I stand there, with multiple pairs of eyes staring back into mine. Then I hear the monotone "Hi _______."
I sit back down. It feels great to say it, to know that I'm not the only one.
And now that I have your attention, I'm actually talking about being bilingual. In case you hadn't realized this by now, I speak both English and Spanish fluently. I know a few words and phrases in other languages (Latin, Swedish, French, Mixteco, and Finnish are the first ones that I can think of) but not enough to have a conversation.
Anyway, I was having a conversation with a few of my friends a couple of months back and we brought up the subject of being bilingual. We realized that it's beautiful to be multilingual; it can help you in some tight spots. Just sayin'.
We also realized that one of the questions that many who speak only language (e.g. English) ask us is "So what language do you think in?" And the answer, is entirely dependent on the person. For me, I tend to think in English, but when it comes to emotions and food I think in Spanish. There is also times when the Spanish word for something comes more naturally for me so that I sometimes think in Spanglish. The situation/environment is also a factor in deciding what language runs in my head. For example: If I'm at a market that is clearly predominantly of Latino vibe, I'll think in Spanish. However, if I'm at school, I'll think in English. And if I'm at the auto shop with family members that only speak Spanish my brain will process English as Spanish and Spanish as English so I can translate.
I guess what I'm saying is: children should learn more than one language when of young school-age, it broadens horizons and allows them to think about lives differently. But if you want to try to learn a language once you're older, I encourage you and say "Go for it!". Get as much practice with native speakers as you can, not only will they help you sound like a natural, there are some things you won't learn in a classroom setting. ;) They're not always bad things, just mannerisms or enunciation. :)
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Monday, October 8, 2012
Immerse Yourself
Hi again!
Man, I've been gone for a long time. I have been a very busy little buzzing bee these past few months, and last week proved that (well, my aching upper back does too.)
Anyway, enough about my crazy life. I wanted to write this blog because I've been reading again. Well, I'm reading fiction again. It's a series called Pendragon, written by the amazing D.J. MacHale... and I'm currently on book 9 of the series!!!! (There's 10 books in total.)
Okay, now you're probably going "Why is a book series so important?... Why even write this blog?" I'll tell you why, because I'm one of those readers that cannot put a book down once I start it. (Need evidence? I read Micheal Crichton's Jurassic Park in one day.... and Gaston Laroux's The Phantom of the Opera in two days.) Also... when I'm reading a series I invest a lot of myself in it: my time, my imagination, my emotions. I did with the Animal Ark series, the Animorphs series, with the Harry Potter series, the Jurassic Park series, and now with the Pendragon series.
I began reading Pendragon about... oh... hm... let's say more than 6 years ago. I picked it up a few years after my brother began reading them (it's actually the first series he picked up before I did, go figure). I re-read books 1 through 7 over the summer and as I read them I realized MacHale does a lot with imagery. However book 7 left me wanting more... wanting answers. So my friend gave me book 8 (The Pilgrims of Rayne) for my birthday and I devoured that book in about 2 or 3 days! I was more confused and felt that my life made no sense anymore, not after finishing that book. Cliffhangers! Ugh! I found book 9 (Raven Rise) this past Saturday for $2 at the public library's book sale and snatched it up. I started it that evening and now I'm about 7/8 done. But I know there will be a lot of action left in that small portion of the book, why? Because that's what MacHale does, he keeps the action going until the very end of the book. Anyway, there's a lot of me invested in this book and I can't wait to finish it and find book 10.
Why that story? Because I believe the best way to read a fiction book is to let it fully envelop you. I know it sounds strange, especially when so many children nowadays think books are boring and do not like to read. Honestly, reading (especially for school age children) is a matter of finding something you like, you'd be surprised at what kids like or don't like to read. Even as an adult, I think it is important to read fiction every once in a while, not only does it let you relax for some time... but it also allows your imagination to expand, and for you to leave the tedious world.
Speaking of immersing yourself in a book, I just remembered I saw a "Banned Books" display at the library, and the reason Harry Potter is banned in many places is because it would blur the lines between fiction and reality in the minds of children. As much as I love the Harry Potter series, the line between fiction and reality in that series is pretty much nill when compared to Pendragon. Go see for yourself, and wait until you get to books 7 and on... then you'll question your view of reality.
"But you don't have to take my word for it."
Man, I've been gone for a long time. I have been a very busy little buzzing bee these past few months, and last week proved that (well, my aching upper back does too.)
Anyway, enough about my crazy life. I wanted to write this blog because I've been reading again. Well, I'm reading fiction again. It's a series called Pendragon, written by the amazing D.J. MacHale... and I'm currently on book 9 of the series!!!! (There's 10 books in total.)
Okay, now you're probably going "Why is a book series so important?... Why even write this blog?" I'll tell you why, because I'm one of those readers that cannot put a book down once I start it. (Need evidence? I read Micheal Crichton's Jurassic Park in one day.... and Gaston Laroux's The Phantom of the Opera in two days.) Also... when I'm reading a series I invest a lot of myself in it: my time, my imagination, my emotions. I did with the Animal Ark series, the Animorphs series, with the Harry Potter series, the Jurassic Park series, and now with the Pendragon series.
