The death of reading and how to like it again: Book Rehab Round 1 (Harry Potter series, Ender's Game, The Perks of being a Wallflower, The Picture of Dorian Gray)

When you spend too much time at home, you grow an intense distaste for the outside world. Even the cheery smiles of your close friends can't seem to lure you out from your home. Your rather spend the rest of your existence on your couch as a catatonic zombie, and watch endless reruns of your favorite tv shows.

After watching a week's worth of movies and tv, which is equivalent to an entire year of tv for the average "active" being (which you are not), you stumble across a feel good movie that makes you want to live again. "What am I doing on this couch?" you think. TV is slowly sucking away your soul. You are no longer human. Perhaps you should remain in this state. It is easy and comfortable after all.

Or perhaps not.

"I am a person of substance," you say. "Instead of watching tv, I shall go to the library and borrow some books!"

Upon reaching the library, you find that you have no idea what to begin reading. Back to couch-surfing the tv channels on Astro for you.

HAHA. Just kidding. I was in a similar predicament, but no way have I descended to the level of "mindless tv couch zombie". About two weeks ago, I was stumped when it came to reading. I couldn't pay attention past 5 pages, which was pretty unusual, considering how I used to be able to finish the LOTR trilogy in three days.

I had tried ten different books, and I got the same results. I just didn't like reading anymore. And I couldn't understand why. I finally concluded that technology was slowly killing my attention span to text.

Thanks to technology, the bulk of our day is spent checking notifications of various social media sites (Facebook/Twitter), or on our smartphones via apps (Whatsapp), or on Youtube watching irrelevant but amusing videos, or we stream/download movies or shows to watch. In the wise words of Hermione Granger, "Do you even read?"

The answer is no. We simply "don't have time".

We have plenty of time. We just spend doing all the wrong things. So for the past two months or so, I imposed a ban on technology (phone, internet, tv) at night, and attempted to re-discover why I liked reading.

Now I am out of book rehab and I love books again. Here's Round 1 of "book therapy". 

Round 1 (Favorite books) 

1) The Harry Potter Series. 

This shouldn't be surprising considering how I quoted Hermione Granger earlier on. I decided to start with these books simply because they were the first books I read as a kid that didn't have any pictures in them. JK Rowling's world building and character building skills here are incredible. Also, the language used here was simple enough for me to understand without putting me to sleep. The Harry Potter books hold a broad appeal to people of almost all ages, for its ability to relate to normalcy while still maintaining an open door to fantasy. 

And don't tell me you've never even heard of Harry Potter. I wouldn't believe you.

2) Ender's Game 

In today's world where books play second fiddle to movies, Ender's Game is perhaps more well known as an upcoming movie where Harrison Ford is going to be Colonel Graff. As excited as I am about the movie, I'm also a bit worried on how Hollywood is going to adapt it into the big screen. 

The reason why this book is included in this round is because this was the first sci-fi novel I read. I also remembered it having a significant impact on my life at the time. I wasn't as much of a social outcast like Ender, but I felt like one. In this case, the character development in the story plays an important role here, namely the development of Ender, Valentine and Peter, the three Wiggin siblings. I wouldn't say more besides that, or I'll give away the plot.

3) The Perks of Being a Wall Flower

This book came highly recommended by a number of my friends, who had seen the movie and read the book. I don't usually read books of this genre (coming of age/high school/drama), but I did not regret reading this one. In fact, as a result of reading this book, I began to read other novels of that are of a similar vein, the most notable one being 'Catcher of The Rye' and John Green's novels. I have not been disappointed yet.

It thus shows that good story-telling is irrelevant to genre. 'Perks' is a good read that would surprise most people reading it.No, it is not a "typical" coming of age teen novel, and yes, I have lumped it under the category as one of my favorite books.

4) The Picture of Dorian Gray 

This was the first real "grown up" book I read. To me, the book was a series of philosophical lectures. It really is a story of morality and the consequences of living a life of hedonism. I make it sound preachy, and it sort of is.... but at the time, it has a sort of terrifying beauty to it. I don't really recommend this to everyone, unless you have read books of the same caliber before. It is no doubt a great classic. I do love it. It makes me think.

Then again, you can't call yourself a serious book lover if you have never read Oscar Wilde. So I dare you, read it.

