Balzac and The Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie: Book Review

Two boys are sent to rural China to be reeducated during Mao’s Cultural Revolution. There they discover a suitcase of banned foreign books and befriend the beautiful daughter of the local tailor. That’s it in a nutshell. A charming novel that is easy to read but may be too short and simple to hold much weight in time.

The story reminds me of a folk tale with a fair amount of whimsy in the narrator’s voice and the setting of the countryside and mountains that creates some beautiful imagery. At some points, the poetic language can begin to sound like a fairy tale, but that is often cut short by bits of history and realism in the cruelty of the authorities against intellectuals and the dire conditions the boys must endure to return home. It is also worth noting here that the book contains some graphic scenes in violence and romance that can cause offense or stomach queasiness.

An aspect of this story that has me on the fence is the characters. Our main heroes and heroine, to me, are the typical ‘kind but somewhat misunderstood’ good guys. They are not completely bland but not captivating in a “I LOVE Harry and Ron and Hermione and I want to be their friends!” kind of way. The supporting cast contains an old hermit and a by-the-book friend with glasses who evoke stronger feelings in the reader towards them than the main characters. The overall mildness of the characters, however, does create ordinary voices that we can relate to and make it hard to label a villain, which is true in real life. Still, I think I would’ve liked a little more depth to the characters so I can remember their individual qualities months after reading about their adventure.

The adventure itself, is quite unique and fun. It is a coming of age story, and also one that celebrates culture, specifically literature and music. The discovery of banned books and folk songs changed these characters’ lives and makes me grateful for the range of resources from all over the world we have access to today, especially now thanks to the internet. Although history is not my favourite subject, I think it is important to understand our past because it shapes our perceptions on life and our roles in society. In the end, that’s what this book is about.

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress is a relatively quick-paced and enjoyable read, if you like the premise. As I’ve mentioned before, there is an ordinariness to the plot that portrays life as it is without the melodrama, which some like and others don’t. It’s a nice little book and I would recommend it – I recently discovered that they made a movie from it, which may be interesting to look at – but if you asked me if this is one I would read over and over again, honestly, probably not. Except maybe the ending. I won’t give it away, but yeah, the ending is pretty great.

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

Zombies (NaPoWriMo #1)

Apocalypse through movie screens
Defending the world in a dream hero game
Glued to fantasy stories, plugged into machines
Blind we’re becoming the dead just the same.

Comic from Geek & Poke by Oliver Widder

So I found out it’s National Poetry Writing Month! I have realized these past few weeks just how much I enjoy writing poems and 30 poems in 30 days sounds like a fun challenge. I hope to keep them inspired and concise to be able to succeed in blogging one every day. I usually write poems in spontaneous situations, so I hope I can keep it interesting for everyone and that you enjoy these poems of April. Let NaPoWriMo begin!

Check it out: http://www.napowrimo.net/

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

Triduum (and Happy Easter!)

Enter a hall of candlelight and incense
A gentle chant emerges from a circle crowd of bowed heads
Old melodies float through smoke-enveloped prayers

Readings stir memories with hymns that haunt the heart
Minds remember a well known story brought forth from its dusty shelf
Trembling eyes watch it unfold, in awe of history and hope

Candle flames passed from hand to hand,
a sweeping tide of flickering lights
In a sea of little orbs, illuminated faces glow,
chasing cold night’s air away
As acapella voices break the silence of darkness

After long preparations of solemn reflection in Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil, we can finally say, HAPPY EASTER! The biggest celebration of Christian religion is now truly joyful and we can now indulge from our Lenten restrains (churches must also heave a sigh of relief after that marathon of services). Today, I believe in miracles.

Regardless of your faith, I wish you all a wonderful Easter holiday and a great weekend to spend with family and friends!
Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

“Books are no more threatened by Kindle than stairs by elevators.” ― Stephen Fry

Cartoon by The Persichetti Brothers

It is fair to say that the population of VHS’s, floppy disks, pagers, and Tamagotchis have dwindled due to their new and improved counterparts – will the same happen to our beloved books?

OR     ?

