Monthly Archives: June 2024

Book vs. Movie: All Quiet on The Western Front

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Disclaimer: The movie being compared is the newest 2022 movie.

All Quiet On The Western Front is a classic anti-war novel depicting the tragedies of the western front during World War I. Set from the viewpoint of the Germans, it features Paul Baumer and the set of ‘life and death’ colleagues he makes in the army. Rather than a hopeful take on the war, the author takes from his own experience to realistically express the war’s effect on soldiers and its moral implications.

While difficult, the best advice I can give for readers is to not get too close to any character ❤

Book Rating: 10/10 Movie Rating: 8/10

  1. Signing of the Armistice
    • Book: There is no mention of the signing of the armistice and only through a rumor at the end is it known that the war is coming to a close
    • Movie: Slowly throughout the movie, it cuts to the signing of the armistice. Specifically, it details the heavy restrictions the French politicians place on Germany as a clause in the armistice.
  2. Going Back Home
    • Book: There are two scenes in the book where Paul returns home for rest and recuperation before going to war. Mainly depicts how Paul doesn’t fit in and feels like the ‘lost generation.’
    • Movie: There are no scenes where Paul returns home.
  3. Timeline
    • Book: Starts directly at when Paul has already been in the army for more than a year and flashbacks occur to depict the past. The timing is also more spread out, which allows for more events to take place.
    • Movie: Starts from when Paul registers for the war with his friends and then skips to the later years of the war.
  4. Graveyard Battlefield
    • Book: One of the first (and amazing) battlefields that took place at the western front was in a cemetery and it depicts Paul’s use of coffins and corpses as a shield from bombs and guns.
    • Movie: There are no war scenes at a cemetery.
  5. The Main Antagonist
    • Book: Corporal Himmelstoss is a key figure in the book that often gives punishments over the smallest mistakes, symbolizing the power authority figures have over recruits. He has great character development in the later half of the novel when he joins the war at the western front and learns that power is useless when faced with life or death.
    • Movie: There is no mention of Corporal Himmelstoss. Rather than him, Prussian General Friedrich becomes the key figure in the book that symbolizes the hierarchy in the army. There isn’t much character development with him and he is often seen ordering soldiers and doesn’t directly interact with Paul and his friends at all.
  6. Kat’s Death
    • Book: Kat is hit in the head by a stray shard from a bomb and dies.
    • Movie: After stealing a goose from the owner, the owner’s son shoots Kat with a gun.
  7. The Ending
    • Book: Paul dies from a sniper shot one month before the war ends.
    • Movie: Paul dies during a last ditch effort by Prussian General Friedrich to win the war at the western front. He gets shot and dies just hours before the war ends.

General Thoughts: Movie vs. Book

The war scenes in the movie are arguably one of the best war scenes in the film industry. It gives a very accurate and desperate picture of the western front. I love the use of the many common weapons used during that time, such as poison gas, tanks, and flamethrowers. Would definitely recommend if you are interested in really good fight scenes!

Something I didn’t like about the movie was the ending. A big reason about why the novel is titled All Quiet On The Western Front is because Paul dies on a day so unremarkable that the commander just wrote ‘All Quiet.’ It reveals how unsignificant death was in the war, but it was something Paul was fighting against throughout the whole book. However, the movie shows Paul dying in a big fight on the last day of the war, which kind of undermines the whole point of the title and the book.

I do recommend both the book and movie to historical fiction lovers, so you should definetely check it out!

What to compare them for yourself? All Quiet On The Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. The movie All Quiet on the Western Front is also available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.

7 Worldbuilding Element Ideas

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Whether you want to write a story, draw some art, make a game, and more: worldbuilding is the core of your creative energy. But where to begin? Here are seven ideas to inspire you on your journey!

  • Urban Fantasy

Using the best of both worlds, in a setting like this you can have a character who texts and performs alchemy, who goes to college and also goes on quests. The possibilities are endless!

  • Floating Islands

Need I say more? The land of this world is locked in a stagnant, floating position above the ground. Cities are connected by bridges. The ground world is overrun with poisonous flora and fauna. Will anyone ever leave?

  • Timezones…Literally

In different parts of the world, time moves slower and/or faster compared to other regions. Going on a week-long vacation in one region can mean a 2-year disappearance in the other…

  • Dragons with Different Hoards

In most fantasy worlds, dragons hoard gold and treasure fiercely, fighting off intruders who come to invade. But what if they guarded other things: a library of books, a garden of precious fruits?

  • Gravity Seasons

As our weather patterns change over each year this world’s gravity changes. It may become more or less intense, or even switch directions…?