I began reading Pendragon about... oh... hm... let's say more than 6 years ago. I picked it up a few years after my brother began reading them (it's actually the first series he picked up before I did, go figure). I re-read books 1 through 7 over the summer and as I read them I realized MacHale does a lot with imagery. However book 7 left me wanting more... wanting answers. So my friend gave me book 8 (The Pilgrims of Rayne) for my birthday and I devoured that book in about 2 or 3 days! I was more confused and felt that my life made no sense anymore, not after finishing that book. Cliffhangers! Ugh! I found book 9 (Raven Rise) this past Saturday for $2 at the public library's book sale and snatched it up. I started it that evening and now I'm about 7/8 done. But I know there will be a lot of action left in that small portion of the book, why? Because that's what MacHale does, he keeps the action going until the very end of the book. Anyway, there's a lot of me invested in this book and I can't wait to finish it and find book 10.
Why that story? Because I believe the best way to read a fiction book is to let it fully envelop you. I know it sounds strange, especially when so many children nowadays think books are boring and do not like to read. Honestly, reading (especially for school age children) is a matter of finding something you like, you'd be surprised at what kids like or don't like to read. Even as an adult, I think it is important to read fiction every once in a while, not only does it let you relax for some time... but it also allows your imagination to expand, and for you to leave the tedious world.
Speaking of immersing yourself in a book, I just remembered I saw a "Banned Books" display at the library, and the reason Harry Potter is banned in many places is because it would blur the lines between fiction and reality in the minds of children. As much as I love the Harry Potter series, the line between fiction and reality in that series is pretty much nill when compared to Pendragon. Go see for yourself, and wait until you get to books 7 and on... then you'll question your view of reality.
"But you don't have to take my word for it."
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Some thoughts on Death
So it's been a while since I've written anything. Well, actually, that's a lie. I did write a post, it was all ready to go, but I scrapped it at the last minute. Anyway, I feel like talking about death for a bit.
So, death. Whatever kind of life you lead, that's where you end up, you die. We all die, at least our physical bodies die. There is no escaping it. Even with all these new findings that help extend life span, do you really want to extend your life? I believe we're all born for a reason, a purpose, a fire burning within us. I don't know what it is for you, but I know you serve a purpose. And when you fulfill your purpose, I believe you die. That is why some people die at a very young age and some live to be very old. I think that those who die young fulfill a purpose that we are often blind to because of grief.
I believe the aging process is a beautiful process. Seriously, have you ever seen a couple who are in their 60s? Often times you can't help but say "Awww" (the same sound I make about baby animals and babies, but that's beside the point).
I know that as a human community, many fear death. But why? I'm curious because so many people seem to have an almost irrational fear of it. Without death, there cannot be life. And life is not eternal so there is a necessity for death.
I do not fear death, I've embraced it long ago. To me, it's as normal as a sunflower or a chicken. I do not believe death is the the end... at least not the eternal death. I think our spirit, our soul lives on. I believe there is a Paradise, as well as a Hell... the afterlife is just the journey to one of those places.
"Love Life, Respect Death."
"The way is shut.It was made by those who are Dead. And the Dead keep it. Until the time Comes. The way is shut."
"Es tan triste llegar a viejo."
So, death. Whatever kind of life you lead, that's where you end up, you die. We all die, at least our physical bodies die. There is no escaping it. Even with all these new findings that help extend life span, do you really want to extend your life? I believe we're all born for a reason, a purpose, a fire burning within us. I don't know what it is for you, but I know you serve a purpose. And when you fulfill your purpose, I believe you die. That is why some people die at a very young age and some live to be very old. I think that those who die young fulfill a purpose that we are often blind to because of grief.
I believe the aging process is a beautiful process. Seriously, have you ever seen a couple who are in their 60s? Often times you can't help but say "Awww" (the same sound I make about baby animals and babies, but that's beside the point).
I know that as a human community, many fear death. But why? I'm curious because so many people seem to have an almost irrational fear of it. Without death, there cannot be life. And life is not eternal so there is a necessity for death.
I do not fear death, I've embraced it long ago. To me, it's as normal as a sunflower or a chicken. I do not believe death is the the end... at least not the eternal death. I think our spirit, our soul lives on. I believe there is a Paradise, as well as a Hell... the afterlife is just the journey to one of those places.
"Love Life, Respect Death."
"The way is shut.It was made by those who are Dead. And the Dead keep it. Until the time Comes. The way is shut."
"Es tan triste llegar a viejo."
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Father's Day
Today is Father's Day. I think it's the first one I've spent away from my dad in my 20 (almost 21) years of life. I haven't called him yet, I will as soon as I'm done with this post.