Popularity of the e-book has soared over the past year as readers find the sleek appearance and convenience benefits of the product highly appealing. The e-book is light and portable with a virtual database that can contain many more books than one could imagine carrying from the library. With this single surfaces tablet, many books can be read with the swipe of a finger. No slipping bookmarks, heavy loads, risks of paper cuts, or yellowing, stained pages – pretty neat, I must admit.

Already with the advances of technology in all aspects of communication and media, printing industries have suffered losses and are buckling down for the onslaught of superior smartphones and computers with their apps and internet resources. But, despite, all this, the good ol’ sheet and glue books maintain their influence in society. Just like digital notes can never replace hand-written pencil and paper ones, looking at words on a screen is just not the same. I guess it’s all about the senses…

Having each printed word in a slab of a book feels like having a world in the palm of your hand. The whole idea, concept, story created just for you from the author just able to sit on your lap. You’re not just looking at a single page, but hundreds packed to form this compact, spacially efficient block – the WHOLE COMPLETE work, not just a little piece at a time.

Cartoon by Jim Whiting

There’s nothing like moving your fingers across the pages or rifling quickly through them feeling a breeze in your face. The words are concrete and real, and so are the sheets on which they have been stamped. Each page turn is an exciting exercise as a flipping noise reveals another man behind the curtain.

The feeling of accomplishment when you get into a good read and you can see how many pages you’ve conquered and how far you have til the end. For peekers, being able to flip forward and skim the text that lies ahead just to make sure your favourite character doesn’t die. For sticklers, being able to scratch out that extra apostrophe or write in a missing letter to right the text with your own hand. I just love the idea of tracing your history with a book through all its individual pages. And the satisfaction of looking at the shelves and shelves of books you’ve collected over the years…

Cartoon by Jeffery Koterba for the Omaha World Herald

And who can deny that a book read often reflects a sentimental loyalty – yes, I’m basically trying to explain a love affair with your favourite novel. With turned up corners, faded covers, or dog ears, there’s something special about that book you’ve had for so long and almost know by heart and the battle scars it received to survive in your bag, inner jacket pocket, hands, or the wild outdoors. The wear and tear of a book shows that it’s been loved and is loved – it is valuable. The wrinkles and dents, the smell of aging paper, symbolize a friendship that does not show on a screen.

So I am biased, but I think the novelty of ink words on pulp-pressed pages compiled into something that you can see and feel in its entirety will never wear off. Old school books are for me, the real deal.

Cartoon by Sylvia Liu

I wrote the former words in August 2012, and since then have gained more appreciation for e-books. They have really opened a new world for self-publishing and save lots of money on production costs, making books more affordable. I never liked how technology continues to take over our lives, but a portable library is cool. The digital aspect saves trees too, now that I think about it. And so, in the same view as the quote which I used for the title, I would like to own an e-reader, but I love my printed library too; books will always be treasured, no matter what form they take.

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

The Four Seasons & Emergence: Ballet Review

Emergence by Crystal Pite; photo by Bruce Zinger.

The neoclassical The Four Seasons by James Kudelka and the very modern Emergence by Crystal Pite by the National Ballet of Canada complemented each other surprisingly well and showcased a diverse movement vocabulary. This double bill was, for lack of a better term, short and sweet, and so this review strives to be the same.

First up, The Four Seasons. It is choreographed to the famous music of Vivaldi and tells the story of a man through the years and changing seasons. The joy of spring, passion of summer, melancholy of fall, and harshness of winter parallel the evolution of life from the spontaneity of youth to maturity, and finally the reluctant acceptance of death. It is a little ballet very true to Mr. Kudelka’s style, very musical and fun. Though everyone performed well, it was principal Greta Hodgkinson dancing as ‘Summer” who enchanted the audience with her articulate artistic nuances, musicality, and daring in the fast paced, high flying partnering sequences. Here is an example of the professionalism that comes with experience, it was the best I had ever seen her and I feel very lucky to have witnessed the original ‘Summer’ dance before her retirement; her performance will be the one that I remember when seeing the piece again.

Greta Hodgkinson in The Four Seasons; photo by Andrew Oxenham.

