Orson Scott Card: Were Do You Stand?

Recently Orson Scott Card, the bestselling science fiction author of the modern classic, “Ender’s Game” has been in the news. With the movie of “Ender’s Game” coming out, and his gig writing a couple issues of“Superman”, people have been crying foul because Scott is an active campaigner against gay rights. He is also on the board of the National Organization of Marriage. Often, when I read Dean Koontz, for example, I roll my eyes at the“morality” he slips into his books. However, I still really admire him as a good storyteller. So, I’m wondering if anyone here thinks an author’s moral stand and politics should stop a person from enjoying the work of this author. There’s a saying the personal is political and what’s more personal than writing? We’ve all seen Clint Eastwood embarrass himself as the RNC as he yelled at a chair, but does that mean we shouldn’t bother with his films? He is a really good filmmaker. However, back to Orson Scott Card, who people are crying foul at his involvement in writing Superman comic books.

 

DC Comics has been under such pressure from activists that they have put Orson Scott Card’s story on hold, and the artist quit. I understand Orson Scott Card’s politics are way out of line with mine. He is a devout Mormon, and has spoken out against homosexuality on the internet, columns in his local paper and on his website. However, when Orson Scott Card writes about writing, he is right. His views on using accessible language, and his belief that J.K. Rowling was wrong to go after a guy publishing an unauthorized encyclopedia fall in line with my views. However, I do not agree with his views on politics. He is very outspoken about everything and his political comments have left people scratching their heads, asking how could a homophobe and right winger write such great science fiction? Well, the question I have to ask is what does a science fiction novel and a Superman story have to do with personal beliefs?

 

Science fiction is well, fiction, and so is Superman. So, do I have a right to protest Orson Scott Card's books, upcoming movie and Superman script because his political views are not in line with mine? Well, I’m not a big fan of political correctness myself. If someone is a racist or homophobe, why make them pretend they aren’t? We will just not hang out with them. His novel, “Ender’s Game” is bestselling, beloved and has a Hugo and Nebula Award. However, when “Ender’s Game” came out, it was before Orson Scott Card could blog about his views or his local newspaper columns would spill out on the internet. It was 1985. That being said, Orson Scott Card’s involvement in the Superman comics and his upcoming movie adaptation is causing a stir on the internet. He says that his book signings have become protested by local activists.

 

“Ender’s Game” is a science fiction novel, and not a political rant. I believe we do not have a right to deny Orson Scott Card employment because his views do not fall in line with many people. Some people share his views and some do not. I do not but I will not let his political views make me boycott his involvement in“Superman” comics or a movie adaptation. If this was J.K. Rowling instead of Orson Scott Card, would we throw out all the good work she has done to get kids to read because of a personal view? J.K. Rowling, let me be clear, has been very supportive of gay rights, but what if she wasn’t? Rowling’s work has done a world of good, but should we turn a cold shoulder to that if her personal views were not in line with ours? Personally, I am not a fan of political correctness, as preached by people on the left who often say they support free speech. If someone isn’t in favor of equality, than why make them pretend they are? Using the right words is silly. People have a right in this country to be politically incorrect, if that’s how they really feel.

 

However, Orson Scott Card's politics aren’t the same as his work. Yes, some of his fiction has gotten political but not all of it. “Ender’s Game” is a science fiction novel, and it sounds silly to boycott “Superman”. I think we shouldn’t go after D.C. Comics for hiring what is really just a popular science fiction author to write a couple of issues. His book, “Ender’s Game” has been a bestseller for a lot of years, and a movie adaptation was bound to come. So, his politics aren’t in line with mine, but we shouldn’t throw away his good work as a science fiction writer because we think his views should be fictional too. Orson Scott Card has a right to his views, and I have a right to mine. However, Orson Scott Card is not running for office. He is a talented guy who writes science fiction novels. His talents should not be overlooked because of his personal and political views.

My Literary New Year's Resolutions

So, it’s 2013, and I’m going through my new year’s resolutions. I have a lot of bad habits as a reader that I’m going to try to break this year. What could I do to have a better relationship with my literary habits this year? Well, it’s time to make some new year’s resolutions as a reader and lover of literature that I’m sure I’ll break really early on in the year.

1.       I Will Finish A Series of Books- In the Time Magazine profile of George R.R. Martin, as the author last year on the Time 100 list, they claim that if you didn’t read A Game of Thrones, you should be ashamed of yourself. I guess I am ashamed of myself, because I’ve had a paperback of A Game of Thrones with the old fantasy cover (not the cover George R.R. Martin repackaged it with, you know, to make the public feel less ashamed that *gasp* they are reading a fantasy novel), you know, the cover with the good looking guy on a horse, for years even before the HBO series made the series hot. It’s a long book, and I have kept putting it off. I don’t know, but often I have a problem caring about people who lived hundreds of years ago in a fantasy land. However, my goal this year is to make my reading more popular.

