King Dork Review

From the first glance at the cover of King Dork, one can already see a correlation between it and The Catcher in the Rye. There is connection not only in the plot but also the mentality and thinking of the protagonists. Some could even argue this book is the modern day version of Salinger's famous 1951 novel. Don't get me wrong, it's not completely the same and the plot and characters are unique but Portman obviously wanted the strong relationship with Catcher… to be obvious.

Because of the first person perspective of the novel, the reader understands the characters as they relate to the distorted view of the scrawny, awkward, slightly pessimistic teenage boy Tom Henderson. Being on the outside of social groups with the exception of his only “friend” Sam Hellerman, he is able to realize the strange characteristics and habits of high school students. Tom goes as far as to call them “psychotic normal people” because he doesn’t understand their behavior and or thought process. The nickname that most people call him “Chi-Mo” (Moe) has a very inappropriate beginning which just furthers his distrust and frustration with his peers.  “Still anyone who calls me Moe, even when they may mean no harm, is a potential enemy. That’s just the way it is” (Portman 76).  This quote is a great insight into the way he is around people, how timid and defensive he is when people are the slight bit threatening. Even when talking about his only friend Sam, he doesn’t even call him a friend just the closest thing he has to one. He is critical of almost everyone including his mom and his step dad who he sees as people who mean well but take away his stuff that he thinks is perfectly acceptable.

There are several themes that can be found while reading Portman’s novel on the high school experience. Tom and Sam attempt to put a two man band together (minus drums) and for the first half of the book don’t even have instruments. Most of the time they will think of a band name from something they heard somewhere, come up with their nicknames, album names, and create the artwork. Band names lasted anywhere from a few days to several weeks and were something like:

“What do you think of Sentient Beard?” (Me on guitar, Samerica the Beautiful on Bass and upholstery, first album Off the Charts-Way off)” (Portman 289). The band names were almost always a play on words that was inappropriate and against society somehow. Tom’s stepdad  would always walk in on them while they were practicing and would say things like “rock on” to help encourage them but Tom thought he was just making fun of their attempts. Throughout the book Tom tries to figure out what the writings in his dad’s old books mean and if they can point him in the direction out of dorkiness. He also has an urge to discover the facts surrounding his father’s death.

The writing style of King Dork is very conversational and doesn’t care much about having the best grammar. In fact, the book reads like it’s a 16 year old’s personal journal which is how the author probably wanted the book to read. The book holds nothing back and has some colorful language that shouldn’t be read by less mature audiences. The book starts with a declaration and acknowledgement by Tom. “They call me King Dork. Well, let me put it another way: no one ever actually calls me King Dork. It’s how I refer to myself in my head, a silent protest and acknowledgement at the same time” (Portman 5). He’s quite sarcastic which is probably to cope with the fact that very few people love or pay much attention to him.

Frank Portman’s King Dork is an interesting, slightly unrealistic look at the life of a high school dork. The insights are an interesting read though. I would have to rate this book a four out of 5 stars because of its uniqueness and enjoyable qualities.

Readicide

Genre fiction is not less "worthy" that literary fiction but, rather, have different purposes. Both types of books are important in their own sense and that should be taken into account in judging them. Literary fiction is appreciated because of its artistic and literary elements. They are books that require the reader to think critically about certain issues or ideas. Genre fictions are the books that the public reads for enjoyment and as a result they have the highest sales. These plot-driven, character focused, engaging books may lack the strong writing of their literary counterparts. I find both types of books are important and should be treated similarly, keeping in mind the purposes of each. Though I believe they both follow some of the same guidlines genre fiction books can, and do have spectacular writing and literary fiction can have a very captivating plotline. "I read a lot of commercial fiction and a lot of the same themes and wisdoms I find in commercial fiction are the same themes and wisdoms as what I see lauded in literary fiction". Jodi Picoult said this and I completely agree because even though people would like to think genre fiction and literary fiction are so different, the core of them are the same.

Schools should add commercial books into the reading curriculum. A good mix of both literary and genre fiction would give students the ability to read books they like but also appreciate the artistic qualities of literary fiction. The way the schools teach books in today's classrooms turn off students to reading of both the classics and popular fiction. Very seldom can students just read a book without worrying to have to do many little activities along the way, analyzing every single chapter. The best solution is to have a mix of both types of books with less analysis of the books because honestly nobody likes to have that many distractions when they are reading a book they like.

