On Books and The Fault In Our Stars

     I've been reading quite a few books lately. I'm working my way through the Search For Significance (A wonderful choice, thanks Ashley), which has been wonderfully helpful. (That is a discussion for a much more solemn post). I just finished the second to last book in a series that deal with the question, "If all of the extraordinary minds (People like Tolkien, Verne, Poe, Tesla, Richard Burton) from the past gathered together in one room in an imaginary world, what would happen?" Short answer: Mayhem, murder, the end of the world, war, death, and some very witty humor. It makes quite an interesting read. But as nothing could ever be simple with that many deep thinkers trying to work together, the series is so confusing I'm going to have to re-read the entire thing.
     I've also been catching up on my history with a little of Stevenson's Kidnapped, an excellent book that doesn't receive as much notice as it should. Come on. Who wouldn't like pirates, swashbuckling, and flight through the Scottish highlands with a somewhat crazy (If they ever remake the movie, David Tennant should play Alan) Scotsman? Why Treasure Island got more notice that Kidnapped I'll never know.
      There are probably more, lying on the floor of my bedroom waiting to be noticed, but I'll skip to the last one. The Fault In Our Stars. As you might know, this book is making something of a tidal wave in the teen community right now. People rave about it--it's humor and pathos, warmth and darkness--but I think if you stripped away the pretty words and fun, lovable characters, you'd find something a little less pleasing to read.
       John Green's words are soaked in a kind of bravado, that even though life is pointless and we are all just "side-effects" on a randomly spinning globe, we (humans) face death and refuse to sink into nothing. Not bravely, but at least with more attention on living than dying. Now, I'm only six chapters into the book, so any assumptions I make are likely to be blown to bits by the end. But I think I'm right in one thing--John Green is an incredibly skilled writer--so skilled that his opinion seeps off the pages and onto you without realizing what he's saying. He writes with such eloquence that the concepts he presents are pleasing to agree with, even if you actually don't. Impressions are so easy to come by.
       Now, I don't believe in a pointless existence, but it was only due to the comments made by my friend that kept me from accepting what Mr. Green said.
       It's a little scary, when you think about it. If I, who thought myself sceptical enough to disagree with an opposite worldview, really wanted to agree with Mr. Green, how many other books have I, or you, read and absorbed that distracted from truth?

Food for thought.

Method in the Madness

       I could spend quite a lot of time extolling praises for the Royal Shakespeare Company's adaptation of Hamlet. But those words would be lost, because it was much too excellent for idle sentences. I might even deem it too sophisticated for the Awesome-O-Meter.

Na. Never. My O-Meters are still the best way of rating that I've come up with.

It rated a ten on the Awesome-O-Meter for emotion, laughs, and acting (David Tennant plays crazy like he's not faking it), a ten on the Drama-O-Meter for gripping scenes and heart-rending speeches, and a nine on the Everything-Else-That's-Awesome-O-Meter for some wonderful, creepy themes of spying, watching, Hell, and evil. The very set of the play radiated "something rotten in the heart of Denmark."

Sometimes it's frustrating to be the only Shakespearean fan in my family. Can you not see his genius? His speeches and poetry--even his prose--is another language to be pondered over and admired (Even though most of the time I only understand half of what his characters are saying).

Did you know that over half of the sayings like "method to his madness" (Hamlet), "neither here nor there" (Othello), and "sweets to the sweet" (Hamlet) were invented by Shakespeare? Not only this, but when he felt the need he simply made up words to suit his fancy. Think on this the next time you use "rant", "majestic," or "lonely."

Shakespeare's genius wasn't the only thing that contributed to this production. Whoever did the casting should be awarded a medal. David Tennant is the best Hamlet I've ever seen, and Patrick Stewart has yet to play a role that isn't excellent. But then again, I do have a soft-spot for tortured male protagonists....

The Alps of Minnesota

     What is so fun about riding up a ski lift in six-degree weather, with thirty mph winds blowing you back down the wire? It would only be fun if you were with a friend.
     I've never had an experience quite like the one I had last night. I'm sure you all heard what the weather was like--nasty, to sum it up in as few words as possible. But beautiful at the same time--the crisp, clear, painful beauty of winter. The hills at Afton Alps were completely iced over, with drifts of powdery snow lying where the gusts of wind had gathered it. Every time we rode the lift to the top of the hill, my hoodie would freeze over my mouth. Falling was inevitable: at least, it was for a person of my tipsy nature--that is, tending to fall down while standing still. At least I provided Ellie with a source of amusement, flopping around on the ground, struggling to get my skis under me, all the while sliding further and further down the slope. Humph.
     The Afton Alps Ski Patrol is a great group of people. Even from my brief contact with them, you got the impression that they love the work they do. You know, it is hard to be grumpy after being out in the wind and sun, saving lives and flying down steep hills for the greater part of the day. If more people would experience the outdoors and the satisfaction of returning to a warm building at the end of the day, we'd all be better off for it.
     The patrol room is small, but homey. The patrollers gather around the long table in the center, often with their families in tow. First Aid equipment, skis, and bags line the walls. Smells of hot chocolate, melting snow, and musty indoor air waft around the room. Conversation is usually lively and good natured, disrupted by the buzzing of the radios as help is needed on the hill.
     Now comes for my rating. Afton Alps is an awesome place for people of all ages. It is family friendly, complete with several restaurants and a rental shop. The Patrol is active, efficient, and devoted. Now, I would probably tell you that any skiing experience is simply awesome, but at Afton, it was one of the best expeditions I've ever been on. I would recommend it. There is nothing more satisfactory than braving the elements and coming back to home base hungry and sweating. Tired, but happy. (Interesting how those words--tired but happy--always goes along with exercise. Think about it.)