Markus Zusak 2006 Teen Book Video Award Winner -- THE BOOK THIEF

I recently found a fan-made video winner for The Book Thief. Give it a look?



I wasn't in The Book Thief group, but I've read it. It's one of my most favorite book ever, and I must have read the gorgeous thing five times. Even if historical fiction bores you, give this book a chance. Even people who hate reading ended up consuming this.

There are rumors it'll be made into a movie soon. Cross your fingers!

"The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a novel of cruelty, poverty, and hope. Liesel Meminger is a young girl who has been placed in foster care by her mother. Liesel's brother dies en route to their new home and this leaves Liesel traumatized, causing her to have terrible nightmares in the middle of the night. Liesel's foster father begins teaching her to read on these nights to distract her from her pain. Liesel learns to turn to books for comfort. When the war begins, comfort becomes a rare state of mind, so Liesel finds ways to seek it out. Liesel begins to steal books in her efforts to deal with the cruelty of the world around her."--www.bookrags.com

Buh Bye

So College Lit is coming to an end.

I enjoyed this class more than I thought I would--which, by the way, is a lot--and am sad to see it go. I learned some and met some really awesome people. And had a lot of laughs. And not much homework. It had a nice balance.

So Farewell, College Lit, my last English class of my high school career--it was great.

:)

Wrongs of Passage

Cook makes an excellent point--"We, as Americans, need to look at the rites of passage we celebrate and determine what it is that we are truly valuing, and what we are teaching our children to value." While there are several important rites of passage--graduating college, religious ceremonies, first dates--there are also some very shallow, very selfish, meaningless ones as well, such as some people's Sweet 16's.

So, all in all, it depends. America would do well to remember the good things in life.

When I was in fourth or fifth grade, I was a queen at spinning rumors and garnering gossip. It was fun, a game. I always loved stories, so when I could make one up that made people listen, all the better.

However, I had noticed some were hurt, but saw no reason to stop.

One day, I went to the bathroom, and opened the door to "I don't really like Stefanie, do you?"

I looked up, locking stares with my two best friends. The mirrors reflexed their expressions--shock, fear--and I turned away before they could react.

When I got back to class, I sat down quietly, eyes itchy, mind wild. My chest hurt; my hands palsied. Pale, I thought, Is this how I've been making people feel?

That passage took me down a road where I arrived at a decission to never rumor or gossip or talk bad about anyone ever again. So far, so good.

Say WHAT?

Having just finished those twenty words for Jane Eyre, my Linguist senses started to tingle. One thing I've always loved about older books is the vast vacab they have. Usually. I always learn something new.

From the same language that used such words as "lugubrious" (mournful, dismal, gloomy), "anathematized" (To denounce; curse), salubrious" (wholesome; conducive or favorable to health), and "spoony" (foolish; silly), we also get a wonderful array today, such as "swot" (to study intensely for exams), "snog" (a long kiss, often used by teenagers), "gobsmacked" (to be surprised), and "moose" (unpleasant, boring; an ugly person).

I love slang. And swear words. One of the first things I go to when learning a new language is just that. There have been some hilarious ones--one of my faves was along the lines of "in the resturant", which was used in a language without its own native swears as a substitute for the "F" word. Blimey.

Do you have any fun slang to share?

Farewell, Jane Eyre

1) I would stay. Why? Because I've already read to the end of the book, and know what happens, haha... But they love each other. If Mr. R divorces his crazy wife, I'd be fine with it. I guess.

2) This is a book that is sooo much easier reading at 18 than at 13! Wow. Part of my love for JE came from relating more this time around and finding deeper meaning and actually understanding her language better. I like how she writes. I like how Bronte crafts characters--although their speech could be shaved down some.

3) Keep it. While I'd prefer a non-white protagonist, I love how Jane's story takes you someplace and somewhen completely different from most novels today. She is not rich, beautiful, etc, but she is a heroine worth looking up too. Also, this book is a great preparation for college.

So, I hear JE is a hard read...

So. Let's say Jane's version of English is crazy hard to understand even with your dictionary challenging. Or the plot is slooooow hard to follow. Or maybe that Jane's too awesome for you a different kind of heroine. And, finally, let's say I found a solution to your College Lit woes.

I came across this, The Red Room, Jane's tumblr. Not only is it in plain English--aka, not 19th century English--it's funny. Or, at least, it is to me. Nevertheless, cave lector, it contains spoilers. Her tumblr starts from Helen's death to her "current" life. And she talked about her boo, Mr. R, a lot, so prepare for some gushing.