Shutter Island Book Trailer

Blog Post 4

Adapting Shutter Island into a movie would have some challenges but with the right amount of budget is very plausible. The fact that the most of the movie is set on an island it would be an important director’s decision to film the majority of the film on an island. It is also essential for the names of the main characters, especially Teddy Daniels and Rachel Solando to stay the same because those names are essential to the plot. The movie would suffer greatly without the connection that some of the names have in the book. The professions of both Teddy and his partner as FBI detectives investigating a missing person case, is also a crucial element of the book that must stay intact.

            One particular scene that is a necessity to keep in the movie would be when partners Teddy and Chuck are on the boat arriving to Shutter Island. This scene where they’re on the boat and slowly approaching this sketchy island is important to the suspense and mystery of the island. If this is not in the movie the story would lose some of its mysterious quality that is so important in a book that is all about mystery and uncertainty. The movie version did a great job in creating the suspense and the audience got a really good sense of the characters uncertainty.

            Another specific scene that I would want to keep for a movie version would be the moment when Teddy tells Dr. Cawley he and his partner would be leaving in the morning because they weren’t receiving the information they wanted to solve the case. Keeping this scene shows the frustration of Teddy wonderfully which builds throughout the story. Not only is Teddy’s frustration in the situation is showcased but his anger at Cawley.

            The last scene that I would definitely have to keep would be the scene when he’s interviewing a patient and she takes his pen and notebook and scribbles something in it. Having this scene in the movie would be important because it adds to the mystery of the story. It also gives the audience and indication that there is something not right about the entire situation. We feel like we are missing critical information that we should know.

            A scene that I would probably not put in the movie would be the scene when Teddy and Chuck play cards with the orderlies after they were at Cawley’s house. This scene although entertaining in the book, would have no real value in the movie and would just add to the length of the movie. Without having this scene in the movie wouldn’t hinder the plot in any way because it kind of diverges from the story.

            Another scene that I would alter would be the scene where Teddy and Chuck search Rachel’s room and find the note that has all the numbers. I think the movie version did a great version of changing it to only have “Who is 67?” and not all of the “rule of 4” and “they were 80” phrases. This being said, I think a close interpretation to the book in a movie would be not too difficult and essential. When there is a plot that is confusing and connects to itself like Shutter Island, there needs to be a lot of similarities between the book and the movie.

Book 1 Project: Room

Before Jack and his mother escape the room where they’ve been held captive for seven years, all that they had in this world was each other. Jack had very little knowledge of anything other than this 11 by 11 shed in which he and his mother were confined. Jack’s mother knew, though, that she had to find a way to escape because her son deserved to see the outside world.  She knew that if she waited too long that “Old Nick” might do something to hurt, or emotionally traumatize her son. A way that we could add more interest in the book is by creating a journal of Jack’s mom. The diary would be an insight into the thoughts, feelings and ideas that Jack’s mom had. Even though the book doesn’t specifically say she kept a diary, it would create a buzz about the book and create new interest so more people would decide to read. 

            Jack’s mother had been brainstorming years before he was even born. She told him she used to scream at night when Nick came into the room but with no luck. She eventually became violent with him which led to Nick becoming more mean. “‘ What I did was, I took the lid off the toilet, and I had the smooth knife as well, and just before nine one evening, I stood against the wall beside the door… Exactly. I smashed the toilet lid down on his head.’” (Donoghue 122-123). Hitting him on the head was an attempt to get the code to be able to escape the room. Nick gave her the code but it was the wrong one and she wasn’t able to get out. An event like this was probably something she wrote about before and after it happened. Her reaction to him and the situation would be some quite interesting writing and insight into her character.

            There was a scene in the book where that could be a good example that could be written in her diary. “I flick the switch. I hear a tiny sound that must be jeep’s wheels coming alive and then- SMASHSHSHSHSHSH… He’s shouting, what are you trying to pull?... Did you try something? Did you?’ His voice goes downer. ‘Because I told you before, it’s on your head if-’”(Donoghue 62-63).This scene was when Jack was in the wardrobe when Nick was in the room. Jack wanted to play with his remote control jeep so he turned it on and wakened Nick up in a roar. Nick thought it was Jack’s mom trying to do something so he became violent with her. She would have definitely written about this in her diary and would be a good inside look of her perspective.

