Last week I spoke on the virtues of reading classic books. But let's be honest now, some of those older books really are not worth reading. One good example of this is Tess of the d'Urbervilles (Tess) by Thomas Hardy. I think the first mistake of this book was that it was written by a man. Why a man tries to write about a woman and how she responds to womanly experiences is beyond me.
Basically this book follows the life of Tess Durbeyfield, a sweet village girl of lowly parentage. The book opens with a quiet village scene where Tess and some other village girls are dancing. She happens to make eye contact with a random young boy passing through.
Switch to Tess's drunken father finding out that they are remotely related to an old family by the name of d'Urberville. Her father gets the idea to send young Tess out meet Mrs. d'Urberville and present herself as a long lost relative. Tess, feeling guilty over some events agrees to this. She makes the journey by wagon and walking and ends up meeting Alec d'Urberville (the son) who offers her the job of watching the poultry on the rather run down estate. Basically to sum up her time here we find out that the d'Urbervilles are just frauds who borrowed the name to sound more refined and Alec rapes Tess.
Tess returns home pregnant, and her family takes her in. The baby is born but dies at a young age, his mother believing it because of her sin. After this Tess decides she needs to leave because she can't deal with being judged by everyone. So she takes off and ends up finding work at a dairy farm as a milkmaid. Who should she meet there by the boy she made eye contact with at the beginning of the book, Angel Clare. Angel is resisting his family's urging to become a preacher because he wants to be a farmer. While working at the farm Tess and Angel fall in a love and take forever to admit it to each other. But then Angel proposes to her and she agrees to marry him. Now she's in a bind as she feels guilty because she isn't a virgin but she can't find time to tell him. So, they get married and the night of she finally admits to him what happens. He responds poorly (even though he had had a sight affair with an older lady before he met Tess) and the next few days are extremely awkward. Tess suggests they separate and he agrees. Angel gives her some money than takes off for Brazil saying he will write to her if he can forgive her and wants her to join him. On his way out of town he runs into Izz, another milkmaid he worked with and asks her to be his mistress and come to Brazil with him. She agrees, but then tells him no one will love him like Tess and she can't. So he continues on his own.
Meanwhile Tess, who had told Angel she'd go back to her parents but decides she can't stay there and goes to work on another farm. The labor is hard and the boss is a creep who keeps trying to get in with Tess. She once attempts to go see Angel's parents and ask for help but decides not to after over hearing his brother discussing her. On the back to the farm she meets a wandering preacher who turns out to be Alec d'Urberville who apparently got religion.
Alec starts to pursue Tess, following her to the farm and asking her to marry him. She tells him she is married and to leave her alone. He returns periodically to convince her to marry him. Then Tess gets notice her family is sick and returns home. Her father dies and she and the rest of the family are evicted. So they leave and take refuge at the church dedicated to the real d'Urberville family. Alec shows up again and convinces Tess that Angel will never return. So she agrees to marry him in return for helping her mom and siblings.
Meanwhile, Angel returns home because he got sick and his farms failed. Someone that he told his problems to tells him he was stupid and should never have left his wife. He finds two letters at home, an angry one from Tess, and an anonymous note saying to save Tess from a 'friend' (Alec). Angel finds Tess's mom who tells him where to find her. She is at an Inn with her new husband. Understandably upset as seeing Angel, who she had convinced herself would never come back, she asks him to leave her.
Angel leaves, and Tess goes upstairs and gets in a fight with Alec. She ends up killing him and then running after Angel. She tells him what happens and they run. They spend a few magical days together and then the law catches up with Tess. Tess tells Angel she hopes that he will marry Liza-lu her little sister after she is dead. Tess is executed and the book ends as Angel and Liza-lu leave the execution holding hands.
Where to start. Truly, after reading that I felt like I had wasted a couple days of my life. What is anyone supposed to learn? Rape doesn't pay? Truth isn't the best policy?