Recommendations

Being in College Lit, it's safe to assume you like books. Maybe such stories as Persepolis caused some head scratching and general displeasure, but whether you loved it or hated it, there are graphic novels out there for every niche--romance, comedy, slice of life, action, horror, fantasy, etc etc etc. Just like "normal" books.

Here are a couple recommendations.

1) Bayou

"Lee Wagstaff is the daughter of a black sharecropper in the depression-era town of Charon, Mississippi. When Lily Westmoreland, her white playmate, is snatched by agents of an evil creature known as Bog, Lee's father is accused of kidnapping. Lee's only hope is to follow Lily's trail into this fantastic and frightening alternate world. Along the way she enlists the help of a benevolent, blues singing, swamp monster called Bayou. Together, Lee and Bayou trek across a hauntingly familiar Southern Neverland, confronting creatures both benign and malevolent, in an effort to rescue Lily and save Lee's father from being lynched." -- a la Amazon.com

I read it and loved it and felt slightly disturbed. Don't read if you're squeamish.



2) Emiko Superstar

"Emi was always kind of a geek by default,
but this summer her geeky friends have headed off to a “young executives retreat.” Emi decides that’s not her scene, so she’s stuck at home in the Toronto ‘burbs, baby-sitting for her American neighbors, the Cutheberts. (The dad is big and blond; his grin is too broad, he talks too loud, and he plays lots of tennis. Hee.) Her whole summer changes when she sees a dreadlocked girl start dancing and singing in the middle of the mall. She’s advertising the “Freak Show” at a place called the Factory, downtown. Even though the art is black and white, you can just see all the bright colors and glitter in her outfit.

"Emi goes, of course, and is caught up in the performance art world of the Freaks. As she discovers, “not being noteworthy at the Factory was kind of like not existing.” And Emi wants to exist, to be noticed. So she reinvents herself as a performance artist, using her grandmother’s clothes from her career as a dancer, and Mrs. Cuthebert’s diary of her miserable marriage. Emi’s act is wildly successful, but there’s only so long before her deceptions — and those of all the other characters — unravel." --a la here

One of my absolute faves! The story is rich and real, freaky or no.



3) Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

"Scott Pilgrim is 23 years old, living in the big city with his gay roommate, just trying to get by in this crazy world. He's in a band. He's lazy. He likes video games.

"Scott Pilgrim likes the new girl in town, Ramona Flowers, but to win her heart, he has to defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends. Seven! Evil! Ex! Boyfriends! Lucas has muscles! Todd plays bass with his psychic powers! The Twins are twins! Matthew Patel is an Indian guy! AND MORE!" --Check It

Yeah, the graphic novel came before the movie--surprise, surprise! Actually, lots of movies have been made out of or inspired by "picture books", such as Kill Bill, Watchmen, V for Vendetta, etc.



There are many, many more to recommend, like Maus or Regifters, but I'll end for now. When ever you get a chance, pick up a book and read.

Catcher in the Comic

For my final project, I am doing a The Catcher In The Rye comic! Holden and Pheobe are being stubborn when it comes to design. Any tips, scene suggestions, or critique = love.

Here's some character sketches... which were done on paint, so forgive me. I'll be drawing by hand for the actual thing. Thanks!

Heroic Journey

In class, Mr. Kunkle introduced Joseph Campbell's Heroic Journey story structure. Basically, this is a format with eight stages--Land of Security; Call to Adventure; "Divine" Helper Encounter; Tests and Trials; Treasure Gained; Ultimate Challenge; Death & Resurrection; Homecoming, Victorious, with Self-Realization. We've all seen this path again and again and again, just with different spices thrown in. It's been the bones of our favorite stories. It's good. It works. But, sometimes I get tired of it.

Part of the wonders of good writing is the unpredictability (while still being plausible). However, even with these twists and turns, how many times have you sat down to read or watch a movie and known within minutes how it'll go? It's still entertaining, since the fun's often in the journey, but... well, I want something a little different.

And I'm not one to look down on this structure. I am writing (or, uh, trying to write) a novel--The Walled-In World--and outlined my plot with the eight stages. All the same, I want to deviate but it's hard. This structure is so ingrained in our storytelling.

So, can you think of a book or movie or show that doesn't rely on the Heroic Journey format? Or any ideas? I'd love to hear.

Lavished We Are, Grateful We Are Not

We don't know how good things are.

Reading about Jane's school and remembering my own, it isn't hard to be grateful for the things McFarland has. If you think this school sucks, sorry, but you need to open your eyes.

