Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Book Review

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Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray is a haunting and provocative exploration of vanity, morality, and the consequences of indulgence. First published in 1890, the novel follows the life of Dorian Gray, a handsome young man whose portrait, painted by artist Basil Hallward, begins to age and show signs of corruption while he himself remains youthful and unmarked by time. Dorian’s pursuit of hedonistic pleasure, influenced by the decadent philosophy of Lord Henry Wotton, leads him down a dangerous path of moral degradation, as he engages in a life of excess without facing the physical consequences. The painting, however, becomes a mirror to his soul, revealing the true cost of his actions.

Wilde’s writing is sharp, witty, and layered with profound insights into human nature. His exploration of aesthetics and the consequences of living a life dedicated solely to beauty and pleasure is both thought-provoking and chilling. The character of Dorian is a complex one—initially innocent and impressionable, he becomes increasingly corrupted by his own image and the pursuit of personal gratification. Lord Henry serves as a persuasive, almost sinister, mentor, embodying Wilde’s fascination with the idea of “art for art’s sake” and the rejection of conventional morality.

I personally enjoyed the Gothic themes of the novel and how the book evoked a sense of wonder for the world. I became fascinated by the mystical words of Lord Henry and I loved being able to understand why Dorian Gray took the Lord’s words so seriously. I enjoyed how thought-provoking Wilde’s writing was and loved the array of shocking moments within the story. Furthermore, I thought the development of Dorian Gray’s insanity was beautifully written and held strong symbolism for the world’s corrupt obsession with youth, beauty, and immortality.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys classical literature and a short, yet influential read. I think Wilde’s writing would attract readers who enjoy beautiful and mystical writing as well as exciting plot twists! I personally recommend this book for everyone as it is a wonderful novel to discuss peers and leaves you with thoughts about society!

Kaiya T.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

March Madness 2025

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Each March, the NCAA holds a tournament to determine which division 1 program will hold the title of national champion for both men’s and women’s collegiate basketball. This phenomenon is called March Madness. The name stems from the unpredictable nature of a 68-team single elimination bracket in which any team has a chance to win it all.

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The NCAA selection committee ranks who they believe to be the top 68 teams and splits them into four regions with the regional champions playing each other in what is known as the Final Four. Most of the time, there are one or two major Cinderella stories with low ranked teams making it to the later rounds of the tournament. However, this year both the men’s and women’s brackets have been extremely uneventful. In the men’s bracket the four highest ranked teams have advanced to the Final Four and the women’s bracket would have seen the same fate if it weren’t for #2 seed UCONN beating #1 seed USC. USC was hindered by the recent loss of one of their star players, JuJu Watkins, to a torn ACL earlier in the season. 

I filled out a bracket of my own and lost my chances of a perfect bracket on the first day of the tournament. On the bright side, Houston, the team I picked to win it all in the men’s bracket, is still alive as of now. I am going to stick with them as my pick to win the men’s bracket. However, before they make it to the championship they will have to go through Cooper Flagg, one of the top prospects in the upcoming NBA draft, and the rest of the Duke Blue Devils. On the other side of the bracket Auburn out of the South and Florida out of the West will be playing for the other spot in the championship. The women’s bracket features Texas versus South Carolina and UCONN versus UCLA. I think that Paige Bueckers will help lead UCONN to win the national championship. Sports fans can only hope that next March will have more madness than this one did.

Analysis of John Keating’s Teaching Style

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Dead Poets Society is a touching coming of age story featuring the unconventional teaching methods of John Keating and the impact it has on his students. His passion for educating teens and inspiring them to expand their knowledge beyond the walls of the restrictive school system.

The conversation of a fulfilling, limitless life is so essential to the growth of the boys in the movie, as they come from wealthy, strict families with strategically mapped out plans for these boys’ miserable lives. They are chasing freedom — or even just a little room to breathe and search for meaning in life.

Keating reinforces the need to seize the day or live in the present, as life is a fleeting moment, begging to be appreciated. He challenges the foundation of the school and the suppressive life it fosters. The boys are limited in terms of self expression and identity. They waste their lives, tirelessly yearning for validation from an unforgiving system built on greed, conformity, and misery. 