2.       I Will Read More Popular Books- This isn’t to say I don’t read bestsellers, but I never keep up with the popular books. Often, by the time I get to the book of year, the year has passed. I guess I don’t read the water cooler book that everyone is going ga-ga over at the moment. It took me awhile to get to Harry Potter, The DaVinci Code, Twilight and The Hunger Games which isn’t to say I didn’t read them. I did. However, I’m always late to the party on the hottest books. I honestly, am also cheap, when it comes to books, and that’s why I guess I’m so late to the party. I buy most of my books used, and a lot of these books have a million holds on them in the library, so by the time I read them, people have moved on from vampire novels and are now reading books about people with weird sexual hang-ups acting out their fantasies (I’m looking at you, 50 Shades of Grey).

3.       I Will Quit Dean Koontz- Too late, I’m already reading the 3^rd Odd Thomas book.

4.       I Will Start To Get Angry At Authors People Say I Should Be Angry At- I know a lot of literary people I know take out their anger on Stephanie Meyer, and maybe I should start to deeply analyze her work and take out my anger on her too, but when I see a 14 year old reading a book the size of a doorstop, I could really care less if the book is about sparkly vampires or dueling wizards.

5.       I Will Read John Green- I know, “The Fault In Our Stars” is probably brilliant and people worship author John Green but…this Dean Koontz book is titled “Velocity!” The title alone promises well, Velocity!

6.       I Will Start To Hang Around Barnes and Nobel- Until I look at the price tag on a brand new book and realize I could buy the same book for less, used, online. Oh, and browsing the paranormal teen romance section makes me uncomfortable, even if it’s just for research.

7.       I Will Read Another Stephen King Novel- 2011 was the first year I didn’t read a Stephen King novel, which just feels wrong.

8.       I Will Be More Mature- In all seriousness, I know John Green’s book is about a hard topic (teens with cancer) and I really need to give it a shot. Author John Green is considered like brilliant.

9.       I Will Write My Own Book- Easier said than done.

10.   And Finally, I Will Continue to Update My Book Blog- To tell you all about my criticisms, thoughts and stuff concerning the book world and writing. I have a large stack of books, ready for a new year. I will re-read some classics (Pride and Prejudice), I will read some new ones, and I will read some used paperbacks I bought cheap. So, pretty much like last year. It’s year two of Neverland’s Library, so let’s make it a good book year. Cheers!

11.   And oh, let me add one more thing- This really isn’t about books but because this is the New Year, I want to say this: why does my life resemble The Big Bang Theory more than Girls? These shows are both about twenty something’s and my life is nothing like Girls. I know, off subject, but maybe that will change this year.

How To Write For A Younger Audience

There are a lot of benefits to writing for a younger audience. Adults tend to read page turners, airplane reads, and novels as time killers. However, when kids read a book, they often really connect with that book on a deeper emotional level. Look at the response to “Harry Potter” as both an escape and an expression of the world around them. Judy Blume, for example, helps kids understand their changing world through her realistic novels. Blume is an interesting example, because even though she has sold millions of copies, adults still want to ban her book. I read an article in the New York Times recently about an author named Lauren Myracle, whose series of novels written in text message style, has sold 1.5 million copies. The article starts with names she has been called, such as a “pedophile”, “Satan” and “a corrupter of youth.” Yet, she makes the case she is just writing honesty about things young teenagers go through. The fact that adults want to ban young adult literature so badly but don’t have a problem with toy commercials screaming at kids during a commercial break is really ironic.  Yet, it also speaks to the power of young adult literature. Kids really connect to the books they read, and there are a lot of benefits to writing for the younger crowd. One of the big benefits for a prospective author is that kids are a really loyal readership. Unlike a novelist for adults, who may or may not see an adult pick up the next book, kid readers will often read an entire author’s work. Also, introducing reading to a kid is a really great feeling. So, what does one need to know about writing a young adult story or novel? Here’s my advice.

1.       Read Young Adult Novels- As much as I cringe at adults who read nothing but young adult novels, because I think adults should read everything, not just one genre. However, I do think it is important to read young adult novels so you do get to know the language and kind of characters young adult novelists write about. “Harry Potter”, for example, is a must read for people who want to write for young adults. Study what J.K. Rowling did right. She is a perfect example of a balance between what kids actually go through and escapism kid’s love. On one end, kids love gritty realism. A novel that reflects their actual world, but on the other hand, kids also love to climb into a book. They love the idea of a book being a world that’s theirs, much like their rooms at home.

2.       Your Main Character Has to Be a Young Adult- This is kind of non negotiable. Your main character can’t be an adult. It has to be a kid, teenager or someone who is eighteen. Eighteen is the age limit for your characters, because a young adult novel is not a young adult novel if it’s about adults. “The Hunger Games” is a good example. They can send anyone into the terrain of the Hunger Games, but they send teenagers. So between the action, and the dystopian problems of the future world, we get teen romance, teen issues, and teenagers trying to deal with youth-based issues. If one thinks about it, it would make a lot more sense for an adult to be sent to the Hunger Games, but Suzanne Collins set out to write a young adult novel dealing with these issues, so she made them teenagers.