            There are many possible moments in Room where Jack’s mom would have wanted/ needed to write about in a diary. This is especially true when she had Jack pretend to be dead so that there may be a way for them to escape their living hell. Thoughts must have been zooming around in her head about all the negative possibilities that could happen and it had to be incredibly difficult feeling helpless. “Then I’m lifted. I think it’s her and then I know it’s him. Don’t move don’t move don’t move jackerjack stay stiff stiff stiff. I’m squished in Rug, I can’t breathe right, but dead don’t breathe anyway” (Donoghue 172). The following excerpt is an example of what a diary entry would be like in response to the previous quote:

            I can’t believe what I have just done. I let Jack into that monsters hands and I may never see him again. I wish I could have thought of another way, a better way to get us out of this nightmare. Jack deserves much better than this. I just hope and pray that he will be safe and get help. I need him to be brave and I need him to be smart which I know he is     but he’s never been in a situation like this. I swear though, if he hurts Jack I will not hold    anything back and I will make that animal pay for it. I want to know that Jack will make it, that we both will make it. I can’t even express the emotions that are haunting me right          now. I can’t stand this place anymore and this will be the death of me if I stay here. I feel bad for rushing Jack on the escape but I knew after the power outage we could not be safe much longer, especially since Nick has no job. I just gotta get out of here, very, very soon. Please God, be with Jack and set us free.

            My idea will create much interest surrounding Emma Donoghue’s book because it offers a different perspective. Throughout the book I, along with probably many other readers, wondered what Jack’s mom thought in certain situations. Her journal will certainly intrigue people who have already read Room and are looking for a little more to the story. This idea will most definitely enhance the book.

              

           

What Is A Book?

A book is a window. Books offer the opportunity for the reader to look through a window into exciting, terrifying, sad and sometimes strange worlds. As readers we have the choice to either open the window to fully experience this world, or lock the window and close the blinds to shut out those worlds. Books have had the timeless power to engage, entertain, and move people for generations. There are even religions based of one letters written on a page which came about centuries ago.

In my mind books are no doubt important for a healthy and thriving culture but I’m not so sure that the medium in which they are presented is too important. When I read a book, at least, if the writing is good enough and I am captured by the story, I won’t really pay much attention that I’m reading on a Kindle or a hardback book. The second excerpt by Nancy I didn’t fully agree with. She said that if she hadn’t read real books with the “physicality”, the texture and the smell, reading would be a different experience. If she cares that much about the appearance and how the book is physically she’s missing the point of reading all together. She’s really not focusing on what the book is about, what the author wanted to convey and has become distracted by minute details. I kind of agree with the last guy Victor, who said some people hold real books as gold basically. He says that he finds the obsession with hardback and paperback books as an incredibly old fashioned way of thinking.

People freaking out about how no more physical books will be a tragedy are too dramatic but I think that is understandable. Any time there is a drastic change in society there are going to be those people who are hesitant and stubbornly hold to the old-fashion ways of looking at things. Even though I believe EBooks are taking over, traditional books will never completely go away.  

Why I Read

Hey guys, I'm Eric and there are a few reasons that I read. The primary reason that I read books is because they're entertaining. If I try to read a book that isn't entertaining to me I would either lose interest in it and end up day dreaming, or would fall asleep reading. The most recent book that I enjoyed reading was actually the Hunger Game series. I liked reading those books because they were suspenseful and kept me interested. When I was reading I had difficulty putting it down and stayed up late many nights reading the books. Another reason that I read for is for my education. I don't necessarily take pleasure in reading for school because the books and textbooks that I'm required to read have no flavor or personality. The books are bland for the most part and I end up falling asleep while reading half of the books. Even though I read the books for school I don't believe I read them for the right reasons. I read them just for the sake of keeping my grade up because I wanted the praise of doing well. There are a few exceptions though, I really enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby because it was intriguing and thought-provoking. I love reading books that keep me interested and hope that I can find more time to read in this year and through college.