If you were to start writing a novel, what would be the basis for your work? Vonnegut obviously chose his war experiences but seems to have tied them into a somewhat laissez faire view of life. What do you feel the public should learn through your story-telling? Explain the genre, character types and / or general plot of a book that you would write.
Well fortunately, I've always wanted to write a novel, so I guess now would be the perfect time to reveal my story idea.
Firstly, I want to write a fiction novel. Pure fiction, to be exact; not like Vonnegut's warped story with snippets of his real-life experiences. Since I was little, reading has always been an opportunity for me to escape reality and touch on the most far-fetched ideas. I recall being enthralled in Grade 1 by a book about pink fluffy ponies leaping on purple rainbows. Everyone occasionally needs some fiction to enlighten their minds and extend their imagination. My theory is that if you live your entire life in reality, why would you want to spend your time reading about more of the same boring material?
Secondly, I wouldn't really have anything specific as a basis for my work. Maybe my dreams, just because of the sheer spontaneity and creative potential that dreams often have. The point of my fiction novel would be to keep the plot very humorous, whimsical, and light. Nothing too treacly or serious. Again, let me emphasize that I would want my novel to be pleasurable to read, something that would entertain readers and let them have a good chuckle or relaxing smile after a stressful day of work.
So with that being said, let's get to the specifics. My fiction book would be titled, "Tommy in Paradise". Here's a brief summary:
Meet Tommy. Six-year-old Tommy lives a boring lifestyle. He goes to kindergarten. Eats. Sleeps. Routine stuff. He yearns for something exciting to happen in his life.
His wish comes true when, one day, as he is rummaging in his attic, he discovers a pink book with blue and lavender ribbon embellishments on the cover. Curious, Tommy opens the cover, only to be blinded by a radiant yellow light. Tommy is suddenly warped into the book.
The book turns out to be a black hole in disguise, and Tommy is sucked into another universe. As he is being sucked in, Tommy meets Asster, a friend of his, who is coincidentally also being warped. They stick together and find themselves on Alabania planet. In Alabania, there exist creatures that look like ponies. They are unique from ponies, however, in that their species' name changes every 2 seconds. So 2 seconds ago, they were called Yijous. But now, they are called Wefrts. And so on, every two seconds. Tommy and Asster are immensely confused by this odd tradition, but eventually learn to accept this odd nomenclature system on planet Alabania.
Initially, Tommy and Asster are persistent in trying to find a way back to home on Earth. Gradually, however, Tommy becomes more inclined to the jocose environment on Alabania. The Jjkfgs are very friendly to Tommy and Asster. The Rkjsnafs teach Tommy how to fly and create rainbows with his chest hair. (There are rainbows on Alabania, and Tommy has chest hair.) With his newly-acquired talents, Tommy is a lot more happier than he was back on Earth. On the contrary, Asster adapts a completely different attitude. Asster refuses to learn the ways of the Infkjs. He romps around gloomily, as he refuses to adapt to Alabania and the Renkts. The two kids become more separate as time progresses.
25678909876890876890876543567890987 years later, the Traufgfs discover a warp tunnel on Alabania that connects back to Earth. Asster and Tommy are both given the opportunity to leap into the portal and return to their former lives. In the end, Asster chooses to warp back to his boring life back on Earth, whereas Tommy decides to stay with the Rwnadfs and lead a life of glamour, fun, excitement, and rainbows. The book concludes as Tommy zooms accross the Alabania sky, leaving a rainbow trail behind him. Even better, a Yfnfvrnjk flying under Tommy also does the same, creating a double rainbow. The epilogue proceeds to say that Tommy lives a fruitful, fulfilling life until his death at the ripe age of 95.
Fin
Character Analysis:
Through his life-changing experience, Tommy learns to look at life in a whole new perspective. He sees the world as something new and galvanizing. Undoubtedly, Tommy is the dynamic protagonist, as he changes from an average child with a dull lifestyle to a child who can fly and perform amazing feats (ie. make rainbows on demand)
Asster is obviously the foil character who is unwilling to change and adapt to a more vivid exciting lifestyle. Asster's personality accentuates Tommy's insipid prior lifestyle on Earth and how much Tommy has changed since.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Why can't a lion roar?
If a dog can bark for no apparent reason in SH5, why can't a lion roar? It’s a question I ask myself every day, but to no avail.
I'll tell you a short story. Once upon a time, many prestigious authors (see comment section for some examples), decided to add a little catchphrase in their books: "Far away, a dog barked." The motive behind this startling revolution was not publicly revealed. Naturally, readers and critics started discussing in great lengths what this sentence could possibly mean.
"It signifies the awkward silence in that particular moment in the story," claimed an English teacher.
"From my perspective, it's simply a means to detract all the seriousness from the text. It’s Vonnegut’s strange humour,” hypothesized an erudite scholar.
