Today my grandmother *ahem* implied that she doesn't understand why people read fantasy.
WELL. As an avid reader of fantasy, I intend to explain to her and any other doubters why fantasy is just as legitimate as any other genre.
Reason #1: It takes the whole 'suspension of disbelief' thing to another level. You're not just in a different city, behind the eyes of another person, you could be in another world, behind the eyes of another species.
Reason #2: A good fantasy has just as many plot turns and just as amazing adventure as any novel. Quite frankly, any book that's well written will have plot twists, suspense, good characters, etc. The genre is just a category.
Reason #3: If you're like me, and you sometimes don't want to think about difficulties in dealing with politics, pollution, or other worldly things, fantasy is a welcome escape. Sometimes you need to visit another world with different problems and say "Whew, at least that's not happening here." In mysteries or romances or other things that take place in the here-and-now US, something always manages to creep in. (Historical fiction works for this too; I personally prefer Steven Saylor's Rosa Sub Rosa series, set in ancient Rome.)
Reason #4: Magic etc. Sometimes you just gotta believe in it, even for the few hours it takes to read the book.
I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons, but those are the four I could think of for now....
Cheers!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Some thoughts....
I first need to state a disclaimer: in no way, shape, or form do I support terrorist activities. Or any sort of terror, bullying included. Violence is awful and killing is worse.
But for some reason, I cringe whenever I see or hear the words, "Osama is dead." Not because of the words themselves, but because they are said so.....happily.
There was probably a similar excitement when Hitler died. Or maybe there was disappointment then, since he escaped true justice by committing suicide.
Anyway, I just think that instead of saying, "Hooray, Osama Bin Laden is dead," we should all be cheering that the world is a little bit safer. Praise the saving of lives instead of the slaying of one.
I don't mean to be preachy. I really don't--I just think it's important to put things into perspective.
But for some reason, I cringe whenever I see or hear the words, "Osama is dead." Not because of the words themselves, but because they are said so.....happily.
There was probably a similar excitement when Hitler died. Or maybe there was disappointment then, since he escaped true justice by committing suicide.
Anyway, I just think that instead of saying, "Hooray, Osama Bin Laden is dead," we should all be cheering that the world is a little bit safer. Praise the saving of lives instead of the slaying of one.
I don't mean to be preachy. I really don't--I just think it's important to put things into perspective.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Taize
Tonight is the third night of Passover, and ironically I thought it might be interesting to go to a Christian worship service. I've never been to one in my life (it was really a coincidence that tonight was Passover), and was curious.
A friend in my dorm goes to Taize every week. It's a form of meditative worship. We sang songs, had periods of silence, sang more songs, etc. It was an amazing experience.
My favorite part was a special period of silent meditation, in which you had the opportunity to pray aloud, if you were moved to do so. It was amazing to hear everyone's prayers as we sat in a circle around a ring of candles, light streaming through stained glass all around us.
I hope others who have the opportunity to try this will do so--it really was amazing!
Happy Passover and Easter! (and other holidays going on at this time of which I am not aware!)
A friend in my dorm goes to Taize every week. It's a form of meditative worship. We sang songs, had periods of silence, sang more songs, etc. It was an amazing experience.
My favorite part was a special period of silent meditation, in which you had the opportunity to pray aloud, if you were moved to do so. It was amazing to hear everyone's prayers as we sat in a circle around a ring of candles, light streaming through stained glass all around us.
I hope others who have the opportunity to try this will do so--it really was amazing!
Happy Passover and Easter! (and other holidays going on at this time of which I am not aware!)
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sunshine and Laughing Clubs
This has been a peculiar weekend. An almost-shutdown of the government (thank goodness that didn't happen!!), an interview and an audition, a date, and my psych textbook.
Today happens to be the first sunny, warm day in a very, very long time. Unfortunately tomorrow promises thunderstorms, but it's good to appreciate the sun while it's here, right?
Of course, most of today will be focused on getting as much work done as possible before a date with my first-ever boyfriend tonight (eep!), but I think my psych textbook actually provided some valuable lessons today. (I don't usually appreciate my psych textbook, as the chapters are long, redundant, and sometimes ungrammatical, but today is an exception.) The chapter was on healthy living, so obviously it talked about smoking, obesity, drinking, etc. But it's a psych textbook--it has to talk about the behavior associated with these things too, of course.
And then it talked about how being happy actually can lead to a longer life. And people have established laughing clubs--where people literally spend time laughing--to promote health and happiness. I think that whoever came up with the concept is a genius and we should all join a laughing club.
Happy Sunny-day! (hehe...sorry, bad pun.)
Today happens to be the first sunny, warm day in a very, very long time. Unfortunately tomorrow promises thunderstorms, but it's good to appreciate the sun while it's here, right?
Of course, most of today will be focused on getting as much work done as possible before a date with my first-ever boyfriend tonight (eep!), but I think my psych textbook actually provided some valuable lessons today. (I don't usually appreciate my psych textbook, as the chapters are long, redundant, and sometimes ungrammatical, but today is an exception.) The chapter was on healthy living, so obviously it talked about smoking, obesity, drinking, etc. But it's a psych textbook--it has to talk about the behavior associated with these things too, of course.