Oscar is staring at you. Just look in his eyes. Read it. He double dares you to.

And here ends Round 1 of Book Rehab. I'll try to make this a bi-weekly thing, to save you from the clutches of evil technology. READ OR BECOME A ZOMBIE. 

The song behind the blog (Tegan and Sara's Back in Your Head)

Alright, I admit. I haven't been updating this blog as regularly as I would like.

And considering this is a blog about books, movies and MUSIC, today I've decided to show you the song that inspired the blog's name and url.



"Build a wall of books between us in our bed, repeat, repeat, repeat the words we both said....."

To me, this song has always been about estrangement. That state of paranoia that you reach in a relationship in which you feel that crippling, sickening feeling that it's not going to last.

This is demonstrated in the chorus when the persona wails in anguish, "I just want back in your head." The fact that this is repeated proves how important this is to her. And yet, the relationship seems to be "comfortable" ("Relax into the need, we get so comfortable")

Then there's also the hint of sexual tension in the verses. Don't forget that the "wall of books" is "between us in our bed". Perhaps the "wall of books" is the part of her that is over-intellectualising the relationship, or over-thinking things. The sexual tension is so palpable, that even holding hands seems painful, despite it being a "habit". Without being able to demonstrate love physically, the relationship falls into a state of disrepair.

And now she is left wanting to be back in her lover's head. With the lack of physical intimacy between them, she feels that she might "stray". Personally, I think this is more of a reflection of what the other person might do, and not the persona. After all, the persona is the one feeling the paranoia, and we're not sure how the other person might react to her statement.

Now, all this is a personal intepretation of the song. MY personal intepretation. This paticular song is written by the lovely Sara Quin, who is half of Tegan and Sara (one of my favorite bands of ALL TIME). Though annoyingly catchy, and somewhat repetitive, this song has proven itself to be deep and meaningful, and it shows a kind of despondency that is so rarely shown on the surface, but exists deeply within everyone who has been in a relationship. I know I've felt that feeling of "I don't think I'm good enough for you, and this is not going to last".

Either that, or I'm paticularly unconfident when it comes to these things. Hahahaha.

Now, if you think that ALL Tegan and Sara songs sound like this, you're half wrong. Half, because their music is easily identifiable. On the other hand, ALL their songs are unique in their own way. A friend of mine commented that you can never get bored listening to them. And you can't. There's little nuances here and there in their songs that you would have missed the first time. Not to mention they have an entire spectrum of songs in different genres. If you fancy a more folky sound, there's songs like 'Living Room' and 'Clever meals'. If you like angsty, sort of punk music, there's 'Northshore'.  A more edgy rock sound is reflected in songs like 'Walking with a ghost'. Then there's other super catchy songs like 'The con' (one of my favourites), and 'Alligator' (which has prompted a children show remake of it -seriously, go google it) and Closer (now on Glee- the original is still more awesome though). Softer songs like 'Call it off' and 'Not Tonight' are paticularly sweet in my opinion. All these songs have struck a chord within me at some point of my life or another.

And though I'm straight, as straight as a yard stick, songs like these make me consider going bi. I'm seriously in love with them.

In fact, I'll be seeing them in concert in May, in Singapore! YAY!

xoxo
Eloise.

ps. Sorry for leaving you guys hanging at the Bingo story. I'll upload the third part as soon as I deem it satisfactory. I'm having a writer's block with this particular story, can't seem to end it as nicely as I'd like it to.

pps. More to come! (More book reviews, song reviews, and even movie reviews! 

Book 1: 'Lord Of The Flies' is definitely NOT for twelve year olds

“There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast. . . . Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! . . . You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are the way they are?”

Imagine how terrified I must have been when I first read those words. 

In the year 2004, on the 26th of December, my father (probably the greatest influence in my life when it comes to reading), decided that I was beyond reading children's books such as the Harry Potter series and The Chronicles of Narnia. He selected books from his own collection, and insisted that these were wonderful books all people should grow up reading. 

William Golding's 'Lord Of The Flies' is indeed a book that no bookworm should miss out on. I do however, question the appropriateness of giving an 11 year old such a novel filled with dark allegorical content.

