I Have A Reading List Longer Than My Life Expectancy

A Walk to Remember, Holes

The book is almost always considered better than the film, and really, how couldn’t it be (shout-out to all the people who were in the same theatre as me during the first Harry Potter and had to deal with me going thru the book in the theatre and complaining about the inaccuracies for the first third); there’s no budget, no timeline for the writer or the reader and you get to become more immersed (bonus: movies are expensive!). But except for times when the movie greatly alters the story (the Giver), I understand that movies are more restricted than the books and sometimes even very important plot points not 100% relevant to the main story ‘must’ be omitted (R.I.P S.P.E.W). However, two stories that were big as I grew up went from book to movie, one that I first saw as a movie (A Walk to Remember) and one I first read as a book (Holes)

A Walk to Remember was a big deal in my school when it first came out, even after those who saw it first shouted about the ending and while the dramatics of young love being lost to death area big plot point in young adult novels, many of the aspects of high school were accurate even when they’re cliché. There are kids who are ‘losers’ and hate it, but also don’t care; and some people who are assholes in elementary school, are assholes for life—but others, may not even be assholes by the end of high school whether due to basic maturing and growth or dramatic circumstances change them (I’ve seen both). About ten years after the movie came out, I came across the book and decided to read it as there some things in the book that didn’t make sense to me (main point, her leukaemia being so devastating at such a young age and the school being overly involved with Landon’s criminal activity punishment). Turns out, the original book was set in the 1950s!!! but adapted so more teens would go see it. As with most of the stories I love, this one I loved because it gave a good background as to why and how Landon falls in love with someone ‘not his type’, it’s both explained and unexplainable—completely accurate and brings the idea to kids that there are many reasons why people are the way they are and you can only truly know someone by getting to know them. As a side, while mostly ignored in both the movie and novel, both stories do have the reconnection made between Landon and his father.

Holes: is, was, and will always be; hysterical. From Stanley = Yelnats, to the curse being centered on a pig and a dumb rich girl, to the kids at camp green lake really not being hardened criminals but just really overactive kids, and of course, the fact that them digging holes was going to not just make them strong enough to beat the counsellors up. There were so many amazing stories and lessons portrayed in both the movie and the novel: racism, how love can turn into anger, how women can be ruthless, how it’s important to find love that is equal, to thank your friends who try and help you and to always be optimistic (though maybe a bit more realism wouldn’t have hurt). Both the film and the movie portrayed the lessons they wanted to get across well, especially, the greatness that is true friendship and compassion for others.

Both A Walk to Remember and Holes to me are stories that were adapted and made sure to keep the true story and the experiences of the characters intact, so while not everything aligns up perfectly, only a snob would complain about the outcome.

The Common folk, Contribute to their Community

Australia has approximately 25.2 million people but because of the size that equates to only approximately 3 people every square kilometer (8 people every sq.mile). Similar population countries are Taiwan with 23.7 million (671 people every square kilometer) and North Korea with 25.6 (213 people every square kilometer). Countries with a similar people per mile are Iceland (3 people every square kilometer) and Canada (4 people every square kilometer). (1) Because it is so spread out, Australia has had to make some adjustments to how they hand local libraries.

Increased use of university libraries, high priority of public libraries supported by local state and government endeavors are only combined with school libraries when the community or local communities are not large enough for individual need. Ensuring all residents have at least one local library of access. Similar to the Netherlands, there are also specialized libraries that focus on art, feminism, Indigenous people, Lesbian and Gay history and legislative history and procedure. What is most telling about the importance, care and thought of those in Australia is the introduction page about how Australian’s public libraries and the Australian Public Library alliance meets” at least 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals” that do not focus on just environmental book policies

The Alliance itself is also a note to the goals of the country as it was only formed about ten years ago, July 2009, to work towards creating a national goal and concentration on resident’s free, equal and diverse access to information  

(1)    https://www.worldometers.info/

(2)    https://www.alia.org.au/node/184/public-libraries

Don’t give up what you love

Michael (Gary Scott)

Michael’s Best Moment: Season Seven, Episode Four: Sex Ed

Earlier when Michael calls to tell Holly that he has herpes (he doesn’t) she tells him how he made them out to be more than they were. After he sees a lot of his ex’s and he tries to talk to her again explains how she’s  wrong because 1) he remembers every second of them, 2) his feelings for her were more than the others, 3) they joked together, 4) she was the only one happy to hear from him and how he didn’t make them up.

Michael’s Worst Moment: Season Two, Episode Ten: Christmas Party

Michael’s temper tantrum following getting Phyllis’ oven mitt when he bought Ryan an iPod and ends up ruining, or at least seriously dampening, the Christmas Party 1st, by changing Secret Santa into Yankee Swap, 2nd how he sarcastically compliments Phyllis’ oven mitt (especially in mentioning how you can tell how much she worked on it) then following it up with (3rd) calling a Meredith a sucker for taking it, and 4th, asking Dwight how the paintball gun and party is “better than an iPod”, 5th, blames Phyllis and then 6th getting pissed off at everyone for being upset with him with the final moment being when (7th) he tells everyone he got a bonus because he fired Devon.

