Romeo and Juliet

Quite honestly, I don't like blogging, so, I've been subconsciously avoiding blogging, especially about Romeo and Juliet, because I really dislike it. I really love Shakespeare's language, whether I understand it or not. It just sounds so cool, but unfortunately, I hated the plot. I really hate it when characters act all helpless and doomed, and at the beginning of the play, they weren't too bad, little quick with their relationship and melodramatic, but okay. But then Romeo is exiled and it's all downhill from there. Juliet goes insane, instead of telling her parents that she can't marry Paris because she is already married to Romeo, she fakes her own death. Okay, okay, maybe it isn't insanity, but definitely lack of judgment. This sets off the Rube Goldberg of tragedy and death, ending it the death of Romeo, and Juliet (not just the fake death). It is really just stupid that two teenagers would meet, fall in love, get married, and kill themselves in the course of a week. But it's a classic, so it's all alright.  

Oh, Thoreau

I think that if I actually saw this play, it would make a lot more sense. But I didn't. So, I have a long list of questions, but for the sake of my attention span, I've narrowed it down to two.
1. Is Henry an insomniac, and just remembering all these things, or is he asleep and half remembering, half dreaming? If he was dreaming, I might think he's a little less crazy, if not, I don't really care. He probably transcends my opinion.
2. Why Huckleberries? I realize they are incredibly tasty, one of my personal favorites. But why does Henry care about them so much? I realize there's probably some deep symbolism in there, and I've never much appreciated symbolism so maybe you guys can help me out.

Apollo's Angels

Since I posted last I finished World Without End. I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure it was worth 1,342 pages. I think it was too much like the first book (Pillars of the Earth). Same setting, same basis for the problems. There was a very strong feeling of deja-vu the whole time. I also started Apollo's Angels. It was ranked one of the top ten books of 2010 by the New York Times. It's a history of ballet, so non-fiction, but most of the time I'm reading it I forget that it is. Which to me, is the best kind of non-fiction. I've always been interested in the history of ballet, so I'm glad I found it.

The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds

I wasn't entirely sure of where the first scene ended, so I ended up reading the entire first act. I'm really enjoying it though. I loved the part at the very beginning when she was talking about atoms. I thought it was cool to think about where the atoms that make you come from. I kind of hate Beatrice and Ruth. There both very self-centered and inconsiderate. I feel really bad for Nanny too, they have to yell at her like she's a deaf toddler and they say terrible things about her to her face knowing she couldn't hear. It was also annoying how when people were laughing at Tillie during the assembly,  Ruth nor Beatrice comforted her, only told her to never do anything like it again because when people laughed at Tillie, they were laughing at the family. I hope there is some kind of revelation in the second act.

World Without End

This week I am beginning to read World Without End by Ken Follett. It's the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth. I delayed starting it until we finished The Catcher in the Rye, so I wouldn't add 1000 page distraction to NaNoWriMo. Anyway, I really like the book so far. It takes place 100 years after Pillars did, so that would make it 1347-ish. There are very unique characters, my favorites are an eleven year old boy who can make a very admirable bow; and an eight year old girl who is a very accomplished thief. It seems to living up to its predecessor, I hope it continues that way.

The Catcher in the Rye chapters 1-6

I'm actually kind of enjoying The Catcher in the Rye. Its a little more relatable than the Odyssey, which is nice. I don't think Holden is stupid, I actually think he's smart. He reminds me of my brother. The kind of person that is intelligent, but is uninterested or just doesn't care. I cannot stand Ackley. Bad personal hygiene just disgusts me. Especially teeth, something about really plaque covered teeth. I also wondered why Holden puts up with Ackley. If he's so gross and annoying and gross, why does he talk to him and ask him out to dinner? Holden might have ADHD. Specifically when he's writing, he gets distracted easily with side stories, like the farting in chapel. He also mentioned that he acts like he's twelve, which is a symptom of ADHD. Another reason Holden is like my brother, my brother acts like he's twelve and he has ADHD. Maybe that's why my brother liked this book so much.  

The Most Dangerous Game

 I'm noticing a trend here. Every short story we've read in path so far has been very morbid. A little boy that has swallowed lye, a lottery for stoning people, and now, a man that hunts people. Again, I'm not  saying short stories have to be all unicorns and rainbows, but seriously, they aren't all Sweeny Todd either. Anyway, about the most dangerous game, at least it was mildly reasonable. Even though Zoroff is obviously not mentally sound, there was some method to his madness. And of course, the powers of good prevailed in the end, with what I think was a duel.