Well this is quite an interesting read. I hate it when I read this book, it feels like my comprehension level is at 0. And I do actually read a lot so it should come easy to me. But this book does not at all. Its the hardest read of my life. I keep trying to get into it but I feel like once I do the author just goes off on a random tangent which has nothing to do with what I was just reading, and I'm back to square one.
One thing that I thought about during Tuesdays discussion (1/20/2009) was the idea about disease and computers. But I'm wondering why you can get rid of a 'virus' on a computer, but when you get a virus such as Mono or HIV you are stuck with it forever. your body will have to produce antibodies against it but you are always a carrier of that virus. But for computer virus's you can get anti-virus spyware and it will most likely get rid of all the traces of the virus on the computer.
Which brings me to another point of who creates virus's for computers anyways? There is that theory out there that companies like McAfee (sp?) and the virus software companies pay people to create virus's so people have to buy their product. Think about it though, why in the world would anyone make a virus? someone in their free time would want to ruin peoples computers if they couldn't make any money off of it. That's what doesnt make sense to me.
Burroughs believes the virus is language? In the chapter "operation rewrite" he said "the word is now a virus" and talking about how you can not have 10 seconds of inner silence and an organism will force you to talk. and the organism is the word. It is strange to me how the author goes from saying it is a virus to begin with, and then changing the word to an organism.
I feel like the author also refers to sex as a virus. that is something the hasn't escaped from the whole book. it is something looked at as unavoidable between everyone and everything. Like a virus has overcome everyone, and no one can not have sex, or no one can not want to be loved.
So what do you do to get rid of this virus? You cant silence it.
What i dont understand either is why the author puts these alien creatures in such realistic and humanistic settings. like in the chapter combat troops in the area, he has the alien creature in a bar playing pinball. and then the pinball machine is able to tell him that there are combat troops coming to the area.
The authors grammar is i think supposed to give away a lot in the book. on page 103 when the Scorpian Electrials is screaming and says "Show me your controller quickly-or i kill-" I think its interesting the way the author made it a point to capitalize the name of the creature "Scorpian Electrials" and gave it a proper name and used correct grammar when saying its name, but then when the author has the Scorpian Electrials speak, when it says "I" it is lowercase. I think that the interpretation of that is to show that humans are the only significant beings. And they are 'smaller' then human beings. Or who knows maybe im making a big deal over nothing, and the author just forgot to hit the shift key, and the publishing company thought that he meant to do it because the rest of his writing is so weird, it just fit. And as I skim through the book and look for these lowercase 'i's it becomes apparent that he uses the lowercase i's half of the time and the uppercase "I's" Im sure there is a point to this, I just cant figure out what it is.
I think its funny how on page 129 in the chapter 'the last round over' the author makes a reference to "ghost rectums of cotton' as if ghosts were actually like they are on Halloween with a white sheet over them and two cut out holes for eyes. And then the next sentence he goes to talking about semen. So its almost as if he is going for a joke saying cotton ghosts leave behind cotton balls, and then he talks about something so mature and utterly un-funny its weird. I think its strange how the author just makes transitions between different subjects and expects his readers to be able to be on the same train of thought that hes on. Like does his book make sense to him? Did he make any rough-draft to this book or did he just wing it the whole thing?
I personally do not like the style of writing of the author. I believe anyone could talk about aliens have sex, and semen and weird things such as that and make it into a novel that noone understands.
Overall I personally did not enjoying this book. I just feel like I wasnt able to get hooked by the book, I didnt understand any themes or plots that was going on because the author would change subjects on me too often so right when I was understanding something he was saying, he would switch gears on me. It was interesting though, I would love to have a conversation with the author and find out what was running through his head when he was writing certain parts in the book.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Invention of morel...wrap up
Wow! After finishing that book I don't know what the author had running through his head! I feel like he is a creepy stalker and is writing this book about his life and how he sees Louise Brooks everyday. He is reflecting upon the idea that he "sees" his "love" as an image on a screen, yet she doesn't even know he exists. He feels he is so close to her and as if he knows her, but she doesn't even know he exists. Or maybe he is trying to put himself in Morels shoes, and would love to figure out a way to re-live a week with her over and over and over again forever. That is his dream which he would love to try and turn into a reality.