                                                  +++

Michael’s Best Line: Season Five, Episode Twenty-Five: Broke

As head of The Michael Scott Paper Company and in the meeting with David Wallace, in response to David low-balling the buy-out offers Michael replies:

“I’ll see your situation and I’ll raise you a situation. Your Company is losing clients left and right, you have a stock holder meeting coming up and you are going to have to explain to them why your most profitable branch, is bleeding. So they may be looking for a little change in CFO, so I don’t think I have to wait out Dunder Mifflin, I think I just have to wait out you” to David Wallace (Season Five, Episode Twenty-Five: Broke)

                                                    +++

Michael’s Most Memorable: Season Five, Episode Twelve: The Duel

A moment that truly describes Michael is his “improve conversation” line to David.

“David here it is, my philosophy, is basically this. And this is something that I live by, and I always have, and I always will. Don’t ever, for any reason, do anything, to anyone, for any reason, ever; no matter what, no matter where, or who, or who you are with or, or where you are going or, or, where you’ve been. Ever, for any reason whatsoever--”

Whoops—

As we work to improve access, equality of access, and diversity some of us will get there faster than others as some have more pressing matters to focus on. For many young girls, their time is mainly taken up walking miles every day to bring clean water home to their families. For them, having a book that describes their personal story or an ancestral connection is first dependent on whether they were in school long enough to know how to read. Other challenges such as those taken on by Malala Yousafzai, deal with female suppression, war and tyranny and of course children who are currently walking hundreds of miles to escape violence, war and famine. 

Not all have the ability to begin to think about education, our stories and our futures as they can only think of reaching tomorrow. But for those that in the midst of this chaos, there is still hope and those who work to bring books to those who don’t have the ease of going whenever they can.

(1)    https://litreactor.com/columns/the-10-most-unusual-libraries-in-the-world

Best Interviews (AKA Talking Heads)

1. Season Two, Episode Twelve: The Injury (Ryan) “ I ground up four extra strength aspirin and put them in Michael’s pudding, I do the same thing with my dog to get him to take his heart worm medicine.”

2. Season Three, Episode Five: Initiation (Stanley) “I wake up every morning in a bed that’s too small, drive my daughter to a school that’s too expensive then I go to work to a job for which I get paid too little…but on Pretzel day, well I like Pretzel day.”

3. Season Three, Episode Twenty: Product Recall (Kelly and Angela) Kelly "This day is bananas. B-AN-A-N-A-S. This day is bananas. B-A-N-A"

Angela "I don't have a headache. I'm just preparing."

4. Season Five, Episode Twenty-Six: Casual Friday (Jim) “ I’m just hiding out until all this stuff blows over. With Creed. Playing chess. At work. He’s winning. Ifeel like I’m describing a dream I had.”

5. Season Seven, Episode Fifteen: The Search (Erin) “Holly is ruining Michael's life. He thinks she's so special and she's so not. Her personality is like a three, Her sense of humor is a two. Her ears are like a seven and a four. Add it all up, and what do you get? 16. And he treats her like she's a perfect forty, it's nuts."

Best Coworker Moments

1. Season Three, Episode Twenty-Three: The Job How Phyllis, Karen, Pam and Angela genuinely try to help Michael through his relationship and encourage him to be remain broken up with Jan.

2. Season Three, Episode Sixteen: Business School

Michael putting Pam’s painting in the office.

3. Season Three, Episode Eight: The Merger When Ryan and Phyllis answer the Stanford branches concerns about how Michael usually is, how they get work done, and how they'll get home.

4. Season Three, Episode Ten: A Benihana Christmas When Pam gets Toby back the robe, or a replacement robe, they all got as Christmas gifts from corporate that Michael stole from him.

5. Season Nine, Episode Twenty-One: Livin the Dream

When Pam is upset that neither Jim nor Dwight are in her desk clump anymore.

6. Season Three, Episode Four: Grief Counseling When Jim insists that Karen gets her Hertz potato chips, before she start any other work.

7. Season Three, Episode Nineteen: Safety Training When they all start dropping cash off on Ryan’s desk as he bet how long it would take for Kelly to explain to him how Netflix works.

8. Season Nine, Episode Twenty-Three: Finale

When Stanley makes Phyllis that stand of her, with bird legs, and while she's showing it off to the camera crew she's bursting into tears.

9. Season Five, Episode Five: Crime Aid When Darryl, and the rest of the warehouse crew, auctions for whoever to "go out for a beer with them right now."

10. Season Two, Episode Nine: Email Surveillance Kelly (to Oscar and Stanley) “I’m sorry guys, can we please not talk about paper. There’s gotta be something else we can talk about.”