  • Energy Parasites

Taking the form of a firefly, these sap the energy from people, causing them to become increasingly demotivated, tired, and pliant. Hopefully, the characters notice before it’s too late…

  • Raft Cities

In this world, a flood spilled over the land thousands of years ago. From the materials of the plants and animals who have adapted to this water world, the humans of today survive on rafts floating on the endless waves. They are no longer the apex predators: what is beneath the surface is far more powerful…

Hopefully one of these inspired you to create your own fantasy or sci-fi world!

Freshman Year

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An increased amount of overwhelming workload, less time for self, and a brand new environment with lots of unfamiliar faces. These are some things that teenagers usually face when jumping from middle school to high school. Freshman year of high school is a very BIG leap from middle school and this can be very overwhelming for some, but don’t fret. As a student who just finished my freshman year of high school, I will be sharing my personal experience and some tips and tricks!

I do not know what your middle school teachers have told you about high school, but if they tell you that high school is going to be difficult, then they are completely right. Well, at least for me. For me, moving from 8th grade, where everything came easy and I had little worries, to 9th grade with barely any time for anything. It was very hard for me to adjust but do not worry, it might be a lot at first, but you’ll get used to it. 

One thing to keep in mind is that whether you like it or not, you have to socialize. In middle school, I was able to pass without making many new friends, since a lot of assignments and projects allowed independence. However, now in high school, most things require socializing, whether it be for participation or for a group project. However, this isn’t so bad! Through these forced interactions with new people, I gained new friends. These new friends have definitely impacted me lots, both positive and negative, but most of these impacts were positive. I am really glad to have made all these friendships this year.

Speaking of friendships, it is also very important to remember that people change and that’s alright. There’s a saying that “The people you enter high school with might not be the same people you leave high school with” and I did not believe it at first, but it already is the case for me. The people I got into high school all separated and went our own ways, so if you stop being friends with your friends during freshman year, then do not worry. There are tons of other people and amongst them, there is definitely someone who you can really connect to. 

Another important thing that is very useful, especially if you plan on taking hard classes during your freshman year, is to make sure to turn in your work on time and be responsible. Grades actually matter in high school, so fooling around is not the best idea. Once you get your homework assigned, do it immediately if you can. Procrastination is not the best because if you have lots of workload, waiting to do it last minute is a very bad decision and you will definitely regret it later. Stressing about turning in your homework before 11:59 is not worth it!

Since grades matter, the way you study matters as well! Think of the phrase “Study smarter, not harder.” It is best to find a good grade through a study technique that works for you rather than getting the same amount of grade but with more workload. A few study methods you can try are pomodoro technique, Feynman Technique, active recall, and more. Keep in mind that it’s not the same for everyone, so one method might work for someone else, but not for you, which is why you should try testing out many study techniques to find the best one for you. 

However, grades don’t really define who you are, so if you don’t get the best grade, at least you tried your very best! So if you’re as nervous for high school as I was last year, I just wanted to let you know that you will be fine. Yes, it will be hard at first, but it will get easier! I wish you the best of luck!

Carpenter’s Performing Arts Center: A Performer’s Experience

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In early March, La Paz Intermediate received an invitation to play at Carpenter’s Center in Long Beach, California. Our symphony orchestra would be playing alongside some of the best intermediate schools in California. Although it seemed like an ambitious goal, we were up for the challenge.

After months of practice, hand cramps, and heavily annotated sheet music, we were ready for our performance on May 19th. The performers’ entrance was clearly marked and easy to find, and each school was given a large space to warm up and tune. The hosting group was the South Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra, comprised of the most talented high school and middle school students in our area. They provided us with dinner and let us explore parts of the campus. Additionally, there was a room where we could watch the other schools perform on a TV. Obviously we were a bit judgmental of them, due to the competitive nature of teenage musicians. 

There were two schools performing before us: One of them was a band and the other was an orchestra. La Paz would be the last performing school with a combination of both band and orchestra. I was the principal viola player, so I would be seated near the very front of the stage. When our performing time approached, we were led backstage and given specific instructions of how to enter and exit. We waited in anxious silence for the orchestra before us to finish.

Finally, we went onstage. The auditorium was completely sold out— filled with supportive family members and other schools. Usually, we struggled to fit all our musicians in one space, but the Carpenter’s stage had more than enough room for everyone to spread out. After a few words of introduction from our conductor, Mr. Robbins, we began our pieces. We played four pieces, one of them being exclusively for strings and the rest played all together. The sound shells implemented above the stage drastically helped the quality of our music.

