The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (an amazing youtube series)

For those who are unaware of the true genius that is The Lizzie Bennet Diaries I will help clear things up. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is a YouTube adaptation of bestselling novel Pride and Prejudice. This brilliant series, created by Hank Green, Vlogbrother, and YouTube sensation; is a 100 episode mini series starring the famous Lizzie Bennet. This series is formatted to where Lizzie Bennet, a college student in her last year of study, begins an internet blog in which we are the viewers. It is created to look completely real, as if Lizzie were just another YouTuber doing her job making videos. As the audience we are able to see and hear about everything that happens in her life, which in a 21st century way, mirrors that of Ms. Bennet's in Pride and Prejudice.

To some embarrassment I must admit that I have not, nor do I plan to read the original novel. While I respect it's significance as a classic, I don't think I would be able to get through reading it without forcing myself. I have seen the original movie, however, and even that I didn't enjoy too well. I understand that time period and for that reason I hate it. I hate the idea that a woman's only purpose is to be pretty and find a husband. Yes, Lizzie Bennet is the main point of rebellion, however, I wish she were more so. This wish of mine is fulfilled in the internet series.

One thing I love about the web series is how relatable the characters are. Not only in the obvious sense of a young women living with her crazy family but also in the format of the series. The series uses all sources of media, Tumblr, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, to create the feeling that Lizzie is an actual person. Each video seems as though you the viewer are directly being spoken to. As if Lizzie is your best friend telling you over video chat how crazy her life has been that day. Through Tumblr Gif's and Memes an entire obsession was created. Since the episodes were aired two per week in between episodes the internet would explode with things like the Meme above. You could, through the internet, keep tabs of all the actors daily making this fictitious series come to life.



The series is also much funnier, in my opinion, than the original. The humor in this series is so much less complex then the book that for my generation I feel it's much more appreciated. If that says that my generation is too stupid to appreciate such literature then so be it. The web series is quirky, clevor, and all around keeps you on your toes until the next episode. It has a beautiful mix of humor, drama, and truly serious situations that make this series not just another YouTube thing.





 

In conclusion... The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is an amazing series. Being an avid YouTuber who prefers it over TV the argument can be made that I am very biased. However, that doesn't change that fact that Hank Green created an amazing series that is worth watching.

The Great Gatsby (Novel)

(spoiler alert..... read the book first... movie later...)

I feel that there is no need for me to explain or try to convince anyone why this book is so great. It is a classic novel that is not only well written but brings to life a view of how wealth and a certain mindset can lead to trouble. The title in itself is a commentary on what truly constitutes greatness. Gatsby was so "great" that the troubles he got into lead to his death... Personally, I never want to be that "great."

If you haven't recently read the book, here's a little something to boost your memory.

In reading this book I noticed how important it is that Nick Carraway is the narrator. Had the narration been done by Gatsby the story would be clouded by the fancies of his own mind. Gatsby is an extremely romantic thinker. His view is that once his love is always his love not realizing that other people move on. Gatsby is one who loves the past but also loves bettering himself for the future. All together his character is one that needs a clear-headed neighbor and narrator like Nick Carraway.

What makes me pity Gatsby is how generous he is with his wealth and how unappreciative most of his guests are. An argument can be made that a man doesn't need all the material things he owns and is therefore obligated to share in his splendor; however, I feel that Gatsby is often taken advantage of. The fact that Gatsby isn't a drinker also makes me question how much he enjoys the company of such boisterous guests. All of this just emphasizes how Gatsby feels the need to surround himself with fun, parties, and all around wealth in order to feel the greatness that he has created.

            Another emphasis of the novel is how corrupt the world of wealth and parties is. At one of Nick’s first parties a man wrecked his car and was too drunk to realize it. A night that was painted in such a dazzling light came to a close in the least flattering way. Throughout the novel there are hints to how unfortunate a life of greatness can be. It’s as if the writer was saying, rich people are just as loud and obnoxious as everyone else as long as you hang out with them long enough. This emphasized when Nick hung out with Tom, Myrtle, and her Sister. The night ended in Myrtle getting punched in the face, not a very civilized way to end a conflict especially for such classy people as themselves. The “classy” people end up being the most gaudy in the end.

This brings me to the movie that I have yet to see. I began reading the book just last week when commercials of the movie were already being played therefore my image of how the characters should look was skewed. That being said my skewed view thinks that the actors chosen seem to look the part. I plan on seeing the movie this weekend and will be back with a post on how good or bad it was.

(On an unrelated note... I have been listening to the movie soundtrack and it's amazing!)

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

         I'm sorry dear reader but I cannot bring myself to summarizing this book. This is due to my fear of spoiling the book as it is a must read for anyone and everyone. I don't care if you're "not a reader," or you only read Twilight, or whatever your excuse may be; you must read this book!!!!! Every sentence makes you think and there are so many amazing quotes within its pages that can be applied to daily life. If this book were a religion I would convert to it as the author's view on how the world works is truly beautiful.

