I have finished V. Fia…Well at least, I finished, before my USB went haywire and deleted the last fifty or so words (I am at the library). But that’s okay. Because those last few words only took me about fifteen minutes. ((I was writing the epilogue))
However, I will have to edit a little here and there before I let any of you read it. Because, well, I’ve written it for so long that I barely remember the beginning. I also have to fix some things that I just BSed when I was feeling lazy. (Heh. Heh.)
But in the latest, you all should be able to read it by my birthday… (April 30th)but most likely even sooner than that. It all depends on how much homework I have…
I will add the total number of words/pages later, when I’m at home and have rewritten the last portion of the epilogue.
Oh. And this is the only spoiler I’m going to give you (you can choose to ignore this and stop reading from now on, if you want…but you have to tell me whether or not you read it in the comments):
Okay, after getting off my three-day mania following the end of “East of Eden”, I’ve calmed down substantially and now will go on “author-mode” (meaning, I will try to concise everything so people won’t just ignore it b/c it’s too long AND I’ll get the main points across.)
Things I liked/Interesting Things about “East of Eden” and why I recommend it (if you skip episodes 25ish-40ish b/c they’re all fillers…more on that later)
1.)It was one of those rare stories where there is no definite good or evil, just like real life.
Unlike the many dramas and books out there, you honestly can’t help but sympathize with both the antagonist and the protagonist. They are both human, and not some great hero or astoundingly evil villain.
Shin Tae-Hwan (the villain) IS cruel in many ways, in that he is a ruthless businessman who is willing to kill people (by means of ‘law’ and the korean mafia) so he can have more money, but shows a soft spot when in his grandfatherly love for his grandson. Also, he reveals at the last episode or so, that the main reason he worked so hard as a businessman was to get the “respect and love” that he entirely lacked when he started off as a poor orphan. His desire for this mistaken “respect and love” (which was only a “If you can’t beat them, join them…temporarily” kind of deal) was so strong that he even gave up his true love (which he regrets in his old age) and let himself be corrupted until it was too late. And you can’t help but feel sorry for him, because in the last episode, the “only man that he could trust” betrayed him by giving him up to his enemy…a cruel act that leads in STH’s death. (By the means of a suicidal car plunging down a cliff…driven by the enemy, herself)
On the other side of the spectrum, Lee Dong-Chul (the hero) isn’t…good. I mean, he has very good intentions and he IS one of the nicest guys you’d probably ever meet…but he is NOT very good at forgiving people. He seeks revenge whenever STH or some other villain messes with his family and tries to ruin him. He also, due to rather unfortunate circumstances, becomes this top-dog leader of this clan of Korean mafia. (He was arrested b/c he took the blame for his lil bro, Dong wook (then 5ish year old), who set STH’s bushes on fire) He also has to commit crimes for his family members and girlfriend…and had tremendous bad luck. He also has a hotish temper, and is prone to beating up people…(but only when the bad guys hurt his family) and SHOWS almost absolutely no mercy. (I say almost because he spared STH’s life 2 times…b/c he may beat up people a lot, but isn’t a killer)
2.)AWESOME OST (original sound track). JUST AWESOME. The songs itself can make you cry.
Below are some examples, but I have to admit, the subs don’t do the korean lyrics much justice. And whoever edited the film and put music in did SUCH an excellent job in incorporating the two together. SUCH good chemistry.
(And yes, my “Boys Before Flowers” loving friends, that is Kim Beom who played the younger Dong-Chul…((the teenage boy)) with a very cheesy haircut, I might add.)
((just music, but youtube is more convenient to input in posts))
((MUST LISTEN TO SONG ON 5:47.<<–my fave… You can skip everything before.))
3.) EPIC EPIC stunts. SO much gang war fights (I skipped most of them, but only because there were too many fillers) with such good choreography. I felt really sorry for those stuntmen. But thanks to them, the action was EPIC. It was one of those romancey dramas that I’d actually be ok with guys watching. B/c the explosions and all that… (as the 2nd video above may display) The drama actually got a warning from the Korean government b/c one scene (which I unfortunately/luckily skipped) was too violent. HAH! (But then again, compared to American TV, it’s NOTHING).
((to be continued))
After several years of being totally consumed with homework and books, I finally re-emerged from my shell and started to play my Pokemon Sapphire GBA game.
And of course, like the creators surely intended, I got hooked. Although I don’t really suggest getting hooked and just managed to get OFF the hook, this recent addiction had me think about Pokemon and how greatly it’d affected my life.
The funny thing is this: It has made me learn SO MUCH stuff, largely because I was new to the States when I first learned about Pokemon and didn’t know that much English. (I also happened to be in kindergarten or so)
So, without further ado, here’s my list:
1.) I learned what the word “ember” meant. I think it was when a trainer yelled at either charmander or…uh…some other fire pokemon to use that attack.
2.) Like the above, I also learned: earthquake, thunderbolt/shock, pikachu (haha, kidding), ditto, dig, shrew (as in sandshrew), vine, spore, poison, leech, leer, etc. etc. etc.
3.) I also learned that if you tried your best and kept at something, you could become a champion like Ash. (Too bad so many of us give up.)
4.) What it means to be a good friend/the amount of commitment that is required to become friends with someone. (I.e: in the 1st-3rd episode of Pokemon, Pikachu first hates Ash and they have to go through ordeals in which pikachu attacks him many times. Oh, there’s also this episode with charmander and rain and all that stuff that made me cry.. ((so touching))…) Now (well, actually, I’m not so sure if Ash still HAS charizard/pikachu…) they are still the best of friends, all because of Ash’s efforts.
5.) Guys can be played by girls. o.o And girls are awesome like that.
6.)It sucks being bad. (ie: Team Rocket)
7.)TV can make you cry.