When the last note was played, we received a standing ovation from the audience. Mr. Robbins later said that it was probably the most applause he’s ever gotten for a group, which was impressive considering he’s been teaching for 31 years. Overall, it was an extremely unique experience that I am very thankful I was able to participate in. Even though it was difficult work, it was definitely worth it in the end.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a dystopian novel about a teenage girl, Katniss Everdeen, living in a society where the Hunger Games are held every year. A boy and a girl, known as Tributes, are chosen by Panem, the capital of what was formerly North America, to participate in the infamous Hunger Games. As a result, all twelve of the Capitol’s districts are completely under its control. Every citizen is required to see the youth fight to the death until just one remains. Katniss Everdeen’s sister is chosen as a tribute but Katniss volunteers to take her place as the girl tribute from District 12. When it comes to making decisions between love and survival, Katniss Everdeen only has her hunting skills and keen senses to help her.

I LOVE the Hunger Games Trilogy SO MUCH! I was addicted to reading this book to the point where I had to force myself to put the book down and go to bed. While reading, Collins leaves you on a cliffhanger after each chapter. Also, I enjoyed how Collins described Katniss’ emotions, as I could relate to them. 

I didn’t dislike anything about this book. I highly recommend it to people who like action and a good dystopian novel! I have seen the movies at least 5 times and there is nothing negative I could say about this trilogy! 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

the-hunger-games

Album Review: Fireworks and Rollerblades

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Fireworks and Rollerblades is the debut album of American singer-songwriter, Benson Boone. Over the past 2-3 years he has released a few singles including the viral hit “In the Stars.” Finally, he had a huge breakthrough moment with the song “Beautiful Things.” I always admired his lyrics because I found them quite emotionally sensitive in a way no other male pop artist has (except Conan Gray). The production is nothing special but also it fits the songs perfectly. I was not really looking out for this album, but once I listened to it, I could not stop. Here are my favorite tracks:

-Cry

-Be Someone

-There She Goes

They follow similar ideas many other artists have sung about in the past. However, not many artists (especially men), have such a strong vocal performance. His singing, aesthetic, and stage presence remind me of Freddie Mercury. I think he is too young and has not had the impact of Mercury, but he has many similarities. He also has the beautiful lyrics of another Gen Z male singer, Conan Gray, who also just had an album release. Boone’s album has been a commercial success so far and currently, he is scheduled to perform as an opening act on Taylor Swift’s “The Era’s Tour”. He was also on stage with Lana del Rey recently. I hope through his performances he will be able to gain more recognition and hopefully, Grammy’s next year.

Literature and Escapism: Why are so many drawn to fiction?

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In the 21st century, teens and adults alike are bombarded by notifications ranging from depressing news stories to shocking exposés regarding beloved celebrities. Social media has made people emotionally numb as they swipe from one heartwarming post to a sob story on the next page, disrupting their capability to process emotions. In such a mentally taxing world, it seems only natural that some would seek escape through other mediums- this being literature, mainly fiction.

But what do I mean by “escape?” The term for mentally excusing oneself from reality and seeking a sense of calmness, namely through fantasy, is how Oxford Dictionary defines the word “escapism.” While exploring fantastical worlds is okay in moderation, escapism is the excessive use of material to sever one’s connection from reality, resulting in an unhealthy relationship with the real world. This makes it difficult for people to address the root of their problems- whether it be an unfulfilling career, lackluster social life, or an underlying mental health condition, escapism shrouds the problem and allows it to be forgotten in exchange for temporary relief.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) - Wikipedia

Chief offenders of indulging escapist tendencies include the renowned Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series which are known for their elaborate worlds of magic and Greek mythology. While the authors of the franchises themselves aren’t to blame for the problems of others, they certainly provide a plethora of spinoffs and merchandise to keep legacy readers sucked in for several years (if not decades). With the Harry Potter fans, known as “Potterheads,” a thriving community of middle-aged Millennials are present on platforms such as Discord, Reddit, and Twitter. While being a longstanding fan of a book series is not problematic in itself, it becomes an issue when individuals become so enthralled with the stories that they cannot distinguish reality from itself.

For example, when entering a Google search of “Potterheads are convinced Harry Potter is real,” a plethora of social platforms with questions about whether Harry Potter could possibly be real pop up. Through Google’s Q&A system, a worrying, question of “Is it possible that Harry Potter is real?” can also be noticed. As Miriam Margoyles, the actor who played Pomona Sprout in the Harry Potter series concerningly stated, “I worry about Harry Potter fans because they should be over that by now” (Margoyles Miriam, “Miriam Margolyes jokingly tells Harry Potter fans to grow up | Seven Sharp,” 2024). If even those who stand to gain the most from this disillusionment take issue with escapism, it is time for us to address it as well.