Angela Martin

Angela’s Best Moment: Season Three, Episode Thirteen: The Return

When she invites Oscar to join the Party Planning Committee. I believe she does this as part of an olive branch because she feels bad about what happened with Oscar on some level, but also what happened to Dwight and that maybe overall there are some changes she needs to make.

Angela’s Worst Moment: Season Five, Episode Three: Business Ethics

When during the Business Ethics meeting she tells everyone how she once reported Oscar to the I.N.S. That’s bad enough, but to follow up with she’s glad she did it—not okay.

Angela’s Best Line: Season Three, Episode Twenty-One: Women’s Appreciation

 “Sometimes, the clothes at GapKids are too flashy. So I’m forced to go to the American Girl Store and order clothes for large colonial dolls.”

Angela’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Three, Episode Eighteen: The Negotiation

When she goes around asking various coworkers about what happened with Roy and ‘the fight’, getting people to tell her what Dwight did…because it turns her on.

Best Man Down

People do not like this film, I do not know why people do not like this film. I liked this film mostly for Addison Timlin, her portrayal and the character’s story. Another film I haven’t been able to see for a while, I would agree with many complaints that it’s not a comedy in a traditional sense. It’s that difference between laughing at a joke and laughing at something, just because you laugh doesn’t mean it’s funny or fun. It’s more of a drama for the fact that Addison Timlin’s character Ramsey has a pretty shitty life, especially with Lumpy gone; and the dramatics of a best friend who you don’t really know dying on your wedding day. But again it’s not supposed to be haha funny, I think it’s more just about pushing you and reminding you to laugh at things that aren’t always funny but also aren’t always serious.

Addison Timlin in this story is remarkable. Perfectly seen as shy and scared but also understanding that she’s angry at the world and because of her life is shy and scared again. Both with her character and the “Best Man” Lumpy you’re pushed to look past a first glance and dig a little deeper. Ramsey (Addison Timlin) is torn, trying to do the right thing but maybe for the wrong reasons or the wrong thing for the right reasons and it’s overwhelmingly complicated. It’s mentioned that she should’ve told the whole story in the beginning, well not only would the movie had ended earlier but we know that she like Lumpy is one that takes a bit to warm up to and without the Bride and Groom getting to know her, they would have heard the story, felt proud to have Lumpy as their friend and left—missing the final points of Lumpy’s life and the film. While the ending wrap-ups are cliché and I could do without, I disagree that the film wasn’t funny and warm; and whether you like the film, you’re crazy if you don’t love Addison Timlin after this—because her and Lumpy are pretty typical people in your life that you love—thou they usually can’t stand each other.

PS “ But he wasn't your best friend. He was your oldest friend. There's a difference. “--Hella frickin accurate

The Lion King

The Lion King is a big deal for me. The Lion King was both the first movie I saw in theatre and the first play I saw on Broadway and Lion King II: Simba’s pride was my first “new movie”. Similar to how the first Harry Potter book is my home of film, the Lion King story and series is my home of film. 

While the story is home for me and has a lot of great moments, there isn’t a particular connection to the story except for enjoyment. The opening scenes are what I remember most, the music and the visuals that the film received accurate praise on. 

The story is also good, you see Simba grow up and the characters of Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa are original and home themselves. Rafiki, a somewhat sarcastic but also caring character, how people will choose not to listen and that it’s okay to not be seriously serious all the time. Timon and Pumbaa show that true friendship encompasses risking your life and how it’s okay to be different from your friends and also a little silly. 

The Lion King is also a movie/story that I’ve been able to look at differently as I’ve aged. While the opening sequence of music, artistical beauty and family resonate the same with me about 25 years later, I was able to have a deeper appreciation for the Broadway show when I saw it as an adult than when I was younger and my relationship and understanding with the characters has changed because while I remember the story, enough time has gone by where I don’t remember all the details and I am in some ways meeting the characters for the first time. 

Similar to The Lion King, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride was also a film that I related to differently as I watched it. While at first Simba was just an annoying dad who didn’t understand, an older me appreciated the true fear he had for his daughter (while also wondering how he would have reacted about his son in the same situations). The biggest change for me occurs with Naku and the relationship with his mother, who learned too late how she should love all her children and how one can become broken when being considered less than by all sides and how much a sibling being there can help, as his sister Vitani was--even though she also teased him. 

Finally, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, I remember watching it. I’m sitting on this plastic crappy desk in the tv room, I had just gotten the movie from a video store (woah), its playing a few feet away from me on this BIG tv that weighed more than I did and I got annoyed because we were leaving to go see a friend but I HAD to keep watching because I didn’t know how it ended!!! In that moment, I realized that I didn’t know how it ended. Prior to that movie every movie I had seen, I remembered seeing before and mostly remembered what happened (something I wish wasn’t the case as rewatching tv shows isn’t the same--but not important here). This was huge for me, so thank you Lion King, Lion Kin on Broadway and Lion King II: Simba’s Pride for being a great series reference points in my life so far