I didn't think I was going to enjoy the toolbox at all really, and I was pleasantly surprised. I thought his comparison to a writer's tools to his grandfather's tools made a whole lot of sense and I could appreciate that. Leave it to King to continue to deposit little packages of humorous relief in his novel also, which makes the whole thing a lot more pleasurable to take in.
He lists the writing 'tools' in order of importance. In explaining that his grandfather had made his toolbox himself, we can automatically assume King did as well. In his experience he's had the time to get his art down to a science, as he explains that to us on pages 114 through 128. What I found funny is that he somewhat reminded me of a grandfather himself throughout this section of the book. (Which by this time he probably is...) But still, I felt like not only was I listening to someone with whom I could relate, but a very old and wise man with many things that who, underneath his stark, dry humour, really wanted to share his knowledge with me.
One thing I specifically appreciated were the snippets of other literature he included in the vocabulary section. I enjoyed trying to decode their meanings, and he included one by Cormac McCarthy, who happens to be one of my favourite writers. His analogy of trying to decorate your work with large vocabulary words to dressing up your pet in ridiculous clothing, embarrassing everyone and accomplishing nothing, made me giggle and it also made me consider that maybe it is sometimes better to say what you want to say simply.
Reading about his "place" he would go to write was something I could really relate to. I always work to music, and I always work with my door closed. I knew exactly what he was talking about when he mentioned 'creating your own world', because I do that all the time in drama and in my writing anyway. Exploring his hardships he's faced in the composition of his novels and in his life in general have made me see King in a new light, a much more personal light, and I feel like if I were to read one of his novels soon I would be able to delve much deeper into it because I've experienced the way he writes when he's writing directly to his audience. I may pick up on some hints I may have missed before, or a secret meaning that only people who have taken the time to find out who the master behind the madness has left in the lines of his literature.
I really enjoyed reading of this section. The whole piece is a very informative, easy, and enjoyable read. I would recommend it to friends.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
State of the Union
Gosh, President Obama has such a nice smile.
I really liked that he opened his speech by addressing the soldiers who gave their lives for our country. I quite honestly believe one of the only worthwhile things he has done for America during his presidency is bring our courageous troupes home. That is no small task and Americans around the world, including myself, are thankful for his efforts in restoring our troupes back to us. And he is correct, if Americans showed a bit of teamwork and collaboration we could be a much better people and country.
I would, however, appreciate his words of restoring the economy and that we could develop a more efficient means of job opportunities if he actually made good on his word. The only thing I've ever seen happen monetarily under this man's watch is the economy has gone up in agonizing flames, and struggled to return to its natural thriving state.
He's creating the debt by failing to prevent the government from spending money our pitiful economy cannot afford. He has the power to do so, but stands by and watches us sink further and further into the pit of debt. He is not wrong when he claims that our union is getting stronger. It very obviously has since the slow and torturous beginning of the recession in 2008. My father owns a small business and we've struggled greatly in the last four years. He is responsible for the lives of my mother, my three sisters, and myself. He has induced a huge amount of stress on himself because there has never been quite enough money to get us through comfortably. Small businesses like my family's have weakened and some have failed under the leadership of Obama. I also ignore the small bit of natural born conservative instinct that refuses to quiet inside me that there is a fantastic chance that President Obama might be talking his way into the heads of desperate Americans looking for any solution to end their poverty to win this election just like he used the same tactics before.
No man with a functional mind can honestly say that his presidency has been successful. We have faltered under his hand. We have struggled and lost much credibility with the governments of other countries that we depend on to unite with us if ever there is a means of threat. Our economy is pathetic. Something tells me that even though I do not dislike Obama as a person, as I cannot rightfully do because I do not know him on a personal level, that I should not trust him. And I don't. And however charming his 2012 State of the Union may be, my opinions of him are unchanging.
I really liked that he opened his speech by addressing the soldiers who gave their lives for our country. I quite honestly believe one of the only worthwhile things he has done for America during his presidency is bring our courageous troupes home. That is no small task and Americans around the world, including myself, are thankful for his efforts in restoring our troupes back to us. And he is correct, if Americans showed a bit of teamwork and collaboration we could be a much better people and country.
I would, however, appreciate his words of restoring the economy and that we could develop a more efficient means of job opportunities if he actually made good on his word. The only thing I've ever seen happen monetarily under this man's watch is the economy has gone up in agonizing flames, and struggled to return to its natural thriving state.
He's creating the debt by failing to prevent the government from spending money our pitiful economy cannot afford. He has the power to do so, but stands by and watches us sink further and further into the pit of debt. He is not wrong when he claims that our union is getting stronger. It very obviously has since the slow and torturous beginning of the recession in 2008. My father owns a small business and we've struggled greatly in the last four years. He is responsible for the lives of my mother, my three sisters, and myself. He has induced a huge amount of stress on himself because there has never been quite enough money to get us through comfortably. Small businesses like my family's have weakened and some have failed under the leadership of Obama. I also ignore the small bit of natural born conservative instinct that refuses to quiet inside me that there is a fantastic chance that President Obama might be talking his way into the heads of desperate Americans looking for any solution to end their poverty to win this election just like he used the same tactics before.