So why this post? For lots of reasons, but mostly because I'm so thankful to have a caring, self-less, and hard working dad. He may not say it, but I definitely know he loves me and my brother, and he knows I love him back. I've been blessed with a great, not perfect, daddy. I've also been blessed with loving grandfathers, and although we hardly get to see each other because of distance, the times I have spent with them are very highly cherished in my heart and memory. I've also been blessed with an awesome "Anco" that was there for me during my childhood and now I get to see him be a loving father to his children, my cousins. Now, I don't want to make this be a sappy post but one other reason I'm writing this is: I've met men who get to celebrate their first Father's day today. They've been blessed with a child in past 6 months, and getting to hear them talk about their kids is so beautiful! Okay, done with the gushing.
I've had examples of males who decided to become the man they were meant to be before (and also after) seeing their first child. Unfortunately, I've also seen males who do not become men because they choose to walk out on their children (although often times, the children and their mother get walked out on.) I definitely agree that just because you are fertile male does not mean you are a father. Why else would there be single mothers? (Alright feminists, come at me!)
Let me make something clear, I have no vile feelings toward single mothers. In fact, I have nothing but the utmost respect for them. These single mothers have done the best (more often than not) they could with the life they were given. They have fulfilled the role of mother and father to their children, they often work more than one job to pay the bills, keep food on the table, and still come home to do housework. Even statistics say single mothers are doing the right thing. Of course, I also believe that being a single mother should never happen unless by death of the father/spouse or endangerment. (I also know that a civil or religious wedding/marriage is not entirely necessary for a man and a woman to raise children well, although it is technically a sin. But I'm not here to talk about that today.) For whatever reason (I'm sure there are many), males have become less and less willing (or allowed) to take responsibility for their actions and decisions. One only need to look at shows like Jerry Springer and Maury, at the icons young men look up to, at the rates of divorce, at the amount of child support NOT paid. Males have kept their childish ways while living with an adult body.
The father role models are now less and less obvious, less and less present in our mainstream media. Although I have stopped watching news and most forms of televised media (not having a TV is very helpful) I did notice a trend for male roles: 1) the Casanova type (a.k.a. "the player") who every woman wanted 2)an abusive alcoholic who attempted to lead through fear or 3) what I call an "emasculated" male, he was under the control of a woman with no voice and no say, and he did not contradict wrong decisions. Gone was the male who could make the right, rational decisions in times of crisis instead of decisions out of fear. Gone was the male who fought to protect his family, and the honor of his family. Gone was the male who could collaborate with others. BUT THERE IS HOPE! In this world there are males who can make the right decision, there are males who protect their family at all costs, there are men who desire and seek to live a life of honor, of courage, of what some would call character. I too once despaired over the thought of children growing up with just a mother or no parents at all, but I have seen some decide to stop the current trend and begin to fulfill the duty and role solely a man was meant to fulfill.
So now my questions to you are: What did you like most about your father? If you grew up without a father (or male role model), what lessons have you learned and what do you appreciate most from your mother/guardian? Males, if you were to become a father, what did you learn from yours that you would apply and what would you change? Ladies, what traits do you want the future father of your children to have?
"Hombre si te dices hombre...."
So why this post? For lots of reasons, but mostly because I'm so thankful to have a caring, self-less, and hard working dad. He may not say it, but I definitely know he loves me and my brother, and he knows I love him back. I've been blessed with a great, not perfect, daddy. I've also been blessed with loving grandfathers, and although we hardly get to see each other because of distance, the times I have spent with them are very highly cherished in my heart and memory. I've also been blessed with an awesome "Anco" that was there for me during my childhood and now I get to see him be a loving father to his children, my cousins. Now, I don't want to make this be a sappy post but one other reason I'm writing this is: I've met men who get to celebrate their first Father's day today. They've been blessed with a child in past 6 months, and getting to hear them talk about their kids is so beautiful! Okay, done with the gushing.
I've had examples of males who decided to become the man they were meant to be before (and also after) seeing their first child. Unfortunately, I've also seen males who do not become men because they choose to walk out on their children (although often times, the children and their mother get walked out on.) I definitely agree that just because you are fertile male does not mean you are a father. Why else would there be single mothers? (Alright feminists, come at me!)
Let me make something clear, I have no vile feelings toward single mothers. In fact, I have nothing but the utmost respect for them. These single mothers have done the best (more often than not) they could with the life they were given. They have fulfilled the role of mother and father to their children, they often work more than one job to pay the bills, keep food on the table, and still come home to do housework. Even statistics say single mothers are doing the right thing. Of course, I also believe that being a single mother should never happen unless by death of the father/spouse or endangerment. (I also know that a civil or religious wedding/marriage is not entirely necessary for a man and a woman to raise children well, although it is technically a sin. But I'm not here to talk about that today.) For whatever reason (I'm sure there are many), males have become less and less willing (or allowed) to take responsibility for their actions and decisions. One only need to look at shows like Jerry Springer and Maury, at the icons young men look up to, at the rates of divorce, at the amount of child support NOT paid. Males have kept their childish ways while living with an adult body.