3.       Choose a Genre- I’m all for writing in multiple genres, but it really helps for a young adult novel to stick to one. Kids aren’t dumb, but if you’re young adult novel is going to be a fantasy novel, than you need to deliver a fantasy novel. Remember what I said about J.K. Rowling. It’s important also to make the issues of the kids fit the genre. A realistic novel about teenagers might deal with abuse, drugs, and family. “Harry Potter” touches on abuse, in the form of the Wesley’s, Harry’s aunt, uncle and cousin, but Rowling knows she’s writing a fantasy novel, so the abuse isn’t overly intense. However, if you read a novel by Judy Blume, she has no problems being realistic about the issues teens face. Rowling is, too, but in a different way. Another thing that works with writing young adult fiction is not just a genre, but a series. It’s easier to write a series targeted towards young adults because they often want to follow the characters, and will often follow them as they grow up.

4.       Write What You Knew- One of the things about writing for a young adult audience, isn’t writing what you know. It’s writing what you knew. Try to put yourself back into your teenage years. What did you know when you where a teenager? Were you an alienated teenager? Where you a popular, good looking teenager? An outcast or a nerd? What did you know? If you where bullied, than write about that. If you where a good looking teenager who got the girl, but had a bad home life, than write about that. If you where a teenager who was professionally modeling in New York City or a teenager stuck in a small town in Iowa, with nothing but a stack of books, than write about those experiences. Sometimes the best way to write about these unique teenage experiences is to add a twist that really makes them more intense. You might be a nerdy kid who wasn’t popular, but that’s because you can do magic, and you belong in another world. Really, what that is saying, is I was an alienated teenager who didn’t feel like I belonged. If you think about, that’s what fantasy novels are really about.

5.       Create A World- Weather that world reflects a magical home (like Hogwarts), a scary one (like District 9) or simply a realistic one, like the novels of Judy Blume, you need to make the book one a kid can climb into. One of the things about young adult literature is that kids have plenty of hours to read, as they are well, kids. An adult has a job, or a time limit, often. They are on a plane, or reading bits and pieces between working hours. A kid can sit in his or her bedroom, for a long time, and really turn those pages. A kid wants to be totally engulfed in the book, because a kid has a lot more time to kill. So, make sure you do a little world building. Make the world the novel portrays, even a realistic one, a world the reader can inhabit. A kid doesn’t just read a book, they climb into it.

6.       Keep Your Language In Check- Okay, this is important on a craft level. When I read Harry Potter, I noticed that between the made up words, and the occasional harder words, there was also a lot of simple language. Stephanie Meyer, of “Twilight”, is very good at this too. Keep the language at a mid-brow level, and also keep the language readable. Don’t go all intense with your language. Don’t aim for intense prose that will be unclear and hard to read. You are still writing for a younger audience, and don’t forget that. I’m not saying you should write down to them, but remember, no cursing, no intense language, and keeping language clean, straight forward and relatable. A kid doesn’t want to read a description that goes on for twenty pages.

7.       Keep Your Themes In Check- Kids love darker themes. Plenty of characters die in the Harry Potter series, and The Hunger Games takes that a step further. However, do be careful. Sex and violence should be on the table, but knowing this for a younger audience, you do need to temper yourself. A lot of young adult novels have more intense events happen off camera, as they alluded to, or taken as an issue. The novel “Speak” is about a girl who is raped, and the aftermath, yet the author is very clever. The rape happens before the novel opens, and we see the aftermath through the main character’s inability to speak, through her poor grades and through her problems with her other classmates. There are ways to take larger themes, but at the same time, not totally scare off your reader base. You are still dealing with young people, and to an extent, a book should be a safe zone for them.  If you do have issues of rape, abuse, violence, death and other issues, you should handle the carefully and in a way, the reader can understand. I would say this for an adult novel; too, as I really believe in not turning off your readership but with kids, you really need to be even more careful.

8.       Crossover Appeal- The difference between Harry Potter and Twilight is crossover appeal. A lot of adults roll their eyes at Twilight (even though a lot of adults did read Twilight too) but it really helps to have crossover appeal. As in, adults can love it too. It really helps if an adult can use the book as a way to talk to their kids about an issue, or a bonding experience. As in the adult and the kid both read and like the book. To make that work, you are going to need some winks at the adult audience. “Twilight” takes its self a little too seriously, at times, while “Harry Potter” actually does take some time to wink at the adult audience. Sometimes, Rowling really had a great sense of humor concerning her work. Don’t forget, you are an adult. Don’t forget that you might be more mature than your characters. Some of the issues your characters will deal with, you, I would hope, are over. That being said, you still need to take those issues seriously, because your readership definitely does. Don’t be that character from the movie, “Young Adult”, who is a young adult author who is just as immature as her own characters in her books. An occasional wink or a little humor helps a novel be enjoyed by both adults and their kids. Of course, though, a good story is the main part of the crossover appeal. Tell a good story, and even the adults can get into it.