And then it talked about how being happy actually can lead to a longer life. And people have established laughing clubs--where people literally spend time laughing--to promote health and happiness. I think that whoever came up with the concept is a genius and we should all join a laughing club.
Happy Sunny-day! (hehe...sorry, bad pun.)
Monday, April 4, 2011
On Beliefs and Who should be Dying for them
I must have been out of the news for quite some time, because I only just heard about the burning of the Koran on March 20th. And it is sickening. Pastor Jones of Gainesville, FL held a mock trial that ended in the burning of the Islamic Holy Book. And that led to uprisings in Afghanistan. Here's the NY-times article I read: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/03/us/03burn.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=quran%20burning&st=cse
Look: I know people can believe what they want; we live in the US, a free country. But shouldn't burning the book of another religion count as a hate crime? I'm wondering why this guy is going around with police protection instead of being put on trial himself. If burning crosses on people's lawns is a hate crime, burning a holy book should be, too.
And it gets worse.
Jones said he made his decision after considering that people might react strongly. He said they were worried. And yet he did it anyway, and he would do it again.
It's one thing to put your own life at risk for your beliefs, but to put other people's lives--the lives of people you don't know and who don't agree with you--at risk...that's bad judgment and cruelty. I'm not saying that the Afghans who killed the UN staff are right--not at all. But if you know that people might die because of something you do to 'stir the pot,' it shouldn't be done unless they're willing to die for your cause.
The one good thing that resulted is that people are changing the anti-Islamic signs outside the church to slogans about peace and love. Thank you, reason.
Look: I know people can believe what they want; we live in the US, a free country. But shouldn't burning the book of another religion count as a hate crime? I'm wondering why this guy is going around with police protection instead of being put on trial himself. If burning crosses on people's lawns is a hate crime, burning a holy book should be, too.
And it gets worse.
Jones said he made his decision after considering that people might react strongly. He said they were worried. And yet he did it anyway, and he would do it again.
It's one thing to put your own life at risk for your beliefs, but to put other people's lives--the lives of people you don't know and who don't agree with you--at risk...that's bad judgment and cruelty. I'm not saying that the Afghans who killed the UN staff are right--not at all. But if you know that people might die because of something you do to 'stir the pot,' it shouldn't be done unless they're willing to die for your cause.
The one good thing that resulted is that people are changing the anti-Islamic signs outside the church to slogans about peace and love. Thank you, reason.
Friday, April 1, 2011
On Finishing
Well, I have at last finished the novel I was working on.
It's a strange feeling: at once very, very excited and at the same time empty. Because I finished telling the story.
I don't know if other authors feel this way when they finish something. Maybe other authors are better about jumping into something new or getting on revising/editing. I should get on that myself....
Either way, it's a funny feeling.
It's a strange feeling: at once very, very excited and at the same time empty. Because I finished telling the story.
I don't know if other authors feel this way when they finish something. Maybe other authors are better about jumping into something new or getting on revising/editing. I should get on that myself....
Either way, it's a funny feeling.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
The Big Question: What do I do with the rest of my life NOW?
Well, I got some bad news yesterday. About a month ago, I auditioned for the conservatory that is attached to my college (they have a double-degree program that allows you to major in both the college and the conservatory), and yesterday I received their decision: No.
I kind of expected it, because I knew that my voice wasn't as strong as the other sopranos who auditioned, but of course I had my cry and the typical bummed-out feeling.
And now the question arises: Since I'm not going to be a singing author or a singing archaeologist or a singing teacher or a singing who-knows-what major, now I have to figure out what else to do. Of course, thinking about it, there are so many more doors that can be opened now. As a double-degree student, there's no time left in the day to take just-for-fun classes. I can take that physics-for-non-majors' course now, AND take German 102.
So in conclusion, to all those who have been rejected from their first-choice schools, I know. I know it feels terrible. But there's always something somewhere else that you REALLY want to do.
And to get over the hurt faster: find something you REALLY want to do and do it. And don't think about what you're doing the rest of your life. That'll come when you're ready.
Cheers!
I kind of expected it, because I knew that my voice wasn't as strong as the other sopranos who auditioned, but of course I had my cry and the typical bummed-out feeling.
And now the question arises: Since I'm not going to be a singing author or a singing archaeologist or a singing teacher or a singing who-knows-what major, now I have to figure out what else to do. Of course, thinking about it, there are so many more doors that can be opened now. As a double-degree student, there's no time left in the day to take just-for-fun classes. I can take that physics-for-non-majors' course now, AND take German 102.
So in conclusion, to all those who have been rejected from their first-choice schools, I know. I know it feels terrible. But there's always something somewhere else that you REALLY want to do.
And to get over the hurt faster: find something you REALLY want to do and do it. And don't think about what you're doing the rest of your life. That'll come when you're ready.
Cheers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)