The father role models are now less and less obvious, less and less present in our mainstream media. Although I have stopped watching news and most forms of televised media (not having a TV is very helpful) I did notice a trend for male roles: 1) the Casanova type (a.k.a. "the player") who every woman wanted 2)an abusive alcoholic who attempted to lead through fear or 3) what I call an "emasculated" male, he was under the control of a woman with no voice and no say, and he did not contradict wrong decisions. Gone was the male who could make the right, rational decisions in times of crisis instead of decisions out of fear. Gone was the male who fought to protect his family, and the honor of his family. Gone was the male who could collaborate with others. BUT THERE IS HOPE! In this world there are males who can make the right decision, there are males who protect their family at all costs, there are men who desire and seek to live a life of honor, of courage, of what some would call character. I too once despaired over the thought of children growing up with just a mother or no parents at all, but I have seen some decide to stop the current trend and begin to fulfill the duty and role solely a man was meant to fulfill.
So now my questions to you are: What did you like most about your father? If you grew up without a father (or male role model), what lessons have you learned and what do you appreciate most from your mother/guardian? Males, if you were to become a father, what did you learn from yours that you would apply and what would you change? Ladies, what traits do you want the future father of your children to have?
"Hombre si te dices hombre...."
Friday, June 15, 2012
The Influence of Books, Part 2: The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, and Goth Girl Rising
If' you've been following this blog for a while, you've probably noticed that I mentioned a few books already, or actually just one series of books and one character in particular. Her name is Kyra Sellers, the female protagonist of the Fanboy and Goth Girl series by Barry Lyga. By series I really mean two of his books called The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl and its sequel Goth Girl Rising.
The title of his first book sounds kind of like a comic, right? There's a reason for that, but I don't want to give it away just yet. You might be wondering how I came about this book, especially when the last book I mentioned as an influence is on Arthurian Legend. Well, one day I was at the public library and was choosing a few good books to read for the next week or so (I go through books rather quickly, for example: I read Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park in one day) I also knew it would be a while before I got to go to the library again. I perused the "young adult" section of the library and saw a large hardcover book with a shiny red cover. Red is actually not my favorite color, but the book looked big and it was shiny... it also looked BRAND NEW. As I read it the pages still felt crisp on my fingertips, I guess the only time the book had been opened was to put the plastic sleeve on it so the cover would remain shiny. So that's the story of how I found the book, the title was intriguing, although the cover art was... it definitely left me wondering what the plot was, and it succeeded in getting me to read it. Also, I was probably in my freshman or sophomore year of high school when I read this book, which feels like it was forever ago right now.
Anyway, this book.I was young, naive girl in high school. Ha! I started reading this book, my mom was slightly concerned because of the black lips on the cover (seriously, the cover art is just begging you to read it!), but I rapidly identified with both the protagonist AND the.. she's not really the antagonist, but she's that element of chaos that you weren't expecting and she's refreshing. So I believe she's the female protagonist, she complements the male protagonist. So why did I see so much of myself in both of them? I am, after all, female, so it doesn't really make sense to identify with a male lead, right?
Without giving away much of the plot, I'll attempt to explain why this series is very near and dear to my heart. The male protagonist, known as "fanboy"/"Fanboy", displays a lot of what I sort of felt both growing up and going through a transition within a transition. He considered himself weak and scrawny, just an unknown face within a crowd. For me, that was awesome! I LOVED IT! Like him, I didn't consider myself someone extremely important within the social strata of high school, but don't get me wrong I did not have low self-esteem. Fanboy is the one who got me interested in comics and superheroes again, because girls aren't supposed to like that stuff, right? (Again, ha!) But like him, even with all the ridiculous ideas of trying to fit in and be all about appearances, I had a goal and a dream. That dream pushed me to forget about what everyone else had to say about high school, although I did have my own challenges, and reminded me to walk my own path. ("Take the road less traveled by, leave this city of fools") Fanboy, he embodied what a lot of the more meek and shy kids go through during high school, but he was also the smart kid who was shy and awkward. I think that's what I liked most about Lyga's story, he made the characters very relatable (maybe fanboy was a reflection of him?) So we have fanboy, the shy, awkward, endearing, geeky, artist kid and then there's Kyra.
Oh Kyra. How can I even begin to explain what she means to me? I guess the beginning would be a good place to start. A very good place to start. Kyra embodied who I wanted to be, and partly who I was at the time. In the words of a friend she is a badass. That's definitely what she embodies. But at the same time, the reader gets to see she always means well and has a tender side. In fact, Kyra was always thinking, and we get to see some her thinking in the book. My favorite part is actually when she tells fanboy about girls' anatomy. I remember laughing and cheering for Kyra when she said: "Guys.... You guys are are stupid about it. I mean, they can be pushed up. Or padded. Or pushed together." and "Maybe I don't like guys who are drooling idiots. Maybe I don't like guys acting like I'm in heat or something."