Miriam Margolyes Doubles Down On 'Harry Potter' Adult Fans Stance: "It Was 25 Years Ago, Grow Up!"

Of course, this analysis of human behavior is all in good fun and I appreciate you reading!

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

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The Secret History

I recently saw the movie, The Goldfinch, and when I learned it was based on a book I knew I had to read it. After researching the book I realized that the author, Donna Tartt had another book called The Secret History, so I decided to read both of them.

Set in New England, at Hampden College, a transfer student Richard Papen is the protagonist coming from an average middle-class household, Richard is thrown into a world of classic literature and wealthy individuals. Richard joins an exclusive class with only five other members studying classic literature. He believes that to connect with his classmates, he needs to disguise himself as wealthy. He succeeds, and the six of them begin to grow close. Richard soon discovers that this eccentric group of misfits he’s joined has more secrets than what meets the eye.

I liked this book I think that the characters and storyline were well-developed. These characters all have unique characteristics that make them seem real to the reader. I thought that Tartt’s use of Richard’s observant nature to establish the setting and characters was ingenious. The twists create an incredible amount of suspense throughout the second half of the novel. Another thing that I liked about this novel was the realistic nature of the main characters when I was reading, I felt that I connected with the characters and understood their point of view and overall nature. I also enjoyed the overall vibe of the story it felt like a “dark academia” and eclectic type of novel.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction or likes classical literature. Although it does have some dark undertones and is quite lengthy, it is a fun read with lots of twists. I would also recommend Donna Tartt’s other book, The Goldfinch, which has some similar themes that The Secret History reflects.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin

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Recently, I read Your Inner Fish, a book about the evolutionary origins of mankind, as well as talking about the research that the author directly went through in order to gain more information about how humans came to be through evolution, as well as how surprisingly, we share some similarities with prehistoric fish (as the title implies).

The Book starts with Shubin introducing and explaining his experience with using fossil evidence to determine the origin of mankind, travelling around multiple locations in the world and multiple fossil sites looking for clues. The book also goes over the influence of geography on how they look for fossils, with different rock layers signifying older fossils. The author also talks about different traits we have in similarity to other animals throughout the book. Furthermore, the author also goes over the usage of embryology, or the comparison of the embryos of two different species in order to find similarities to prove common ancestry. In his research, the author found that the human embryo had several similar traits with a shark embryo, implying that we are in some way related to a prehistoric fish. The author also covers the fascinating subject of using DNA to determine changes in an animal throughout the world’s long history, and also talks about the degree of similarity human DNA has to other species, as well as more fundamental theories such as the theory that the mitochondria was once its own independent organism, but later combined with others to form the cell structures we know today.

Overall, I think this book was very interesting, because of the fact that the author was able to make otherwise boring and complex topics interesting by explaining it in a simpler way. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in learning more about topics in biology.

Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin is available to download for free from Libby.

Paper Towns by John Green

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I first read Paper Towns when I was 14, and it quickly became one of my favorite books of all time. I would consider this book to be a “classic” that any teenager should read. John Green writes about the teenage experience in a way that many pieces of media fail to capture. Paper Towns follows teenagers Quentin Jacobsen and Margo Roth Spiegelman. Quentin, being neighbors with Margo since they were kids, watches Margo from afar, and she never seems to notice him. One day, Margo approaches his window with the promise of an adventure. The next day, she goes missing.

On their adventure, Margo and Quentin drive through their hometown of Orlando Florida in the middle of the night on a sort of scavenger hunt, and it places the reader right into the action. I love this scene, and I think it is the perfect introduction to the rest of Margo’s journey.

This book is full of adventure, mystery, and anticipation. It is funny, and witty and keeps you on the edge of your seat. All the characters are loveable and relatable, and by the end of the book you’ll either love or hate Margo’s quirky personality. The last chapter is a long adventure, with twists and turns, and one of my favorite endings I’ve ever read. The concept of a “Paper Town” is explained, and it’s something I had never heard of before, but it was really cool to learn about. Throughout the book, you get to see the characters evolve. Quentin, who was perceived as uncool and dorky seems to find himself, and Margo, who was a stereotypical popular girl, shows her true personality as she spends time with Quentin and his friends.

Ultimately Paper Towns is an essential novel for teenagers and a classic in the YA genre. This book is perfect for any age, and I believe everyone should read it at least once in their life. Someone recommended this book to me when I was younger and browsing the YA section at a bookstore, and I thank the person who gave it to me.

Paper Towns by John Green is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby.