Archive for the 'Literature' Category

Afghanistan and a Menagerie

So I haven’t written anything in a while regarding literature, but lately I’ve taken to reading again, which makes me feel better about life in general. I’m going back to school, having decided that doing computer work was tolerable enough to turn me apathetic and make me compromise in a way that I swore I never would. So I’ve turned a 180 and decided to go back to pursuing studies in English and, this time with confidence, in music. With that comes a certain anxiety related with excitement, but also with a small amount of fear, as college is hard for me. On medication I hope that I can keep a focus on things, that I can keep myself from wandering away into the depths of thought at inopportune moments enough to do well. There is a lot I have to overcome, but the outlook in general is more pleasant than previous. I tend to keep things inside all to well and these days I wonder fairly often if my previous relationship didn’t suffer in the end from my own unwillingness to admit that I was unhappy with life in general. Cassie and I always tried not to lay out our problems at the same time. Neither of us liked seeming to compare in that way people often do (‘your day was bad? pssh…listen to MY day)…

In the end with Cassie taking so much on I let things slide and didn’t talk about the reasons I was unhappy, I think, because I was always happy with her. Therefore, when her stress level was up, I generally wanted her to feel better and when things deteriorated, well, perhaps I was redirecting in my own right. I used to bring up how well we had it, when in all truth I didn’t feel great about my life situation until I really admitted to myself that I had begun the time honored process of selling out – of settling for something that wasn’t what I wanted to do, certainly not what I was passionate about, simply because I was good at it and it presented financial security and upward mobility. See, that may be fine for some people, but maybe I still listen to too much punk rock. I still remember being young, I’ll claim not that old today (though I’ll be a grumpy old man tomorrow), and I remember telling myself that I would never let myself slip into that state of apathy. I can understand that every job has days that you will hate, but this wasn’t about the bad days – it was about finding that I was successful for once, that everything seemed to be going my way, but sitting up feeling profoundly conflicted about it. This was compounded further by the fact that I would sit and realize that I didn’t read anymore, I didn’t write anymore. I didn’t learn anymore except for what would help me do a job for the benefit. I was preparing to retake more computer certifications. Still, the fact that I did not keep up with my writing, my reading, or my sometimes idiotic broadness of research made me feel heavy. I took that weight to work and I came home with it. I went to bed with it and tried to ignore it playing video games, which didn’t help. I like video games fine, but they’re really a waste of time. An acceptable one, we all waste time in our own ways, but I used to prefer to do it reading or learning. If you say ‘that’s not a waste of time’ well it can be argued, as can video games.

While I was up at the university taking care of re-application and all that, I happened to stop by the bookstore and ask the clerk there to recommend a book to me. I do this when I’m at book stores and have no idea what to get, because a lot of the best books we read in our lives are recommended and we likely would not have heard of them otherwise. I’m not a book reviewer and more of a writer of fiction than comp papers, so I’ll tell you ahead of time when I review a book I don’t review it, I tell you what I thought of it the same as if we were having a drink. If you want me to analyze, I’m quite capable, but I don’t recommend books that way. I won’t tell you to read Lord of the Flies because of its profound allegory on the nature of man, I’ll tell you to read it because it’s a good damned book. That, in the end, is all you really need to know. If you want to analyze, you can read it again. What I did find, as I have so many times before when I’ve taken a hiatus from the written word, is that it is some way an essential thing for me. I’m not sure why. Perhaps its my imagination; perhaps my interest in hearing stories. To me, reading can make life complete in a way that other activities cannot. I love cinema as well, but it’s not the same. Reading is more than being entertained – it’s hearing a story but making it your own. The author breathes the story out and you inhale it, breath it in, let it hit your head and you exhale a cloud of images that are yours alone, no one else will see them the same way. It’s not supposed to be a metaphor for pot smoking, I don’t, but it was as good as any I could come up with on the fly. To me, it’s something that, when I forget it, it usually I have forgotten something about myself. Now that I think on it, I can say that every time my life has taken a bit of a downturn has been a time when I was not reading. Perhaps the lack of literature is a symptom of the malaise. I guess that’s what I’m getting at. I doubt it’s a coincidence.