After intermission, we watched Emergence, which according to the company’s website: “explores the notion of dance as an evocation of the broader, inherent human tendency to socialization”. While the piece does centre around the interactions of a large groups of dancers, it is presented with the inspiration of insects (I remember reading this somewhere). It begins with a one dancer in a skin-coloured leotard extending her limbs slowly from a curled position on the floor and being carried by a partner, as if a helpless larvae that has just entered the world. Like a colony, dancers emerge from a portal and swarm around the stage, and throughout sections mimic sharp twitches and tentative fluttering. The music is hard to describe, but reminds me at times of the droning of bees and the clicking of bugs feet across the floor. The movement quality is very intriguing and shows the extreme capabilities of the human body.

Emergence photo by Bruce Zinger.

As a female, I am reluctant to say this, but I believe that this is generally a guys’ piece. The girls are undoubtedly very strong, but the power of thirty or so men dancing the same inhuman, almost mechanical, movements together or in syncopation is unreal.  Ultimately, it the unison of the entire company that delivers a visual kick that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. (Literally, since I was sitting in 5th ring – which actually gave a really cool perspective of the piece – and was leaning out to see down to the stage.)

It is funny to see how taste changes within a couple of years. I declared that Emergence was my favourite modern piece back in grade 7 or so, and though I still love it, this time it did not knock my socks off as much as I anticipated. The Four Seasons, on the other hand, I liked with mediocre appreciation before, but enjoyed much more this time, being able to follow the intertwined emotional and musical themes. Nevertheless, the contrast between both ‘ballets’ makes for a refreshing viewing experience with good choreography and execution, so this mixed program is a winner.

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

Learning out of curiosity or requirement?

“It used to be money for education. Now it’s education for money.” My teacher said this in francais class the other day and the thought has hung around. Gaining insight and making new discoveries is a privilege. Growing up with universal education, sometimes it seems that it’s easy to forget.

(Illustration courtesy of Nate Williams at http://www.n8w.com/wp/5308)

My interpretation of the quote: people used to pay for a good education and now people use education to get paid. The focus of school is no longer to learn but to earn bigger paychecks. Maybe that is why many students see school as a burden instead of an opportunity.

In countries such as Canada, students have no limits to what they can learn. The joy of learning is lost when priceless knowledge is quantified to measurements of success and wealth.

Yes, we still pay money for good education, but not really for its own sake, but for the sake of more money. And I think it happens at the other end as well, with the education system providing resources, but also to generate some cha-chings.

Imagine if school was not mandatory. Children would still find ways to discover and explore, because the world is far too interesting. Maybe if education was seen through the eyes of curiosity, learning can be just as fun in senior years as it was finger painting and counting ladybugs in kindergarten.

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

Neumeier’s Nijinsky: Ballet Review

Last Saturday I watched the Canadian premiere of John Neumeier’s Nijinsky, a biographical ballet about the famous Russian dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, who eventually spirals into madness. It is an ambitious, dramatic production that overflows with ideas and high physical and emotional demands for the entire company. From my experience with The Seagull, the other Neumeier ballet that I’ve seen live, I thought this ballet might be equally confusing and long; however, though at times it is overwhelming, I found myself enjoying this ballet quite a lot. Here’s why:
Firstly, an homage to one of the greatest male dancers of all time hits a sentimental chord with all of us in the ballet world. It consists of a mixture of classical and modern styles with so many references to ballet history that give us pride in being a part of that legacy. But besides that, Nijinsky’s life is told through flashbacks and hallucinations that meander between the past and the present, in a way that is visually appealing and intriguing for all audiences.

(Photo courtesy of russianballethistory.com)

The beginning of a synopsis in the program written by Neumeier himself:

On January 19, 1919 at five o’clock in the afternoon in a ballroom of the Suvretta House Hotel in St Moritz, Switzerland, Vaslav Nijinsky danced publicly for the last time. He called this performance his Wedding with God.

My ballet Nijinsky begins with a realistic recreation of this situation. The choreography which follows however, visualises his thoughts, memories and hallucinations during this last performance.

