Andrea's Wonderland Shenanigans

Clockwork Expectations - A Review on the correlation between Dickens Great Expectations & Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Prince

The year began with me interacting with two very contrasting books. As a Christmas indulgence I had decided to read Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare before the actual two books I needed to read for class once Christmas break was over. Being a fan on this series beforehand, I had speculated the uselessness of reading this book was close to being as useful as a chocolate candy bar in a rigid diet. Still I decided to do so anyway and I was up for a big surprise.

               Previously on my encounter with the first book – Clockwork Angel – I hadn’t paid much attention to the main characters reading preferences. I skipped through it in my head, concentrated only in the action and essence of the new prequel series. Upon my recent encounter with Clockwork Prince the name Charles Dickens captured my attention for one of the books I had to read was by that author. As it turns out, besides the wonderful action, dialogue, character development and romance the rare shadowhunter book had to offer, it gave me a perspective on Dickens I had never expected to find. As the main character turned to Dickens quite a few times during the novel for means of support, to quote, or to recall a memory my intrigue to read this author’s works sparked and I found myself looking forward to it. So enthralled did I become with understanding the characters more thoroughly that when I did find myself reading Charles  Dickens and his world renounced novel “Great Expectations” the dullness that had struck me years before when I first tried to read it – didn’t hit me. I was enjoying it to the very fullest and with a highly critical eye.

               Of course, this enjoyment is not just due to Dickens appearance in Cassandra Clare’s novel, growing up makes you appreciate these types of books a whole lot more. The book was, of course, slow and irrational in its surface, but deep inside into the character, Pip’s story is full of dynamic life turmoil. I couldn’t stop appreciating the reflection of a child’s young mind and its evolving nature through the years of his life. I cannot say I can relate to Pip in life experiences for I was not brought up by hand, traumatized by a convict and then given high sums of money out of the blue but everyone knows what is like to grow up and see your perspective change trough times. Impressions of those young years still linger in your mind and probably contribute to that idiosyncrasy of yours. For example, Pip was always good at heart and noble, and that followed him till the end of the book.

Overall what I enjoyed most of this experience was reading these two books back to back. It is not the most likely combination and perhaps by doing this yourself you might find it was a really wrong way to approach Great Expectations. I was forced to read it, for academic reasons, which is one strong force that drives me upon encountering books that at first glance I do not enjoy at all, but as I progress I find myself both enlighten and extremely happy to have read. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a wonderful book, one that can be enjoyed by any who set their mind to enjoy it (or likes Victorian Age writing with passion in which in that case you have already read it). Either way, both books are marvelous & extremely differently written. It is quite a ride to read two stories set on Victorian Age, one written by a contemporary author and the other from someone who was actually there. It shows perspective and contrasts beautifully in a clash between generations. Reading these two books as complementary to the other served as a wonderful exercise to learn how time affects the brain and perception. Life has indeed changed and time keeps running but human emotions shall forever be kept intact.

City of Bones, Cassandra Clare Review

               The impression a book gives you that first time you read it is irreplaceable. It is that first feel of the characters – whose overridden emotions fill you with surprise of the unexpected. The characters come vaguely alive to the reader in their mind & slowly – but surely – you grow fond of them and somehow, you find yourself thinking about them every day. The reader grows and feels with the characters and every little pain or stupid decision lingers in our minds until a resolution comes at the end of the book. And yet, when it ends we are not satisfied because the fun is over.

               This review is not based on that first time I read City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. After reading Clockwork Prince by the same author this last December I realized how I needed, in order to take my enjoyment of the series and their correlation to the maximum level, to reread the contemporary part of the story. For those wondering, Mortal Instruments (contemporary) & Infernal Devices (prequel) are stories on the shadowhunters, people who are carefully trained to take care to of our world and rid it of demons. With a series of unique weapons and laws they make sure all the downworlders (which include vampires, werewolves, fairies, and warlocks) follow the rules and help control the demon population in this world. The main characters on both series are two girls who find themselves involved in this invisible parallel existence which combines the intricate and peculiar traditions of the shadowhunter culture mixed with their respective realities. Passion, love triangles, action and violence are all packed into these masterfully written works by Cassandra Clare.

