Blog Review

My blog review is on Greg's blog.
Slaughterhouse Review
(http://wolf1sr.blogspot.com/)

I think Greg's blog was really well written. It has good ideas that are controversial, but he never sits on the fence, which I like in an author. I never really like it when people don't decide what side to be on. Also, his writing is very relatable, although this might just be because I know him personally.
His one post on censorship is interesting because he talks about knowledge as a human right, which I agree with. He states that a "human should not be forbidden to gain knowledge from a piece, just because a message that the government doesn't agree with is written down, doesn't necessarily mean it will be believed, rather, it helps expand the cititzen's world view and understand what other people think of their nation". I think that just as free speech is a right we have, the access we have to all free speech should also be a right.
His post about memories was cool because I was there for the one incident, when Danielle hit him with the airsoft gun. It was also really well written. Also his post about his book was cool because he is basing one of the characters off of me, so I read a bunch of the first chapter from his book before the "hard drive crash of [his] laptop".
I disagree with Greg a bit on his one post about how "Billy was incredibly special and fortunate" because I think that although Billy did have good things happen to him, he also had lots of bad things happen to him, like marrying someone he didn't want to, be in a plane crash in the first place, go through the events of Dresden, and be ridiculed through the war, and sustain head injuries, etc... I don't think that Billy was especially a lucky person, I just think the good things balanced out the bad things somewhat. If Billy had absolutely NO good things happen to him, it would just be such an even more depressing book.
In his post about him not liking Billy Pilgrim as a character, I really liked the thought of how, "[Billy] worked very well in the context of the novel...  well of course he did, otherwise SH5 would've been terrible". I really found this thought provoking, and I started thinking about how if he was a different character how the book would have a very different feel to it, and therefore be a different book entirely.
In the end, I really enjoyed reading Greg's blog, because he writes as if he is actually talking to you, instead of writing like a formal essay.


By: Rachel Cutler

Writing Assignment #10: Anna

I chose to comment on Marie Price's blog, The Amber Blob.

Writing Assignment #9: Anna

Would you ever have read SH5 leisurely if it hadn't been mandatory in school?

To be honest, I'm not sure. Although I'm the type of person to pick up a romance novel over a war sci-fi on most days, I would say that normally this book wouldn't be my first choice. But I do think that over time, as I grew up and of course hear about this classic book, it would at some point spark my interest and I might just find myself picking it up one day.

Although I recognize that this topic isn't one that can be elaborated on very much, I do believe that it is a valid question to be considered.

Writing Assignment #8: Anna

If you could ask Kurt Vonnegut one question, what would it be and why?

If I could ask Vonnegut one question, I would ask him why. It may seems broad and simple, but that's really all I want to know. I want to know why he chose to even write another war book (because there isn't already a million of those on the shelves), why he chose to have Billy Pilgrim be a time traveller, and why even include Tralfamadorians, considering they have practically NOTHING to do with anything!

In my opinion, most of this book is like a dream journal of Vonnegut's all written out and published. It's like he would wake up after each dream, write it down, then continue onto the next dream. Then eventually, when he had enough material, he somehow found a somewhat stable plot line, and an interesting concept, more or less.

It was a different time when Vonnegut had SH5 published, but if SH5 had come out in a time like today, I'm not actually sure how it would be received. It could be wildly popular, since there always seems to be an audience for any kind of writing, or if it would be shutdown because some might view it as simply imcomprehensible.

Writing Assignment #7: Anna

What parts of SH5 would you change and why?

If I were to change any part of SH5, it would be the very beginning, as in the first chapter. I understand that the first chapter is there to help the reader understand why Vonnegut is writing this, supposedly, but in the grand scheme of the book, it really doesn't do much. All it seems to do is inform us (the readers) that Vonnegut was once a reporter, that he didn't want to write a book that glorified war and to add to a plot that appeared to have trouble taking off any other way.

I would also change the beginning because, similar to the ending of SH5, it gives the impression that Vonnegut was either bored, or just didn't try very hard to write it. It seemed more like an essay written by a student the night before its due date: sloppy and uninteresting.

Writing Assignment #6: Anna

Why Slaughterhouse Five Couldn't Work As A Play

Just reading the physical copy of SH5 was a challenge. With all of the jumps between times, if it weren't for narratives describing when and where the reader and Billy has been taken, we wouldn't know what was giong on, possibly until far into the description.

