html#TfEG1h7g0W4lolER.99
He went, ever on the move, with the slow, shuffling step of wandering beggars who are nowhere at home.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/stijn_streuvels.html#TfEG1h7g0W4lolER.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/stijn_streuvels.html#TfEG1h7g0W4lolER.99
J.M Coetzee, an author whom I've never heard of, has nine books on "The List". I thwart the feeling that there may be some bias towards specific authors. To those that are like me in my ignorance of this renown author I will give a short bio. According to NobelPrize.org, J. M. Coetzee, a South African born in 1940, is a graduate of the University of Cape Town with degrees in English and Mathematics also later receiving his PhD in English, linguistics, and Germanic languages at the University of Texas at Austin. A few of his books have won literary awards. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003 "who in innumerable guises portrays the surprising involvement of the outsider" Nobel Prize. What?? In my history of reading award winning books they use a lot of big words and/or discuss concepts and ideas that are just way over my head. How pleasantly surprised I was with "Youth". A fictionalized memoir of John, a young man of 18 years from South Africa who abandoned his uninspiring life for a more stimulating life in London for the purpose of unleashing the magnificent poet inside of him that his former home had kept captive. London, a city that has housed some of the greatest artists ever known.
Everything in John's life centers around the idea of becoming a renown poet. Working at a 9-5 job as a computer programmer is only a means to sustain life while he hones his art. Relationships are a physical necessity only when it doesn't intrude on his ultimate purpose in life. Loneliness and social awkwardness a necessary part of becoming a great poet. The feelings of insecurity that John's present situation brings out will only make him a better poet. The struggle. In John's view of the world, happiness is not as strong of an emotion as the depths of despair felt in the pit of the stomach of an unsatisfied life.  |
| Quote reminds me of the main character. |
I am not that smart. Those that fear the high and mighty big words, rest assured. Although this story uses higher diction than "The Hunger Games" or "Divergent" which are geared towards teens you will not be needing a dictionary constantly to follow "Youth". Coetzee truly is intelligent just in the way he is able to express thought clearly through this 18 year old boy. While reading I didn't at all feel like I was listening to a boring lecture from a prestigious pretentious professor but someone that knows they are smart and doesn't have to prove it by flaunting his high vocabulary.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
#23 "Fingersmith" by Sarah Waters and #21 "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro
2:40pm: Leaving work. Thinking how I'm looking forward to spring. I really need to blog after kids are asleep tonight. I have five books finished that need to be blogged and I am so looking forward to the other books on my queue. Baby Blues ah parenting...
3:00pm: Walk in through the front door of my house to the screeching sounds of delight from my daughter Layla as she waves her arms while in her high chair as my wife had just finished feeding her. Maggie excitedly runs to me and gives me a hug and kiss. Amy frazzled. We hug each other, more like locking our bodies together knowing when we release our grasp we will be sucked into the void of parenthood.
3:10 pm-8:45pm: I wanted to just let the kids watch TV while I laid on the couch for the next few hours. A couple more episodes of Sesame Street and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse won't cause them to have ADHD will it....? The fear of them suffering with learning difficulties wins out. So, got on the floor and played with the girls. Reading, puzzles, become a human jungle gym, diaper changes, baths, dinner, dishes, medicines for Layla, take dog out to go potty, massage Layla until both of us are exhausted and put her to bed.
8:46pm: What I wanted to do was drink a big glass of wine and start working on my next blog and then cuddle on the couch with my wife while we catch up on our DVRed shows. What I did was drink a little over a serving size glass of wine (to make the bottle last longer) and watched our shows while cuddling on the couch with my wife until I am about to pass out.
10:00 pm. Passed out in bed. Attempted to read but managed to stare at the same page and read the same few paragraphs over and over again. Maybe I'll get up at 5am and work on my blog for an hour before work.
5:45am. Damn got fifteen minutes to get ready for work. Maybe I'll work on my blog after the kids go to bed tonight.
I will be brief with these next two books and chances are I will do this in the future too."Never Let Me Go" , children raised in a boarding school type environment unaware initially they are clones who are being raised to eventually have their organs "donated" to "real" people. Sounds gruesome. It was. Hoping for a happy ending, for instance, a few escape from their fate after being pursued by these organ thieves to live normal human lives like the rest of us working 40+ hours a week at a life draining job.
Well, I was naïve. I was really rooting for the three main characters, two girls and a boy. Even though I expected a depressing end the author writes an intriguing story with a little mystery, love, likeable characters that kept me glued in up until the literal gut wrenching end. The novel definitely elicited a strong emotion from me. Sadness, despair and I guess that's the tell of a good author. Not a story for the casual reader looking for entertainment, but if you want to cry or have knots in your stomach by all means check it out.
Next. "Fingersmith", a story from the point of view of two orphaned girls, one, Susan Smith, raised by a family of pickpockets and thieves, the other, Maud Lilly, raised by her well-to-do pervert of an uncle in a house of privilege trained to read and copy his collection of lewd books. A scheme was devised by a Mr. Rivers to steal an inherited wealth due to Maud Lilly once she marries. He hopes that by getting Susan hired as Maud's personal maid they could work to trick Maud into falling in love and marrying Mr. Rivers. Once married he would place Maud into an insane asylum and both schemers will walk away with a large portion of the inheritance. With so many twist and turns I wasn't sure how this story was going to end. 
Don't forget as I have mentioned earlier this is a novel told from two perspectives. Describing the same events from two sides is definitely unique but it came across to me long and monotonous. It's like reading the Gospels back to back to back. Even the most avid biblical scholar will get bored with the same story even if there are a few different details. Fortunately the monotony only lasted about halfway though the book.I liked it overall. The finish was a surprise, the lifestyles of the characters were interesting, and the story told in a unique way would be the reason for it to be on "The List". I'd like to add that my hours of watching "Downton Abbey" did come in handy with the high society English life. The character Susan was a maid who I just couldn't help but picture as Daisy in the Downstairs of Downton with her wise-assed remarks.
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