Try to fathom where Thomas Hardy was going with this. This book was published in the 1890's and was probably a scandalous read. So what was he warning of? The danger of letting your young daughter out on her own? Or was he trying to make some sort of analogy? Maybe the traditions and values of the day - embodied by Tess - were being ruined by the changes of the day and age?
Either way it is not a book I would read again nor would I recommend you read it.
Just use judgement.. if you haven't heard of it before maybe do some research before reading it.
Just my two cents.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Friday, September 12, 2014
Why be good?
1 Thessalonians 5:6-11
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Often times Christian's are judged because the world views us as conceited people who look down on the unsaved because our standards make us better. But a Christian sets his own personal standards based on how he believes God wants him to live. These standards are different for every Christian based their maturity and understanding of God's Word.
But why? Why live a certain way, follow a set of standards, come across as different?
Because we have a reason to. Think about it - If we didn't have a hope, or something to believe in, would we choose of our own volition to be good- in many cases, no.
The above verses answer that question better than I can. Because we are redeemed, and God chose us not be condemned but rather to be forgiven. This is why we do what we do. Why you don't take Christian liberty and do what you want because you know you're already forgiven. You put on the armor of God and show his love to others, if that means being criticized because you different, yes. Does that mean you are looking down at those who don't have your standards, no.
We read God's Word and apply it to our lives as we personally understand, we love our neighbors and don't judge them for their choices (yes, admittedly there are Christian's who do judge others, but that is only a minority. Those who truly believe in showing others God's love would not give up on them or worse, not even try, because of their choices.) and yes, we may have some standards for how we live.
Also, we are not defined by our standards, that is not what makes us a Christian. God's loving mercy and forgiveness is what take our definition from being a sinner to be redeemed. Just as our standards don't define us, neither should we let others' standards define them.
Just some thoughts from my Bible reading.
The above verses answer that question better than I can. Because we are redeemed, and God chose us not be condemned but rather to be forgiven. This is why we do what we do. Why you don't take Christian liberty and do what you want because you know you're already forgiven. You put on the armor of God and show his love to others, if that means being criticized because you different, yes. Does that mean you are looking down at those who don't have your standards, no.
We read God's Word and apply it to our lives as we personally understand, we love our neighbors and don't judge them for their choices (yes, admittedly there are Christian's who do judge others, but that is only a minority. Those who truly believe in showing others God's love would not give up on them or worse, not even try, because of their choices.) and yes, we may have some standards for how we live.
Also, we are not defined by our standards, that is not what makes us a Christian. God's loving mercy and forgiveness is what take our definition from being a sinner to be redeemed. Just as our standards don't define us, neither should we let others' standards define them.
Just some thoughts from my Bible reading.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Book Review: Divergent Series *Spoiler Alert*
Well, decided to go with a book review.
Modern day reads have seriously deteriorated from what used to be acceptable. All the great writers from Shakespeare and Austen are rolling in their graves with what people choose to read today. Despite my love for the classics, I must admit that I have read several of series popular today. Mostly out of curiosity and to be informed of what others are reading.
The most popular genre seems to be futuristic end of the world reads as seen in the Hunger Games series and the Divergent series. What is the point of such books? To inspire fear? Think about it, if the world ever got to a place where pitting young teens against each other as a form of control were acceptable, that would be a very messed up world. Books of this genre seem to be geared to take the horror out of such situations, but it's still horrible no matter how you package it.
All that said, I have read these books, and I won't bother with a review on the Hunger Games. But Divergent, as far as young adult reads go, was a least better than the Hunger Games series.
The premise of the Divergent series is that the world has created this utopia of sorts where, by dividing people by their primary talents, a perfect system can be created that can be used to save the world. Not that is clear until the 2nd and the 3rd book to the reader. Basically the world is falling apart so they brainwash a generation and place them a gated city far enough from civilization that they believe they are the only people left, or if they aren't they are too scared to leave the gate that they are content where they are.
The people in the walled up city (originally Chicago) are divided into 'factions' based on their primary character traits. The factions are:
Abnegation: The Selfless, plain-dressing, helpful, (government comes from this faction as well).
Erudite: The Intelligent, students, involved in technology and science.