Knowing his students have been taught to conform without question, Keating turns his classroom into a stage for living truthfully, leading through instruction and more importantly, example. His genuine passion for creativity and poetry is unmistakable in his efforts. He alludes to renowned poets, Whitman and Herrick, to demonstrate his own profound understanding of philosophical insight. Their rich words carry a message of timeless wisdom, eternal in its relevance. He hopes the boys will take control of their lives and seek sincere pleasure.

He further disregards the standard values and structures of a classroom by standing on desks and shouting. He is grabbing the attention of his students and encouraging them to break the barriers of tradition. The school desks resemble authority and standing on them gives the boys the power to practice their freedoms. Keating empowers them to rise above societal pressures to be perfect and shift their perspective on their everyday mundane lives.

This movie is immensely meaningful and worth every two hours and eight minutes. All teens could benefit from hearing this movie’s profound, powerful message. It inspires its audience to consider the current state of their life and how it is impacting their wellbeing.

Dead Poets Society  is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

 

Water Polo: The Best Sport

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I freaking love this sport. Being in the water with your friends is great and all, but add that to mostly unfriendly competition: it’s amazing. Do be warned though, this sport is not for the faint of heart. You have to be prepared to get down and dirty, but if you enjoy being in the water and winning, this is the sport for you.

Originally created in Scotland, this sport began as a demonstration of strength and skill. With its fast paced game and enthusiastic crowd, this sport became a crowd pleaser at country fairs throughout Great Britain. Men’s water polo was even among the first introduced to the Olympics in the year 1900. But, who really wants to know the history of a sport: let’s get into the fun stuff.

There are two teams of 7 players on the field (in the pool) at any given time. This game has 4 quarters where they try to score on the other team’s cage. Think like soccer, two teams trying to score. Each team has 6 field players, a goalkeeper, and subs. The field players swim up and down the pool throughout the game, playing both offense (scoring) and defense (stopping the other team from scoring). Both teams also have a center, or a set, who is the main offensive player. They are up against the center defender, the main defensive player. As the game progresses, the field players switch positions and apply strategies to get the advantage. The team with the most goals in the end wins!

This is a terrific sport for teamwork. Because there are so few players in the game at a time, they must communicate. Furthermore, you can’t shoot the ball if you don’t have the ball, so your teammates have to pass the ball around to get the best opportunity. 

Joining this water polo was one of the best decisions of my life. I have made some of my closest friends through this sport and feel like I finally found people who get me. I really recommend this sport for people who don’t feel like they fit in and just want to have fun.

Also, if you have unresolved anger issues, join water polo. It’s a great, healthy way to let out your anger by kicking people in the stomach.

Inside Out 2 Movie experience at Cinépolis

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On the first day of summer, the hottest day of the year, we all piled into our car and headed for the Cinépolis to watch Inside Out 2. 


This theater is very different than the typical theater. We bought the tickets online; no attendants would direct you to your seats. We went to the theater studio for our movie and found our seats. The server came and took our order for dinner before the movie started.

What, you said theater? Dinner inside a theater? Why yes, at this theater, you can order a full dinner and even alcoholic beverages, snacks, and everything else you fancy before the movie. The best part is the recliner padded leather seats, making the experience even more comfortable when watching the film.

After we were done, we ordered our food and got ready for dinner. The light was off, and the movie started playing. I was still determining what to expect since it’s a cartoon movie, which I didn’t think would be any different from the others. 

It was not a typical Pixar movie. The Inside Out 2 storyline picks up where the first movie left off, exploring new challenges in Riley’s adolescence. The way the film showed Riley’s external experiences with her inner struggles shows how human changes and growth shape one’s emotions, and it’s more critical in teenagers.

This combined approach not only entertains but also shows viewers a deeper understanding of everyday emotions through different stages of life. I especially love the little characters that are people’s emotions, such as Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. 

The movie continues to explore the main character’s emotions, Riley, using these characters, delivering an intriguing journey that blends heartwarming moments with profound insights into typical teen emotions. Through characters like Joy, Sadness, Anger, Embarrassment, and Anxiety, we see the complexities of human emotions.

As expected from Pixar, the animation is stunning and imaginative, with vibrant colors and intricate details bringing Riley’s mind’s internal and external workings to life. Pixar was so good at showing abstract concepts like core memories, personality islands, and the subconscious, making it visually delightful and captivating for audiences of all ages from start to finish.

