Quarterly

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

Pages Read this Week: 103

Pages Read this Semester: 988

(Including Other Classes: 3,076)

I am now halfway through this class.  I don't like that.  This and novels are my two favorite classes because I love to read, but they will each end at the semester while I must continue to suffer through my A.P. classes.  Doesn't sound like fun.  The books I've read in this class have been fantastic!  I started with A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and I absolutely loved it.  It was different than what I normally read, so it was very challenging for me to get though, but I thought it was brilliant.  Profound, insightful, thought-provoking - What more could you want in a book?  After I finished that book, I moved on to something more like what I normally read - The Magicians and Mrs. Quent.  That was a new twist on some old classics that I enjoyed, so I thought it was worth the time it took to get through this gigantic book.  I found it slightly repetitive since I basically knew the plots, but the addition of magic and mystery made it something different.  I didn't like it as much as my first project, but I definitely enjoyed it and look forward to the sequel.  The book I am on now is different than my first two, but I have had just as much fun reading it.  In fact, Frankenstein may end up being my favorite.  Its dark and brooding, but for some reason I am drawn to the language and the morbid story.  I saw the musical a few years ago, so I know the basic plot, but it a way, that makes it better.  I anticipate the events, so when I know they are approaching I feel like I can't put the book down.  I only have a few more chapters left, so I will finish next week.  Then, I will have to choose a new book.  I realize that the works of literary fiction have been better for me - with my busy schedule, setting a goal of 100 pages a week is more realistic that 150.  So, I'm considering A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.  I've had it sitting on my bookshelf for a while and I figure its about time I get a start on it.  I have had a good time with my reading this semester, so I have no reason to believe I will hate it.  Reading is  time consuming and a little stressful (I'm trying to get through Crime and Punishment and Frankenstein right now) since I average about 50-75 pages of reading a night.  Usually, I do this reading pretty late.  After band practice and other homework is when I generally find the time, so I've been up as late as 1:30 trying to finish a book in bed.  Despite this, I am glad to be in so many English classes when faced with the alternative -  I'd rather be up late reading than doing math or science homework.  Because I prefer reading, my goal for the rest of the semester is to accomplish the reading requirements every week in all of my English classes.  I often lose track of how many pages I've read (I had to do a quick tally for today's post), but I can honestly say I have read every one.  No skipping, lying, or sparknoting.  It may seem like an obvious goal, but when I look at how much I have accomplished this nine weeks, I hope to do all of the required reading, in every class, during the coming quarter.

A Biblical Monster

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Genesis 2:18-25

After hearing the monster's story of suffering, Frankenstein is given an ultimatum.  If he does not create a female version of his creation, the monster will wreak havoc on his life and the lives of those he loves.  In a twisted way, this seems almost biblical.  The parallels the monster shares with Adam are pretty impressive - he is the single creation that is more advanced than anything else on Earth, but all he wants is someone to keep him company.  At this point in the book, Frankenstein has agreed to create the monster's "Eve" on the condition that, once satisfied, the monsters will flee from humanity and keep to themselves.  It seems like a fair deal, but Frankenstein's fears about the project are valid.  His last creation went horribly wrong, so what are the odds of it being any better a second time around?  Now, he is stewing over what he must do.  He does not want to work around his family, polluting his childhood home, so he is leaving for England to begin.  The future seems miserable, but if he accomplishes his goal and sends the monsters packing, Frankenstein will be rewarded once he returns.  Finally, he will be able to marry his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth.  They seem to be meant for each other, but judging by the morbid tendencies of this story, I have a feeling this union will not come to pass.  This book is still very captivating, so I can't wait to read further.

Killing People Makes Them Dead

"You think killing people will make them like you, but it doesn't.  It just makes them dead."

Wise words from another musical of something that wasn't intended to be sung - A Very Potter Musical.  Voldemort is right in this theatrical version of the popular book - killing people indeed makes them dead.  In both the book and musical version of Frankenstein, however, the monster does not understand this concept.  All he wants is to be loved by his creator and to be accepted by the other creatures in the world, but his uglyness and extreme strength do not allow this.  Because his creator hates him and leaves him on his own, he goes on a killing spree to take his revenge.  And, though I haven't read this far in the book, in the musical when someone finally accepts him, he squashes them when he tries to hug them.  Tragic.  For something that just wants a little love, the monster is having some serious trouble.  When he enters a village, he is chased away by angry mobs.  When he goes to find his "father" he is cursed with the words,"Begone, vile insect! or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust."  Ouch.  Bad day.  Even though the monster is evil and scary, you can't help feeling a little sorry for him.  He didn't ask to be created and its not his fault he is so ugly.  I'm still enjoying the book, and its weird how many different emotions this bad guy can make you experience.  I'm looking forward to reading more.

Currently Part 2

I jumped ahead of myself last week!  I did the Currently post before it was actually assigned, and I did it wrong.  Instead of the normal quotes, this week I am to choose my favorite for the quarter.  So here they are - my favorite sentences from the first nine weeks of school.


1. "I have no idea how people function without near-constant internal chaos." A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

2. "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

3. "I'm sure people would be far gladder if they simply stopped searching for all the causes of their unhappiness." The Magicians and Mrs. Quent
 
 
I like this first sentence because, as I've said in earlier posts, it is both profound and fitting.  I'm very busy, so the idea that someone else shares my constant internal chaos is comforting.  As the band season is drawing to a close I'm beginning to wonder how I will function without that super busy schedule.  I often find that once I have more free time my grades ironically fall, so maybe that near-constant pressure is something that keeps me going.  The second sentence is from one of my favorite books ever!  It's a great thought, especially since I consider myself about average in everything I do.  I enjoy many things and I am decent at most of them, but I have no one great ability.  It's nice to think, therefore, that even though I'm not the best at anything, my good choices can still act to define me in a more positive light.  Finally, the last sentence is interesting because it is true.  As I was looking for sentences for my A.P. Comp extra credit, I realized that there is a very similar quote in Jane Eyre (which The Magicians and Mrs. Quent was partially based on), but I almost feel like this version of the sentiment is better expressed.  Its simple and profound and should therefore be taken to heart.