Dauntless: The Brave/soldiers, protectors of the gate, ruthless.
Amity: The Peaceful, actually live outside the fence, farmers, nature lovers
Candor: The Honest
Children are born into their parents factions, and when they are 16 they take a test which tells them what faction they are best fit for. They can choose to stay in the one they grew up in, or if the test recommends a different faction they can join that one. At the choosing ceremony they cut their hands and drip their blood on the bowl representing the faction they choose.
Enter the glitch in this system - Beatrice Prior a girl from the Abnegation. She is divergent, meaning the computer test that is supposed to dictate her life isn't smart enough to place her in a faction, because like most normal people she has multiple good traits. She is brave, selfless and smart.
Beatrice chooses Dauntless, changes her name to Tris, and starts the vigorous training that new members must go through in order to stay in the Dauntless faction. Enter the predictability of the book- she overcomes the obstacles and survives the training, and cue the romance of the series with Four (aka: Tobias, a kid Tris grew up with who ran away because his father (an Abnegation role model) was secretly abusive).
Then we get to the climax. Turns out that the Erudite have been planning to overthrow the happy system by attacking the Abnegation by mind controlling the Dauntless. But Tris and Four (who is also divergent) cannot be controlled by the serum that affects the rest of the Dauntless. Unfortunately Four gets caught and forced to take another special serum that can override even his Divergent abilities. This leaves Tris, with the help of her father and brother to destroy the computer system the Erudite are using to control the Dauntless. (Tris's mom was shot saving Tris). So the three of them break into the computer room, being controlled by a drugged up Four and stop the overtaking. Sadly, lives are lost (including Tris's father) and the entire city is in an uproar at what has happened.
The book ends as they all (Tris, un-drugged Four, her brother, Four's abusive father and Peter the jerk from Dauntless) ride off in a train to Amity to re-coup.
As the first book sets up the basic story I will quickly sum up the last two books. In the second book they continue recovering from the attack, trying to set up some sort of peace with the Erudite leader who started the whole mess. We also find out that Tobia's mother is alive (her death was staged so she could escape her abusive husband, although she left her 8 year old son to be his sole outlet; setting up some lovely mother/son issues as they are forced to work together and Tobias has to decided if he will forgive her and if he can trust her.) Needless to say that doesn't go well- the peace attempt and mother/son reconciliation. Also, the romance angle is on an ever present roller coaster, yes, they love each other, but of course we need to have all this drama and stupidity to keep it from getting boring. Eventually they try to stage an attack on the Erudite compound which isn't very successful but they do find a video that tells them that they are really a giant experiment and that the rest of the world just placed them in their city to try and solve their own problems. Not considering them people but more like lab rats. Tris finds out her mom was one that willingly chose to be brainwashed and join the project. End book 2.
The third book begins as a team of them go outside the fence and find the organization that placed them in the city. This organization is just concerned with finding a solution to the world's problems and isn't particularly caring about what happened. Instead, it just wants to re-brainwash the entire city so they forget the overthrowing. The head of the organization tries to recruit Tris- mainly because he was in-love with Tris's mother before she went into the city. But Tris will have none of it, she knows that brainwashing the city again is not the way to go. So *spoiler alert* they take over the organization and Tris ends up dying *gasp! We just killed off a main character?!*. The book ends as everyone else figures out how to live happily ever after.
Good things about this series? Well, if technology keeps advancing this could one day be possible so I guess it's not too far 'out there'. While I did like Tris's character, I think it was a good move on the author's part to kill her. Life isn't perfect, the good people don't always make it. Tris chose to do the right thing even though she knew she was going to die. The world in general is too selfish so a book where the character actually has character was refreshing.
If I were to rate this I would give it a 5/10 rating. Again, what does it really teach anyone? Can this be applied to real life? Not particularly. Also, Veronica Roth is a good writer, but somewhat sloppy. She makes a novice mistake between book 1 and book 2 and that is really disappointing. Yeah, it was a small detail she messed up, but if she messed that up maybe there are more mistakes that I did not catch. If you're going to write a series you really need to pay attention to details. But at least she doesn't negate her series like Suzanne Collins did with the Hunger Games (rant for another time.)