Jane wears uniforms--plain, rather unpleasant ones. Bad students are publically humiliated; classes require a higher level of dedication and hard work. The food sucks. A lot. It's cold. Your religion cannot change. The opposite gender does not exist on school grounds. Etc etc etc.

At my old school, before I moved here in eighth grade, my religion was not allowed to change (nor were we allowed to voice dissent, especially if female), we had no library, our heater and air conditioning either didn't exist or might as well have not, science was mocked, computers were old, there was only one teacher for every two grades (for all classes, whether they understood the subject or not), students took out the trash and worked in the kitchens, we had no nurse (try being a seven-year-old diabetic there with most of the faculty saying God hates you and to suck it up), tutoring was nearly unheard of, girls did not have voices, art was looked down on, our food often froze or spoiled, stereotypes were reinforced, etc etc etc... and there were only 70 to 80 kids from preschool to eighth grade. You know how McFarland is with cliques and rumors? Try that when there are only six other people in your grade.

And yet I hear people rant about McFarland this and McFarland that, often with negativity. I just don't understand. You have competent, often excellent teachers. You don't have to pay thousand of dollars a year to get a crappy education. You have not just science labs, but science classes. Your food is warm and edible. There's a library, classes of all kinds, some diversity. There are clubs. You can choose your religion, or even drop it all together. If you need new friends, you can make some. Both boys and girls can speak. Your walls aren't falling down around you.

Please, explain to me why you hate our school. I don't understand.

Holden's a Hero - or could be, anyways...

So while talking in class and looking through our blogs, I noticed some really negative responses to Holden. I question his morals and santity and all, but I think we're doing exactly what we don't like about him.

You may say "I don't like the way Holden hates everyone" and then go on and on about how much you dislike Holden. Um, what? I caught myself doing this, and then realized how silly that was. I recommend doing the same. Negativity gets us nowhere but down.

I liked the book. But I struggled and I gripped and I put Holden down constantly. I coudn't tell if I liked how he wrote, and knew I disliked how he lied terrifically, drank like an alcoholic fish, smoked pack after pack, did so little, fought... But by the end, as I looked at the emptyness after the last word, I felt--cheesy as it sounds--like I learned something. I felt good, and not just because I finally finished it.

The Catcher in the Rye is a good book (and would have been better, I think, if I didn't expect Holden to off someone every other page). You're confronted with a character and situations you don't like (or, at least, that's how it was for me) and then you get a choice. Do you A) take the easy road and seethe about how dumb Holden is, blah blah blah... or B) see where Holden fell and decide to climb instead? As in, oh, you don't like how Holden sat around and did nothing? Well. Do something!

Have you ever read The Things They Carried? Whether you did or didn't, liked it or hated it, it had a point. There are facts in fiction. The author may be unreliable and his story lies, but that doesn't mean it's without truth.

The Collection

Most kids like collecting things--bottle caps, stuffed animals, cards, insect headstones, etc. I've stopped collecting Pokemon and YuGiOh cards, stopped picking up bottle caps, and interesting rocks and the like, but I haven't given up on my money obsession.


I like money like anyone else. Cash = ability to live. However, my collection has nothing to do with monetary value.

By 3rd grade, I sent nearly every buck to the bank. I lived in the library. I spent recess after recess with my head buried in a book, my tongue trying out word after word after wonderful word. When a friend would travel, my mother would have to grab me to keep me from clinging to their leg, begging to go. But, when they returned, I brightened at their strange stories and colorful currencies.

And so, I began my collection. Money from Thailand, India, Mexico, China, South Korea, Japan...

It was a fervent, euphoric addiction, my love of words and of places in the world. Silly as it sounds, I've spent nearly a decade saving and studying just to experience it all myself, instead of living through the yen and zloty I've collected.

tCitR : Excerpt

"The bus driver opened the doors and made me throw [the snowball] out. I told him I wasn't going to chuck it at anybody, but he wouldn't believe me. People never believe you." p. 37, the Catcher in the Rye

I chose this because it reminded me of common stereotypes for both adults and adolescents. First, the bus driver assumed the worst. It's basic math for most. Kid + snowball = obviously gonna throw it. Why not stop the problem before it's even a problem? But that's a stereotype. Holden didn't want to chuck that snowball, but the driver wouldn't hear it.

Next, the teenager, Holden. "People never believe you." That's a great line, because every kid has faced that feeling at least once. But it's also a stereotype. Maybe some bus driver won't listen, but not every one's like that.

Perhaps Salinger was hinting at how the two sides of one pole are always trying to knock the other down. Yes, teens and adults can view the world differently, and there's nothing wrong with that, but there should be a communal understanding rather than communal distrust. When trying to knock the other down, each side is hurt.