“It’s Vonnegut’s way of winning,” Charlie Sheen confidently stated.
…So what does this catchphrase mean? Has there been deep thought put into this sentence, and is it just so profound that I can’t understand it? Or is this barking dog just something insignificant Vonnegut tossed in to meet a word count?
If you ask me, I agree with the English teacher. But I’m curious. If it turns out to be just some irrelevant flotsam, then am I allowed to interject my stories with a “meanwhile, a lion roared”? I could say that the lion symbolizes the conflict between two characters and provides a brief comforting pause amidst the chaos in the plot. ;)
I find this outrageous! Tell me what you think. Meanwhile, watch this lion roar:
or these lions purr:
I'll tell you a short story. Once upon a time, many prestigious authors (see comment section for some examples), decided to add a little catchphrase in their books: "Far away, a dog barked." The motive behind this startling revolution was not publicly revealed. Naturally, readers and critics started discussing in great lengths what this sentence could possibly mean.
"It signifies the awkward silence in that particular moment in the story," claimed an English teacher.
"From my perspective, it's simply a means to detract all the seriousness from the text. It’s Vonnegut’s strange humour,” hypothesized an erudite scholar.
“It’s Vonnegut’s way of winning,” Charlie Sheen confidently stated.
…So what does this catchphrase mean? Has there been deep thought put into this sentence, and is it just so profound that I can’t understand it? Or is this barking dog just something insignificant Vonnegut tossed in to meet a word count?
If you ask me, I agree with the English teacher. But I’m curious. If it turns out to be just some irrelevant flotsam, then am I allowed to interject my stories with a “meanwhile, a lion roared”? I could say that the lion symbolizes the conflict between two characters and provides a brief comforting pause amidst the chaos in the plot. ;)
I find this outrageous! Tell me what you think. Meanwhile, watch this lion roar:
or these lions purr:
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
My Life: Henry Cheng $31.95
Everyone was just so happy.
Six-year-old Henry wasn’t sure exactly why, but the people around him seemed more cheery than usual. Someone had just shaken him awake from his afternoon nap, and his mind was still reminiscing of his warm yellow blanket. And so he sat dazed, wondering what the commotion around him was about. This awkwardness continued for around five minutes, until Henry finally decided that it’d be best if he resumed his nap. So he dropped unconscious. But moments later, his obnoxious mother woke him up.
“HEEEENNRYYYY!!! WAKKKEEEE UPPPP. IIITTT ISSS YOOUURR BIRRRTHDAYYY!!!!” Henry was reminded of the Discovery channel he had been watching earlier that day, when the ostrich would scream incessantly when it was chasing its prey. Thus, like what any targeted prey would do, Henry activated his natural defensive manoeuvres. He began flapping his arms wildly, eyes still closed, in a desperate attempt to thwart his predator.
Henry’s efforts were futile. He was dragged to the living room, where the cheery people were still celebrating. He was just about to throw a tantrum, when some birthday cake was abruptly shoved in his mouth. Things suddenly became much better for Henry. He now understood why everyone was so happy. The cake was simply delicious! He yelped a cry of immense pleasure, and then proceeded to be cheery like the people around him. He stood up and performed a happy dance ritual, swinging happily back and forth to the music. Oscillating, back and forth…
Henry was still swinging, weightless in the air. But he had somehow he had warped into a playground. He was swinging on some child variation of a zip-line. It was amusing. He’d walk to one side of the playground, grab the device, and swing across. Repeat. Walk across. Swing to other side. Repeat. Henry chuckled with ingenuous glee. Then, however, on the third time, something went awry. After swinging on the zip-line continuously in the same fashion, Henry thought it would be interesting if he tried something new. His mother had always taught him the ancient Chinese proverb 不入虎穴焉得虎子, which meant “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. So he set out to abide by these principles.
Upon some deep contemplation, Henry finally decided he would attempt to swing with full speed on the zip-line and let go midway. His logic was that if he was fast enough, he could possibly hit the ground hard enough and bounce off to the moon. Coincidentally, he had been watching E.T. the night before, which is probably how he thought of the stupendous idea.
His first attempt was futile. Henry got sand in his eyes, and rocks in his bleeding knees, but this did not deter him one bit. His mother has also once taught him, 如果一開始你沒有成功試再試 (if at first you don't succeed try, try again). Henry’s determination was only further fuelled by his initial failure. So he got up and gave his plan a second attempt. This time, something magical did happen! Despite failing to fly to the moon, Henry discovered that his left arm had mysteriously morphed into a bent shape! He excitedly ran to his mother to share what had happened. Halfway there however, the pain hit him like beam of scorching laser.
…Moments later, screams echoed across the playground. Henry had fractured his arm, and his parents were rushing him to a hospital. Henry never believed in proverbs after this incident.