At any rate, I’ve babbled on about my life enough. Here are my opinions on books that I’ve recently buried myself in:

The Kite Runner – by Khaled Hosseini

This novel, the first by the author, is an amazing first work. In a series of flashbacks, it recounts the story of a boy growing into a man in Afhanistan, his relationship with his father and a slave boy who is his best friend and an event that causes him such guilt as to haunt him into adulthood, long after he has since moved away from war-torn Afghanistan and made a new life in America. The story is filled with the culture of the setting and spans an impressive time frame of the main characters life. The author is very good at being direct in his descriptions and imagery without being overly wordy, though my only complaint on this one is that there is a point (you’ll know if you’ve read it) where one plot twist seems a bit too many. Overall though this is an amazing first novel for the author and a worthwhile read.

Animal Farm – by George Orwell

I am still in the habit of periodically returning to the classics and this is one I’ve never gotten around to reading. It’s very easy to see why this is a classic – few books can illustrate the phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword” better than this one. Orwell takes a fable about animals taking control of their farm and turns it into a downward spiral of contradiction, corruption and satirical allegory that is difficult to rival. If you had to read this one for school, I recommend you read it again, as most books are better when you read them of your own accord. An amazing read, short and to the point, and an important work of literature.

The Life of Pi – by Yann Martel

I’d been recommended this one by a few people and came across it on a list of “Books to Read Before You Die.” Cassie happened to have a copy of this one among the books still here at the house so I picked it up and I was not disappointed. This book is amazing. The story is paced very well, the imagery and emotion of it are profound and the author grips you right to the end. By the time I was halfway into this book, I knew it was a good read, but by the end I can very well see why it may be an important work of fiction. There aren’t a lot of recent books that struck me as this one did. Read it.

There you have the extent of my reviews. I could sit and talk about these for quite sometime about them, but I generally do that with folks who like to take literature to that level – not all of us do. I prefer to give broad statements about my opinion on a book because as much as I like to study literature, at the end of the day, he most simplistic reason I enjoy it is because I love a good story.

Uncertainty, Questions & Rebellious Young Folk

Here’s a bit more on books for you, those who read this. As I said in my last post, one of the most important aspects of writing is reading, absorbing the great woven stories of past, present and future. Dream, Memory and Now if you like. I’ve been running more through the classics as of late, older and newer and I thought I might share these two with you. Both feature themes I’ve always enjoyed: change, uncertainty, and the rebelliousness of youth that too many of us, I think, often forget.

The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

This is one of those books with really staying power. Taught in some schools for its brilliance and banned in others for its profanity, Catcher in the Rye has become infamous both as one of the most challenged books of our time and for the fact that it often becomes an obsession of the disaffected. The story, as many of you may already know, follows Holden Caulfield, a young privileged prep-school case, through a period of turmoil in his life. As with last time, I won’t give away the plot if you haven’t read this book. To my recollection, however, few works of the written word have so accurately captured the turmoil that such a youth is faced with, the distance, the feeling of isolation, the frustration and uncertainty. This book is worded in excellent voice and you really feel Caulfield, it really seems to have been written by him, bad vocabulary and all and it is a welcome change, often, from works that paint such a character, but attempt to do so eloquently. There is nothing eloquent about this book. It’s goddamn to the point, as Holden might have said. It’s definitely not phony in its approach. If the word goddamn offends you, be prepared; it’s in there over 200 times. But, whether you may be offended by the profanity or themes of the work, I urge you to read it. This is an amazing story that should hold a place in literature for all.

The Giver – Lois Lowry

Mom mom picked this book up for me when I was younger; still in high school I think. I was amazed at its portrayal of a society of Sameness, where the world really is nothing more than black and white and a few shades of grey. I was overjoyed when I saw this one on the high school reading lists because this is a hell of a good read. It’s short and sweet, a story that teaches the importance of choice, change and of memory. An amazing work of science-fiction with a profound message toward individuality, the Giver is one of the novels among juvenile fiction that stands out to a very adult level. I highly recommend this one. If you had to read it for school and that, to you, takes away from the book, read it again. Read it for yourself. This book exemplifies that first part of the great Old World edict: Keep the Memory.

