Book #3 Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

When people meet me, they assume I am the type of girl who loves, loves, LOVES, romantic comedies. Maybe it’s my perpetually happy demeanor or my resting nice face; I’m not completely sure. However, my favorite type of movie is not the romantic comedy. It is the horror movie. This shocks people. They ask “Why would such a sweet, joyous girl like you enjoy scary movies?” (well, they might not phrase it exactly like that). The reason I love horror movies is because I enjoy the adrenaline rush. I always say that it reminds of the feeling of having a crush and your heart beats uncontrollably. People look at me like I’m crazy when I make that comparison. They may be right and I might just have a twisted sense of romance. But think of it this way, it is also the same feeling I have on the top of a roller coaster. All of these situations involve an uncontrollable variable for which it makes the situation exciting and full of suspense.

            I know that was a tangent, but it was necessary to describe my love of scary movies (and stories) in order to express my thoughts on Ira Levin’s novel Rosemary’s Baby.

Tall, Dark, Stranger

            Rory mentions Rosemary’s Baby when she first meets her boyfriend Dean in the halls of Stars Hollow High. He bumps into her and she drops her books. The first thing she says to Dean is “God! You’re like Ruth Gordon just standing there with a tannis root. Make a noise.” Not really the most polite thing to stay to a cute boy who is trying to talk to you. Luckily, Dean knew exactly what Rory was talking about and proved that he could keep up with her. For myself, I definitely find this a plus in a boy. It is difficult to find one who can keep up with me, not just in pop culture references, but one who understands my humor and challenges me intellectually. 

Books vs. Movies

The reference Rory made above was to the movie version of Rosemary’s Baby and not the book. But because I am a big nerd and it was a book first, it was included on the official list. (It also took me awhile to find a copy of this book because someone else had it on hold before me at the library. Rosemary’s Baby, but perhaps I would like it better than the book in this instance.
Grrrr…So I read it on my phone instead). Whenever a book is adapted into a movie, there are always changes made because page and screen are different mediums. Therefore, fans of the book are never going to be one hundred percent pleased. I always abide by the rule that the book is better because it is the original source, but that is subject to debate. I have never seen the movie version of

What is horror?

            The reason I did not particularly enjoy Rosemary’s Baby is because it was not scary nor was it suspenseful and it did not live up to the hype. On the cover of the novel, it reads “The Masterpiece of
Modern Horror.” With a subtitle like that, you can’t help but think the book is going to be scary. Maybe it was because it was written in 1967 or I’ve seen too many horror movies and I am desensitized to scary stories. I do not think it is the second and I do not believe it is the first either, as Edgar Allen Poe stories scare me and they are much older. Perhaps, if I had had a child, I would find this story scarier. The idea of an evil fetus growing inside of you is creepy, but this idea was not made present till the end of the novel. In my opinion, I thought the build up was too slow and the characters were frustrating. Rosemary was very one dimensional and was kind of bland. I could not find a connection with her and therefore did not sympathize with her struggles. She relied on her husband and other characters too much and did not trust herself when she needed to. If Rosemary trusted her instincts in the beginning of the novel rather than other peoples' words, the entire conflict could have been avoided (but there would be no book then). 

Good versus Evil

            If you have not read the ending or seen the ending of the movie, I suggest you do not read this next part if you do not want to be spoiled. Although I did not think this novel was scary, I do hold an appreciation for the ending. The beauty of the ending is in the simplicity of the writing. Rosemary’s baby is revealed to be the son of Satan and Rosemary is torn between loving her child and running away from evil. In the end, Rosemary chooses to stay with her baby but it is unclear if she is going to raise the child to be good or if she is going to succumb to the dark side. Levin leaves it purposefully ambiguous with this ending which frustrates some readers and pleases others. I enjoy ambiguous endings because it leaves room for interpretation and keeps you wondering. You are more likely to think about a story if part of it is left open-ended. Why else do you think this trend of television reboots and revivals are so popular?

Rosemary’s Baby, although, not my favorite read, was an essential one. As a horror buff, it is one that I needed to continue my education on the genre. It is also one of the novels/movies that the Gilmore girls reference several times throughout the series so therefore it was an important one. One of the lessons I have learned in my life, is that a story does not have to be your favorite in order to learn from it.

***The next book, The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir, is really long so the next post might take longer than others.


Citations
Book cover:https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/b3/64/36/b364362c81418d379a7b344e4d7e9835.jpg
Movie Still:http://az795576.vo.msecnd.net/bh-uploads/2015/12/rosemarys-baby-still-1050x700.jpg

Book #2: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Book #2! Rory reads Huck Finn during her last week in public high school before transferring to Chilton, an elite private school. Of course, she is one of the few students who actually reads the book and references it later in life. As a high school English teacher myself, this makes me very happy. Maybe there are a few Rories or myselves in my classes who actually enjoy reading the books I assign. Huck Finn is a staple of high school reading; I was assigned to read this during my sophomore year of high school and it was “highly suggested” for the summer before I started college so I read it again. I’m pretty sure I am the only one who read it that summer. Instead of reading it again; I took this time to reflect on my life during my times reading it and my life now.