In a play, or a movie, there isn't that luxury of just plainly explaining where and what is happening that can't properly be expressed in dialogue. It would be very hard for the audience of this play or movie to know that they are now viewing a scene set decades apart from the scene they were viewing a minute ago.

As a play or movie, without the use of exessive voiceovers, it simply could not be pulled off.

Structured That Way - Individual Post #5

Just a quick thought, the Tralfamadorians claim that moments happen because they are "structured that way", but the Tralfamadorians and Billy know what is going to happen in the future... So if they changed what happened in a moment, like for example stop the person who presses the button, wouldn't the moment now be structured a new way? What I'm saying is, I think it's impossible to have a moment that's "structured that way" when you know what's going to happen in the future, because you'll know how to change it. Like Billy is able to keep himself from being killed, he just chooses not to... so it's not really "structured that way", Billy just chooses to go along with fate. Does that even make sense? Sorry if I confused anyone, it doesn't even make that much sense in my own head...

Another quick thought, how would if feel to be the Tralfamadorian who pressed the button that ended the universe... but you knew you were going to do it your entire life? That would be harsh.

By: Rachel Cutler

Billy, Should I Root For You? - Individual Post #4

OK so, I've been thinking. Lots of people don't seem to like Billy, but I do. Then I realised that I probably wouldn't normally like Billy, but I just hate all the other characters so much, that Billy just shines in comparison. I mean, Billy has given up on life, even in the second chapter, and he's always just so depressed and quiet. When I think about it, he seems to be just a shell of a man, he goes through the actions of living, but he has absolutely no passion for anything. And yet, he is probably my favourite character in the book. This didn't really make sense to me, but then I thought to myself "so which characters should I like?". Then I realized... there aren't really any. In the second chapter there are the two soldiers that abandon Billy and Weary (although I can't really blame them for leaving Weary, they left Billy alone and defeceless with him). Then there was Weary himself, who tried to kill Billy, and then blamed Billy for his own death (irony much?). The german soldiers are a little compassionate to the americans, but at the same time they are capturing them as POWs. Then Wild Bob and the homeless man, who both seem to be dilusional about what is going on. Also the British who are elitest, and don't even get me started on Lazzaro. Anyways, by this point, I really have no one else that I want to root for, so I thought I might as well root for the main character and see how that goes. So I'm wondering if Vonnegut did this on purpose, made a whole bunch of bad characters so Billy would seem better.

By: Rachel Cutler

Slaughterhouse Five Movie/Play - Individual Post #3

This book would absolutely not work as a play. It would be impossible to do the time travelling live. Billy would walk through a door, and come out a completely different place on the other side. Not only would he have to have different makeup so he looked a different age, the stage would have to change scenery, and Billy would have to do a costume change, since I hope he hasn't worn the same outfit during his entire life.
A movie on the other hand would work. How good it would be though, is up in the air. Too many times have I seen movies based off of books, that completely get rid of the voice of the author, and is changed to the voice of the director. While I do believe that the director should put their own spin on it, I think the authors original voice should still be noticeable in the adaptation. So what I'm saying is, it would take a director who gets Vonnegut, and a director that would reinvent the book, but keep Vonnegut's voice in it. If the movie was directed well, had good acting, and believable special effects, then I think Slaughterhouse Five could be turned into an amazing movie.

By: Rachel Cutler

Writing Assignment #5: Anna

If I were to start writing a novel, I'd go the way of old fashion love story. I'm a sucker for girl meets boy, and by the end they've fallen in love and will live happily ever after. I agree, these sort of books don't leave too much for the imagination, but it's these kinds of books that give me hope. It gives me the hope that love can survive and thrive, especially today.
My characters will be the couple that shouldn't have fallen in love. Maybe the girl's father doesn't like the boy. Maybe the boy is dating a different girl. But somehow, they'd find each other and with a little luck and a whole lot of effort, they'd be together by the last chapter.
As a writer, I wouldn't be too complex. I'm not one for hidden meanings and weird symbols that only a literary genius could pick up on. I'd lay all the facts on the line right away so that the reader wouldn't be getting confused as to what's going on.
I would set it in the summer, probably at a cottage on a lake, I love places like that. There's just something about summer that gives the opportunity for adventure and a bit of carelessness and fun.