         What I will tell you is that the story begins in Spain with a shepherd names Santiago. He has a reoccurring dream and in hopes to understand the dream goes to see a gypsy. After meeting the gypsy and learning very little about his dream he happens upon an old king. The king tells him that his dream is important in reaching his personal legend. The rest of the book entails Santiago’s journey of achieving his personal legend. Throughout his journey he is robbed, he works at a crystal shop, and he meets a girl, Fatima, an Englishman and an Alchemist. Which of these people and which of these experiences are of most value to Santiago you will have to find out. With a unique twist to keep everything exciting this book is truly one of my favorites.

         The structure of the book is unique in itself. There are no chapters only dotted breaks between paragraphs of text. This makes the story seem to never pause keeping the reader interested. The breaks indicate pauses in events within the same day or indicate a day has passed. This makes the whole story flow together naturally as daily life does. An entire year working at a crystal shop is split between just a few breaks. Just as in real life, time passes so quickly and the author depicts this natural passage perfectly. The narrator can't believe that an entire year has passed in a new place, a feeling that many can relate to. The author’s ability to create this feeling is a major reason why the book is engaging from beginning to end.

         In a last attempt to prove to you why this book is so amazing and thought provoking I give you one of my favorite quotes. "When each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises." Call me a hippy but any book full of quotes like this is bound to become a favorite of mine. What makes this book so great is it doesn't just tell you a story. It gives you a story and leaves you with new insight into the world. Once the story is over there is still so much that can be thought about. It’s not just a book you read and then leave this book stays with you for years to come.

         The Alchemist is also an international bestseller so if my blog wasn’t enough to make you want to read it then just look at the facts. People have been reading and loving The Alchemist for years so give in to peer pressure and read it yourself!

Once (a new musical)

Spoiler Alert! If you plan on seeing Once and don’t want the ending ruined stay away!

            This Musical is based on the 2006 Irish Musical film Once. The story, set in Dublin,Ireland, is about a Dublin man and a Czech immigrant. They meet one day when the man “Guy” is playing a song on his guitar and the women “Girl” becomes intrigued by his music.

Throughout the story it is clear that the two are falling in love with each other, however, it is all much more complicated then that. Girl has a husband back home; they were not doing very well together which caused her to move to Ireland, however, she still feels loyal to him and hopes they will work out their problems. Guy has a girlfriend who moved to New York a few months ago, he still loves her but can’t help falling for Girl.Throughout the story Guy tries to push his girlfriend out of his mind. He believes that she is living in New York and will have found someone new by now.Girl knows that Guy’s girlfriend still loves him, call it intuition, so she makes sure to never let guy get too close. In the end Guy’s father gives him money to move to New York and pursue his dream of becoming a famous musician.Guy also calls his girlfriend and they plan to reunite. As his last gesture before leaving Dublin Guy buys Girl a piano (what she’s always wanted). Girl finally hears from her husband and he decides to move to Dublin so they can fix their marriage.

            “It’snot a love story, it’s a story about love.” This quote describes the musical perfectly. It’s not about two main characters falling in love forever and always. Guy and Girl never so much as hug throughout the entire musical. Yes the tension is there, but they both know better. Girl’s reluctance to be with Guy is probably tied to her own longing to fix her marriage. Her entire family tells her to leave her husband and be with Guy, as it can be inferred that he is a much nicer and better man then her husband even though the audience never meets him. However, it is clear that she feels obligated to fix the marriage if not for her sake but for her child. This feeling of loyalty to her husband is also a reason why Girl feels that Guy’s girlfriend is still in love with him. She portrays her own feelings for her husband on a women she’s never met and uses them to infer the feelings of Guy’s girlfriend. This inference is proven to be true when Guy finally calls his girlfriend and discovers her excitement at the idea of Guy coming to meet her in New York. All this comes together to make up the theme of following ones heart. Not just following ones impulse as Guy does throughout the Musical but digging deeper to realize what the heart really wants. If Guy never met Girl it is uncertain whether he would have ever realized his true potential and decided to move to New York to reunite with his girlfriend. In a sense Guy couldn’t have done any of it without Girl.

            This brings us to another topic, the one of names. Why is it that in a musical as intricate as this the two main characters have such simple yet peculiar names?  Is it to contrast the complications the two face in figuring out what their hearts want? Or is it to show how simple the solutions to their problems were, they just thought too hard into them? Such obvious names like Guy and Girl serve the purpose of being blatantly simple within a complicated situation. Love confusion aside, the writer reminds us that while a relationship can be difficult, in the end there’s just one guy and one girl. Two people, while a whirlwind of thoughts, emotions, and interactions may happen between them; at the end of the day it’s just two. The simplicity within the names reminds us that the answer to our problems may be clearer then we think, if we take the time to look into what our hearts are telling us. Love is not always as complicated as people make it to be. The heart is a tricky thing, but it will tell you what it wants if you’re willing to listen.