The film’s success would be due to its characters. They are animated figures with relatable personalities, each with arcs and quirks. My favorite character is Joy. She has infectious optimism and is one of those friends you want on your side. Sadness’s endearing vulnerability and other emotions’ unique traits make them entertaining but deeply relatable, something every one of us experiences as a teen.

The voice cast was outstanding in their performance, adding emotion, depth, and authenticity to these characters, making them much more relatable and real. Through these characters, Inside Out 2 lets us explore complex emotions and topics so that younger viewers can understand and make it engaging for adults. It explores complex issues like identity, changes, and the importance of emotional resilience.

Overall, Inside Out 2 is a worthy continuation of its predecessor, offering an exploration to entertain and teach us about our daily emotional struggles with our emotions. The stunning animation and fun and upbeat storyline make this film memorable and worthwhile to watch with families and friends, especially with your younger siblings.

Whether you’re a fan of the original or new to the world of Riley’s mind, Inside Out 2 is a must-watch. This movie will leave you thinking about your emotions and their complexities long after the film ends. 

Here’s to a great movie experience!

Bella H.

Inside Out 2  is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Places to visit in Kauai, Hawaii

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Kauai is one of 137 islands in the state of Hawaii. Also known as the Garden Island, Kauai is revered for its lush landscape with steep cliffs that meet aqua-blue water. I had the privilege of visiting this island last June for about a week. Prior to going on this vacation, I researched this island and found it to be extremely helpful when wondering what to do or see. When going to Hawaii, most people flock to Oahu; and while this island is pretty and has amazing food, Kauai is remote and prettier (in my opinion). Below are places and things to do if visiting Kauai.

Beaches

  1. Tunnels Beach – This was my favorite beach on my visit to Kauai. If you are looking for a place to snorkel, Tunnels is the place to go. At Tunnels, the coral was huge and there was a large variety of sea life. The best part of this beach is the view of the mountains in the background with the beach at your feet.
  2. Anini Beach – Located in the northern part of Kauai, Anini Beach is known for being a family-friendly beach. The water at this beach remains shallow for about 30 feet out. However, the best part about this beach was the amount of turtles. When I was snorkeling, I believe I saw turtles 15-20 times. Another pro about this beach is that there is a lot of shade so beach umbrellas aren’t needed.
  3. Hanalei Bay – Hanalei Bay is one of the most popular beaches in Kauai to visit–and for good reason. At this beach, you are surrounded by panoramic views of golden-sand beaches and a range of mountains. Also, there is a pier that you can jump off of for fun.
  4. Poipu Beach – This is another family-friendly beach on the south shore of Kauai. Poipu Beach is great for snorkeling and relaxing. A con of this beach is that it is always crowded. However, if you are in the area of Poipu, stop by this beach.

Hikes/Other Activities

  1. Kalalau Trail – Hiking is a major activity that you HAVE to do in Kauai. This particular trail stretches 22 miles in length (you have to have a permit to do all of it). I only hiked to Hanakāpīʻai Beach which was 4 miles round-trip. This hike was so beautiful and the views along the coast were gorgeous. After the beach, you can hike to Hanakāpīʻai Falls (8 miles roundtrip). Overall, Kalalau Trail is a must-do when visiting Kauai.
  2. Waimea Canyon – Waimea Canyon is named the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and was formed from the collapse of a volcano. The unique terrain of this canyon is an attraction you should see. I believe that you can hike this, but my family and I just drove to different lookouts to see the Canyon.
  3. Lydgate Farms Chocolate Tour – As a chocolate fanatic, I was so excited to visit this Chocolate Farm. While you can book a tour to explore the farm, I just went to the gift shop. At the gift shop, an employee gives you a chocolate lecture where you learn about the origins of the cacao and try the products. I’ve tried a bunch of chocolate in my life and I can confidently say this was the best chocolate I’ve ever had. Lydgate Farms makes their chocolate in small batches which was evident considering how delicious the chocolate was.
  4. Na Pali Coast Boat Tour – Last but not least, you NEED to go on a Boat Tour (or helicopter tour) to see the Na Pali coast. I would recommend going with the company Captain Andy’s and booking the “Na Pali Raft Day Expedition.” On this boat tour, we went through sea caves, snorkeled, ate lunch at an ancient fishing town, and saw the Na Pali coast. This was hands down my favorite memory from the trip. The Na Pali coast is breathtaking and the water was the color of blue Gatorade. In addition to doing cool activities on this tour, you’ll learn much about the history of Kauai and its people.