Luckily for me and my un-moulded 11 year old mind, I did not completely understand the novel in the first read. The premise did initially intrigue me - a bunch of boys, stuck on island- as it held the promise of adventure and fun. However, after three chapters, the stuffy, heavy-handed writing bore me, and the book laid in a corner, gathering dust. 

I picked it up again in secondary school, two years later. By then, my mind was developed enough to understand the novel. I probably wouldn't have been able to coherently point out what exactly about the novel creeped me out, but nevertheless, I found it creepy. 

And since then, Lord Of The Flies has remained one of my favourites. It serves as a grim reminder of how evil is inherent in every single of us, and if it is not kept under control, we fall back into the savagery that mankind has spent millenia trying to curb in the process of civilisation.

(Spoilers shall be revealed from this point onward, if you haven't read the book, GO READ IT NOW) 

It is generally agreed that Golding's central point or theme in the novel is that a conflict between the impulse towards civilisation and an impulse towards savagery rages within each individual. Each of the character represents an idea or aspect of this spectrum between civilisation and savagery. 

For instance, 
Ralph
Who embodies civilizing impulse, and strives to create order among the boys on the island. 
He became the chief of the boys, not by any harsh, overt or physical action, but by being elected. His strive to maintain order is shown especially when he tries to establish ground rules for the boys. Among the tasks that he set the boys out to do, the most important was maintaining the fire on the mountain, the reason being "if a ship comes near the island they may not notice [the boys]". However, towards the end, even Ralph forgets the initial reason for maintaining the fire. This shows that the signal fire itself, symbolises as a kind of measurement of strength of civilised instinct remaining on the island. The fire blazing at the end of the novel ironically summons a ship to the island, but this fire was born out of savagery, not the signal fire that Ralph had tried so hard to maintain. It seems as though even Ralph loses his sense of civilising impulse, out of fear from Jack and his hunters, who seem hell bent on killing him. 

And of course, Jack, 
who is basically the antithesis of Ralph. 
Jack is the novel's primary representative of the instinct of savagery, violence and the desire of power. He submits into savagery as he becomes increasingly obsessed with hunting and killing pigs. Eventually, his blood lust overrules him, and his kills extend beyond dumb creatures and to actual human beings, like Ralph at the end of the novel. The more savage Jack becomes, the more control he has over the others, even resorting using the boys' fear of the beast as means of controlling their behaviour - a reminder of how powerful religion and superstition can be manipulated into instruments of power. 

What disturbed me greatly was the fact that the characters portrayed in the novel were only about twelve years old. I KNOW that the entire tale is allegorical, and the likelihood of twelve year olds harbouring such dark thoughts were uncommon. But as Golding subtly points out, savagery and violence is innate in everyone, kids included. Society at large seems to be wary of this fact, whether or not they have read Lord of The Flies.

For example, violent computer games. They are generally disapproved by adults with children (unless you have my dad - then hahaha). Adults live in fear that their children, who play games, will eventually submit to the savagery which exists within them, and unleash it to the world. 

And this view is also implemented on music, TV shows and books, yes, including 'Lord Of The Flies'. It earned a spot on  the ALA's 100 most frequently challenged books of 1990-1999. To me, the problem lies not in the content of the matter, but the lack of understanding in the matter.

Put it this way, I listen to modern music, play violent computer games, and I happen to LOVE watching action and horror flicks, as well as have read 'Lord of the flies'. You don't see me wielding guns going on a rampant shooting do you? 

In fact, I applaud William Golding, and other books of such calibre, of making me aware of the darker sides of human nature, thus ensuring I will not try to descend into savagery myself. I guess my dad was right in giving me 'Lord Of The Flies' to read after all. 

My copy of the book: Dat island lookz amazing lolz 

What this site is for

*Cue drumroll*

Okay that was a bit theatrical. Okay. Not a bit. A lot. Maybe. 

I've wanted to do a book blog for awhile. And talk about the books I've read, and in a way, get more people actively involved in reading. 

Also, I have a huge pile of short stories that I really need to edit, and re-write. So I'd be posting those in this site too. 

I'll start reviewing books that I have read before, but haven't touched for a long time. Then maybe when I'm done with those, I'll start with books I haven't read. 

And everyone is welcome to post comments. An active discussion about these books would be really cool. 

This is the most boring first post I have ever written. Until next time, here is a picture of a cat. 

TEEHEE.