I guess the moral (?) of the Divergent Series could be: Bad things happen to good people, put a helmet on and move on. Or: When the world is all about conforming, being yourself is bad but it could save the world. Be different.
Anyway.. if you got anything out of that please comment and let me know. Otherwise maybe it made you laugh.
Modern day reads have seriously deteriorated from what used to be acceptable. All the great writers from Shakespeare and Austen are rolling in their graves with what people choose to read today. Despite my love for the classics, I must admit that I have read several of series popular today. Mostly out of curiosity and to be informed of what others are reading.
The most popular genre seems to be futuristic end of the world reads as seen in the Hunger Games series and the Divergent series. What is the point of such books? To inspire fear? Think about it, if the world ever got to a place where pitting young teens against each other as a form of control were acceptable, that would be a very messed up world. Books of this genre seem to be geared to take the horror out of such situations, but it's still horrible no matter how you package it.
All that said, I have read these books, and I won't bother with a review on the Hunger Games. But Divergent, as far as young adult reads go, was a least better than the Hunger Games series.
The premise of the Divergent series is that the world has created this utopia of sorts where, by dividing people by their primary talents, a perfect system can be created that can be used to save the world. Not that is clear until the 2nd and the 3rd book to the reader. Basically the world is falling apart so they brainwash a generation and place them a gated city far enough from civilization that they believe they are the only people left, or if they aren't they are too scared to leave the gate that they are content where they are.
The people in the walled up city (originally Chicago) are divided into 'factions' based on their primary character traits. The factions are:
Abnegation: The Selfless, plain-dressing, helpful, (government comes from this faction as well).
Erudite: The Intelligent, students, involved in technology and science.
Dauntless: The Brave/soldiers, protectors of the gate, ruthless.
Amity: The Peaceful, actually live outside the fence, farmers, nature lovers
Candor: The Honest
Children are born into their parents factions, and when they are 16 they take a test which tells them what faction they are best fit for. They can choose to stay in the one they grew up in, or if the test recommends a different faction they can join that one. At the choosing ceremony they cut their hands and drip their blood on the bowl representing the faction they choose.
Enter the glitch in this system - Beatrice Prior a girl from the Abnegation. She is divergent, meaning the computer test that is supposed to dictate her life isn't smart enough to place her in a faction, because like most normal people she has multiple good traits. She is brave, selfless and smart.
Beatrice chooses Dauntless, changes her name to Tris, and starts the vigorous training that new members must go through in order to stay in the Dauntless faction. Enter the predictability of the book- she overcomes the obstacles and survives the training, and cue the romance of the series with Four (aka: Tobias, a kid Tris grew up with who ran away because his father (an Abnegation role model) was secretly abusive).
Then we get to the climax. Turns out that the Erudite have been planning to overthrow the happy system by attacking the Abnegation by mind controlling the Dauntless. But Tris and Four (who is also divergent) cannot be controlled by the serum that affects the rest of the Dauntless. Unfortunately Four gets caught and forced to take another special serum that can override even his Divergent abilities. This leaves Tris, with the help of her father and brother to destroy the computer system the Erudite are using to control the Dauntless. (Tris's mom was shot saving Tris). So the three of them break into the computer room, being controlled by a drugged up Four and stop the overtaking. Sadly, lives are lost (including Tris's father) and the entire city is in an uproar at what has happened.
The book ends as they all (Tris, un-drugged Four, her brother, Four's abusive father and Peter the jerk from Dauntless) ride off in a train to Amity to re-coup.