9.       Don’t Do It For The Money- Yes, J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer and Suzanne Collins made good money writing for the young adults. Now, I totally understand thinking it’s a great market place for publishing, and it totally is. A bestseller and a movie rights deal?  Of course, I want that. However, if you do it for the money, you will pander to your audience, sound like an adult trying to sound like a kid and you will totally turn off your audience. Rowling, Meyer, and Collins totally sound like real teenagers, and that’s why teenagers love their work. Another thing you might notice is they didn’t write knock offs. Rowling started the wizard trend, Meyer started a vampire trend and Collins started a dystopia trend. Start something new.  If you write the book, because you want to contribute to young adult literature, as opposed to just trying to make a ton of money, than your book is more likely to be a bestseller, because you wrote a book that really transcends marketing and connects with the kid.

10.   Don’t Forget You Are an Adult- Seriously, that’s important. Don’t hang around a high school, trying to pick up teen slang, unless you want to be arrested. Instead, going back to point one, read young adult novels to get the young adult language down. However, still write well. Don’t write a young adult novel that really sounds like a teenager up to the point that they are using words like “Yo!” and “True that!” The book still needs to make sense.

So, that’s my advice concerning young adult novel writing. Good luck to all the people doing this noble endeavor, writing a book that connects with young people. There really is nothing better than a teenager or kid reading a book. If you can get them reading young, than you can get them reading for life. Good luck.

Beloved Book Becomes Beloved Film

Note: Because this review is based on the beloved novel, I have posted it on both blogs.

Four Stars

John Hughes had a saying that you are more serious at age 16 than you are at any other time in your life, and I’m suppose that’s true. Reading a novel like “Perks of Being a Wallflower” as a teenager, you walk away with an intense emotional experience. It would be easy for me as an adult to shrug off this book and movie as easily the case of overly dramatic teenagers, despite how serious their problems are. I have read the bestselling young adult novel the movie is based on, and I always thought that “Perks” was a story about closed doors. The problem with me as an adult is that “Perks” packs a lot of teenage problems in a novel that’s about 206 pages. Rape, pedophilia, coming out of the closet, bullying, drugs, sex, mental health, depression, and all sorts of stuff that teens deal with. Between all the typical teenage scenes in the book and movie, someone says something that sticks out like a sore thumb, often an admission of some kind that doesn’t sound quite right.

This brings me back to John Hughes’s saying, that everything is more serious when you are a teenager. It would be really easy for me to talk on and on about all the issues this novel brings up in such a short space, but on with the movie review. Charlie is a shy kid, who is just starting high school. On his first day, he meets a wonderful English teacher (Paul Rudd), who sees how smart he is, and starts giving him extra books to read. He starts to read books like “A Separate Piece” and “Catcher in the Rye”, which in this story is almost foreshadowing of the actual story we get. Angst ridden teen novels, in an angst ridden movie based on an angst ridden teen novel, I’m starting to get the picture. It helps that this movie is written and directed by the author of the actual book, which is very rare, Stephen Chosky. Charlie is a wallflower, which means he sits back and observes, doesn’t get involved and has an unusual way of thinking.

Soon he meets some older kids, Sam and Patrick (Ezra Miller). Emma Watson and Ezra Miller have wonderful chemistry as step brother and sister, and are obviously good matches for the shy Patrick. They are quirky and it’s hard not to like them as they go on and on about good music versus bad music.  Ezra Miller is very good here, as Patrick, the gay kid who has some secrets of his own. Emma Watson is also very good, with an American accent. As Charlie, the beloved character from this beloved novel, Logan Lerman does a wonderful job, and I’m (probably foolishly) hoping he gets an Oscar nod. There are a lot of hints in this movie (and in the novel) about his obsession with his dead aunt. Obviously, something was going on between him as a kid and this aunt that wasn’t exactly normal. Often, victims of abuse in the way Charlie was, become obsessed with the abuser.

Despite all the issues this film brings up, it works, because with all the underlying darkness, there’s a lot of sweatiness to these characters. Charlie’s shyness, and his two outcast friends, Sam and Patrick bring a lot of great friendship that helps them get through their traumas. Scenes like when Sam gives Charlie his first kiss, saying that the first person who kisses him should be someone who loves him, we get the sense that she means she loves him as a very good friend loves another. The scene where Patrick buys Charlie a suit because of Charlie’s great desire to be a writer or the scene where after Charlie admits that his best friend shot himself, they raise their glasses to Charlie after Sam tells Patrick what happened.