That entire scene stood out to me, and anytime I think of the book, that's what I think of. Like Kyra, I didn't believe that girls and women should have to use their bodies to attract the attention of someone. Nor did it benefit the woman. Kyra said a lot of what I already believed in, she was just able to phrase it in a way that was a lot more direct than I could have ever thought of. Although Kyra was tough, she was able to help fanboy become a stronger and better person; and like him, I became stronger. Maybe too strong... I remember going through high school with a very tough exterior that I'm trying to work on now to soften. Not to say that this book is what made me all super tough, I'd began building up my walls years before then. To this day I still have a hard time letting myself express what I feel.
After finishing Astonishing Adventures, I decided to buy myself a copy, and ended up buying a copy for a friend as a gift as well. Our copies are paperback, so they are blue although still shiny!
I don't think Lyga had intended to write a sequel since AA ends with a bit of a cliffhanger ending, but it worked. So, about a year ago or so, I found out his sequel was being published. I was soooo excited to read it!!! (He's also written two other books, but I have not read them yet. YET.) I did find it at my local bookstore, but did not have the money to buy it for myself, and the library didn't have it in yet. Then, over the summer I found the book again at Borders. Since Borders was closing and most of the books were relatively cheap, I bought it at about a quarter of the price and was able to get a few other books as well. I was still taking summer classes when I bought the book, so I had to wait an entire agonizing two weeks to read it. I read it in one day, one sitting. Goth Girl Rising made me tear up, the first book to ever do that. (And I read the entire Harry Potter series already, which had made friends of mine cry.) It also made me love Kyra even more. I loved that Lyga allowed the reader to get more insight on Kyra, in her own voice and on her own terms... that's how she likes to work. I loved being able to know what she felt and thought in the present, but also what she said in the past that made her behave in a certain way now. I think one of the biggest ideas Lyga presented through Kyra was her relationship with her friend Jecca. It's not expected, almost surprising to read, but in the end it's really cool to see how Kyra wraps her head around that relationship. Hahaha, like I said earlier, I can relate to her a lot more than I thought would ever be possible. I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I giggled, I felt her anger, her frustration, and something else. Kyra is told something by her therapist, and it was... I can barely describe the feeling. I knew the therapist was right, he was a lot right... and her way of analyzing what he said was logical to me. It made sense, and the ending is beautifully done.
Lyga was able to take two characters with different viewpoints and make them relate to just about anyone, Kyra and Fanboy contain elements of each person. And in the end, they both made me grow a bit, they gave me insight on myself, they gave me insight on others, and they made the world appear a little more real, a little more loving, a little more harsh, and they made the world make sense... even if it was for a short period of time. It feels strange trying to explain why these books were so important, and still are, to me. I know it's fiction, and for some strange reason it feels like I'm writing this more for myself than for others. Maybe it's because I'm not entirely sure who is reading, and whether you deem this important. All I can say is that these books are awesome, but I don't know if everyone should read them. After all, my taste in books is common and strange at the same time, and I don't regret reading this series at all. Even if they send my mind spiraling.
The title of his first book sounds kind of like a comic, right? There's a reason for that, but I don't want to give it away just yet. You might be wondering how I came about this book, especially when the last book I mentioned as an influence is on Arthurian Legend. Well, one day I was at the public library and was choosing a few good books to read for the next week or so (I go through books rather quickly, for example: I read Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park in one day) I also knew it would be a while before I got to go to the library again. I perused the "young adult" section of the library and saw a large hardcover book with a shiny red cover. Red is actually not my favorite color, but the book looked big and it was shiny... it also looked BRAND NEW. As I read it the pages still felt crisp on my fingertips, I guess the only time the book had been opened was to put the plastic sleeve on it so the cover would remain shiny. So that's the story of how I found the book, the title was intriguing, although the cover art was... it definitely left me wondering what the plot was, and it succeeded in getting me to read it. Also, I was probably in my freshman or sophomore year of high school when I read this book, which feels like it was forever ago right now.
Anyway, this book.
Without giving away much of the plot, I'll attempt to explain why this series is very near and dear to my heart. The male protagonist, known as "fanboy"/"Fanboy", displays a lot of what I sort of felt both growing up and going through a transition within a transition. He considered himself weak and scrawny, just an unknown face within a crowd. For me, that was awesome! I LOVED IT! Like him, I didn't consider myself someone extremely important within the social strata of high school, but don't get me wrong I did not have low self-esteem. Fanboy is the one who got me interested in comics and superheroes again, because girls aren't supposed to like that stuff, right? (Again, ha!) But like him, even with all the ridiculous ideas of trying to fit in and be all about appearances, I had a goal and a dream. That dream pushed me to forget about what everyone else had to say about high school, although I did have my own challenges, and reminded me to walk my own path. ("Take the road less traveled by, leave this city of fools") Fanboy, he embodied what a lot of the more meek and shy kids go through during high school, but he was also the smart kid who was shy and awkward. I think that's what I liked most about Lyga's story, he made the characters very relatable (maybe fanboy was a reflection of him?) So we have fanboy, the shy, awkward, endearing, geeky, artist kid and then there's Kyra.