The car ride to the hospital was excruciatingly painful. Henry writhed in pain, with cold sweat dripping from his brow. “Oh my,” Henry’s mother exclaimed. “That’s a nasty shade of purple.” Henry fainted.
When Henry awoke, he was in the middle of a road. He adjusted to his surroundings. It was a crisp sunny day, and the school bell had just rung. Children were flooding out from the school doors. As the children walked by Henry, some stopped and stared, with their mouth gaped open. Again, Henry was struck with confusion. Why were people treating him so peculiarly? Then he noticed a red Volkswagen parked awfully close next to him. And then he observed his contorted leg. Gosh, it was nasty shade of purple.
At that moment, Henry had an epiphany. It seemed like the bright sun had all of a sudden focused entirely on him. He could even hear the angels in the sky singing a D major chord in perfect harmony. Henry had just realized that he got hit by a car. He felt really anxious for a moment. But then Henry realized that he didn’t have anywhere to go on such a fine afternoon, and that he really couldn’t go anywhere anyways with such a disfigured leg. So Henry lay down on the pavement to wait for an ambulance. Somewhere far away, a dog barked.
Six-year-old Henry wasn’t sure exactly why, but the people around him seemed more cheery than usual. Someone had just shaken him awake from his afternoon nap, and his mind was still reminiscing of his warm yellow blanket. And so he sat dazed, wondering what the commotion around him was about. This awkwardness continued for around five minutes, until Henry finally decided that it’d be best if he resumed his nap. So he dropped unconscious. But moments later, his obnoxious mother woke him up.
“HEEEENNRYYYY!!! WAKKKEEEE UPPPP. IIITTT ISSS YOOUURR BIRRRTHDAYYY!!!!” Henry was reminded of the Discovery channel he had been watching earlier that day, when the ostrich would scream incessantly when it was chasing its prey. Thus, like what any targeted prey would do, Henry activated his natural defensive manoeuvres. He began flapping his arms wildly, eyes still closed, in a desperate attempt to thwart his predator.
Henry’s efforts were futile. He was dragged to the living room, where the cheery people were still celebrating. He was just about to throw a tantrum, when some birthday cake was abruptly shoved in his mouth. Things suddenly became much better for Henry. He now understood why everyone was so happy. The cake was simply delicious! He yelped a cry of immense pleasure, and then proceeded to be cheery like the people around him. He stood up and performed a happy dance ritual, swinging happily back and forth to the music. Oscillating, back and forth…
Henry was still swinging, weightless in the air. But he had somehow he had warped into a playground. He was swinging on some child variation of a zip-line. It was amusing. He’d walk to one side of the playground, grab the device, and swing across. Repeat. Walk across. Swing to other side. Repeat. Henry chuckled with ingenuous glee. Then, however, on the third time, something went awry. After swinging on the zip-line continuously in the same fashion, Henry thought it would be interesting if he tried something new. His mother had always taught him the ancient Chinese proverb 不入虎穴焉得虎子, which meant “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. So he set out to abide by these principles.
Upon some deep contemplation, Henry finally decided he would attempt to swing with full speed on the zip-line and let go midway. His logic was that if he was fast enough, he could possibly hit the ground hard enough and bounce off to the moon. Coincidentally, he had been watching E.T. the night before, which is probably how he thought of the stupendous idea.
His first attempt was futile. Henry got sand in his eyes, and rocks in his bleeding knees, but this did not deter him one bit. His mother has also once taught him, 如果一開始你沒有成功試再試 (if at first you don't succeed try, try again). Henry’s determination was only further fuelled by his initial failure. So he got up and gave his plan a second attempt. This time, something magical did happen! Despite failing to fly to the moon, Henry discovered that his left arm had mysteriously morphed into a bent shape! He excitedly ran to his mother to share what had happened. Halfway there however, the pain hit him like beam of scorching laser.
…Moments later, screams echoed across the playground. Henry had fractured his arm, and his parents were rushing him to a hospital. Henry never believed in proverbs after this incident.
The car ride to the hospital was excruciatingly painful. Henry writhed in pain, with cold sweat dripping from his brow. “Oh my,” Henry’s mother exclaimed. “That’s a nasty shade of purple.” Henry fainted.
When Henry awoke, he was in the middle of a road. He adjusted to his surroundings. It was a crisp sunny day, and the school bell had just rung. Children were flooding out from the school doors. As the children walked by Henry, some stopped and stared, with their mouth gaped open. Again, Henry was struck with confusion. Why were people treating him so peculiarly? Then he noticed a red Volkswagen parked awfully close next to him. And then he observed his contorted leg. Gosh, it was nasty shade of purple.
