Entry 3

I have decided I am going to do two posts a week. If I feel froggy, maybe I will throw in extra. This should give me five to ten more posts then the 20 required. I am also not going to spell or grammar check any of them. Not because of laziness, but to me a journal is just free thinking and free writing, something personal and not for publishing even if you are going to share it with friends or teachers. I feel it should be raw, and like I said last time, just free flowing. So here we go with my second post for this week.

The second idea given was to describe if you ever walked out of a movie or stopped reading a book you started and why.

I have never walked out of a movie and maybe that is because they cost money, I am not sure. I have seen some pretty bad movies, but most the time I had rented them as most movies I really want to see I go to the theatre for. If I rent a movie, and its bad, I dont usually turn it off, but I do start doing other things like surfing the net or whatever comes to mind at the time.

Now as far as books, I do not read much, at least not fiction. Being a writer, that is kind of surprising to some, but it is just not something that interests me. I do read books from time to time, but they are usually funny books by like comedians, or their about real life things that have happened. I am definately more of a non fiction reader.

That being said, I remember putting down several books back when I was young. I even put one down and only skimmed through it for an assigment in college. If it is boring, then I just cannot get into it. The funny thing is, the two that stick out in my mind is Of Mice and Men in grade school, and 1984 in college. These books are seen as classics and some of the most popular books ever written. Well I say, they are not in my opinion. Yes, maybe they are original, or written well, but they just do not do nothing for me.

Of Mice and Men was just to boring and bland for me. I do not think I even got past the second or third chapter. I always hated having to read books assigned to me, and even at a young age I did not want to be forced to read books I was not into. I am pretty sure this is what made me hate reading in the first place.

1984 was just as horrible. I do like the premise of the book and what its trying to convey, but it was so dry it just could not hook me. Once again, it was something I was assigned to read, and I believe strongly when it comes to art which I think writing is, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder and not all of us are going to like the same things.

That being said, I do remember To Kill a Mockingbird in highschool. One of my all time favorite books ever written, and even the movie is one of the best adapatations of a book ever made. Yes, I read the book, and then I saw the movie. This is the one time I can remember being assigned something to read that I absolutely enjoyed. I do appreciate the fact that I got to read it because it was assigned because I would have never thought of picking up that book with a title like that, so I guess there is pluses in being shown supposive great books that are considered classes. Finally, one out of dozens of books assigned to me actually hit it out of the park with me and I enjoyed it so much.

I think for english classes where reading is involved, maybe they should suggest some of these books, and have a description or review of what it is about, but do not force kids to read it just because it is deemed a classic. This goes for movies, music, etc. All art has things that are called classics, and to me, they are straight garbage. We all have different tastes, and I believe it should be left up to the student or the reader to find things and read what they enjoy to read instead of having different books they will not enjoy shoved down their throats. Art is a beautiful thing is all forms, and the best part is dicovering which art you are attracted to, drawn to, and enjoy yourself. We are all different, and we should explore on our own what tickles are fancy so to speak.