           

Huck <3

Looking back on this novel, I realized that Huck Finn was exactly the type of boy I would have a crush on in in my teenage years (and my friends will tell you it’s the type of boy I still find myself interested in today). I always had a thing for troublemakers; those with a mischievous smile and a touch of the devil in his eyes, as my grandmother would say. Obviously, these boys are not the most reliable for a relationship, but a good girl cannot resist. We like the bit of excitement they bring and,

for some reason, they have a knack for making you feel special. Huck fits this mold to a T. He’s constantly getting into trouble, but people can’t seem to help but fall for his charm. While people fall under his spell, they also desperately want to help him and take care of him. This is similar to how when we are attracted to these troublemakers, we hope we can be the one to change him. I have found myself in this situation countless of times. I hope that I am the one that will be different for these boys; that I am not just another girl passing by, but one actually worth sticking around for. But you cannot force someone to change or be the way you hope them to be in your imagination. The most you can do is just accept people for who they are and love them for it, which is exactly what Jim does with Huck. Jim accepts Huck for all of his mischievous ways and sticks wit him until the end.

Life on the River: Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summertime

One could argue that the Mississippi River is as an important character as Huck and Jim. Huck and Jim travel up and down the Mississippi River throughout the novel; it is a constant in their lives when nothing else is. Water has a profound impact on people. I had a river in my life, although I was not constantly travelling amongst it. My college was right on the river and I spent four years of my life within walking distance of it. Freshman year, I could see the river from my dorm room window. I was very lucky. Throughout my years at college, the river was a constant. Boys came and went; fights with friends faded away; and stresses from school eventually became manageable. The river was there through it all. It relaxed me and was a means for fun. It allowed many rebellious moments for college kids such as skinny-dipping. The river made us feel free the moment ; it unleashed an inhibition that we never knew we had. The river worked in a different way for Huck (as we know, he was way more rebellious than I), but remained a constant in his life throughout the novel when he had nothing else.

Humor Haha

Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, is well known for his use of humor in his writing. However, this humor is not always discernable to the naked eye. Twain purposely hides his true humor underneath the slapstick humor of the story. Of course, it is hilarious to see Huck dress up like a girl to try to full adults, but the true humor lies in how Twain portrays life on the Mississippi River on the verge of the

Civil War. While Jim is not always portrayed in a positive light and Huck might not always treat him well, the focus on Jim as a character is very progressive of Twain. Twain uses this slapstick character as a means of commenting on how horrible the situation was around the Civil War and how people have not progressed as much as they thought since. Many people were appalled by Twain’s writing, claiming it was not politically correct. But what exactly is politically correct? Today, people walk on eggshells to not offend anyone; and it seems like many people walked around thinking this way. Humor was considered low brow, but, perhaps people did not understand Twain’s brand of humor which was ahead of its time.

Approved Book List

As a high school English teacher, I could not end this post without discussing banned books. If you are not aware, teachers do not have free reign to choose any book they want to teach. One, they have to fit the unit and overall theme we are supposed to teach (which is decided by the board). Two, they have to be on the pre-approved book list. And, third, there has to be enough copies in the school book room to be given to each student. My focus right now is the pre approved list. I do not have a problem with any of the books on the approved book list because, as of today, it is a very long list and contains many progressive books. However, Huck Finn, is still one of the most challenged books. This is mostly because of the use of the n word and Huck’s resistance to authority. While this book has not been banned in recent history, a world win of controversy always follows it. One of the best things about books, in my opinion, is that they expose us to a world that we may not be award of otherwise. Parents (who are the ones who usually challenge books in schools) may not want to expose their children to certain situations or examples, such as Huck’s disobedience. Huck, though, can provide a good example as he teaches young teens to be independent and creative (albeit, not in the most adult approved ways).

Pictures

Book Cover  https://mybookbagblog.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/huckfinn.jpg

MarkTwain 

http://newshour-tc.pbs.org/newshour/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/marktwain_cc_img_0.jpg

Book #1 On the Road by Jack Kerouac

What a perfect metaphor to begin my journey of reading with Rory Gilmore. Although this was not my favorite read, it does justly symbolize the beginning of a long road ahead of me as it is the first book referenced in Gilmore Girls. I have many issues with this novel and Jack Kerouac, including his writing style and the message this book presents. I do understand why this novel speaks to many people; particularly those who are struggling to find their place in life. In this way, despite my opinions, I can appreciate this novel for its literary significance.