                “Perks” would be easy for me to dismiss as I am no longer a teenager, and maybe I don’t have that intense nature anymore that I once had as a teenager, but a lot of teenagers have an intense nature and this film brings us back to that. I know a lot of kids will be waiting on line to see “Twilight”, and believe me, I have nothing against that. I think we all need an escape, but it is kind of a shame that more kids won’t be on line to see “Perks of Being a Wallflower”, which they might actually take something away from. One of the great accomplishments of the writer Stephen Chbosky in both the film, and this, his so far only novel, is just some of the lines alone, like “We feel infinite” or “We get the love we think we deserve.” Writing for teenagers often allows a writer to go for a line that perhaps some adults would roll their eyes at, because a teenager feels that seriousness John Hughes was talking about. However, a lot of Chobosky’s lines have become iconic and have great truth to them.  A lot of the lines from the book (and now the move) raise this story from a normal young adult novel.  “Perks of Being a Wallflower” might require the viewer to get in touch with their inner adolescence, and remember a time that the world did feel that serious. However, the issues these teenagers deal with aren’t exclusive to only teens, as many adults have problems with the same things.

What I would suggest is that if your kid is begging to see the finale of “Twilight”, make a deal with them that they also see this. I always think it’s important for younger movie goers to not only go to movies that feed them entertainment, but also give them something personal and positive to walk away with. As I said earlier, I have nothing against escapism for younger viewers, but I think “Perks” might also balance that out with something they might hold onto. “Perks of Being a Wallflower” is that book that teens probably pass along to each other, and this movie is the kind of movie that might actually help teens copes with some of the very serious issues they deal with.  “Perks of Being a Wallflower” is one of the year’s best films, and a testament to being able to create characters for teenagers and adults alike. On a personal note, I’ve been waiting to review the movie version of this book ever since I’ve read the wonderful novel, and I wasn’t disappointed with the film.  Often smaller movies that are geared for teenagers are the best films for them to see. “Perks of Being a Wallflower” is one of the year’s best films, and hopefully one of the best attended.  

What’s A Good Storyteller Worth: The Pros and Cons of “Twilight”

 

Now, I’ve read the first “Twilight” and instead of simply saying it’s good or bad, I think it would be interesting to write a review that weighs the pros and cons of “Twilight”. On one hand, Stephanie Meyer is a wonderfully good story teller; on the other hand, she’s not a great writer. What are the pros and cons of a popular book? Should we be happy with anything that gets a teenage girl to read? I vote yes. Should we criticize her writing? I’m not really sure that’s worth doing. Are her characters and situations kind of ridiculous? Yes. “Twilight” is an interesting book, not because of what it is. It’s a fairly standard romance novel with some supernatural stuff thrown in that teenagers love. Now, I’m not saying Stephanie Meyer is J.K. Rowling. She’s not. J.K. Rowling is both a great storyteller and a great writer. However, “Twilight” brings up this interesting point. I am a great believer that not everything needs to be masterful (if it was, we all go nuts!) Some things need to be just good escapism, and “Twilight”, if not a great book, is great escapism.

Now, I’ve heard the critics of “Twilight” bash it for reasons that are serious concerns. I will give the critics that, but I think “Twilight” deserves a mixed reaction, not just a plain bash fest. Reviewing “Twilight”, the book, I think there are pros and cons. Bella isn’t a strong enough female character, Edward is kind of a stalker, they fall in love too fast (yet, a lot of teenagers in real life do, too) and Mayer’s prose are standard, if not subpar at best.  All true statements, yet on the other hand, a reader needs to know what they are walking into. “Twilight” is for teenage girls, who are at an age where every boy who looks the least bit attractive is one for their hearts. An argument I don’t buy is, which I’ve heard from friends who are critics, “Twilight” somehow promotes older men and younger girls getting together. Yeah, Edward has been seventeen for a thousand years, but that’s part of the appeal and escapism. He’s a vampire, and vampires do not age. Anyone who has read better vampire novels knows this.

“Twilight”, for those few who do not know, is about a teenage girl named Bella who is new to Forks, a town near Seattle. She goes to a new school, where boys take notice of her. She meets a new boy named Edward, who quickly becomes her boyfriend. They get together, and well, they fall in deep love. I’m already cringing at this as a twenty five year old male, but I know I will have to put my ego at the door while reading this. I am a book critic, sure, but I’m also not a fourteen year old girl. I have no plans on becoming a woman or a girl or whatever. So, yes, this book wasn’t written with me in mind. So, let’s start this interesting review. I present the pros and cons of Twilight.

Let’s start with the pros. The pros are Meyer’s talent at creating escapism. It’s so ridiculous what we are reading. The romance isn’t set up well enough, and we see that. I mean, these two characters really are hormone driven teenagers, and Meyer pretty much knows this. A simple glance across the lunch room pretty much sets up a big romance between this vampire and this teenage girl. However, the characters she creates are so compelling; she does a good job of selling this. I found myself turning pages, really fast, wanting to know what happens to these characters. I found her introduction of the Cullens sitting at the lunch table compelling. Who are these great looking teenagers who have somewhat pale skin and keep to themselves? They are great looking kids with something mysterious about them! It’s not an original hook, but that doesn’t make it a bad one.