Currently

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

Pages Read this Week: 100

Pages Read this Semester: 885

Sentences of the Week:

1. "The merit of all things lies in their difficulty." The Three Musketeers

2. "It's the job that's never started that takes longest to finish.” The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

3. "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

As you may have noticed, none of my sentences this week came from the books I am currently reading.  This is not due to an absence of interesting sentences in what I am reading now, but due to an extra credit project I am doing for A.P. Comp.  This "writing portfolio" includes favorite quotations, so I spent the other day scouring through books I have read to find meaningful statements.  These three stuck out to me because they come from some of my favorites.  The Three Musketeers is probably my all time favorite book.  I love the story of friendship and adventure and, even though most teens would find reading it tedious, I believe this book by Alexandre Dumas is brilliant.  In fact, I joined fencing because of its influence and even dressed up as a Musketeer for Halloween one year.  Yeah, its a bit of an obsession.  In truth, there are about five books in the musketeer series, and guess what, I've read them all.  This particular line I like because it means something.  It makes me feel better about my overstressed attitude - since band and all my advanced classes are difficult, they must mean something.  The second line is great as well! Its hobbit philosophy that sort of relates to the quote from The Three Musketeers.  Great advice for the procrastinators of the world.  The Lord of the Rings is a fantastic collection of books that I am also pretty obsessed with, but it can be rather long winded.  This particular line I found interesting partially due to its simplicity.  Finally, the last line from Harry Potter is just perfect.  Who says its only a children's book?  Quotes like that don't show up in Mother Goose.  So there are some of my favorite sentences from some of my favorite books!  I didn't read them for the first time this week, but I rediscovered them and enjoyed the process.

A Horror Story I Don't Mind

Scared Out of My Mind after Paranormal Activity

This summer I was introduced to a terrifying new genre - horror.  I absolutely HATE scary movies but by spending time with my friends I was forced into viewing some.  Paranormal Activity 1&2, Insidious, Zombieland (okay, that one was funny), and most recently Quarantine II, are just some of the movies I've had to suffer through - clinging to my friends, almost in tears.  I really hate scary movies and I dread the day Paranormal Activity 3 is released in theaters.  Almost against my will therefore, I find myself listening to Frankenstein - A New Musical while I update this post about a scary book I really don't mind.  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is actually pretty interesting.  It's the tragic story of a boy who looses the perfect life.  Young Victor Frankenstein has a loving family, a true love who he has known since childhood, and the ability to become a great influence to the scientific community.  However, due to a series of small triggers including the discovery of a book on ancient scientific theories, the death of his mother, and a professor who gets him interested in chemistry, Victor strays from his perfect path.  He becomes obsessed with creating life and therefore becoming a powerful idol who can save humanity.  His experiments go terribly wrong, however, when he creates this mutated collection of rag tag pieces from the deceased and brings it to life.  Now, the monster is loose and wreaking havoc.  Where I am now, Frankenstein's monster has already killed Victor's youngest brother.  A servant, who was almost like a mother to the boy, was blamed and put to death for the crime as well.  Victor is suffering because, due to his mistakes, the people he loves are being attacked.  If the musical I've seen follows the plot of the novel, by the end everyone will die ATLEAST once and Victor will have to live with his actions and their consequences.  Overall, its a very morbid story that is somehow attractive.  Much better than Paranormal Activity!

Finished Book Two!!!

I've finally finished The Magicians and Mrs. Quent!  It ended pretty well with most of the plot lines wrapped up, but it is clear there will be a sequel.  A nice surprise at the end of the book!

"About the Author:
What if there was a fantastical cause underlying the social constraints and limited choices confronting a heroine in a novel by Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte?  Galen Beckett began writing The Magicians and Mrs. Quent to answer that question.  The author lives in Colorado and is currently at work on the next chapter in this fabulous tale of witches, magicians, and revolutions, The House on Durrow Street."

Called it!  Basically, the story was Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibility with a very different ending.  At the end of the book, the classic plot line changes as Ivy and Rafferdy work together to stop these evil magicians from opening what is essentially a magic door.  Through this portal to the unknown waits a group of even worse bad guys who, as far as I can gather, want to destroy the world.  By using their new found magical abilities, Ivy and Rafferdy stop the villains who are trying to open the portal as Mr. Garrit works to defeat the creepy revolutionist who had been stalking him and his sister.  Happy endings for all, but I think reading the sequel could give more closure.  I will have to look to see when the next book comes out.  Its not the next book on my list, but I wouldn't mind reading it!

First, however, I am planning on readying Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.  Its literary fiction, meaning I will only have to read 100 pages a week, and I am interested in the story.  I was first introduced to the plot in a rather odd way - I saw the musical.  It was dark and disturbing, but I really liked the tragic characters, so I don't see why I shouldn't like the book it was based on.  So here I go, third book for this class! It's getting pretty difficult now since I'm also reading The Things They Carried for A.P. Comp and Crime and Punishment for Novels.  Talk about a lot of reading.  I'm enjoying the books so far though, so I am looking forward to continuing, even if it means a lot of late nights.