At that moment, Henry had an epiphany. It seemed like the bright sun had all of a sudden focused entirely on him. He could even hear the angels in the sky singing a D major chord in perfect harmony. Henry had just realized that he got hit by a car. He felt really anxious for a moment. But then Henry realized that he didn’t have anywhere to go on such a fine afternoon, and that he really couldn’t go anywhere anyways with such a disfigured leg. So Henry lay down on the pavement to wait for an ambulance. Somewhere far away, a dog barked.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
313 views!
Thank you for all the support guys!
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Friday, March 11, 2011
Vonnegut deserves vulgarity
One late night, I decided to do some background research on Dresden. I thought, anyway, that it would probably be a good idea to understand where Vonnegut's ideas were coming from before I read SH5.
Here's what I discovered:
Comparing these before and after pictures, do you think it is fair for Vonnegut to exploit the vulgar side of war? Keep in mind that the poor fellow had to view these traumatic experiences first-handedly. What he witnessed in his lifetime would undoubtedly affect his writing.
Rather than viewing this aspect of his writing so negatively, why not embrace it? It is true that what Vonnegut witnesses in real life adds a scathing, sometimes macabre tone in his books. However, I think that it provides an important realistic perspective. All books can't be flowery and nice. A gruesome detail here and there only encourages the reader to realize that war is too often glorified in texts. SH5 only serves as a faithful reminder of the real brutality and misery of war. And that's no reason to censor his book. Give Vonnegut a break.
Until next time!
Henry
Here's what I discovered:
Comparing these before and after pictures, do you think it is fair for Vonnegut to exploit the vulgar side of war? Keep in mind that the poor fellow had to view these traumatic experiences first-handedly. What he witnessed in his lifetime would undoubtedly affect his writing.
Rather than viewing this aspect of his writing so negatively, why not embrace it? It is true that what Vonnegut witnesses in real life adds a scathing, sometimes macabre tone in his books. However, I think that it provides an important realistic perspective. All books can't be flowery and nice. A gruesome detail here and there only encourages the reader to realize that war is too often glorified in texts. SH5 only serves as a faithful reminder of the real brutality and misery of war. And that's no reason to censor his book. Give Vonnegut a break.
Until next time!
Henry
Friday, March 4, 2011
Censorship? I think not.
Has censorship ever done this world any good? Maybe the initial reason to censor is good. The Americans, for example, probably banned SH11 to maintain the positive morale of their people during the Vietnam war. Nonetheless, censorship has almost always led to problems. What begins as a good intention can quickly be manipulated by the people in charge. Take China, for instance. It may be for the country's sake, but its media and internet censorship has stirred a whole vat of problems concerning freedom of speeches and human rights. This brings me to my second point.
Another reason to reconsider censoring objectionable materials is that people should have the right to voice their thoughts, no matter how controversial or perverse they may be. Censoring is no solution. It`d be better if people could evaluate diverse opinions, and then come to a conclusion by themselves whether each opinion is right or wrong. Censoring only breeds ignorance, as people become unaware of new ideas and become too narrow-sighted.
SH5 definitely poses the risk of offending people. It presents a very pessimistic, degrading, if not slightly scornful, view on Americans. I don`t think, however, that people should ban it for that reason. People should be allowed to read his novel, contemplate why he writes so negatively on Americans, and then make their own judgment from there. Even if one does find Vonnegut`s book to be offensive, he or she should still have the integrity to respect Vonnegut`s stance, even though he or she may disagree with it.
If censorship existed, where would we be? The Nazis censored the true nature of the Jewish massacre in WW2 from their own German people. China, to this day, still filters online results of the Tienanmen Massacre from its people. So don`t suppress truth or ideas. Offensive or not, it is still good to let people reflect on controversial materials, such as SH5. Let the world think.
Another reason to reconsider censoring objectionable materials is that people should have the right to voice their thoughts, no matter how controversial or perverse they may be. Censoring is no solution. It`d be better if people could evaluate diverse opinions, and then come to a conclusion by themselves whether each opinion is right or wrong. Censoring only breeds ignorance, as people become unaware of new ideas and become too narrow-sighted.
SH5 definitely poses the risk of offending people. It presents a very pessimistic, degrading, if not slightly scornful, view on Americans. I don`t think, however, that people should ban it for that reason. People should be allowed to read his novel, contemplate why he writes so negatively on Americans, and then make their own judgment from there. Even if one does find Vonnegut`s book to be offensive, he or she should still have the integrity to respect Vonnegut`s stance, even though he or she may disagree with it.
If censorship existed, where would we be? The Nazis censored the true nature of the Jewish massacre in WW2 from their own German people. China, to this day, still filters online results of the Tienanmen Massacre from its people. So don`t suppress truth or ideas. Offensive or not, it is still good to let people reflect on controversial materials, such as SH5. Let the world think.
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