Places to Eat

  1. Wishing Well Shave Ice
  2. Kenji Burger
  3. Wailua Drive-In

Photos

Tunnels Beach

Na Pali Coast

Wishing Well Shave Ice

White Bird

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White Bird: A Wonder Story (A Graphic Novel): Palacio, R. J.: 9780525645535: Amazon.com: Books

White Bird, is a book by R.J Palacio that I read about three years ago that tells the story of a young Jewish girl called Sara Blum who lives in a small village in France. Soon the Nazi Party, which was a movement under the direction of Adolf Hitler that believed that Jewish people had no right to live in Germany, defeated France and caused France to surrender which split the country in two regions, The Occupied Zone, and the Free Zone, Sara was placed in the Free Zone. However, even living in the Free Zone, the Nazis arrive and rounded-up many Jews to bring them to camp, Sara is brought to the woods for safety and meets a boy who invites her to live with his family and him in the meantime.

This book has really captivated me, and has overall become one of my favorite graphic novel books. The drawings, illustrations, and movements created in this book really add a whole level of contrast and emotions that really capture the reader’s attention. There is one part in this book, that really grabbed my attention due to the combination of the writing and the illustrations. It is when Sara Blum has a dream of herself flying up above the woods with a flock of birds, allowing herself to express and feel the sense of freedom while flying, this parts really brings a sense of emotions to the reader.

I would really recommend reading this book, as it is a great read and is really informative. The live-action movie is currently streaming and is available to watch on Youtube, Apple TV, and Amazon. I have not yet watched it yet, but is definitely on my watch list currently. White Bird is currently available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library today!

The Bone Collector Review

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Recently, I’ve been on a streak of feel good movies or action movies. Movies filled with things like superheroes or family fluff. Despite that, I wouldn’t have picked this movie on my own. But thanks to my CSI class, I got a taste of a new genre and a good movie. 

The Bone Collector is an older movie, coming out in 1999, classified as a crime thriller movie. Following policewoman Amelia Donaghy on her shift, she discovers a murder scene leading her to become involved in a much more intricate case. Despite not wanting to get involved further, forensic criminology expert Lincoln Rhyme does his best to persuade her to help. After heavy convincing, she joins Rhyme and his leading team of detectives and forensics in order to uncover the murderer and next victims. 

The Bone Collector was a super interesting movie. I am not a fanatic for thriller or horror or suspense. If I even sense a single jumpscare, I begin to cover my face and peak out through my fingers. Which is what I did for various moments in this movie. The Bone Collector was not extremely scary, if anything, it was only a slight thriller; but it still had me anxious for something to come out of the screen. Despite that, it was still a fun watch. I haven’t watched a good mystery in a while, so I had a great time tying together pieces of the puzzle and where the mystery was going. The overall motive was interesting, but I just wish it were developed further or had more details. I felt it came out of the blue and wasn’t really developed and not too in depth.  While the movie gained some extra points towards the movie because it had some interesting CSI forensic scenes that piqued my interest, it had some scenes that felt like there were some dead ends, or were unneeded. 

There was just one main thing that irked me throughout the movie: the romance. I personally felt that the romance was unnecessary and even made me feel slightly uncomfortable. In my opinion, the relationship between Donaghy and Rhyme would have been better as a more platonic relationship, even seeming more like a father-daughter relationship. The romance didn’t feel natural and it would have been better if romance hadn’t been included at all. 

Overall, The Bone Collector was a fun movie to watch, while it may have its spots that were dry or unnecessary, the mystery itself was interesting to figure out and the thriller aspect made the movie more appealing. It is a good movie in the end, but if you get scared easily or grossed out easily, I might not recommend it to you. If you like thrillers and mysteries, this movie might be a good one to check out.

-Nicole R.

The Bone Collector is available for checkout at the Mission Viejo Library. 