Bella’s narration, too, is a plus. Yes, to me, a 25 year old male, it sounds like a whiney teenage girl. Teenage girls complain a bit, and I think that’s a natural thing. Yes, there’s a limit, but let’s remember who we are following in this story. Bella is a sixteen year old girl, who’s selfish mom ships her off to the dad she’s hasn’t seen since she was a little girl, because she wants to have a romance with a baseball player. She has to adjust to a new town, and new friends. She has to learn to obey a new parent who she hardly knows. A teenager like that in real life has a right to be a bit of an emo kid. Teenagers have a bit of a right to be emo. People criticize Meyer for sounding like a whiney teenager, but they forget, she isn’t narrating this story. Bella is. Being a bit whiney is true to this character. I would think a teenager in her situation would have a right to whine. Heck, I would expect her to. People say Bella is a martyr. I think she’s just a frustrated teenager.

Teenagers like that have a right to feel a bit rejected, have a right to complain a bit. She can write bad poetry about her situation. An unfair comparison people make is between prose in Harry Potter and Twilight. Harry Potter is told in the third person, and Twilight in the first person.  Bella is narrating the tale, not Meyer. If Harry Potter was told in Harry’s point of view, instead of Rowling, he would sound like Bella. Harry, like Bella, would sound like a mistreated teenager, who doesn’t feel in control, and considering neither is in a great situation, they have a right to complain. Understanding where a character is coming from is important, and besides, she’s not trying to connect to an old foggy like myself, she’s trying to connect to a teenager trying to figure out their raging hormones and puberty. How many times have you looked back on your teenage years and can’t believe what you wrote in your dairy? How whiney did you sound? It’s the same thing.

 Another pro to “Twilight” is its sales. Like Harry Potter’s sales, anything that sells books to kids is a good thing. I rather my kids read both “Twilight” and “Harry Potter”. Heck, they are reading. That’s never a bad thing. Is “Harry Potter” better than “Twilight”? From a literary point of view, yes! Does kid’s literature have to be held up to the standards of the New York Times Book Review Section? No. If we hold young adult literature to a standard that high, kids will never read. Most kids, first and foremost, want to be entertained, not enlightened by some deep, Pulitzer Prize worthy prose piece. However, I was talking to a librarian and she noted that a lot of adult writers are now writing young adult novels, and they often aren’t very good at it. Meyer is good at speaking to the teenagers in a language they can understand.  I however, when I was younger, I did read some books I found rather deep (Perks of Being A Wallflower is great, but looking back, is a bit melodramatic in places), and that’s a skill. I’m not saying give Meyer (or Rowling) the Pulitzer. No way, but respect their talent for being able to do what a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist might not be able to.

Now, onto the cons. “Twilight” is poorly written at times, and on a rather low level. One of the merits of “Harry Potter” is that it doesn’t talk down to kids. “Twilight”, at times, does feel like it’s pandering to its young female audience in the writing department. The book uses a bit too many terms that sound like an adult trying to sound like a teenager. Seriously, Meyer sometimes sounds really ridiculous in the phrases she uses. We know this is a teenager narrating, but we also know this is a grown woman writing it, and sometimes a little self awareness would pay off. This would also have helped the book have some of the crossover appeal “Harry Potter” had. “Harry Potter”, at times but not so much that it ends up being like an episode of “Community”, really did have this self awareness to it. One of the reasons I think adults read Potter so much is because it did wink at the audience sometimes. Rowling has this dry humor Meyer doesn’t. I don’t know if that’s a British thing, because Meyer is American. However, “Twilight” does lack that self awareness which might have made the book better. At times, the book takes itself a bit too seriously.

Another con of “Twilight” is the fact that Bella isn’t really the strongest female character. Hermione Ginger, in “Harry Potter” is a strong female character that Bella Swan isn’t. Bella is in love with Edward to the point of it being a bit ridiculous. Like, too much of her not being able to live without him is really silly sounding. Like, they do fall in love way too fast, but her strong desire to be with him forever sounds a bit silly. I don’t look forward to the day I have to tell my future daughter (if I have one), after her breakup with a first boyfriend, that no dear, you and him are just misunderstanding hormones. “Twilight” sells the idea a bit too strongly that you and your high school boyfriend are meant to be eternal souls. I can see this book making it harder for parents to explain to their kids that no, you and your boyfriend, are both in high school, and will probably move on in college. Bella, in book two, doesn’t even want to go to college or turn eighteen, because of her eternal love for Edward. Yeah, I understand this is a fantasy, but eternal love in your high school years is often a fantasy.

An aspect of their love I do like, though, is the sexual tension but the decision they constantly make to wait and not do the deed. Too much media is focused on teenagers getting it on and acting like it’s not a big deal, and in Twilight, it’s a very big deal and Meyer’s conviction (could also be due to the fact she’s a Mormon, but that’s not really fair), that teen sex is dangerous (and in this case, would result in a bite from a vampire) is actually not a bad message for teenage girls. A bite from a vampire is a really good metaphor for the unhealthy results of teenagers doing it a bit too early.

