Enhancing the experience...

I just recently posted about my re-reading the Harry Potter books and had a thought, so I thought I would share it.

When I say that I re-read the Harry Potter books, technically that is a lie, because I didn't sit down and read out of a book, but rather listened to those books read aloud to me off of my iPod.

There are some that would argue that isn't the same things as reading a book and doesn't offer the same experience, so therefore it doesn't count. Movies that are based off of books also fall victim to this view, I believe.

I both agree and disagree with this thinking.

I would agree that in listening to a book read, instead of doing the actual reading yourself, does limit you in some ways. For myself, I find that I am not always listening 100% of the time and tend to miss things that I would have otherwise caught, if I were reading the book.

One reason that I think listening to the audio version can be limiting, is that it can be very difficult to listen to the person that they have doing the reading. For instance, I am not particularly fond of the lady whom they hired to read the Twilight series. Yes, in the end I got used to her voice and it really wasn't a problem. At first, however, I had a really hard time listening to her read the book, because I felt that she was articulating some of the words incorrectly and emphasizing the wrong words in sentences. When she read the books, the meaning were considerably different, due solely to where she was emphasizing certain words, than compared to when I would read the book.

Another similar example of this was the reader of Harry Potter, Jim Dale. I once tried to listen to the book and read it at the same time. I became VERY frustrated! His reading was slower than my reading along and I became irked with his reading style, because it differed so violently than my own. However, again, once I stopped trying to read along and just let go of the little annoyances, by the end of the reading, I had very much enjoyed the experience.

Movies based off of books are NEVER as good as the book. Period. So that never really helps the movie in my book.

However, here's why I like having had the experience of both reading and listening (or watching): I get to look at it from all angles.

Let's take my recent Harry Potter experience for an example. I have read the series through plenty of times, or at least more than the average reader, I feel. However, when I listened to the books this time, I got a different feel for how the books could be. On one hand, I think it should look and feel like this, but then I listen to Jim read it and it helped clear some of the confusion on some of the book. For instance, in The Deathly Hallows, I have always had a hard time imagining just how the scene in Godric's Hollow looked like. Harry being attacked by the giant snake, him pulling Hermione out of the window and falling...it has always just been really hard for me to imagine. Perhaps it is due to my excitement when I read the action sequences. Perhaps I have skipped over words in my haste as the excitement unfolds. Regardless of the reason, I have gone back and re-read that section a couple times trying to get it right and it wasn't until I listened to Jim read it (twice), that I was really able to see it in my mind's eye.

So, there are two levels there. There's my level, the way I read it and see it. There's the readers' level, the way he reads it. And then you throw on the Movie level and it's like you can see it, hear it and touch it! It's fabulous. Now, I realize that the movies are all going to be different than the books. This was a sad reality that I had to come to grips with after the Prisoner of Azkaban (I almost walked out). Having been so spoiled with the first two Harry Potter films, which were so close to the original books, the third movie was sadly lacking and very disappointing on multiple levels. After that, I finally had to reason with myself that the "movie version" and the "book version" while similar, are in fact two completely different stories. What the movie does offer that I really like, it a visual aspect that I had not imagined. I do have a vivid imagination, but sometimes seeing something that doesn't really exist is hard to do. The movies helped with this aspect. So now, when I listen or read the books, I can in my minds eye, refer back to the movie for the visual of what that looks like, how it acts, or what it would feel like. It adds a third dimension.

Another great example of this "3-D" feel added to a book, are the Jane Austen books. Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility...etc.

When I first decided to read Jane Austen, I didn't think anything of it. Everyone raved about her stories, and I liked reading, so it sounded like a good fit. Until I tried to read it of course. Old English is not something you just pick up one day and understand completely. In fact, I really had a hard time with her writing because it was so devoid of emotion. I was expected, as the reader, to glean all the meaning without the description. It was a highly difficult read. Needless to say, I was not so infatuated with Mr. Darcy at first. I believe when I was done with the book, my first response was "huh...". It was that good.

But, then I saw the movie and it was like it just...clicked. I was able to see the interpretation of the feelings before my eyes and I able to see the emotion in the writing, able to feel it for the first time. After that, the re-readings of her works have been much easier. I even watched the extensive BBC version of the movie (which of course I loved) and it thickened that dimension considerably.

So, in conclusion, my point is that while I didn't necessarily read the book in the traditional sense, I am ok with that because I am heightening the adventure and enjoying it all the more on a deeper level.

Let the adventure never end...

For anyone that knows me, you know that I am a pretty decent reader. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I am an avid reader, because there is a great deal of my time NOT reading books. So I would classify myself as a decent reader.

My personal choice of diversion, I have noticed, goes in cycles and if something isn't quite finished during that cycle, it gets set to the side till that cycle comes back around. The cycles I frequent are reading, knitting, crocheting, scrapbook crafts and an occasional quilting. If I start reading a book and then accidentally change cycles, well...it waits to be read till another day.

I have recently discovered the joy of books on iPod. This method lets me digest the book that I am longing to read AND let's my hands stay free to finish other projects that I may be working on. I realize that books on tape or books on CD have been around for a while, but for some reason, I have never really taken advantage of them till now.

I am a strange reader, or that is to say, that most people I have mentioned this to, find me strange. The oddity that I am talking about is that I enjoy reading the same books over and over. In book collection, I really only have a handful of book series that I like to read time and time again: Harry Potter Series, Twilight Series, The Host, The Jane Austen Collection, The Chronicles of Narnia Series, The Work and The Glory Series and a handful of other books that aren't as widely known or that I can't remember at the moment.

I enjoy re-reading stories over and over. Prior to Harry Potter, I was not really into the series books. I remember the first time I read Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone. I was on a road trip with some friends to California to spend Thanksgiving in Huntington Beach. I remember thinking that I probably wouldn't really enjoy this book, because from all accounts, it was a children's book. Needless to say that by the time we reached Las Vegas and the Smelting Stick...I was hooked.

We finished The Sorcerer's Stone and half of The Chamber of Secrets by the time we got back (we only read while we were driving there and back). Upon our return, I purchased copies for myself and was quickly done with The Chamber of Secrets. What a fabulous fictitious little world this was that we received from J.K. Rowling!

As the years rolled on, and new books came out, I would re-read the series for every new addition. Currently to this date I have read The Sorcerer's Stone 10 times, The Chamber of Secrets 9 times, The Prisoner of Azkaban 6 times, The Goblet of Fire 5 times, The Order of the Phoenix 4 times, The Half Blood Prince 3 times and The Deathly Hallows 2 times.

I usually let quite a bit of time go by between readings and visit other series that I have neglected while reading this series.

In trying to get ready for the new Harry Potter film that was just released, I decided to listen to the books all the way through once more. I finished the books on Sunday night. I had forgotten what a fantastic writer the author was!

Having read the last three books of the series the fewest number of times, listening to it this time was like a completely new book. I had forgotten all the details from the past and it was a whole new joy ride. The twists and turns of the plot where new and different, unexpected and fogged in my memory from the excess of time between readings.

I, once again, loved the series all the way through. I love the way the writing progresses and grows with each volume, as though it grows up with the characters that are in the story. I loved the characters even more! I laughed when they laughed & I cried with despair at their losses that seem to increase as the series continues. I have gotten so tied to characters in the past that when the journey ends, I am almost forlorn at the loss of their companionship.

This happens with most of the books that I read and I blame an overactive imagination that makes reading these kinds of books so enjoyable.

The reason I mentioned my "hobbies" cycle above, is that during this reading of Harry Potter, it was a little more special. When the Prisoner of Azkaban came out in movie form, I was working on knitting a scarf that resembled the pattern from The Sorcerer's Stone. I fashioned it in the Ravenclaw colors (movie colors, not book colors) and enjoyed it so much, I decided I needed to have the Prisoner of Azkaban scarf in Gryffindor colors. So I started an additional scarf. I believe I started that second scarf mid to late 2005.

I just finished it. LOL.

I got to about The Order of The Phoenix before the desire to finish it hit me again, but then I was able to work on it while I listened to the story and it was a fantastic thing, because it really tied me to the story. Like I was there and a part of it, working on my scarf for the following school year! As I got a little way through it though, I decided that I wasn't going to keep it, but rather give it to a friend of mine, who like me, is a fairly avid fan of the series, but is more discreet when it comes to his public displays of support. I never did see the point of getting lightening bolt earrings...

Anyway, I hope that as the years go on, I will find more stories that are as near and dear to my heart as this story is.

Thank you to the imagination of those writers that make such a journey possible and thank you to my imagination for letting me enjoy these experiences!

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death. ~ Robert Fulghum

Forks Trip: June 2009

So last year, I broke down the trip I took to Forks in pretty good detail. This time...I think I am just going to give you a basic description and the highlights.

Day 1: Fly to Seattle. Pick up the SWEETEST Full-size rental car (Mercury Grand Marquis) and dub it the Maude-Mobile. Lunch at McD's! Ferry. Got lost on the way to Port Angeles. Drive. Drive. Drive. Walmart for groceries. Welcome to the Cabin! Dinner at Sulleys (best burgers in Forks!), shopping in the Thriftway grocery store. Built fire in the fireplace. Phew!!! LONG day!!!

Day 2: Get ready for day. Visitor Center. Take the Self-guided Twilight Tour. Go to the Thriftway again with the Cali girls Donna, Jackie & Tiff, because they hadn't been there yet. Subway - say hello to our favorite underage illegal subway boys! (hahaha...jk). Beach at Sunset & Bonfire baby!!!

Day 3: Get ready for day. Drive to the Hoh rainforest, but change mind and look for Big Cedar that is just scary. Find a big cedar...but not THE Big Cedar...keep looking. Stop at Kalaloche gas station & fill up on with OLLLLDDD SCHOOL pump! Find creepy scary Big Cedar. Go to Kalaloche Beach 4, since we were down that far, but the tide was in, so no beach wandering. Back to Forks without seeing the Hoh. Back to First Beach/La Push for Quileutte storytelling around bonfire. Dancing in the new Millcreek Bar & Grill that had the best games and a very nice live band. Danced the night away!!!

Day 4: Got ready. Went shopping in local stores of Forks. Lunch at Sulleys. Dressed up for Dinner at Bella Italia. Ended the evening dancing again at Millcreek with our new good friends! (Joe, Ryan, Phil, Zane, Michelle, Matt, Paul & Jaime) GOOD TIMES!!!!

Day 5: Got ready. Packed. Drove to souvenir shop near the Hoh rainforest and got hoodies. Drive, Drive, DRIVE to the Airport. Say goodbye to Maude-Mobile. Flight home. Lost the car in Economy parking...but found it shortly! hahaha. Home again, home again!!!

I know this is a VERY short synopsis of my trip, but as you will note, I have attached lots of pics again...and they say pics are worth 1000 words, so there you have it!

A warning...I am a self-portrait junky, and lots of the pictures are of just me, but since it's my blog...I figure I can self-indulge as much as I like! hahahah

People always ask me "Why? Why are you going to Forks for vacation?" my answer is for you to look at the pictures and captions below and then I would simply state....

"Yeah...because it's something like that! Forks Baby!!!"

Forks Trip: June 2009 Pics

Riding the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston

The first pic in Forks at our cabin

View from the porch off the back of the cabin

yeah...go ahead

it's perfectly ok

...be jealous!

The trip starts!!!

Hey!

Me & the beautiful Kriselle next to the Maude-Mobile

Maude and her Maude-Mobile

...because the Maude-Mobile really IS that cool!

Pondering....

What kind of trouble do we want to get into this time???

Trying for a full car shot...

Failing again...

...nope still didn't get every one...ah well, you get the idea

Kriselle & Genell showing off the Vamp Glitter

Hosing "Fan-Girl G" off of the Carlisle parking sign...

...wait! He parks here!!! OME!!!!

Forks High School Sign

Sunset in First Beach

Me

The gorgeous beach

Breathtaking

 

...running from the precarious surf!

It's Cold!!! But I LOVE it!!!!

Forks Trip: June 2009 Pics Contd'

The Self-Portrait Queen

My Crew: (L-R) Britney, Kim, Lisa, Donna, Ashlee, Genell, Tiff, Selle, & Jackie

The thumb of Poseidon trying to put out the sunset

I just LOVE this beach!

 Ash & "Scary-me"...hahaha

Kriselle & Brooke (AKA Maude)

The NRG: S, B, G, & A

...yeah...we rule! Admit it!!!

We start out innocent enough...

...but...

It never lasts!!!!

Bonfire Rocker Kriselle

Reluctant picture takers are the best!!!

Just ask Genell...she didn't want this picture! hahaha

Ashlee & Maude 

(yes, those are glow sticks in my hair)

Genell & Maude 

( I mean really, where did you expect me to wear them?)

Kriselle & Maude 

(really, I think you are jealous you didn't think to put them there first!)

Lumber Jack Maude juggling wood, an Amp & Diet Coke

Building a bonfire

Windy on Kalaloche Beach 4

This visit there was no real beach to walk on thanks to high tide

Did I mention I love this beach?

Kriselle & Maude

Maude, Ethel & Ethel

Because Sober should always look this good!!!

Say what??

Maude & Ethel

Dinner at Bella Italia

(Ok, so this lady was REALLY put out that we were laughing and having a good time in the restaurant...so we figured we needed a picture of her!!!)

The Subway Boys: Tyler & Mitchel

(Because no trip to Forks is complete without saying hello to them!)

Maude with Travis

Dancing the night away with my ladies (hottie Donna in the background!!)

Joe, Owner of Millcreek Bar & Grill

(our new favorite place to dance it up in Forks!!! Not that the Tesoro wasn't fun or anything....)

Kriselle & our new friend David

(LMAO)