One of my favourite parts is the boat pas de deux in which Nijinsky remembers meeting his wife. It is actually more of a pas de trois because a vision of himself dancing the role of a faun who fell in love with a nymph joins in the dance and mirrors Nijinsky’s realization of his love for a woman. It it beautifully choreographed to beautiful music, really filling you up with warm feelings. Another part that has imprinted itself in my mind is the scene pf internal madness in which the corps, dressed in army jackets, move to quite harsh music as Nijinsky yells counts at the top of his lungs on a chair. In the same section, dancers are told to laugh maniacally in shrieks and hoots, creating a truly scary, chaotic atmosphere for Nijinsky, and for us. The emotional states that this work asks its performers to reach and is able to stir inside us, the audience, is something that is truly special and touching in my opinion.

So the choreography was great, as was the set and costumes, all designed by Neumeier (not to mention the music as well). But what about the dancing? Is is great to see The National Ballet of Canada take on a neoclassical work of such a large scale; the energy was infectious. Especially in the second act, the dancers matched the intensity of the orchestra impressively and were a solid ensemble. There were a few noticeable slips in the first, but these are easily forgiven in the abandoned interpretations of several dancers that left us breathless. As this ballet is new to the company’s repertoire, I think it will be exciting to trace how the interpretations develop as it is performed through the coming years.

Painting by Vaslav Nijinsky. The theme of circles in his art inspired the set.
(Courtesy of dancelines.com.au)

I feel I have more to read and learn to fully appreciate the underlying themes of this work and until today am freshly fascinated by the creativity of its concept. It’s a presentation of ballet history, a dramatic tragedy, and a celebration of dance and the capacities of its artists all rolled into one. The depth of thought in Nijinsky makes it a ballet that is so rich that you cannot see everything in one show, and probably will not ever see the same things twice. I’m glad it was brought to Toronto and look forward to seeing it again.

Thanks for reading,
thebookybunhead

(All images of the Hamburg Ballet.
Courtesy of Holger Badekow otherwise noted.)

EXTRAS:
Link to NBoC’s production:
http://national.ballet.ca/performances/season1213/Nijinsky/

Excerpt from an autobiography of Vaslav Nijinsky (1889-1950):
http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/n/nijinsky-diary.html

Spreading the love

The origin of Valentine’s Day in one run-on sentence :

This “lover’s holiday” was created when Christians gained power in the Roman Empire by the Catholic Church to replace the Roman tradition of teenagers gathering every February in the name of Lupercus, god of flocks, to celebrate fertility and randomly choose a “mate” (you know what this means) with a celebration in honour St. Valentine, a symbol of more “wholesome” love that inspired the ritual of sending respectful notes of affection.

Today, the modernized, super-sized tradition has us buying more than 150 million cards every year. Now I love Hello Kitty, Spiderman, and Snoopy as much as the next person but unless you collect your valentines from each year, that is a lot of paper that ends up in the trash (not to mention manufacturing resources wasted). Valentine’s Day has been commercialized like almost every other holiday to be a reason for shopping, whether it is candy for the annual classroom exchange or expensive jewellery for your significant other.

It is easy to forget that there are other ways to show your loved ones that you care, although it might take more time than going to the shop and pulling out your wallet. Handmade gifts are always special and I know I appreciate them exactly because of the personal thought and effort put  into them. And don’t forget, the gift of time and company is unbeatable.

So next year, before you head to the mall for the annual Valentine’s Day spree, ponder a bit about love – does it have to be reflected through material gifts? – you just might save the environment, and more importantly, some of your hard-earned dollars.

Well, maybe with exception of flowers and chocolate…

Wishing you a
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

In case anyone was wondering, the condensed history of Valentine’s Day was taken from the reliable and entertaining source of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Series.

Thanks for reading,
-thebookybunhead

Birthday gift indecisiveness: 5 reasons to be a cell phone cynic

With my birthday here, many friends have been asking me about whether I will finally get a cellphone. While I have been wishing to step down from my position of only high schooler without a cell phone in my school, it is true that I have been able to survive quite well without one (excepting the times I have said “Friend, may I borrow your phone?”).