Time Travelling in Style - Individual Post #2

So most of the people I've talked to who have read the book say they don't like the time travelling. They say it makes the book just confusing and hard to read. I actually like it. I think it makes the book exciting. Instead of just one plot, going on and on, it mixes it up. It adds some suspense because you never know where you're going to be, and when you're going to be by the end of the chapter. It also adds background to the character. We get to see Billy in his life in the future, without just reading "Billy became an optometrist when he grew up", we get to actually read about him being an optometrist. Also, I really love the way that he time travels. I don't think I would like the time travelling as much if it was cheesy, like there was a bright light and then suddenly he was somewhere else. The way he time travels is just so fluid, the opening the door and stepping from a room in one time/place, and the next room is another time/place is just a beautiful example of this. It just makes it flow so well instead of: Billy is here, BRIGHT WHITE FLASH, now he is somewhere else. Also, it adds more suspense to the plot lines, because if you want to find out what happens to billy in the hospital, you have to wait till he gets through the next scene in the war. Anyways, just some thoughts I had. Does anyone else like the time travelling, or is it just me?

By: Rachel Cutler

First Chapter = Blah - Individual post #1

If I could change something about the novel, I would either take out the first chapter, or, as a better idea, I would include it as a prologue, or an intro, or something. I just think that if the book didn't have the first chapter, it would just flow so much better. Also, I probably would've been more interested in the book from the beginning. I was really interested in the book around the time that they got to Dresden, but in the beginning, I thought it was too slow. The first chapter is what did it. I was halfway through the first chapter thinking "what is this? I thought this was a story... but OK, he's just going to talk about writing it I guess...". I know Vonnegut put it in on purpose, because he likes to show his cards at the beginning... but this was just taking it too far. It was like watching the "Making Of" featurette before watching the actual movie. It just completely takes away from the book. I think it would just be much better as an introduction to the book, or a prologue, something to separate it from the actual story of Billy Pilgrim. Maybe someone else thought the first chapter was amazing or something, but for me it just tainted the rest of the book, I kept expecting the rest of the book to be dull, so that's the way I read it. Dull. At least things picked up in the end.

By: Rachel Cutler

My Book

If I were to write a book, I would probably base the characters off of people that I know. It would be interesting to place familiar people in an unfamiliar setting, but also it would be easier to write. They would be much more 3 dimensional than any characters that I could probably come up with, and if I were ever thinking "what would this character do at this point" I could just look at the personality of the person I'm basing the character off of, and think of what they would do. As for the genre/plot... I don't really know what I would use as a plot. I've never really thought of writing a book before. I have had a couple of ideas for books, just things people have said and then thinking "hey that would make a great book", but sadly, most of them have been taken already... It's hard to be creative nowadays with all the original thoughts that have already been had. I guess the only idea I can think of that I've had for a book before is a kind of backwards superhero thing. Basically everyone has abilities (like say all of Superman's powers) and then there's one person who doesn't have any abilities. So I guess the genre would be fiction. As for the plot, it would just follow along the person's life who doesn't have abilities.... Doesn't sound that interesting right now, I might add on to the plot part later if I think of anything.

By: Rachel Cutler

Writing Assignment #4: Anna

Note: this work is completely fiction, any likeness is purely coincidence.

Alarms sound, I'm startled. My eyes burst open, light comes flooding in. I survey my surroundings and it's not much. Other than the single bed with white sheets that I'm lying on, there's only a barren grey desk in the corner and a tattered black rocking chair near the door. Why the rocking chair, made of wood, was black, I never understood. I get up and walk to the door, which is shut. I open it and look out. My dad, a short man of about 5 foot 2 inches is standing on a chair with a copy of People magazine in his hand. The issue is from several years earlier, back when my mother used to buy them religiously. We haven't had a recent issue since she died. He is fanning the smoke detector on the ceiling. The alarm is going off. My dad just looks at me as if t say "well, it's not MY fault!". He wobbles on the chair and releases the magazine in order to grab the top of the chair's back rest to stop himself from falling over. The magazine falls and lands with a thud on my head. It isn't very heavy, but it does knock me down. As I fall, I close my eyes. In the darkness, all I feel is pain, head pain. It rapidly grows into screaming, piercing pain. I try to scream, but nothing comes out. Then, as quickly as it grows, the pain is gone. I feel numb and content. I open my eyes.