No man with a functional mind can honestly say that his presidency has been successful. We have faltered under his hand. We have struggled and lost much credibility with the governments of other countries that we depend on to unite with us if ever there is a means of threat. Our economy is pathetic. Something tells me that even though I do not dislike Obama as a person, as I cannot rightfully do because I do not know him on a personal level, that I should not trust him. And I don't. And however charming his 2012 State of the Union may be, my opinions of him are unchanging.
Monday, January 23, 2012
On Writing, King, Part 1
I enjoyed the first part of King's memoir because he was so open and honest with his audience. King immediately invites the reader into his life by sharing personal memories and events that have happened throughout his life, creating a desire to know everything he has to share. The book captivated my interest from the very beginning - I've always been a fan of King's diction and description choices, and his comparison of his childhood to that of Mary Karr's being a "fogged out landscapre from which occasional memories appear like isolated trees...." was the ticket he needed to win my attention.
Part of what made me so interested in his stories was his blunt honesty and sometimes profane opinion on the events that he had experienced as a child. I never had a consistent babysitter when I was growing up, and although I know not all babysitters are quite as unappealing as King's apparently was, I could completely sympathize with his unfortunate experiences with his babysitter. I particularly enjoyed reading about his first 'paid job' as a writer. It was emotionally touching to me, the story of his fascination with his comic stories and his attempt to recreate them, and his mother's generous payment of one quarter per story, and how after four stories it was the first buck he'd made in the business.
King is obviously close with his family. He and his brother shared many interesting childish experiences together to show that. The boys must have had immense respect and affection for their mother, because one, she's their mother, and two, she was a single mother raising two children on a pitiful wage. It would be expected that they would feel the way King implies.
I've never been much of a television fan myself, so when King acclaimed part of his success as a writer to not having been subjected to "video bullshit" at a young age I could definitely appreciate that. I also personally feel that t.v. has a tendency to detract from the possibilities of the human brain, as being exposed to it at such a young age can have a depressing effect on the way a person's mind works and thinks. I do believe as well as King that the more unexposed the mind to the media world, the more potential one has to think outside the box which is a skill required to become a successful, interesting writer.
When King discussed his beliefs on God, I could completely relate. I, too, believe in God, but I also have an extraoridnary distaste for organized religion. I believe that different churches interpret the Bible the way they WANT to interpret the Bible, and the only true way to gain the truth in it is by interpreting it for yourself. I do not enjoy attending church, although I don't mind the people that attend it. I just find my opinions on certain matters and how they correlate with God's plan are unaccepted and often clash in a place of organized worship. When reading this book, I can't help but feel King and I would see eye to eye on this issue.
The majority of part one after page 50 focused primarily on King's blossoming family, his wife whom he was completely in love with, his sweet, trouble-making children, and the stories of their poverty in his struggle to succeed. There were many times when King would tell of emotional instances in which he felt he was doing his family an injustice by being unable to adequately provide an ideal living circumstance for them, but his discouragement never prevented him from prevailing. I admire King and his work, and I have gained a much deeper respect for the writer as a common person and not just as the successful writer he is. Some stories I could relate to, others I could only interpret the text and cry tears of joy and sorrow along with him. I feel King is a fascinating man with incredible insight, veiled advice, and stories on what led him to success.
Part of what made me so interested in his stories was his blunt honesty and sometimes profane opinion on the events that he had experienced as a child. I never had a consistent babysitter when I was growing up, and although I know not all babysitters are quite as unappealing as King's apparently was, I could completely sympathize with his unfortunate experiences with his babysitter. I particularly enjoyed reading about his first 'paid job' as a writer. It was emotionally touching to me, the story of his fascination with his comic stories and his attempt to recreate them, and his mother's generous payment of one quarter per story, and how after four stories it was the first buck he'd made in the business.
King is obviously close with his family. He and his brother shared many interesting childish experiences together to show that. The boys must have had immense respect and affection for their mother, because one, she's their mother, and two, she was a single mother raising two children on a pitiful wage. It would be expected that they would feel the way King implies.
I've never been much of a television fan myself, so when King acclaimed part of his success as a writer to not having been subjected to "video bullshit" at a young age I could definitely appreciate that. I also personally feel that t.v. has a tendency to detract from the possibilities of the human brain, as being exposed to it at such a young age can have a depressing effect on the way a person's mind works and thinks. I do believe as well as King that the more unexposed the mind to the media world, the more potential one has to think outside the box which is a skill required to become a successful, interesting writer.
When King discussed his beliefs on God, I could completely relate. I, too, believe in God, but I also have an extraoridnary distaste for organized religion. I believe that different churches interpret the Bible the way they WANT to interpret the Bible, and the only true way to gain the truth in it is by interpreting it for yourself. I do not enjoy attending church, although I don't mind the people that attend it. I just find my opinions on certain matters and how they correlate with God's plan are unaccepted and often clash in a place of organized worship. When reading this book, I can't help but feel King and I would see eye to eye on this issue.
The majority of part one after page 50 focused primarily on King's blossoming family, his wife whom he was completely in love with, his sweet, trouble-making children, and the stories of their poverty in his struggle to succeed. There were many times when King would tell of emotional instances in which he felt he was doing his family an injustice by being unable to adequately provide an ideal living circumstance for them, but his discouragement never prevented him from prevailing. I admire King and his work, and I have gained a much deeper respect for the writer as a common person and not just as the successful writer he is. Some stories I could relate to, others I could only interpret the text and cry tears of joy and sorrow along with him. I feel King is a fascinating man with incredible insight, veiled advice, and stories on what led him to success.
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