Always Running

            Sal, Dean, Carlo, and Ed spend the majority of the novel hitchhiking, slumming it, and generally roaming the United States; moving between New York and San Francisco whenever they become bored or their lover becomes angry with them. This idea of roaming completely frustrated me for many reasons. Perhaps I am the type of person who likes to have a set path and a goal in mind, and the idea of complete freedom scares the beejesus out of me. Sal has no plan and no goal. More so, he has no control or agency over his life. Not only does he roam the country for years hoping the next place is better than the last, he relies on other people to make the decisions of where he is going. Dean, Marylou, and the other cast of characters are his main source of happiness. Without them, Sal would have not gone on the road at all. But because the road is never ending and does not lead anywhere, it becomes the question of going somewhere versus "just going". It seems to me that Sal prefers the just going rather than going towards something. This idea is appealing to many young people today because it keeps them from responsibilities and growing up. If one place doesn’t work out, just move to the next. Personally, I think something is said for trying. I’m not saying that you should stay somewhere if you are unhappy, but, rather, to give it an adequate shot and time for adjustment. Sal and Dean believe that nothing is ever good enough for them or will make them happy so they keep searching. They don’t realize that in order to be happy, you have to be the one that makes you happy, not other people, places, or things.

“He was only conning because he wanted so much to live.”

            This quote, which appears pretty early on in the novel, struck a chord with me. In this instance, Sal is referring to Dean who cons not only other people, but himself. It made me think about myself and the way many young people live today. We spend so much time pretending that we are happy and that everything is okay; pushing our feelings below the surface so that we don’t get hurt. In this way, we are not only conning others, but conning ourselves. We say that things are going to get better later or so in so didn’t hurt us just to protect ourselves. Is this the right thing to do? Or should we face it head on? I’m not sure if I’m one to answer that question. All I can say is we should make an honest effort to be honest with ourselves and accept how we feel each and every day. If we push these feelings away, are we even living? Living encompasses experiencing the good and the bad; the happy and the sad. Therefore, conning ourselves is not the answer.

When is my story going to start?

            When we read a book or watch a movie, we never read or see the characters do the boring, everyday things like go to the bathroom, get ready for work, or spend hours writing a paper (well, maybe in some instances). Because we only read or see the relatively exciting things in their lives or the snippets that make up an interesting story, we don’t realize that there are boring parts too. Sal and Dean run around thinking that the interesting part of their lives has not happened yet. They ask themselves “when is my story going to start?” What they don’t realize is that it is already happening. Many of us feel the same way. We feel that our lives are boring, that nothing happens, and that the exciting part is just around the corner. We are wrong; our story is happening right now and it is up to us to create it, make it exciting, and enjoy it. Stories don’t just happen. Writers have to spend hours writing them, editing them, and publishing them. In the same way, our personal stories and advntures don’t just happen to us. We have to be the ones to make changes in our lives and to make the decisions to have agency in our lives.

We got the beat

            Jack Kerouac is well known for being one of the major writers of the Beat Generation in the 1940s and 1950s. Basically, they are a slightly younger version of the Lost Generation of the 1920s. They spend life roaming around and partying, looking for excitement in life without the extravagance of the 1920s (we already know how I feel about that). Personally, I prefer the Lost Generation of writers better. Kerouac had a disdain for this generation, specifically Hemingway (whom I love). Maybe he was subconsciously jealous of Hemingway because he did the lost soul thing better, but I’m not really one to say.

Show, Don’t Tell

            The major problem I have with Kerouac’s writing style is that he tells what is happening, rather than shows it. He has a very straightforward writing style which I found boring. It jumped around a bit and didn’t always flow cohesively. This may be because he claimed to have written it in three weeks, purging the ideas out of him. However, we can’t even say this is true because there are reports that he worked on this novel for years before it was published. I also felt that the plot ran in circles which you can figure out from what I discussed above. Maybe this is because he took inspiration from his own life and modeled just about every character off of someone he knew. It makes me wonder how this novel impacted his relationships and if the people knew they were the basis for some characters.

Rory and Lorelei are just beginning their journey when this book is referenced within the first five minutes of the pilot. They don’t know where they are going just yet and they do not realize that their story is just beginning. Rory and Lorelei are opposites of Sal and Dean in almost every way as both characters are hard-working, goal oriented, and enjoy life. I enjoy life through books and coffee like a Gilmore girl.

***I do have to say that Kerouac is quite dreamy even though I don't love his writing.

Images
Book Cover:   https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgaPYO_1KKQ4_e0ciX2ifX1k_5Kmi3r8pFZNEKy9P-YJuAayIXyunyjSCrteqaM0Je93K07dzgIV8wTVvlPg-CcSMP31DwAXUGptPu8PZxrpW7tOodPLChqHzq1cKV54XnqAguBoezXVP/s1600/OTR+Penguin+90+cover.jpg

Kerouac: http://67.media.tumblr.com/46408edc09c94eb17534bbf154b6317c/tumblr_nj6ce1G4pf1ti65sjo2_1280.jpg