As the first book sets up the basic story I will quickly sum up the last two books. In the second book they continue recovering from the attack, trying to set up some sort of peace with the Erudite leader who started the whole mess. We also find out that Tobia's mother is alive (her death was staged so she could escape her abusive husband, although she left her 8 year old son to be his sole outlet; setting up some lovely mother/son issues as they are forced to work together and Tobias has to decided if he will forgive her and if he can trust her.) Needless to say that doesn't go well- the peace attempt and mother/son reconciliation. Also, the romance angle is on an ever present roller coaster, yes, they love each other, but of course we need to have all this drama and stupidity to keep it from getting boring. Eventually they try to stage an attack on the Erudite compound which isn't very successful but they do find a video that tells them that they are really a giant experiment and that the rest of the world just placed them in their city to try and solve their own problems. Not considering them people but more like lab rats. Tris finds out her mom was one that willingly chose to be brainwashed and join the project. End book 2.
The third book begins as a team of them go outside the fence and find the organization that placed them in the city. This organization is just concerned with finding a solution to the world's problems and isn't particularly caring about what happened. Instead, it just wants to re-brainwash the entire city so they forget the overthrowing. The head of the organization tries to recruit Tris- mainly because he was in-love with Tris's mother before she went into the city. But Tris will have none of it, she knows that brainwashing the city again is not the way to go. So *spoiler alert* they take over the organization and Tris ends up dying *gasp! We just killed off a main character?!*. The book ends as everyone else figures out how to live happily ever after.
Good things about this series? Well, if technology keeps advancing this could one day be possible so I guess it's not too far 'out there'. While I did like Tris's character, I think it was a good move on the author's part to kill her. Life isn't perfect, the good people don't always make it. Tris chose to do the right thing even though she knew she was going to die. The world in general is too selfish so a book where the character actually has character was refreshing.
If I were to rate this I would give it a 5/10 rating. Again, what does it really teach anyone? Can this be applied to real life? Not particularly. Also, Veronica Roth is a good writer, but somewhat sloppy. She makes a novice mistake between book 1 and book 2 and that is really disappointing. Yeah, it was a small detail she messed up, but if she messed that up maybe there are more mistakes that I did not catch. If you're going to write a series you really need to pay attention to details. But at least she doesn't negate her series like Suzanne Collins did with the Hunger Games (rant for another time.)
I guess the moral (?) of the Divergent Series could be: Bad things happen to good people, put a helmet on and move on. Or: When the world is all about conforming, being yourself is bad but it could save the world. Be different.
Anyway.. if you got anything out of that please comment and let me know. Otherwise maybe it made you laugh.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Long Time, no Post
Hello Again,
As always, there has been quite some time since I last posted. But that - and this time I mean it- is going to be different.
Life has had some major changes recently. I 'quit' college, moved to Texas, and am now on the job prowl. Looking to save up money and then study cosmetology. (Yes. Cosmetology. Lets not forget the saying: Do what you love. Well, I love to do hair so why not get certified and be able to do it professionally?)
True, I have left all my friends and the 'life' that one can have in the college realm. But now I get to live day-by-day, trusting God and see where LIFE can go.
I plan to keep this updated with the happenings of my life.
- Annoying my cousin
- Sarcasm
- Stories (As I am sure I will do plenty of stupid and awkward things that probably shouldn't be shared but knowing me, will be.)
- What God is teaching me
- Photos
- Book reviews (With these reviews you will never have to read a book again!)
Comment on stuff you'd like to read about and I will see what I can do!
As always, there has been quite some time since I last posted. But that - and this time I mean it- is going to be different.
Life has had some major changes recently. I 'quit' college, moved to Texas, and am now on the job prowl. Looking to save up money and then study cosmetology. (Yes. Cosmetology. Lets not forget the saying: Do what you love. Well, I love to do hair so why not get certified and be able to do it professionally?)
True, I have left all my friends and the 'life' that one can have in the college realm. But now I get to live day-by-day, trusting God and see where LIFE can go.
I plan to keep this updated with the happenings of my life.
- Annoying my cousin
- Sarcasm
- Stories (As I am sure I will do plenty of stupid and awkward things that probably shouldn't be shared but knowing me, will be.)
- What God is teaching me
- Photos
- Book reviews (With these reviews you will never have to read a book again!)
Comment on stuff you'd like to read about and I will see what I can do!
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