Week Seven: The Novel of Spiritual Education

Week Seven: The Novel of Spiritual Education

This week is really beautiful one, because my sister and I always loved reading Harry Potter, and it was really nice to be able to go back and grab that book and just let J.K. Rowling immerse me again in that fantasy world that makes me want to stay there forever. The author represents such an important part of most people's lives, I can't think of anyone from my life circle that has not been mesmerized by J.K. Rowling's fantastic storytelling.

I really enjoyed analyzing the main character, Harry, for this week's blog. As a person who is really interested in storytelling, I find it fascinating to analyze characters in depth and find out; what makes them memorable? What makes them likeable? In Harry Potter, Harry is the type of character that we do not expect much from, he is ordinary, he doesn't have a good family, he doesn't have much money, his parents are dead and he doesn't even have any friends in his life. Harry's life really couldn't go worse, and that's what makes the audience so happy when something is finally turning out good for him.

Another aspect that makes Harry likeable is his very genuine personality. His values are what drive the story forward, is what makes us care so much for him, because despite him being able to use the powers for the bad, he decides to use it for the good will. The fact that he didn't judge Ron for its cover when they first met on the train, and accepted him as friend also makes him likeable because he is presented as uncritical and humble. 

Also I really enjoyed watching in class the last scene of the Harry Potter 7th movie: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" because it really shows the characters finally going into puberty and developing in their unique ways. And that is perhaps the whole beauty of the book, that it allows us to stay seven years with these characters watching them grow up and see them mature. Something that is really captivating about that ending scene is how some character traits never change. Malfoy does not become best friend with Harry in the end, Harry does not change his personality, sure he has grown and learnt but he is not a different person, he is still that humble, believable character we first met in the first movie "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone".

Week Six: A Rich Fantasy Life

Week Six: A Rich Fantasy Life

This week I got the chance to read "The Hobbit". Despite having watched the movie first, I really enjoyed this fantasy book. It is really easy to read, and moreso compared to the Lord of The Rings book. The Hobbit is a really relaxing read, and entertaining. It can be enjoyed by children and adults, since the way of writing is somewhat simple following the steps of J.K. Rowling.

Tolkien is really important in the world of the fantasy genre, since it pionnered a new style of content and writing. The Hobbit is really unique in the realm of world building, creating a world that allows the reader to really get absorbed by the beauty of these rich stories. But it never feels too much for the reader, because of how smart Tolkien presents every new element to us. 

This book is full of mystical creatures, which really trigger our imagination to unexpected places. From dwarves, to goblins, from wizards to elves, the Hobbit is by far a beautiful book that allow us to go on a journey with Bilbo to get back that stolen treasure, encountering creatures that will remain in our minds forever. 

One of the most interesting things about this book is that we can find our inner-Hobbit, or inner-child in it, despite our desire to have an easy, comfortable life, there is still always someone inside all of us that calls for adventure and journeys. That is one of the reasons why I think The Hobbit is such a memorable reading, because it touches your heart in a place where not most people are comfortable going, opening a topic that no one really wants to dive into, unless they are mentioned about it. The Hobbit awakens the inner-child you have inside, reminding you to enjoy the little adventures that life gives you and never lose that curiosity that makes life feel like a fantasy tale.

Week Five: Witches

Week Five: Witches

I am really excited to write about this week's topic: Witches! And it might be because in literature, witches portray very specific standards, for example being well known for representing the power of the female gender which is something really empowering to see. A witch represents powerful woman that have the ability to do things that normal people can't do. Witches are dominant and fearless, they represent the power of femininity, empowering all female readers that come across to the witch archetype.

For this week, I got the chance to read Aunt Maria by Diana Wynne Jones and I also re-watched Kiki's Delivery Service as well. They both present beautiful and unique versions on how we portray witches, placing them as main characters, and protagonists of the story. 

On one hand, Jones portrayal of witches was really interesting. I really enjoyed how Aunt Maria doesn't really look like a witch, she looks like a normal old woman, human looking, and innocent. Also its important to say, that as well as Kiki, Aunt Maria is the protagonist of this novel, not the antagonist character like the Wicked Witch from the West in Wizard of Oz. What makes the novel frightening is that she is covering her power beneath her shell, she appears to be helpless and really destroyed physically while making others do what she wishes.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed re-watching Kiki's Delivery Service. Studio Ghibli always manages to immerse me in their unique worlds, with their magical storytelling. I got transferred to a world where the stereotype of the "evil witch", as being malicious, is replaced by a much more unique and fun setting where all Kiki wants to do is to find a use to her power, to be normal and use her abilities for the good will. Kiki has lot of power but she doesn't know it yet, and is through the progression of the movie that the author manages to empower the character and make them go on a journey to find their purpose in life and herself.

Week Four: The New Weird

Week Four: The New Weird

This week's topic is really interesting for me, because it is really different from what we've read before. These stories present weird element, that are immediately perceived by the readers. The idea of the New Weird is to combine the supernatural and the bizarre, and it's the mix between reality and weird imagination is what makes the audience submerge quickly into the reading.

Krakken and Three Moments of an Explosion are two examples of China Miéville's work. To start with, I really enjoyed how simple and short the stories from Three Moments of Explosions were, and how much the author can leave an impact on you in such a short amount of time. Related to last week's post, I really love the idea of allowing the readers to solve things for themselves, I like that the author does not say everything to the reader, but allows him/her to solve the puzzle and as a result they become active in the reading of the story. Furthermore, as for Krakken, I really enjoyed the reading, as it combines really interesting subjects like magic, science, and religion. China Miéville work is amazing, it sometimes makes you feel really confused, and this idea of confusion is something that makes this genre so important and unique. 

We as readers are meant to feel awkward and startled while reading this weird genre. There is lot of mystery and puzzlement in Mieville's work that makes the stories so provocative, exciting and intriguing. The author gives us a new way of seeing things, which we might think its weird at first, but they become more and more fascinating the more in depth you become with this genre. I really enjoyed opening my way of thinking by reading these stories and really appreciate the wonders that writing can bring to one person's life.