One more, while I’m on a roll, though I read this one less recently:

1984 – George Orwell

This is one of those books that I would say go out and buy or borrow now if you haven’t read it. A depressing, hope-shattering look that defined the term dystopian future, 1984 will knock you on the floor. Do not expect to be overjoyed by this one, though, folks: 1984 puts the harsh in harsh reality. In a world where Big Brother Is Watching You, where WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH, there is no escaping your fate. Nonetheless, read this book. It sets a lesson about the application of governing power that has scarcely been rivaled in fiction. Though Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 are also good choices for this theme. For the gamers out there: if you’ve ever thought about running a dark future campaign where the System is in control or there is any amount of overseeing presence, this is required reading for you. 1984 is among the best out there in harsh-reality reads.

That’s all for now folks. Cassie has said I should check out Deus Irae next so I just may do that. That is, if I don’t find myself reading the Tripods Trilogy by John Christopher again. Lately, I’ve been on a bit of a sci-fi kick. I’m also one of those people who, though I know there are so many good books out there to be read, often go back and read the ones I’ve loved. I recommend you do so as well. There is nothing so constant as change in our lives and these changes bring with them new perspectives on everything. You may find that a book you suffered through in school becomes something you love now. Read, always. Whether you write or not, get off the video games and read a book. Consider it. Absorb it. There is a story for everyone out there, likely there are many; you have only to find the one that grips you.

Until next time:

Keep the Memory
Live in the Now
Believe in the Dream

- Ashe

Reading

I’m a writer at the core, folks. Sure I play the guitar, do graphic design, play combat sports and do all sorts of other things, probably far too many, but lately I’ve been going back and remembering what I really like to do most: write. Now, that sentence was crap, but then again I write quite a bit differently for these sorts of things. Anyways, other than finally deciding that I really needed to start getting some help with my ADHD, which I stubbornly ignored pretty much all of my life, I’ve returned to what I consider to be the most fundamentally important aspect of writing: reading. Yep, that’s what probably helps you as a writer more than anything, a constant influx of reading. In my better days I used to read sometimes 3-4 books a week, depending on length, though as the years have gone on I’ve sadly neglected reading as much as I once did. Lately, however, I’ve been back on a reading kick and I thought I might share with you a bit of insight into the last couple of books I took in.

Lisey’s Story by Stephen King

I must say I’ve been a King fan since I was young. IT, The Talisman and The Dark Tower, among many others, had a great impact on the creation of Cycle of Existence. I’ve read a good many of the works he’s written and I generally enjoy them. Personally, thought, his last novel, Cell, just didn’t do it for me as much as some of his other works. It was a good read, but it just didn’t seem to strike the same chord that some of his other novels, novellas or shorts stories had with me.
Lisey’s Story struck that chord extremely well.
This is an amazing novel; one I would rank high on a respectably long list of book’s I’ve read in my tenure on this island earth. I went in to this one knowing next-to-nothing about it (it was a Christmas gift from my parents) so I won’t spoil you with the details about it. What I will say is that it’s an extremely well-written story about marriage, life-long partnership, the process of grieving and a little bit of the classic otherworldy. I would recommend this one to anyone. Read it.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.

This Hugo-award-winning science-fiction novel is considered among the classics of the genre and is one I’ve never gotten around to reading. It was recommended to me by my girlfriend, who has a love of reading that rivals my own, though we have different tastes here and there. I do trust her opinion to a great degree, however: she knows her literature.
A Canticle for Leibowitz follows a centuries-long account surrounding a monastery somewhere in the southwestern United States that springs up after a nuclear war that very nearly wipes out all life and knowledge on the planet. While there are many aspects of science-fiction here, it feels to me more as a well-woven commentary on religion and the tendency of history to repeat itself. Man is the antagonist here, folks and it’s beautifully done. If you have the chance and are into the apocalyptic, definitely give this one a shot.

Now, I’m not a book reviewer. I really could be, I’ve done my share of analysis, interpretation and writing, but personally I like recommendations better – I prefer not to know much about what I’m going to read. It is for that reason that I leave you with only my recommendation for these books and the hopes that you will enjoy them.

Currently, I’m reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, because for some reason I never got around to it before. I’ll let you know on this one, but so far I’m impressed.

- Ashe