I’m not going to preach about the health hazards of texting while driving, the harmful waves in the air that can go through your brain, or the decrease of memory power because we hear enough of that. But what I will say is I’m not sure how much influence I want a pocket device to have in my life. So without further ado, here are my five reasons to be a cell phone cynic:

1. Talk through the screen, the face don’t care

This is one of my biggest pet peeves because when you’re at a dinner, or movie, or just hanging out, there’s no point if members of the party are just going to keep their eyes glued to their screens. It’s funny that people get so preoccupied with social media and updates to connect with others when there are real people around to share a real, live conversation. I just don’t want to lose my people skills as I can be awkward enough as it is.

2. I’d rather stare at a book

Like I said, people spend quite a bit of time on their phones, checking for updates and texts, surfing the web, etc. If we add up the minutes spent on our phones every day, well, let’s just say there are many other things I can do with that time .

3. It’s not about the phone, it’s the plan

What some of my friends forget is that it’s not the Blackberry, iPhone, or Samsung Galaxy that concerns my budget, it’s the expensive monthly payments to receive services worth a decent, functioning phone (not to mention crazy contracts). Even very basic plans aren’t that cheap, they would not satisfy the full potential of a device, and if you cross a limit, watch out.

4. Better not lose it

It is another thing to keep track of, and I’m not sure that’s the best for expert on misplacing prized possessions here.

5. My wallet and iPod might feel neglected

I’m serious, they are the two things I keep on me at all times as they are basically a part of my identity. Even more so would be a phone, just take a look at this post from Pinterest:

Clearly with a cell phone you get used to some easy conveniences that become indispensable – you can get pretty personally attached.

In the end, I suppose it is everything in moderation. In these fast-paced times, a cellular phone is very handy to keep you on track as long you don’t get addicted to it. And you can get cool cases like this:

 

Guess I have to see how I will react and adapt if I do join the mobile device club.

On another completely off track-note, today also happens to be the day of my annual ballet exam, so wish me luck!

Thanks for reading,
-thebookybunhead

Am I crazy? A confused and spontaneous introspection

What’s with the teen vocabulary of party = alcohol? Why has drinking become the main attractions to young people in a party? Why does this illegal activity have to be involved in an event to make it fun? Call me a party pooper, but I’ve never really understood why. Or rather, what for.

It seems to me that teens feel the need to live up to a certain image: to live “young, and wild, and free” and flaunt an “I-can-do-what-I-want-and-I-don’t-care” attitude to prove independence. I blame the media for creating the accepted rebellious teen that apparently everyone wants to be nowadays.

Now I’m not trying to be self-righteous or condemning; I can see the appeal in such condiments, but shouldn’t the purpose of drinking be to enjoy it, not to get drunk? Besides, most of it is not the best tasting thing in the world and who enjoys a hangover?

In addition to the scary physical effects (I cannot imagine wanting to feel detached and unconscious of my existence), there is a reputation on the line when making these decisions. There is some sort of responsibility as a student or a family member to maintain a clean image, but most of all, we owe it to ourselves. Of course, nobody wants authorities to find out and place punishment, but of a bigger concern, nobody want to be disrespected or gossiped about. It becomes a question of identity…

This is another point: I find that most people feel some sort of guilt for what they know they weren’t supposed to be doing. Instead of the initial intents to be empowering, these actions are just harmful. Teens must justify their reasoning and feel under judgment of others when in truth they are really judging themselves. They care about what the world says or thinks about them because there is something bugging their own conscience. It is what happens when teens change themselves to fit a persona that goes against their values or their own identity. Don’t let society or others influence your personal choices and surround yourselves with good people, because “those that mind don’t matter, and those that don’t mind matter.”

Then again, what do I know? I just think that all this paranoia, stress, and side effects cannot be healthy emotionally or physically, or even fun. If you really, really, truly are happy doing this stuff, by all means go ahead and live your life. And if you are the kind left feeling unsatisfied with yourself after drinking and whatnot, remember you can choose to party without the recommended extras. Whatever your choice, you will have friends, it is a matter of whether you will continue being your own best friend.

Honestly, there are tons of ways to enjoy life and fun while remembering the moments you shared with friends. And even though we all love teen power and defiance, really, what is a couple years wait?

Party in the moment as yourself.
thebookybunhead