Oh Kyra. How can I even begin to explain what she means to me? I guess the beginning would be a good place to start. A very good place to start. Kyra embodied who I wanted to be, and partly who I was at the time. In the words of a friend she is a badass. That's definitely what she embodies. But at the same time, the reader gets to see she always means well and has a tender side. In fact, Kyra was always thinking, and we get to see some her thinking in the book. My favorite part is actually when she tells fanboy about girls' anatomy. I remember laughing and cheering for Kyra when she said: "Guys.... You guys are are stupid about it. I mean, they can be pushed up. Or padded. Or pushed together." and "Maybe I don't like guys who are drooling idiots. Maybe I don't like guys acting like I'm in heat or something."
That entire scene stood out to me, and anytime I think of the book, that's what I think of. Like Kyra, I didn't believe that girls and women should have to use their bodies to attract the attention of someone. Nor did it benefit the woman. Kyra said a lot of what I already believed in, she was just able to phrase it in a way that was a lot more direct than I could have ever thought of. Although Kyra was tough, she was able to help fanboy become a stronger and better person; and like him, I became stronger. Maybe too strong... I remember going through high school with a very tough exterior that I'm trying to work on now to soften. Not to say that this book is what made me all super tough, I'd began building up my walls years before then. To this day I still have a hard time letting myself express what I feel.
After finishing Astonishing Adventures, I decided to buy myself a copy, and ended up buying a copy for a friend as a gift as well. Our copies are paperback, so they are blue although still shiny!
I don't think Lyga had intended to write a sequel since AA ends with a bit of a cliffhanger ending, but it worked. So, about a year ago or so, I found out his sequel was being published. I was soooo excited to read it!!! (He's also written two other books, but I have not read them yet. YET.) I did find it at my local bookstore, but did not have the money to buy it for myself, and the library didn't have it in yet. Then, over the summer I found the book again at Borders. Since Borders was closing and most of the books were relatively cheap, I bought it at about a quarter of the price and was able to get a few other books as well. I was still taking summer classes when I bought the book, so I had to wait an entire agonizing two weeks to read it. I read it in one day, one sitting. Goth Girl Rising made me tear up, the first book to ever do that. (And I read the entire Harry Potter series already, which had made friends of mine cry.) It also made me love Kyra even more. I loved that Lyga allowed the reader to get more insight on Kyra, in her own voice and on her own terms... that's how she likes to work. I loved being able to know what she felt and thought in the present, but also what she said in the past that made her behave in a certain way now. I think one of the biggest ideas Lyga presented through Kyra was her relationship with her friend Jecca. It's not expected, almost surprising to read, but in the end it's really cool to see how Kyra wraps her head around that relationship. Hahaha, like I said earlier, I can relate to her a lot more than I thought would ever be possible. I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I giggled, I felt her anger, her frustration, and something else. Kyra is told something by her therapist, and it was... I can barely describe the feeling. I knew the therapist was right, he was a lot right... and her way of analyzing what he said was logical to me. It made sense, and the ending is beautifully done.
Lyga was able to take two characters with different viewpoints and make them relate to just about anyone, Kyra and Fanboy contain elements of each person. And in the end, they both made me grow a bit, they gave me insight on myself, they gave me insight on others, and they made the world appear a little more real, a little more loving, a little more harsh, and they made the world make sense... even if it was for a short period of time. It feels strange trying to explain why these books were so important, and still are, to me. I know it's fiction, and for some strange reason it feels like I'm writing this more for myself than for others. Maybe it's because I'm not entirely sure who is reading, and whether you deem this important. All I can say is that these books are awesome, but I don't know if everyone should read them. After all, my taste in books is common and strange at the same time, and I don't regret reading this series at all. Even if they send my mind spiraling.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Synonymns?
Something has been on my mind lately, although I ignored it this past weekend for personal reasons. Now it's back again.
It's related to the words: fair, justice, equality, peace.
I know fair and just have been used interchangeably, probably a lot. And you've probably noticed that too, but is the fair thing also a just thing?
Are equality, justice, and fairness the same? I don't think they are, but I'm not exactly sure why. That's probably why this has been on my mind.
Also, peace is somehow related to fairness, equality, and justice. I've heard some people say that what is just does not always give peace, but I've also heard of an example of peace without justice. The example in question was the peaceful living in the South while slavery existed. That was not fair, it was not just, and there was definitely a lack of equality.
If the four words are related, then how do they work together to keep our society afloat?
Here are the definitions, from http://oxforddictionaries.com/ :
Fair: 1.treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination
Just: based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair
Justice: just behaviour or treatment
Equal: 1. being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value:
Peace: 1.freedom from disturbance; tranquillity
What do you think? I'm still trying to figure it out. Maybe I'll get an answer someday.
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Added June 7, 2012
I've decided on something in regards to this topic.