Play Review: All My Sons by Arthur Miller

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My English teacher recently recommended that I listen to or read some modernist plays in preparation for the next unit, and needless to say, I didn’t regret it. I found the play very interesting and moving, and I found the play’s nuance and Miller’s masterful usage of tension especially significant to the play’s powerful nature.

Set during the post-WWII era, All My Sons follows the tale of the Keller family, consisting of Joe Keller, the head of the family, Chris Keller, Joe’s son, Kate Keller, Chris’s mother, as well as Larry Keller, who went missing during the war. While Joe and Chris both think that Larry is dead, and that Kate should move on, she refuses to, deciding instead to turn to superstition to keep her hope alive. Meanwhile, Joe also has a dark secret in his past. During the war, he and his partner were convicted of selling cracked cylinder heads to the air force, causing the deaths of 21 pilots. While Joe was acquitted of any charges, Steve, his partner, was jailed because of this.

After establishing the beginning conflicts in the play, Miller goes on to expand upon the fatal flaws of each individual characters, He establishes Joe’s unwillingness to talk about the crime, implying that he was the one who was actually guilty of it. Kate’s vehement denial of Larry’s death is made more apparent in late act 1 and act 2, as she sees random events, such as finding Larry’s baseball glove, as signs that he would come back. Finally, Chris reveals his idealism to Larry’s old fiance, Ann, whom he is dating.

I won’t spoil the rest of the play, but I think this is a play that is definitely worth listening to, watching, or just reading. Miller does a great job of highlighting the flaws and traits of every character in the book, and making that work with the overall story is no small feat. Miller’s worldbuilding and writing style in this novel characterizes a break from a typical Modernist style of writing; While using very relatable and realistic characters and a realistic premise, Miller ultimately alludes to the theme of pursuing the deeper meaning of life and the world. I would recommend this book for anybody who enjoys modernist works of literature, or just anybody who wants to watch a classic American play in general.

All My Sons by Arthur Miller is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Saying No Is A Strength- But Why Do People Have Trouble Saying No to Distractions?

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Daily writing prompt
How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?
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In today’s world, we are constantly surrounded by distractions that attempt to pull us away from more meaningful pursuits. Take, for instance, technology such as our phones. Whenever we are faced with a task that we find uninteresting, the temptation to check social media may creep in. Perhaps a student scrolls through TikTok for several minutes before starting calculus homework, or a teacher feels the need to to check Pinterest before they begin grading essays. In reality, the task may only take a short period of time to complete, but still we allow small distractions to get in our way. This feeling is universal, but does it signal laziness, or is there a deeper meaning behind this phenomenon?

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According to McLean Hospital, there are several reasons why we might procrastinate. For some, it truly is a sense of laziness that, from time to time, causes us to lose motivation. Other times, there may be deep-rooted mental health problems that interfere with our ability to complete tasks. This includes, but is not limited to: anxiety, OCD, depression, and ADHD, just to name a few. What’s more is that procrastination can not only be a result of these mental health issues, but it can also be a cause of them as well. As people procrastinate, they have less time to accomplish whatever goals they have, which can then cause stress over time management.

The National Library of Medicine states that most people who procrastinate are between the ages of 14-29, and in another study, found that people between 18-25 have the greatest prevalence of mental illness. These statistics make even more sense when considering the especially high workload placed on people in this age group— college students attempting to manage rigorous academics along with anxiety around starting their new lives.

However, there is one positive to be considered. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), mental illnesses such as those linked to procrastination tend to peak around 18-25 and consistently decrease thereafter; a similar trend can be seen with procrastination.

Results from the 2010 NSDUH: Mental Health Findings, SAMHSA, CBHSQ

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUHmhfr2010/NSDUHmhfr2010.htm

Procrastination scores across the life span according to sex. Note:... | Download Scientific Diagram

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Procrastination-scores-across-the-life-span-according-to-sex-Note-Post-hoc-analyses_fig5_294257227

So, given this information, what can we take away from this? I believe this shows that we must be kinder to ourselves, even when we have trouble saying “no” to something that’s on our to-do lists. If we continually struggle to complete a certain task, it may be worthwhile to examine the underlying emotions that it brings us and address those feelings before we move forward. As always, we must strive to be better, not perfect.