I'm lying in a too small bed with huge plastic rails on each side of me. There are buttons on the rails. One has a white plus sign on a red background. Above it the word "NURSE" is written. I look around, the room smells like a mixture of hand sanitizer and play doh. Other than the blandly tan walls, there are clowns and happy faces all over the floor and the borders of the walls. I'm in a children's wing of some hospital. My head has a dull pain in it, like an elderly grave digger that can't work any faster than slowly. In my right forearm is a tube. Following the tube to a bad that is full of clear liquid that is slowly dripping into the tube, into my body, into my soul. It's quiet. Then a small child cries from somewhere in the wing. Probably a very young kid. Probably a nightmare. I wondered if that child had their mom there to hold them, tell them everything would be okay. The door to my room opened. It was a silent open, no creaks. In walked my mother. She hadn't died yet, that wouldn't happen for another year: she'd go shopping for a dress for a special date with dad, she'd walk across the road to get to here car and would be hit by a drunk on his way to the liquor store. My mom, noticing that I was awake, sat down in a rock hard chair beside my bed. She looked tired, but as beautiful as the day she and my dad married. Where was dad? Why wasn't he here, with mom and I, while I was in the hospital? I knew why I was here. I was having a severe allergic reaction to some antibiotics I had just started taking. Suddenly, I felt it. A rumbling in the pit of my stomach. My head began to pound, my heartbeat in my ears. If was coming, closer, closer, closer, until...

Then, it was over, the puking that is, the self-hate wasn't. It was still ever so present. I check the time: 4:40. Dad wouldn't be home for another hour, at least, not that it really mattered. I only had to be careful for another 2 months, then I would graduate from high school and head off to university, where I could do whatever I wanted, every dirty little secret, without having to worry about being walked in on. I felt it again, that need, the need to make myself feel clean. I felt the same thing everytime right before I emptied everything out, hoping it would satisfy it, but it never did. And once again, I felt it, the entire time thinking to myself: maybe it'll be this time that it ends.

Warped Narrative

     "Do it!" yelled my brother, "It's not that far down the cliff." I looked down and gulped. The azure water was lapping at the jagged rocks below in small soft waves. The low sunbeams just bounced off the surface of the lake, giving it a slight yellow tinge. It was beautiful but scary at the same time. Here I was, being egged on by my brother to jump, standing right next to a rotting sign with peeling paint that clearly stated "WARNING: Two people have died from cliff-jumping here. Don't take the risk.". The sign was obviously old, and I wondered how old it was and how many more people had died since it have been put up. I took one last look at my brother with a teasing look on his face, took one last deep breath, and took one jump off the edge. It felt like I was suspended in air for hours before I finally started plummeting down. I was greeted with a million cold sharp needles on my skin.
     I looked around and saw only blue. I couldn't breathe. My body ached. My heart yearned for air. Suddenly there was a splash. It sounded like it was a million miles away. It was right next to me at the same time. I felt something pull me. I didn't know what was going on. I was on solid ground. How did I get here? People were yelling. My mom was crying. My Aunt's dog barked. I was being shook. What was going on? My Dad pulled my head up from the concrete. His clothes and hair were dripping. He looked me straight in the eyes with a worried look. He mumbled something. I mumbled something back. He smiled. I started to cry. He hugged me tight. I closed my eyes.
     I opened my eyes and it was dark. My Dad was still hugging me and my eyes were still stinging from crying. It smelled like dead bodies that had been soaked in hand sanitizer. I looked next to me at my Grandma laying on the cot. Her breathing was shallow and raspy, and she had so many tubes coming out of her that I could barely distinguish her face. I was surrounded by complete scilence other than the faint beeping of the heart moniter. I prayed in my head constantly. Beep. Please be another beep. Beep. Please be another beep.... Beep. Please........ Beep. Please............ Complete scilence. Everyone held their breaths for what seemed like forever. My Grandma stopped moving and an alarm started to go off. Nurses and doctors and people I didn't know rushed into the room and started yelling at each other. I looked over at my Grandpa; he just fell to the floor and started balling his eyes out. My Mom ran over and hugged him tightly. My Dad hugged me even tighter. I just continued to cry.

By: Rachel Cutler