               What makes this book highly enjoyable is how Cassandra Clare makes make belief into looking so normal. Although shadowhunters do not exist and their terms and traditions are not from an existent country, this author makes the reader believe they are real by being so keen in expressing the minor detail of her invented world. The characters are relatable and their inquisitive nature can be resembled to the reader’s own. The first time around, the reader is enthralled with the romances in the book and forgets much of the action. Usually girls are the ones who read these books and – let’s face it ladies, we do enjoy romance when it is so plainly and beautifully handed to us. This book in particular is not as action packed as the others but there is still plenty of action to enjoy. The writing is great, especially if you are in your teens and are in need of a wonderful time with paper, ink, and imagination. Cassandra Clare was crafty in this book in particular for she decided to leave a lot unsettled and unresolved. Basically this book is like an introduction to a really intricate story. Besides being intricate, she tries to be as colloquial as she possibly can, and for those of you who enjoy sarcasm and irony – this book will satisfy your needs.

               It is an all-round good book, and the characters are simply hilarious and adoring. How could avoid thinking of a Jace and a Magnus Bane once in a while? In those moments of anger, who could help thinking of Clary and her spontaneous needs to combust? While the book is clearly the start of a very long and beautiful series, the quality of work and the hours spent on it clearly shows. City of Bones is a beautiful mixture of fantasy, romance, action and just plain fun!

New Year Procrastination!

It is the start of 2012 and I am here sitting by my desk pondering on my decisions on wether to place my head in the actual things I need to do like my research paper. All I can help thinking is those fiction books I want to re-read. Perhaps my long sought for answer is actually within those books: “What should I make my research paper of?!!?” This wonderful article: http://bestbloggingtipsonline.com/why-not-reading-fiction-may-be-hurting-your-blog/ has actually encouraged me to do so, to just sit down and enjoy a nice fiction book (that I have already read - I cannot stress that enough…) and just try and find the answers of my problems by naturally interacting with my wants… So as I ponder on my decisions and my trying to stress out WHAT I AM GOING TO WRITE FOR MY RESEARCH PAPER is still going in my head I am enjoying a nice glass of coke. <3

I am thinking of going through the area of psychological responses because let’s face it… The human brain and how we respond/interact/react to everyday situations is simply amazing and research worthy… After reading Brave New World - and several other books I have not taken the time to make a review of and I should of - I am simply swimming in this pool of psychological questioning, but I wish to make it out of completely original information straight from actual people - a.k.a questionnaires and interviews. Articles are fun to read and useful - do not take me wrong p-lease - but I want to show my teacher actual - recent, sought-by-me facts. I don’t know just a thought, I still have remotely NO concrete idea of what to write 20 pages about… So, after me uselessly ranting my way out of both doing my project and reading those fiction books, I want to say Happy New Years, and may your 2012 be filled with wonderful Tumblr posts and real life experiences! :D

How deep are you in the system? An Aldous Huxley, Brave New World Review

What a mental ride.

                This book challenges the reader to the very core of their being. Who are you is not of importance anymore, but rather who the people around you are. The world is much easier if you make it about yourself, because you have nothing to worry about except being comfortable with yourself and what you do. This book makes you realize that controlling yourself and your actions is just one tiny fraction of what influences your life. You don’t know per say what is controlling the reason you are what you are, you just know what is around you day by day and who rules whatever system you let yourself be ruled by.     

In my experience the book crept on me. At first I thought I was reading a book like George Orwell’s 1984, where it described a society that evolved depending on some particular political events. As the book progressed I thought this was a book that simply gave out anotherperson’s point of view of the future. Although this is one way to look at it, I find it neither; I denominate it an existentialist book. The reader comes into a point of realization in which he or she doesn’t know which view of life (savage or civilized) is the correct one. The entire book seems to me a prelude, a background information, for that one conversation between the Controller and the Savage (notice the names and how descriptive they are of their point of views). Is art a savage tendency? Is it better to control the destiny and lifestyle of everyone? Are social standings set by birth and scientific incubation the way to have a stable society? How horrid is to think that the only way to achieve bliss and happiness is by complete ignorance and in exchange of actual liberty. Is liberty less useful than ultimate happiness? Or is it the pains of daily life what really gives us a meaning to exist? All these questions are left for the reader to debate on itself while receiving perhaps the most unpredictable and gruesome conclusion that I have ever read…

If by the end of this reading you as a reader don’t get blown away, then you should re-read. With subtlety this book teaches you so many things of not only yourself but the world around you. The misconception of utilizing relevant examples to make people understand a concept is a plague that a lot of authors propagate through their writing. With a unique society ruled by a philosophy, shunned by modern society, who achieves the actual state of utopia the reader gets a perspective that makes him/her a visionary in many aspects. After you read this the meaning of life, god, and happiness is no longer a priority. The real question will be… How deep are you in the system?