Morel put his faith completely in the tides for this book. The way they were able to keep on living in this memory, is that they were dependent on the tides. The tides do the same cycle over and over again, and I believe they were symbolic to the way that Morel made his machine. Him and these people were going to have to do the same cycle over and over again day after day.
I think what is weird, is that the whole time the main character was paranoid that the entire island and all the people there were a set up. And he was so sure it was the police coming to look for him, and everyone on the island were working to plot against him. Even though the people on the island (who were believed to be people before he found out about this invention) had many many opportunities to capture him and catch him off guard. The main character was still so sure that they were going to keep waiting to come get him.
I believe that this is the main characters way of actually believing that he was worth something. That out there somewhere people were still wanting to get him and would actually spend their time looking for him. Not that he was completely forgotten and alone in this world.
One question that I still have about Morel is that what is he afraid of? Why does he want to stay on this island and not move on ever? Being able to stay with your love (in his case Faustine) for all eternity sounds nice, but if he so strongly believed in love wouldn't he believe that they would "meet again some day"
I finally understand the reason it was called a 'museum', I mentioned it in my last blog and I'm so happy that the book answered the question for me. It talked about how it went more along the lines of the fact that they are all being "preserved" here on this island. There are not any actual artifacts belonging to the museum, the people were considered the museum. And so I never also figured out the bomb shelter ideas too? Or was this just Morels way of keeping his inventions safe, the people who are the images on the island couldn't have possibly known when there would be a bomb threat. They are in the same routine and cycle which they cant break. I'm not sure otherwise what a bomb shelter would do.
What would happen if the island were to get destroyed, half of the island was taken out but the museum with the inventions was still in tact? Would the images be able to 'walk on water' in the exact place the ground was that they walked on years before?
I feel like the author didn't think this book through very well before he wrote it. I'm not a fan of his writing style. I feel like this novel was more and more made up as the author pushed forward in writing it. The novel was interesting though, and it did keep me guessing until the very end. There just wasn't very much action in it for me. It was a lame attempt at a love story. No humor what-so-ever. Just curiosity.
I feel like Morel took advantage of all the people that he was recording. He recorded them at which point there was no going back. He didn't have them sign a waver form at the beginning of his experiment, explaining the procedures and the risks involved like "You are going to go on living forever, and if you don't have a good week that's too bad your stuck with it." I know I would want to know first if I had to re-live a week with the same people who they would be. I wonder if Morel ever got any acknowledgement for his invention. And if people would actually like it in the real world. I can see the protesters already fighting against it. With the point that no one has the decision to make as to when their life should end, and no one should go on living forever. That would be some great controversy. Headline news for sure. Up there with abortion rights, stem cell research, and cloning.
The one thing I still wasnt able to figure out about this book is what time period it was supposed to be set during. If the author was trying to put it into a futuristic perspective, or make it during the time period he lived in. If i were to take a guess, I would believe that this novel was set in a time period ahead of the authors time. I dont think there is even technologie out today that can replicate images of people as well that was described in the book, and im sure that there wont be for another 100 years.
My overall view of the novel is that it was unexpected. Reading this book without having ever heard of it before, it was not what I expected at all. The front cover was completely misleading also. Which again I refer to the phrase "dont judge a book by its front cover" and in this novels case, its back cover either!
Morel put his faith completely in the tides for this book. The way they were able to keep on living in this memory, is that they were dependent on the tides. The tides do the same cycle over and over again, and I believe they were symbolic to the way that Morel made his machine. Him and these people were going to have to do the same cycle over and over again day after day.
I think what is weird, is that the whole time the main character was paranoid that the entire island and all the people there were a set up. And he was so sure it was the police coming to look for him, and everyone on the island were working to plot against him. Even though the people on the island (who were believed to be people before he found out about this invention) had many many opportunities to capture him and catch him off guard. The main character was still so sure that they were going to keep waiting to come get him.
I believe that this is the main characters way of actually believing that he was worth something. That out there somewhere people were still wanting to get him and would actually spend their time looking for him. Not that he was completely forgotten and alone in this world.
One question that I still have about Morel is that what is he afraid of? Why does he want to stay on this island and not move on ever? Being able to stay with your love (in his case Faustine) for all eternity sounds nice, but if he so strongly believed in love wouldn't he believe that they would "meet again some day"
I finally understand the reason it was called a 'museum', I mentioned it in my last blog and I'm so happy that the book answered the question for me. It talked about how it went more along the lines of the fact that they are all being "preserved" here on this island. There are not any actual artifacts belonging to the museum, the people were considered the museum. And so I never also figured out the bomb shelter ideas too? Or was this just Morels way of keeping his inventions safe, the people who are the images on the island couldn't have possibly known when there would be a bomb threat. They are in the same routine and cycle which they cant break. I'm not sure otherwise what a bomb shelter would do.
What would happen if the island were to get destroyed, half of the island was taken out but the museum with the inventions was still in tact? Would the images be able to 'walk on water' in the exact place the ground was that they walked on years before?
I feel like the author didn't think this book through very well before he wrote it. I'm not a fan of his writing style. I feel like this novel was more and more made up as the author pushed forward in writing it. The novel was interesting though, and it did keep me guessing until the very end. There just wasn't very much action in it for me. It was a lame attempt at a love story. No humor what-so-ever. Just curiosity.
I feel like Morel took advantage of all the people that he was recording. He recorded them at which point there was no going back. He didn't have them sign a waver form at the beginning of his experiment, explaining the procedures and the risks involved like "You are going to go on living forever, and if you don't have a good week that's too bad your stuck with it." I know I would want to know first if I had to re-live a week with the same people who they would be. I wonder if Morel ever got any acknowledgement for his invention. And if people would actually like it in the real world. I can see the protesters already fighting against it. With the point that no one has the decision to make as to when their life should end, and no one should go on living forever. That would be some great controversy. Headline news for sure. Up there with abortion rights, stem cell research, and cloning.
The one thing I still wasnt able to figure out about this book is what time period it was supposed to be set during. If the author was trying to put it into a futuristic perspective, or make it during the time period he lived in. If i were to take a guess, I would believe that this novel was set in a time period ahead of the authors time. I dont think there is even technologie out today that can replicate images of people as well that was described in the book, and im sure that there wont be for another 100 years.
My overall view of the novel is that it was unexpected. Reading this book without having ever heard of it before, it was not what I expected at all. The front cover was completely misleading also. Which again I refer to the phrase "dont judge a book by its front cover" and in this novels case, its back cover either!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Invention of Morel reflections
After reading the first part of this novel, I believe that the author has some subconscious thoughts and feelings that are showing through. On the back of the cover of the novel, it says that tells us that Bioy Casares was inspired by the actress Louise Brooks to write this novel. In the novel he has the main character on an island, stalking a woman with whom he has an infatuation with, and he gets to watch her all the time. I believe that the author wishes that he he in real life could be watching Louise Brooks at all times without her knowing. He hasn't gone to go talk to her yet. Louise Brooks was an actress in silent movies, so maybe the author didn't feel he could put an accurate voice to her character. I am not sure where the author is going with this novel yet. Hints were given during class that there is an invention that will come up some time in the book, and I would assume so based on the title, but I can't imagine what that invention would entail.
Another thing I haven't been able to figure out with the book is the time period. I have no idea, some hints were given as to when like people first came to this island but I have no idea when the main character is living. I'm not sure if I just missed that part or what but its confusing me. and also how he makes references like hes from Venezuela but then he talks about being in Italy? where he is from is throwing me for a loop!
I'm also not sure as to why the author has made the narrator sick this entire time on the island. He talks about being sick from the beginning to when he got on the island, and he hasn't been able to get better through all of it. If hes being miserable and starving to death on this island why doesn't he just go back and take his punishment? I know freedom is something that no one would want to give up, but I think if i were in his position, and i reflected on my life at that moment, I would choose a death penalty or jail time, over living your last years in sickness and starvation. and in isolation. I believe that if you lived for as long as he has in isolation, you would become insane. A good example which is my basis for argument is the movie "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks, how this volleyball 'Wilson' soon becomes his best friend. The scene where Wilson gets lost to sea is made to be very dramatic. Tom Hanks actually believed that he had a friend in Wilson who helped him through this time on the island. If the narrator doesn't have anyone to talk to he will start to really miss and crave that human contact.