8.) Friends are AWESOME.
9.) Reruns suck.
10.)Girls don’t like guys who follow them around/stalk/float around hoping for a kiss. (Brock)
11.) Try and try again, even if you fail. (There’s one episode where Ash goes against this gym leader AND ACTUALLY LOSES. D: Of course, he goes back later after much training and wins.)
12.) We live in a deprived society where there is no pokemon. D:
That’s all that I can think of so far. But seriously, who said TV makes you dumber? I think all those Saturday mornings in front of the tube have actually increased my intelligence exponentionally.
Haha. I admit it. Once in a while, I like reading preppy books where girls fight over hot guys (usually in school), stab each other in the back (oooh, burn), and simple love triangles where it’s either two girls and one guy or two guys and one girl (which, I now realize, is less common…hm…)
Which is why I picked up this beauty over here:
((this is the full book jacket, those of you who’ve seen me carry around the books have probably seen how the front cover extendes over to the back.)
First off, I’d like to say a few words about the book cover: OH MY GOSH THAT DRESS IS AWESOMELY BEAUTIFUL AND LOOKS AS IF IT IS A MAN-MADE TORTURE DEVICE!! WE SHOULD ALL GIVE THE PEOPLE WHO MODEL FOR BOOK COVERS A RAISE! haha. so….shiny and long.. @.@
And now for a random video from the publisher, Harper Collins that basically tells you just how ’scandalous’ the book is. LOL
I love the music when it gets to “dangerous gossip”. haha. And the costumes always make me laugh. I wonder, was 1899 fashion in Manhattan really that…frilly. -childish giggle-
Okay, back to business. The Luxe is basically “Gossip Girl” set in 1899. The story jumps around from one character’s perspective to another, and each character has a secret from another character…so the plot is just one ,big dramatic irony. The reader knows everything. The poor characters, however, do not.
In the video, the girl wearing the pink dress is Elizabeth Holland…who I must say, I have the most respect for. She is really the nicest and most naive out of the characters (and thus is, traditionally, the main character). She even agrees to marry to this complete and total stranger in order to save her family from immense debt! The bad thing about her, though, is that she’s sort of a doormat (like most nice people are). She only does what she truly wants at the end of the book, where she feigns her death (oooh, a dramatic and ‘fatal’ plunged into the Hudson River) so she could escape society’s curious gossip and flee to California where her true love awaits.
The girl who has on the black…smock or whatever that thing is is Penelope Hayes. She is my second least favorite character…because she is an honest and total B*tch. She is so stuck up and conceited and just the worst kind of blue blood (they’re all blue bloods, by the way, no, not the vampire blue bloods, but the actual epitome of New York social life ,blue blood.) EVER. She uses everyone and everything to her own advantage, likes to show off her wealth and brag about how awesome she is, always wears the most ‘exquisite’ dresses. Basically your late nineteenth century, stereotypical cheerleader/queen bee/etc.
I mean, come on, she even LOOKS mean. I have to admit, she’s pretty though. In the Wicked Stepmother from “Snow White” kind of way.
(Penelope in her favorite outfit: a dramatically scarlet dress.)
Now, for the guy that we all hate and all the girls love: Henry Schoonmaker
(((PICTURE THANKFULLY NOT AVAILABLE)))
OMG. He is like…the epitome of…two-timers. Although he DOES learn his lesson AFTER ELIZABETH’S SUPPOSED DEATH, he is a total playah for the majority of the book. He also serves as a foil (ohoho, Honors English!) to Elizabeth because he’s out doing whatever he wants, getting drunk, and being all moody after his dad arranges a marriage between him and Elizabeth (who he thinks is a total bore) while Elizabeth just bites her lip and goes along with it calmly (even if she’s in love with this other dude..aw…)
Reasons why I hate him:
1.) Before the engagement, he has dated…what 5 girls? And also, he tried to seduce this MARRIED LADY. And also Penelope (who falls totally head over heels in love with him and becomes even MORE b*tchier by plotting against poor Elizabeth).
2.) DURING THE ENGAGEMENT, he sees Diana, ELIZABETH’S SISTER, (pictured below) BEHIND HER BACK. HOW LOW CAN A GUY GET?! And, I guess Diana could be blamed for this too, but she’s honestly too young and is kind of, sort of like Juliet in the way she’s totally inexperienced in love and therefore falls deeply in love with him.
3.) … And while he’s not seeing Diana, he’s either just standing there, refusing to talk to Elizabeth more than absolutely necessary in front of all those people (what an embarrassment) and getting himself completely wasted by hanging out on bars in yachts and such. D:
4.) He’s just a spoiled, little brat. All he does is mope around and complain. And drink. And seduce Diana. Rinse and repeat.
Diana:
I actually sort of like Diana in a way that she is a deviant from the norm and is really spunky. lol. I mean…it’s not her fault her first love is engaged with her sister…is it? There’s great character development in her and I related the most in her. (She’d rather read than go to social balls and is kind of a nerd. lol in a good way.)
In fact, according to this personality quiz I found in the publisher’s website (such awesome goodies…)
I am most like Diana. Haha. Not that I’m being seduced by pedophiles, of course.
Overall, it was really interesting how the high society of Manhattan revolved back then and how strict everything was…I’m kind of glad that we deviated from all those manners…(which spoon is which, again?)
A big theme that Anna Godbersen seems to pound you with, though is: Being beautiful, rich, and popular, doesn’t necessarily guarantee happiness.
This made me think a lot about the celebrities of today…and question their happiness…
Oh, by the way, before I forget. I JUST LOVE THE COVERS OF THIS TRILOGY! The models on each of the books just fit them SO WELL. I think these covers are like one of the best examples of potrayals of the main characters…(I just hope that they don’t randomly decide to do a book with Henry on it. -_-;)