What is just will give an equal opportunity, but not necessarily equal results. Equal results is equality, but not necessarily just. Fairness may result from equal opportunity, but not always. Peace comes from justice, which is not exactly fair.
It's related to the words: fair, justice, equality, peace.
I know fair and just have been used interchangeably, probably a lot. And you've probably noticed that too, but is the fair thing also a just thing?
Are equality, justice, and fairness the same? I don't think they are, but I'm not exactly sure why. That's probably why this has been on my mind.
Also, peace is somehow related to fairness, equality, and justice. I've heard some people say that what is just does not always give peace, but I've also heard of an example of peace without justice. The example in question was the peaceful living in the South while slavery existed. That was not fair, it was not just, and there was definitely a lack of equality.
If the four words are related, then how do they work together to keep our society afloat?
Here are the definitions, from http://oxforddictionaries.com/ :
Fair: 1.treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination
Just: based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair
Justice: just behaviour or treatment
Equal: 1. being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value:
- (of people) having the same status, rights, or opportunities
- uniform in application or effect; without discrimination on any grounds
Peace: 1.freedom from disturbance; tranquillity
What do you think? I'm still trying to figure it out. Maybe I'll get an answer someday.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Added June 7, 2012
I've decided on something in regards to this topic.
What is just will give an equal opportunity, but not necessarily equal results. Equal results is equality, but not necessarily just. Fairness may result from equal opportunity, but not always. Peace comes from justice, which is not exactly fair.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
What is Beauty?
"100% Natural Beauty"
"[I'm wearing] my plain, not beautiful, just normal, no make-up on face."-Victoria Jurgen, protagonist of Cecil Castellucci's Boyproof
I have those words written on two separate shirts. One I no longer wear, and the other I do. Lately I've found myself contemplating the definition of beauty. It's almost an elusive definition that seems to change with time. Here are a few examples: a child can have beautiful eyes or hair, a dress can be beautiful, a woman can look beautiful, a man can look beautiful, a horse can be beautiful, a mountain can be beautiful. But how do we determine that?
To understand why I'm contemplating beauty, we must go back about three weeks when I got a phone call. Usually I let a call from an unknown number go to voicemail, but for some odd reason I actually answered this call, on the other end I heard a young woman. She was a Mary Kay consultant and got my number from a friend of mine, she wanted to know if I was interested in getting a facial or trying some MK products. The call got me completely off guard! I answered honestly and told her I was not interested in any of her products or services but wished her luck in getting other customers, thankfully she took my answer graciously. The friend she got my number from, well, she's very different from me. While I try to not look especially appealing she always dresses very nicely and does her hair and make-up. Which I guess is cool, if that's what she wants to do.
For the remainder of the week I kept asking myself: "Why do girls and women think and feel that they must wear make-up in order to look beautiful? Who decides the beauty standard? Does the beauty standard change with time? Has it changed within my lifetime?" I've only answered some of my questions.
I could come up with some reasons, some of which I've heard my own friends say:
I think the standard of beauty has changed. Just looking back at history, the Egyptians had standards different than say the English (even if separated by centuries) while the different native peoples of the Americas had differing definitions of beautiful. And I suppose it has changed within my lifetime, although I haven't really paid attention to it.
I also asked another friend of mine, we hold some of the same beliefs, so maybe it wasn't such a great idea, but here's our conversation (via text message):
Me: So I've been thinking..... Why do some girls that and feel that wearing make-up is the only way they can feel beautiful? Like, is it because it makes them definitely appear like girls of women?
Friend: Because society tells them so.
Me: But she's still considered a freak.
Friend: Using fashion to stand out makes sense especially in L.A. where there are so many people no one feels special.
Me: What did she say about that?
As you can see, we both wonder what goes on in people's heads sometimes.
So me and make-up... well we don't get along very well. I choose not to use it for various reasons, but they include cost, consequences, and the fact that appearance can sometimes be wrong.
What about you, reader? What do you think of beauty? How do you define it and why is that your definition? Have you ever thought about this before? You can place your responses as a comment, and I'm really interested in what you have to say.
Added May 28, 2012:
After publishing this, I decided to watch Howl's Moving Castle, and something really stayed in my mind. Howl actually says "There is no point in living if I can't be beautiful." When I wrote this, I was thinking of standards of beauty for women, but after that I started wondering if men and boys felt some kind of similar pressure. So male readers, what do you think? What's your experience? Do you think there is some kind of standard men live up to?
"[I'm wearing] my plain, not beautiful, just normal, no make-up on face."-Victoria Jurgen, protagonist of Cecil Castellucci's Boyproof
I have those words written on two separate shirts. One I no longer wear, and the other I do. Lately I've found myself contemplating the definition of beauty. It's almost an elusive definition that seems to change with time. Here are a few examples: a child can have beautiful eyes or hair, a dress can be beautiful, a woman can look beautiful, a man can look beautiful, a horse can be beautiful, a mountain can be beautiful. But how do we determine that?
