Themes...

How do you think about a theme? Why do you think understanding themes is important? Where else besides books do you see themes occurring? What is a theme from your reading that has been meaningful to you? I think themes are important because you can start to see them in everything, even your own life. There are certain periods of time that human beings survive where you look back and see specific themes and ideas that are "played out" by the events you experience. Also, our relationships can give us a window into various themes, simply because relationships are so integral to life and how we think about our world. It's the same with storytelling (and book writing)- authors look for ideas that are true for the world (universe) and then express those ideas through events and relationships. I think themes have been woven throughout history, anytime stories are told, because they are important ideas for the human condition. From watching movies like Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, and The Blind Side (two out of three of which were created from BOOKS) to reading stories like The Lovely Bones, Wintergirls, Speak, and Maus, some common themes appear. A few things that have hit home for me... Strong, loyal friendships are important to survival. I especially see this theme in the movie Sherlock Holmes and books like The Lovely Bones- where people who were deeply connected to each other were able to save and sacrifice for those they loved. Heroes are often flawed, but have some sort of resilience within them. I think this is an obvious theme of Avatar, as well as the Lord of the Rings, Speak, and Wintergirls. We see the idea of resilience in Jake Sully, Frodo, Melinda, and Lena. All of them have huge struggles that they overcome by demonstrating the resilience of their inner spirits. Sometimes vengeance is not the most important thing, healing is. I see this a little bit in Avatar and definitely in The Lovely Bones, and somewhat in Wintergirls as well. The main character, Lena, in Wintergirls, is trying to control her world through her anorexia, and part of that is because of her anger at her mother and desire to take revenge on her for being "perfect." Although her mother is controlling and bossy, Lena's need for vengeance is sometimes frustrating since she is ultimately hurting herself. In Avatar, when the humans try to wreak vengeance on the native people of Pandora, you see that it ultimately destroys their mission, as the Na'qi are more powerful than they imagined.

Connections to other works...

So, on Thursday night, I finally went to see the movie everyone's been talking about- Avatar. I thought it was an entertaining movie, and although I didn't go through "withdrawals" after leaving the world of Pandora, I was interested in the world and the life of the blue aliens. But, I also saw some similar themes and ideas to books that I have read recently. First of all, The Lovely Bones. I felt that the main character, Jake Sully, was very similar to the father character in The Lovely Bones. Both are dealing with a lot of grief, pain, and disappointment. Jake has to face life without the use of his legs and the death of his brother; Mr. Salmon (Jack) has to face life without his eldest daughter after she is murdered. I also see connections between how heroism is portrayed in this movie and how it is portrayed in other books and stories. One example of this is how Jake Sully comes to care about the and is willing to risk his life to help save them. Similarly, we find that Odysseus cares so much about saving his men that he risks his life against multiple challenges in order to try to save them. I think there are lots of heroic qualities that are similar between Avatar's leading characters (not just Jake, but also Trudy, Kate, and Norm) and characters from other works of fiction, such as the Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia, and anything having to do with Star Wars. Some of these common traits include commitment, kindness, sacrifice, and the ability to have deep relationships and care deeply about others. And, of course, as we see from Jake in Avatar, Peter in Chronicles, and Aragorn in LOTR, most heroes are also physically well-built.

More on Wintergirls...and REAL winter!

I just realized I never finished writing about the books I am reading...well, I have not finished Wintergirls yet, and I think I accidentally left it at school, so I will have to finish that the last week of break after I get home. Also, I haven't had as much time for reading yet this break as I thought I would...so sad. But, the next couple of days I will be reading more because we will settle into relaxing for the holidays, and it is raining and cold outside here in Arkansas. Perfect weather to stay inside and read! I am re-reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. There's a purpose behind this reading (if you're a Decathlete, you'll know why), but I actually enjoy this book because of Dickens' character sketches and political statements. This book is virtually a political treatise in story form. Dickens doesn't really hold back on what he believes, but I think if you read this book from the political commentary lens, it holds more interest and fascination as a viewpoint on a stormy time in the world. It is certainly not his richest storytelling, but that is okay...we all need to diversify, even authors!

Highlights and Lowlights of Reading so far this fall...

Well, the good news is that I have several books that I am really excited to be reading...Wintergirls (almost finished) by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (halfway through it) and we have finished reading and are working on our final project for Speak in my 9th grade English classes. I am very happy, at this point, to be finished with Speak, though I love the book, and I honestly find more literary devices in that book everytime I read it, reading it with about 100 9th graders over three months does make one a little tired of a novel after awhile. Though I think it is incredible that books like Speak are still being written, when it is easier to just, y'know write about vampires or something like that. The Lovely Bones is a book where you expect it to be about one thing, but actually find that it is about something else. I thought this story would be about a family's vengeance, unforgiveness, and tragedy...although it contains all of these things, the focus is given instead to recovery, hope, and healing. What an awesome way to write a book that starts out with a tragedy. I am not saying that some parts are not creepy and dark...they are, but the descriptions unravel the darkness by highlighting different methods of coping with reality. If you like reading about families, "true-life" tales, and coming of age- read this book! It is a page-turner and I can't wait to finish it.

Wintergirls...

Although we are not very familiar with the idea of winter around here in southern CA, I thought this book held fascinating ideas of how dealing with anorexia (or bulemia)- or any other serious mental health issue seems to limit the sufferer to only dealing with life as if in a wintry haze. The protagonist of the book, a term I use loosely, because sometimes you feel so frustrated with Lia as a character that you wish she would just fade into nothingness like she seems to want to do, Lia, is a girl who is lost in the winter of her deeper issues: control, self-inflicted stress and worry, and the idea that if she stays pure, she will win the war against the forces working against her.

summer is a time for...finishing what we start!

All books serve a purpose in one's life, and, I believe that books can serve the general purpose of reminding me that I CAN finish what I start. Sometimes life seems to drag on with no real termination to the work, relationships, personal growth, etc. Time simply marches on, and I, as a human who wants to feel I accomplished something every so often, can feel overwhelmed by simply the fact that nothing is ever DONE! But, books can be purposeful in that, when I finish them, I feel a tiny sense of triumphant relief that there is something that is completed in the world. Yet reading also serves more specific functions, so I am listing the books I have completed recently, as well as descriptions of the smaller functions each one played in my life. I finished Stardust. Loved it! And it rocks compared to the movie (although I have to say, I am learning that comparing books to movies might be a bit ridiculous...more on that later). This book functioned as a fun release from the stress and busy-ness of the end of the year- how can I be stressed when somewhere in the Land Beyond the Wall there is a young man and a star being pursued by an evil haggy witch who is trying to hold onto eternal youth for herself and her two grouchy, haggish sisters? Then, I read a chicklit book called One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell (yes, the woman who created Carrie Bradshaw in the book Sex and the City). That one served its purpose as a fun, page-turning beach read. It also made me think about Real Estate...and how, in the big city, it is one of the most important things you make a decision about...I have been thinking about that a lot because of recent experiences, and I think this book highlighted the mystique and seductiveness that certain addresses play on our psyches. Finally, I finished a book by Ray Bradbury about his experience working with John Huston on the movie version of Moby Dick in Ireland, which has a mystique all its own. Bradbury's writing reminded me about how funny, engaging stories are funny and engaging no matter what time period or land you live in, and people have this human instinct to make sure their stories are shared that should be a serious consideration when writing or listening to others. So, this book got me into a frame of mind to start thinking about going back to school, and what I want to give my students when it comes to teaching them about why stories HAVE changed and influenced the world. Hmmm...now I have to go get ready for a new start to a new school year! Share with me your summer reading (both old and new students) and something that you learned or gained from a book this summer...

connections to The Alchemist...

Well, right now I am reading Stardust by Neil Gaiman, which is an excellent, slightly twisted fairy tale. I see connections between the boy in The Alchemist and the main character, Tristran, in Stardust, because they are both attempting a quest. The boy (Santiago) attempts to fulfill his Personal Legend, his dream of seeing the Pyramids in The Alchemist. We see him have to survive robbery, discouragement, distraction (by working for the crystal merchant for a year), and a looong trip through the desert. In a similar way Tristran is also trying to fulfill a dream, which is to marry the prettiest girl in his small town whom he believes to be in love with. He embarks on this trip through the land of Faerie in order to acquire a star...anyways, it's a loooong story too. Like the boy, Tristran also experiences obstacles. The star is not so willing to accompany him to his small village, he is also robbed, and he suffers through several attempted murders, as well as being turned into a mouse. Even though the story is a fairy tale, and The Alchemist is a little more realistic in its telling, I still think there are many similarities in the idea that we all must go on journies to search for something important.