-Original Work from Adevarias

Embracing “the help” - Reaction article on the movie The Help

                Just imagine giving up studying to take care of someone else’s child and family. Picture having to kiss your daughter good bye to a bus when she is only 14 years old because her daddy told her that she needed to get a job to pay the bills. It isn’t so pretty when talking about one’s own. It may seem like just a movie exaggeration, or some epoch once upon a 60 years ago, but things like that go on every day, today in 2011.

                Where would life be without criticism? No points of view shared or exchanged? It’s beautiful to see all the different reactions a movie which many find spectacular (mostly women) and others find it silly and unrealistic can provoke. “We already got a black president, what more could they probably want?” That’s where everyone can see that the prejudices are not gone. “They”? What do you mean by “they”? They is suppose to be us, and us suppose to be everyone in this free country. They didn’t see it like that back then, and quite frankly, I don’t think they still do. It’s not about black vs. white anymore, nor about who gets more money and better jobs. It is deeper than that, knee deep on all that prejudice against everyone who is not who she or he wants them to be. Before, it was against negros that everyone’s hate was concentrated on, but now everyone gets the free choice to hate on upon whatever and whoever they like, which is fine and respectable, if it is the way  life is meant to be lived by those who permit such behavior. But this movie is more specific than each person’s individual prejudices, this movie is about an incessant war between women.

                Some critics take up the argument that there are a lot of facts left unsaid in the movie (and book). The sexual harassment lived through those times was one of them. Another argument is the lack of participation in men and their indifference to the situation. As a viewer, I find a purpose to such choice of characterization. This movie couldn’t be more of a girl fight than it already is. It was beautiful and honest, and their was not a moment were emotions didn’t get the better of my susceptible women’s heart. Let’s face it, it was a girl movie, it was strictly and unquestionably made for girls who waste so  much time trying to destroy the other., Even back when some women had a social disadvantage, women just wanted to rip the guts out of each other with black mail and hard on bullying because jealousy and lack of communication. To further prove the stated point, viewers should think back at the glances the mothers of the white children had in those scenes where their children understood and respected their nannies more than the parents themselves.  These women preferred to send their money off to Africa rather than give them to their maids who needed to pay college tuition for their boys. It’s a pool of hypocrisy just waiting for everyone to jump in and splash the faces of everyone who dares to walk by. It is utterly repugnant.

                And yet, those who were in disadvantaged didn’t act so impulsively. Minny and Aibileen participated in something passive, anonymous, that would hurt no one because it was the truth. Without begging, and sassing anyone, these women helped put together a written veredict of what was like to be a maid at this time of history. Nothing exaggerated nor altered, just the pure and profound truth, which is the message the movie should be openly endorsing. Honesty is the best policy, not only for the sake of your sanity but for the sake of representing and giving of an example of those around you with a similar circumstance. Bravery is about standing up to a situation that is bigger than yourself and is positive to more than yourself. Sacrifice is not a sacrifice unless if by doing so you get to influence and help many others around you. Why does popular culture find heroes so attractive and fun? Because besides the flashy costumes, they actually represent that bravery and determination that many others lack scared of what society might have to say about it.

 There are many Hilly Holbrooks in modern day society, even though everyone was to shun themselves and believe that prejudice and ethnicity issues don’t occur anymore. The Help is beyond racial issues and into the acceptance of what others are. Superiority is not determined by job, the color of your skin or where you come from. It is about how brave you can actually be when the time for honesty comes and how willing are you to endorse your powers and rights of liberty of expression and the equality in men and women alike.

-Original Work from Adevarias

Back to start.

Its been awhile since I wrote in this blog, not because I forget but because I wished to find a new background to mark my renewed presence in tumblr (I didn’t find it). Why did I just randomly start writing today? Well, quite frankly because I started stumbling, stumbled upon some soundcloud mixes and BOOM I clicked on the Tumblr tab and started writing.

My other blog has been going fine, although I must admit I have left it a bit abandoned… I enjoy posting just images about things I enjoy and I was considering in merging both blogs. I don’t have many fans (think 38 in total), in fact during the period in which I stopped writing I think my fans are reduced to one SCAD Bee whom I know enjoyed reading my rants and a recount of my day. Whatever, whichever, to whom ever, and however, I am back.

Right now I am listening to a song called Eargasm (wll shortly post). I don’t know how much of an audio orgasms it really is, but it was good enough to get me writing!

Let the blogging begiiin!

New Blog.

 I have for awhile wanted to make a new blog on everything I enjoy. I have had it for awhile, and I want to share it with all of my current followers in AWS!

Its called Il tesoro della vitta

I invite you all to check it out if you like. :D