Visions of Childhood: Response

Childhood is something most people go through. It's also depicted and experienced in countless ways--but what are the similarities and differences?

Something I saw in every story was this: Childhood sucks. No getting around it, whether it be your parents dying during WWII or watching an adult party blur and blast around you. Or you meet A. Friend that you ought to avoid. Yeah, happy-go-crappy stuff.

Another similarity is this: Things are out of your control. Period. Sure, you can acquire as much brain as Esme, keep out of everything like Victor, or trytrytry to please your parents like Cates, but, at the end of it all, good luck fighting fate.

However, the difference is hope, and the way people handle it. Connie messed up big, and there was no hope for her... well, there could have been if she'd handled the phone better, but she missed the boat with that one. For Esme, her parents are gone, but she still tries to make the best of everything, improve herself (I'm training myself to be more compassionate. My aunt says I'm a terribly cold person...) makes it through the war and meets a man she marries. Overall, not bad, considering our examples. Even in "Bottle Caps", something as morbid as death gets a laugh thrown in. Not everyone leaves everything all doom and gloom--some put their imagination to good use and make the best of things.

As for whether or not the authors hit the mark, I can't say. I've only had one childhood and thus have little to compare with. Life's too varied for someone to write a "right" or "wrong" interpretation. Even if I whole-heartedly disagree, someone else won't.

A story that depicts childhood... I'd go with Fullmetal Alchemist. It's about messing up and fixing mistakes, accepting helping hands and fighting frightening adversaries, viewing the world outside boxes and comfort zones; the characters experience war, hope, trust, deaths of children, parents, enemies, and loved ones, numerous morals, questions, unity, and love, even with alchemists and suped-upped prosthetics blowing things up.

This texts says a lot about childhood—it can be full of hardship and simplicity, complexity and ease. Childhood is about making mistakes and thinking large while living in a small world before growing up into a much bigger, much more interconnected life. There is similarity with the stories we’ve seen—morbidity, doing things one really shouldn’t, wanting one’s parents, loss—but the details vary—a science like magic, fairytale/nightmarish bad guys, action, fighting back. Overall, while the adventure may be widely different, the cores are close to many childhoods.

Shots Suck

Growing up, I had Aichmophobia--a fear of needles/sharp objects--to the point that I would scream, hollar, struggle, cry, and run out of the room if given the chance. I just couldn't sit still when the shots came out. My skin tingled in frantic anticipation, my heart jumped like a jackrabbit, and my eyes doubled in size. My parents and a nurse or two would have to restrain me so that the doctor could help me.

But by seven, all that changed. My world was wrapped in fog--it was as if my senses were made of cotton, making it impossible to truly feel. Well, I take that back, I could feel nausea and thirst and pain just fine, but happiness and the like were nearly impossible to grasp. We went to the doctor; we got the news; my parents sped me to the hospital.

My body was killing me. Diabetes is a disease that essentially coerces the body into commiting suicide, where every mistep causes dangerous complications. But I wasn't scared for myself. I was terrified at the tears and runny noses and broken postures my parents couldn't hide. Even when the doctors filled the first syringe with insulin, I didn't care. When it pierced my arm deep, stinging my muscle, I didn't care. I just wanted the fog to clear and my parents to be okay.

Needless to say, I no longer have Aichmophobia. When you go a decade giving yourself shots and hanging out in hospitals, silly fears ebb away. I still fret over my mom, but she's strong and so am I. We'll get through this.

College Lit: An Introduction

Hi, I'm Stefanie! A Senior now, I like books and biking, animals, martial arts, jokes, spicy food, drawing, and lazer tag. I also love to study linguistics and travel. Currently, I am studying Latin, Spanish, and Polish. In my free time, I do the same, but with Irish-English, Hindi, Urdu, and a bit of Bengali. Obviously, I love words. I worked and saved my way to both Poland and Slovakia last summer, and will do the same for India this summer. Wish me luck! (And if anyone would like to come as well, lemme know! :) We have plenty of room!)

As for college, I've applied to six schools and may still try more. My dream university is currently Lawrence University, which seems to be the only small school in Wisconsin offering a Linguistics class, let alone a major. Sad day. I plan to study language, perhaps some biology, and work to join the Peace Corps.

My favorite book? The Moorchild, my childhood favorite, tops my list. My favorite movie is either How To Train Your Dragon or The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. And since I practically live with my headphones in, just one musician is difficult, but Frighten Rabbit is an absolute love.