Recall those Memories

“ ‘If you take a book with you on a journey,’ Mo had said when he put the first one in her box, ‘an odd thing happens: The book begins collecting your memories. And forever after you have only to open the book where you first read it. It will all come back into your mind with the very first words: the sights you saw in that place, what it smelled like, the ice cream you ate while you were reading it… yes, books are like flypaper—memories cling to the printed page better than anything else.”

                —Cornelia Funke, Inkheart

Too finish off my last official school post (as I am still planning on using this blog once and awhile in my spare time) I have decided to stick what Characters in novels have discovered about books because to me this is all true for the avid novel lover.

I remember I was reading Twilight before it was a big thing. My family had gone away on vacation up north to a cottage we rented. There was a picnic bench I would sit on outside the cottage and read all day with my Nana reading her own novels. The ground was uneven with rocks protruding here and there. If you walked a little farther there was a rock/cliff you could jump off into the lake. All my books have some memories saved in like a scrapbook. Whenever I hear a certain band I associate it with The Blue Roan Child because whenever I picked up that book I would through my CD in the player and start reading. After that, of course, I learned it was a very bad idea to read while listening to music because you will forever think of the story when you hear that album.

You’ll remember when you see that stain that fell on the page while drinking grape juice. You’ll also remember the very sad moment as that happened ruining your perfect book you loved so much.

Before I finish this post I am going to recommend—like every book—that you go read this one. It’s such a simple read, but the best part about this one is the story actually takes the character into a book inside your book. Confusing huh? But it makes sense once you read it. Plus I don’t want to give away the story. However, if you aren’t wanting to tackle on the 500 pages then I suggest the movie, Inkheart, so long you can stand Brendan Fraser.

Now go read a book!

Travelling through Words

 “I had found a new friend. The surprising thing is where I’d found him—not up a tree or sulking in the shade, or splashing around in one of the hill streams, but in a book. No one had told us kids to look there for a friend. Or that you could slip inside the skin of another. Or to travel to another place with marshes, and where, to our ears, the bad people spoke like pirates.”

                —Lloyd Jones, Mister Pip

Yes I know I’ve literally just said a quote from this book, but I couldn’t decide which one I liked more AND I was serious when I said it was an amazing book. As I was scrolling Lloyd Jones Quotes. It’s true. You find a friend when you read novels perhaps an enemy sometimes too. Especially in this case the young girl, Matilda.

It isn't "childish" to have these fictional characters. You also aren't crazy. The stories—as I believe I've said—provides an escape to another land. You'll live another life...almost.

Children should read while their young. It gives them a friend to always be there even when they're alone. Which I guess mean they'll never truly be alone.

I believe, like in the quote, I've traveled everywhere in these stories. I've picked up magical friends, friends on an island, and enemies trying to kill. I've been rich and poor. A runaway and a princess. I've fallen in love multiple times, and watched friends die. All these 'trips' can make you laugh and smile, or angry and sad. My friends talk how I want them to. Some have squeaky high voices, and some have soothing deep voices.

Any book lovers will agree with me. They've been a thousands of journeys meeting many new people without even having to leave the house. For a kids imagination that's good enough (...or maybe an adults too. It makes for a satisfying night after work).

Nothing Beats a Book

 “You cannot pretend to read a book. Your eyes will give you away. So will your breathing. A person entranced by a book simply forgets to breathe. The house can catch alight and a reader deep in a book will not look up until the wallpaper is in flames.”

—Lloyd Jones, Mister Pip

I fell in love with this book while doing an English Assignment in Secondary School. Readers are taken away to an island where we are caught in a war between the rebels and redskins. Clearly the quote isn't about war. This is because we are brought to a little town where there is a school Mr. Watts teaches at (the only white man there). And this is where reading comes in. He introduces to the young kids, Great Expectations. These children never knew about fictional stories on paper. I am not doing any justice at all trying to explain the story. It is fantastic! A young girl falling in love with a fictional character.

Any book readers have had this problem. That’s why I loved this story so much (especially at the time changing it up from all my Nicholas Sparks stories).  The story explained at some points how one falls in love with a story. How it’s an escape just for a few hours to another land where we don’t have to move an inch.