However, she keeps describing Bella as a plain girl, up to the level that we really don’t understand Edward’s attraction to her. Edward is like a teenage model, and Bella is a plain looking girl. That big gap in the way they look makes the book feel a bit too much of a fantasy. Meyer didn’t need to make Bella look amazing, but she could have added a detail like beautiful eyes or Bella is a star athlete. I don’t want to sound shallow, but everyone, not just teenagers, thrive on some kind of attraction that’s physical. Bella never really gives us something about her that would attract the hottest guy in school. That makes the book seem like a fantasy for teenage girls that’s a bit unrealistic. We don’t really understand why Bella is dating this guy. This guy can have any girl he wants, and Meyer doesn’t really make anything stand out about Bella. She’s not super smart or attractive in any special way. I’m not trying to be shallow, but the guy with model looks is going out with the girl with model looks. This is high school, and yes, I know, Edward has been in high school for a thousand years, but still.               

Another con I feel is Meyer’s unreliable writing. She doesn’t know how to incorporate back story the way Rowling does. The story of the vampires, with Edward talking about Paris and his past, and his parents dying, and the bite that changed his life, feels kind of pointless, and should have been something the editor should have either cut out or something Meyer should have left as a mystery to the reader. A more mysterious back story would have created some mystique around the character. Also, the Cullens are way too successful. Even their adopted father looks like a model, and he’s a successful doctor. That’s kind of a plot hole too. A vampire can’t be a doctor. They go insane around all that blood. Also, they own nice cars. Sorry, I just don’t buy vampires being this successful. They have way too many issues to do this well in society. I haven’t even started on the other one who tries to win Bella’s heart yet, either. Jacob, her Native American friend, who can transform into a werewolf, is also vying for Bella. Meyer puts too much of this supernatural stuff without proper pacing and mystery around it which makes the book come off as cheesy. Also, Edward and Jacob, these two great looking guys, sorry I’m just not buying that they are battling for this very plain human girl.

So, what do we make of “Twilight”, and if I were to grade it, what would I give it. I think it’s better than a “C”, but not quite an “A”. I would give it a B. Meyer deserves credit, because if she wasn’t a great storyteller (which she is), no one would buy this story. However, her storytelling is really compelling even if her writing isn’t really that great. I think writing a compelling story is a real skill, though, and it’s always valuable to write to a younger crowd. What critics don’t get about books like “Twilight” is that “Twilight” isn’t a great book by itself, but more of a waiting station for kids to get hooked on reading. The language is easy, the story is simple and entertaining, and also, what critics don’t get it that not everything needs to be masterful. “Harry Potter” is a masterful story, as is “War and Peace”. Yet, do we need everything to be a masterpiece? No, sometimes we just need brain candy. If an adult is reading “Twilight”, then it’s just brain candy to them, simple as that. Sometime to help them escape their everyday life. If a kid is reading it, then it’s just a fantasy for them crafted perfectly for them. Stephen King criticized Meyer as “not being able to write a darn”, and that might be somewhat true. He went to praise J.K. Rowling. However, Meyer and Rowling are in the same business. They are in the escapism business because no one is going to Hogwarts and no one is falling in love with a vampire. Both are fiction, but fiction is important, because society needs theses stories. After all, what is a society without stories? It’s real life, and lets be honest, at times, it isn’t much fun.

Neil Gaiman at Bard: A Report

Neil Gaiman is one sincere man. He's been a literary rock star for years, and as he took to the stage at Bard College, he said that he was expecting a classroom of about 30 people, not the 700+ people who showed up to simply hear him read a new short story he had written. Through Twitter he asked if people wanted to come out and  hear him read, asking them to be his "guinea pigs." Well, people came from all over. A woman drove all the way  from Maryland to see Gaiman read. Another said he came from California, and his family would like to think he came to see them, but he really came for Gaiman.

 Gaiman emerged on stage in his trade mark black jacket and seemed shocked at how many people showed up.  Gaiman, one of the best known storytellers of out time, is a bit if a fantasy legend.  His best known books include "American Gods", "Neverwhere", Good Omens", and of course "Coralline."Writing children's books, fantasy novels and acclaimed graphic novels Gaiman has had a great career as a writer.

 I won't give away too many details of the story he read to the audience. I will say it was an honor to be one of the first people to listen to a Neil Gaiman story.  After the story he told us that he would edit the story based on our reactions, including playing up one of his characters.  That is really cool that we could have an effect on one of this master's stories. He got a well deserved standing ovation from which he humbly asked if we stood because the story was that good or were we just wanting to stretch due to sitting so long. In addition to the story he read two wonderful poems.  Before he started the reading he promised the audience a gift afterward.  Naturally the gift he gave us was a cool and quirky one.  The gift was a performance by his wife, Amanda Palmer. She took out her ukulele and and enchanted us as Neil Gaiman looked on lovingly.