Another thing that was really weird to me which the narrator commented on also is why the one of the two buildings on the island is called a 'museum.' I cant imagine the people who built this museum was planning to have this remote island visited by vacationing families and historians to go visit the museum. The fact that this museum happens to have a vast bomb shelter is very strange too. From the sketch in the book, this island appears very very small, and if one bomb were to be dropped on it, I feel like it would wipe out the whole island anyways.
The picture on the cover of this book does not fit with the book what-so-ever. The phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" has real meaning for this book. I would have suggested an island scene on the front cover, or an illustrated picture of a starving sick man. Not a beautiful actress surrounded by books. I understand that that was the reason the author wrote this book, but I think a book dedication would have been enough.
I'm not sure why the main character doesnt try to interact with the people already on the island. From the way he is describing them, it doesnt seem like they are native people who would sacrifice him and burn him over a fire the second they see him. Unless there is the language barrier which he hasn't touched on, then I think it would be much better for his lifestyle if her were to go and get help from that group. I feel like if he were to get caught stalking that woman he would get into more trouble then if he approached one of the men that lives there. I mean how much does he have to loose? Hes very sick, hes a convict, hes alone, and hes hes starving. If i were him i would take every chance i got to try and get any help i could. Either that or i would be in the process of building a big raft to get off of the island. It doesnt seem like its something that's working out too well for him at this point of the novel. I guess we have a big invention coming though so we will see what happens next!!
Another thing I haven't been able to figure out with the book is the time period. I have no idea, some hints were given as to when like people first came to this island but I have no idea when the main character is living. I'm not sure if I just missed that part or what but its confusing me. and also how he makes references like hes from Venezuela but then he talks about being in Italy? where he is from is throwing me for a loop!
I'm also not sure as to why the author has made the narrator sick this entire time on the island. He talks about being sick from the beginning to when he got on the island, and he hasn't been able to get better through all of it. If hes being miserable and starving to death on this island why doesn't he just go back and take his punishment? I know freedom is something that no one would want to give up, but I think if i were in his position, and i reflected on my life at that moment, I would choose a death penalty or jail time, over living your last years in sickness and starvation. and in isolation. I believe that if you lived for as long as he has in isolation, you would become insane. A good example which is my basis for argument is the movie "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks, how this volleyball 'Wilson' soon becomes his best friend. The scene where Wilson gets lost to sea is made to be very dramatic. Tom Hanks actually believed that he had a friend in Wilson who helped him through this time on the island. If the narrator doesn't have anyone to talk to he will start to really miss and crave that human contact.
Another thing that was really weird to me which the narrator commented on also is why the one of the two buildings on the island is called a 'museum.' I cant imagine the people who built this museum was planning to have this remote island visited by vacationing families and historians to go visit the museum. The fact that this museum happens to have a vast bomb shelter is very strange too. From the sketch in the book, this island appears very very small, and if one bomb were to be dropped on it, I feel like it would wipe out the whole island anyways.
The picture on the cover of this book does not fit with the book what-so-ever. The phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" has real meaning for this book. I would have suggested an island scene on the front cover, or an illustrated picture of a starving sick man. Not a beautiful actress surrounded by books. I understand that that was the reason the author wrote this book, but I think a book dedication would have been enough.
I'm not sure why the main character doesnt try to interact with the people already on the island. From the way he is describing them, it doesnt seem like they are native people who would sacrifice him and burn him over a fire the second they see him. Unless there is the language barrier which he hasn't touched on, then I think it would be much better for his lifestyle if her were to go and get help from that group. I feel like if he were to get caught stalking that woman he would get into more trouble then if he approached one of the men that lives there. I mean how much does he have to loose? Hes very sick, hes a convict, hes alone, and hes hes starving. If i were him i would take every chance i got to try and get any help i could. Either that or i would be in the process of building a big raft to get off of the island. It doesnt seem like its something that's working out too well for him at this point of the novel. I guess we have a big invention coming though so we will see what happens next!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)