This quote explains it all. Not for every book…but a person in love with the story just falls into it flying through the words. We can’t put it down to sleep, nor do our actual tasks we had meant to. Bombs could be going off or screaming kids, but all of that is tuned out by the tunes of the story. The ocean waves by an island, the still night as an animal crosses the dry ground...you get my point.

You’re just kidding yourself if you only read a book by the “assigned chapters” for school. Who has ever heard of such a thing if you are actually reading the story? Page after page flies by. It’s like watching a movie where someone shoots the main character, BUT the shooter isn't shown and then POOF you’re done the movie tonight you can watch another chapter tomorrow. You watched the entire movie didn't you? Exactly, this is the same with books.

The only time when I notice something is happening around me is when it gets too dark to read and I have to turn on a lap.

Misery can't Last

“Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it.”

                —J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Of course there would have to be a Harry Potter quote! Only one of the best series I have read so far. I had too much fun scrolling through the quotes from all movies and novels that The Quote Garden provided instead of 7 of the books and 8 of the movies. I do like this quote that Albus Dumbledore says towards the end of the 5^th novel to Harry. When that tragedy hits people don’t want to wallow in the pain. Drinking away the memories seem a lot more inviting.

Drinking until you’re passed out seems easier than remembering the death of someone, or sheltering yourself away to point blame at yourself. But like Albus states, it only gets worse. It just avoids the truth of what happened. You can’t undo what has happened. Not even in the magical wizarding world that Harry Potter lives in.

No matter what you do there are no means to numb the pain forever. At some point you will wake up and feel it all over again. No, I’m not saying you’re not allowed to ever wallow in pain. However, there reaches a point where it is too much. It is better to talk to someone, like Albus Dumbledore—a kind, sincere, old man.

Nothing will change during that week, month, or however long of wallowing. The only thing that has changed is the fact that you are no longer living your life anymore, since you are sulking and not facing the fact. Of course as I said I don’t mean this in a mean way. There is a certain allowance one may have for grieving. Forever without talking to anyone? That is a little too much. Now go find your Albus Dumbledore who will allows give you that advice and comfort one needs in tough times!

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire

“I started piling on lie after lie. It was like setting up Jenga”

                —Olive Penderghast, Easy A

We all know someone who is a compulsive liar. They start the one lie to one person who passes it on to the next, and when it reaches back to that person another one gets added to cover to the first. Will Gluck, the director, has made a hilarious movie called Easy A that revolves around the “hole” you dig yourself in once the lies pile up.

Olive starts one lie to skip out on a “fun” weekend with her friend’s parents. Her reason? A make-belief guy whom (here begins her second outrageous lie) she takes her V card. Meanwhile we’ve all seen she was with her dog singing with a singing card all weekend. This continues on with her “sluttiness” and so on so forth. I haven’t caught your attention? Did I forget to mention Emma Stone is Olive Penderghast? Yes, so it is hilarious and amazing.

Back to why I’m talking about this quote of all quotes...I’m sure most of you reading have all told at least one lie that’s ended up coming apart and unraveling getting you into trouble (a lot worse than what would have happened had you told the truth in the beginning). As I’m sure most of you are aware of the game Jenga—a bunch of blocks stacked in a tower, removing one here and there until it tumbles.

This is what I don’t understand. Sometimes the small little lie is fine. Big lies, like say sleeping with someone or being pregnant, are the ones that are difficult to keep. It’s like having Jenga in front of you looking like the leaning Tower of Pisa with every other row missing a piece. Any second it’s just waiting to tumble with all the other lies.

I’m not sure why compulsive liars don’t see it as a bridge waiting to collapse. But it is most definitely a Jenga game waiting to crash at any moment. Unfortunately, Olive Penderghast found out the hard way, but she did end up making up for her lies in the end by telling the truth. It took awhile, but better late than never. 

When All is Lost

“Although there are times I’d give anything to have her back, I’m glad she went first. Losing her was like being cleft down the middle. It was the moment it all ended for me, and I wouldn’t have wanted her to go through that. Being the survivor stinks.”

—Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants

This is what I want. When I’m old I want my man to be like this. He thinks of her pain instead of his own. You get thinking about how romantic and sweet it is...but then you think he’s old, he’s alone, and he’s sad. It’s upsetting.

This poor old man, Jacob, is alone in a retirement home. His family has forgotten him, and his wife is no longer around. It’s definitely no Notebook ending (movie version at least) where they die together. But still, he goes on living still loving her just as much as when he first met her, barely waiting to see her again once his time is up.

He had found his true love and he had taken her away from the rotten situation she was in. It’s rotten thinking when that time comes being stuck their alone until it’s your time to die. What do you do when the one you’ve loved for some many years is no longer there beside you in the morning? Certainly killing yourself is not the option. Again (I can relate it to my older post) memories is the key to happiness, especially at this point in his old life. He can remember her beautiful smile even as she grew older when she was with him, the children, and their pets (horses, and their elephant Rosie).

I don’t know if I would be so caring when I’m older. It’s always quite scary thinking about the future. What would be worse dying first leaving your spouse with all the misery, pain, and bills, or you being left with all that knowing that you may be handling it better than your spouse? Being the last survivor must suck and be very lonely. It would be like Lost (I’ve only recently started it but I know everyone dies) where the dog is all by himself someone surviving. Who is there for him? I’d probably go insane, especially if the one you loved and shared everything with all the time was no longer around.

If this quotes intrigued you, but readings not your thing then definitely check out the movie! Both are incredible (like every novel, movie, and show I’ve posted already). If that hasn’t sold you then the fact that Christoph Waltz being in it should convince you.

I would like to thank quickly MovieFone for making it very easy for me to find the quote instead of scrolling through page after page trying to find the perfect quote to talk about. There are more terrific quotes on their page.

Memories are Forever

“My wife: same thing. There I am, packing survival gear, she’s grabbing photo albums”

                —Morgan Jones, The Walking Dead (Season 1, Episode 1)

If any of you haven’t seen The Walking Dead then I’m quite ashamed GO DO IT! NOW! Anyways I love this quote from the show. Sorry that’s a lie. I love most of the show (quite obsessed to be honest) but this is the best touching quote when you start out the series. When the world’s ending in an apocalypse (zombies, natural disaster, or whatever it may be) what is the first thing the guys think about? Obviously, how the heck they’re going to destroy the zombies and get around for the next few weeks. Us girls? Well that’s another story...

We think of how we’ll remember our “normal” life. Doesn’t this quote here prove that memories are important? No matter how small. Just the little things can make one so emotional looking back at a typical happy photo of their family. It’s touching when we see Morgan look back at the albums his wife brought along.

We don’t think at the time anything about a picture in the park, or about the party you went to a week before. But when there’s no hope left (like in the zombie apocalypse) memories are the strongest thing to have. Nothing can replace them and sometimes that’s all you need if you’re down. Especially if you lose a loved one. Fortunately, I haven’t gone through a zombie apocalypse nor have I lost a dear one. But if you go through life hiding from photos how will you be remembered?

Morgan Jones moves on from the photos that he has. He can accept it that yes his wife has turned into a zombie like many people in the world. And that he must remember her in her prime happy days as a beautiful wife, rather than what’s happened to them in the few weeks for the apocalypse turning into a flesh eating zombie. He has to remember her in the photo and “put her out of her misery”.  

It proves the famous saying “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Maybe it’s a good idea to always keep some with you. I know with my phone I have a very tough time deleting all my photos. It’s memories I’m not quite ready to give up yet. (Now go start that show!!!)

Everyone wants Attention

“Us sing and dance, make faces and give flower bouquets, trying to be loved. You ever notice that trees do everything to get attention we do, except walk?”

                —Alice Walker, The Color Purple

It’s been some time since I read this novel. I believe it was the first novel I read that A) doesn’t have chapters. Everything just starts with ‘Dear Celie’ or ‘Dear Nettie’ (until now, I am currently reading Anne Frank). And B) it’s all in slang.

I’ll admit the first reason why I decided to read this book for a school project was because I absolutely love the colour Purple. Walker’s novel is fabulous so long as you don’t mind reading about abuse, rape, different sexual relationships, and racial issues. I never had the chance to watch the movie with, I think, Whoopi Goldberg. But as most people would agree the book is ALWAYS better.