To understand why I'm contemplating beauty, we must go back about three weeks when I got a phone call. Usually I let a call from an unknown number go to voicemail, but for some odd reason I actually answered this call, on the other end I heard a young woman. She was a Mary Kay consultant and got my number from a friend of mine, she wanted to know if I was interested in getting a facial or trying some MK products. The call got me completely off guard! I answered honestly and told her I was not interested in any of her products or services but wished her luck in getting other customers, thankfully she took my answer graciously. The friend she got my number from, well, she's very different from me. While I try to not look especially appealing she always dresses very nicely and does her hair and make-up. Which I guess is cool, if that's what she wants to do.
For the remainder of the week I kept asking myself: "Why do girls and women think and feel that they must wear make-up in order to look beautiful? Who decides the beauty standard? Does the beauty standard change with time? Has it changed within my lifetime?" I've only answered some of my questions.
I could come up with some reasons, some of which I've heard my own friends say:
- It makes me feel good.
- I'm not trying to impress anyone, I'm doing it for myself.
- I look better with make-up on.
- It makes me stand out!
I think the standard of beauty has changed. Just looking back at history, the Egyptians had standards different than say the English (even if separated by centuries) while the different native peoples of the Americas had differing definitions of beautiful. And I suppose it has changed within my lifetime, although I haven't really paid attention to it.
I also asked another friend of mine, we hold some of the same beliefs, so maybe it wasn't such a great idea, but here's our conversation (via text message):
Me: So I've been thinking..... Why do some girls that and feel that wearing make-up is the only way they can feel beautiful? Like, is it because it makes them definitely appear like girls of women?
Friend: Because society tells them so.
Me: and one reason they give is so they feel beautiful, not trying to impress others. And I'm like "What does that mean?" How can you not feel beautiful with the face you were born with? And who decides what IS beauty? And do the standards of beauty change with time? Sometimes they do, but why the change? And can that happen after one generation? And that brings up another point: Wearing vibrant color make-up to stand out from everyone else. Like Victoria "Egg" from Boyproof or Kyra Sellers from The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl and Goth Girl Rising.
Friend: Easily. I've never liked my face, but I don't wear make-up because I know if I start I won't be able to stop. I think the standard of beauty changes all the time. Look at Gaga, in the 50s she would have been considered a freak. In the Middle Ages they would have burned her at the stake, but today girls want to be like her. Me: But she's still considered a freak.
Friend: Using fashion to stand out makes sense especially in L.A. where there are so many people no one feels special.
Me: Ugh! Stupid call from the Mary Kay consultant that got me started thinking about this.
Friend: Not by the people that try to look like her [Gaga] at raves and concerts.
Me: True, but is her style redefining beauty or will it just be a fad?
Friend: Idk, I think about it all the time. Was talking to other friend* about it. Good question.
Me: Well, I think about it every few months or so. But I've been spending a lot more time thinking about hte ways of the world recently... and that cal just triggered all the things I'd thought about before. And in some ways, it makes me feel.... I guess superior because I know I don't need to look pretty to impress others. I don't know. Like, it's something that I think is really cool about you, because you can appreciate pretty people, but you're also not trying hard to conform to the standards of beauty because you've got wit and brains working for you.
Friend: Yeah, the way I described our group when I was talking to her about us was that we place our definition of ourselves as people higher than our definition of us being women. Me: What did she say about that?
Friend: She was mad about the make-up thing 'cause she was wearing gold eyeshadow.
Me: At least she didn't do the classic blue eyeshadow and red lipstick combo. Which in my mind, can only look good on Tim Curry from now on.
Friend: Yeah, I saw this girl on the bus with caked on make-up that looked like a mask of perfection and I was like "How early did she wake up to have to do that? How much money does she spend on it?" And then the other day these girls at the bus stop were talking and one said "Yeah, I had ten off coupon, but I had to spend at least $60." I was like "Daaayyuum!"
Friend: And even worse. I think that girls do it to get guys and when that's the case I just see it as false advertising. That's not what they're going to be waking up to in the morning...
Friend: And even worse. I think that girls do it to get guys and when that's the case I just see it as false advertising. That's not what they're going to be waking up to in the morning...
As you can see, we both wonder what goes on in people's heads sometimes.
So me and make-up... well we don't get along very well. I choose not to use it for various reasons, but they include cost, consequences, and the fact that appearance can sometimes be wrong.
What about you, reader? What do you think of beauty? How do you define it and why is that your definition? Have you ever thought about this before? You can place your responses as a comment, and I'm really interested in what you have to say.
Added May 28, 2012:
After publishing this, I decided to watch Howl's Moving Castle, and something really stayed in my mind. Howl actually says "There is no point in living if I can't be beautiful." When I wrote this, I was thinking of standards of beauty for women, but after that I started wondering if men and boys felt some kind of similar pressure. So male readers, what do you think? What's your experience? Do you think there is some kind of standard men live up to?
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