All in all, it was a delightful evening, and an honor to be in the presence of a literary God.  Maybe I'm sounding a bit like a hero worshiper as I write this loving tribute to the great Neil Gaiman. And even tho I only had to travel a few miles to get there I would of strapped on the mileage for this experience. Now, if only I could be in the same room with Stephen King, my life would be complete.---

Fictional Teachers We Had

Good morning, class. Today we are going to discuss teachers who shaped who we are. Those educators who taught us important life lessons, and used the classroom to make us the people we are today. Of course, we all have real teachers who have done this in our lives. I remember two English teachers, Mr. Sealand, who inspired me to read, and Miss Governale, who inspired me to write, and an art teacher, Mr. Marvell, who inspired me to think deeply. These were all great teachers, and I feel l need to pay my due respects to them, however this article is about the teachers we all had. I’m talking about fictional teachers. So, here’s the list of the most respected fictional teachers from movies, books and television.

10. John Keating (Dead Poets Society)

Stand on your desks, everyone, and rip out a page of your textbooks. Well, okay, that’s exactly what annoyed Roger Ebert, in his review of “Dead Poets Society” as he described Mr. Keating as a “delicate balancing act between restraint and shtick.” However annoying Robin William’s portrayal of a teacher is to the modern viewer, we would all lie if we said we didn’t want him as a teacher. He’s been both spoofed and celebrated, but Mr. Keating did think outside the box and inspire his students. Humor is often a good quality found in real memorable teachers, too.

9. Miss Honey (Matilda)

Give this women teacher of the year. From the Roald Dahl novel, and the movie by Danny DeVilo, Miss Honey doesn’t only share Matilda’s love of reading, she also ends up adopting Matilda, from her nasty brutish family. Together, they make a very smart team. Not only does Matilda have a better life with Miss. Honey, but she gets those darn powers of hers under control. Bravo.

8. Mr. Balding (Saved By The Bell)
Yes, he’s the principal who hung out a bit too much with the kids (and in real life, that would be kind of creepy, but this is a TV show, so let’s give it a pass.)  However, you can’t deny that Mr. Balding cares about his school and his students a lot too. He seems to always be there for Zack and the gang when they needed an adult to talk to. Even when he’s a total goof ball, he’s also a caring adult.

7. Mr. Miyagi (The Karate Kid)
Mr. Miyagi is a great teacher. The only character to appear in the entire series (not counting the remake); Mr. Miyagi is also there to teach kids discipline and fighting. He is a good listener, teacher and a caring older man. Ok, so the plots to “The Karate Kid” movies didn’t always make total sense but Mr. Miyagi always taught kids to both understand and kick butt at the same time.

6. Yoda (Star Wars)
Yoda isn’t human, but he’s caring, wise and taught generations of Jedi’s how to do it. He is there for a young Luke Skywalker, and cared enough to take on the role as mentor. He’s a great whatever he is, and you can’t get that experience from just any teacher. Yoda is always there to teach you how to have a firm grasp on the light saver.

5. Professor Leonard Haffsteader (Big Bang Theory)

Okay, so he spends more time lusting over Penny than teaching a university class but we did see him teach a class a couple times in the series. However, I do think he make a very good teacher to have, because if he has proven anything, Leonard is an understanding and patient guy. You try having Sheldon as a roommate. Not only does he have him as a roommate, but he voluntarily considers him his best friend.

4. Professor Robert Langdon (The Di Vinci Code)

Okay, this book isn’t a masterpiece of literature, but still, Langdon would be a pretty cool professor to have. Not only is he full of conspiracy theories, but he went on great adventures to prove them. Think of the cool stories he can tell in class (fact checkers need not apply. Chances are, you can get an “A” on your paper doing as much fact checking as author Dan Brown did.)

3. Professor Snape (Harry Potter)

You know, he’s a grouch. He’s also rude and not an easy “A”. Not the nicest guy in the world but there he is something good underneath that all. He is actually on your side, and does a lot you don’t know about to keep you alive. I’m not going to give away details, but let’s just say, Harry Potter named one of his kids Snape for a reason.

2. Dumbledore (Harry Potter)

He is the father figure to Harry Potter, keeper of the secrets and the leader of Hogwarts. He is someone who cares deeply for his students and believes very much in them. He is an old wizard, and has had a lot of life experiences, and he is always there to give a speech, explaining not only to Harry Potter and friends the lesson of this installment, but also to the reader, as well.

1. Mr. Feeny (Boy Meets World)

Make the Feeny call! Yes, “Boy Meets World” isn’t exactly one of the greatest sitcoms ever made, but Mr. Feeny is one of the best fictional teachers to ever grace the television screen. I mean, he cares so deeply about his students, he teaches them from elementary to college. He always has the speech at the end to explain the lesson of the show, and has the last line of the series, “I love you all. Class dismissed”. Sounds like a certain other teacher (J.K. Rowling ever watch Boy Meets World?) Mr. Feeny is played wonderfully by veteran actor William Daniels. Yes, this show got crazy towards the end, and even started to acknowledge it openly with a ton of meta jokes. However, Mr. Feeny is always there in syndication to explain to us life’s journey because Mr. Matthews needs to be guided, and Mr. Feeny guided us all.