Now why this quote? It doesn’t really have anything to do with the abuse and issues that the two sisters go through. I’m not even quite sure it’s my favourite quote in the novel. However, I think it’s an interesting take on people and how we love. After hearing all the cruelty that Celie was going through it was nice when she would take a second and notice the nature of things around her. What could be made more beautiful in such a situation?

Some of us are very delicate, and some of us are sturdy enough that even strong winds can’t stop us. We dye our hair and lose weight to impress people to fall in love. The trees do the same to grab our attention. They change their leaves grabbing everyone’s attention with their reds, oranges, and yellows. Some trees work harder than others to provide us with gifts like flowers, and fruits.

Am I being cheesy or overanalyzing the quote? Probably. I would have never considered trees and people to be similar in anyway. Especially for trying to be loved and noticed. This quote would actually help with the movement of ‘Being Green’. Tree’s only want our attention and love. Not for us to tear them down and destroy them.

For my closing thought, I would just like to say how I love the towering trees that unfortunately only allow squirrels and chipmunks to climb up. The best time is when they flaunt their changing colours just before the harsh, dry winter. And just to cheer us up...some purple.

Don’t forget to love those trees. Until again.

All We Need Is Love

“I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and this has always been enough.”

                —Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Nicholas Sparks is one of my favourite authors. I am sure I will post a few more quotes from his novels throughout the term. I can’t help but read the classic romance novels. However, this one has to be one of my all-time favourite Nicholas Sparks quotes. Especially from The Notebook (also one of my favourite movies with the ravishing Ryan Gosling).

I love how true this quote is, even if it’s a little cheesy to just “top the cake” for the typical romance people. But really how special are each of us? We all get told we’re special and unique when we’re little, but most of us don’t become the famous rockstar, actor, or model. We all aren’t Batman making a name for ourselves by saving a city. We are all common people with a common life. We eat, sleep, live and die. How do we get that monument in such a sort time? Sure you can have a bucketlist like I do to make goals, but when you die how many people are going to remember you?

‘Noah’—the main character in The Notebook—is right, at least to me. You can make the most of your life and climb Mount Everest, but you aren’t going to have a building named after you. When you come home and curl up beside the one you love that is enough. Pure happiness to Noah.

It may be silly. But you answer this: How many times do you walk past grave stones, read the names, move on, and then forget the name? Do you know their life story? Have you ever heard of them before? The answer is probably no isn’t it?

Trust me, I’m not saying your life isn’t anything special. You’re just not Martin Luther King Jr. who made a name for himself, and gets noticed every year and every day in history class. To me nothing is better then when I’ll be old and grey and come home to the love of my life and share my “common thoughts and life” with him. If I can find someone who loves me as much as I love them I’ll be happy.

So many people get divorced, stay alone and don’t find love. When they die do they have the satisfaction of loving someone with all their heart and soul? Maybe I’m the one whose read to many love novels (…chivalry can go a very long way). I do know that these stories are fictional. Maybe they are too high of an expectation when I’m older. But a girl can dream.

Changing is tough

“I don’t know what’s worse: to not know what you are and be happy, or to become what you’ve always wanted to be, and feel alone”

—Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon

First I must quickly apologize for changing the layout of this entry. But I believe I will stick to this layout to show the quote first and then hopefully have you guys continue reading on.

If you haven’t yet read Flowers for Algernon I highly recommend it. It’s about a mentally retarded man who undergoes a science experiment to become smarter.  Before people were always making fun of him. They took advantage of his disability and used to their amusement. Although Charlie didn’t understand much of what went on his life, he was still content. Once the experiment started expanding his knowledge of the world, he came to realize that his “friends” he once had used him for their enjoyment.

Charlie grew too much going from one extreme to the other. He shifted into different atmospheres you could say. Like in the Comic Book world, there are different Earth’s (Earth 1, Earth 32). He felt like there was no one he belonged with. Don’t get me wrong change is good, but too much of it changes you. No longer are you funny, slower going Charlie Gordon. You are now a crazed, science stranger—an entire new identity.

I think I would rather not know what is wrong with me and enjoy life as it comes, than be left alone feeling farther advanced than anyone like Charlie. It’s like a few movies you see. There’s always the wanna-be rock star. They get big. They get rich. Then they always realize it wasn’t all that cracked up to be. They lose their friends and wish they were back in the garage jamming out. I believe, in the end, everyone ends up choosing to go back to normal.

It could also be that our minds play up the fantasy a little too much. We expect it to be the huge dream we’ve been waiting for where everything is perfect. We want to be smart and fit in, or make millions and be known across the world. As the saying goes “ It’s never as it seems”.

Nerd of the Day

First I should say today is a bit of a nerdy today. I'm off to Toronto to go to a cheap comic book store with my boyfriend and his friends. However what do I do while I'm slowly falling asleep early in the morning on the GO Train? Why, of course, I shall write a nerdy quote from none other than the latest movie 'The Dark Knight Rises'. The wise fellow from the movie I shall quote is the villain Bane as he fights Batman,

"Oh yes, I was wondering what would break first, your spirit or your body?"

Now after this as a quick SPOILER ALERT!!! Bane does actually break Batman like in the comics. (Which of course one can appreciate that Christopher Nolan kept this event while introducing Bane into the story). Anyways I think this is a great quote that each and everyone can probably refer to in their daily lives.

Any task one does you have two options the way I see it: quit when your body can't give anymore OR when you don't have any hope left anymore.

A good example of this is when I went running yesterday. When do you slow down and walk? Your legs are burning up and you're running out of breath, but your mind tells you you can make it to the next block. You can do it. You can do it!

But which voice is more powerful? Louder? Your spirit, or your body? Batman's was when he wasn't physically able to stand anymore. His spirit was urging him to continue and destroy Bane. His spirit ran him into the ground. However, even once his body was no longer capable his spirit still persisted to carry on and get better once he was broken so he could save Gotham.

I can't say I am the same in every situation. Sometimes like running I wait until my body tells me I'm done. Other times it is your spirit telling you to push on. I think though if your spirit is crushed there is no way to go back.

Your body can be fixed and brought into an emergency room. There is always a cure. Your spirit though? What is there to fix your spirit? If someone tells you you are a hopeless cause or worthless, what can bring you back up? Although, your spirit can be a lot harder to break. Especially if you have very strong feelings towards that something.

Well that is all. And if you haven't watched 'The Dark Knight Rises' then do it!

What it's all about

Hi everyone! I'm new to posting blogs. This has to be done for one of my classes (interactive marketing communications). So for this class the task is to write a blog.

I do have another blog (shaystories.wordpress.com). That's for all my creative writing instead of this rambling. And mainly because its a lot easier to write short entries than a story every week on top of school work.

Then what will I be talking about you ask? Quotes. What is better than an interesting quote to read? I'm not thinking about any historical quotes. More along the line of movies and novels. Hopefully something that will make everyone's day a little better or get you thinking.

The first quote I'm gonna start this off with is from the Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld that I've currently started. A very interesting take on what a superficial world would be. In this one the government has made it so that before you turn 16 you are an "ugly" and once it's your 16th birthday you get turned "pretty" by getting surgery. This one here is a lot longer than what I plan to use but theres a lot you get from the quote. Anyways this is the very long quote here...

" 'Right, and things were so great back when everyone was ugly. Or did you miss that day in school?'
'Yeah, yeah, I know,' Shay recited. 'Everyone judges everyone else based on their appearance. People who were taller got better jobs, and people even voted for some politicians just because they weren't quite as ugly as everybody else. Blah, blah, blah.'
'Yeah, and people killed one another over stuff like having different skin color.' Tally shook her head. No matter how many times they repeated it at school, she'd never really quite believe that one. 'So what if people look more alike now? It's the only way to make people equal.' "

Is this our solution? I really hope it would never come to this point. What kills me the most about this story is that girls and guy are just 16. Whose to say they're done growing? And whose to define what pretty should look like? It is good to look nice but everyone looking the same is a little much I think.

Hopefully I have grabbed some of your attention. We'll have to wait and see how it turns out. Stay tuned.