Thursday, June 25, 2015
Dodging Sunbeams
This Halfling ninja has had to stay in the hobbit hole apart from leaving to go to work or run necessary errands lately. Why? I fried like an egg at the pool the other day. I may have not mentioned this before. I am the second of five children. All my siblings have a different skin tone from me. When they get out in the sun they get dark. It comes from my mother's genetics. She's Hawaiian. I took after my dad. He's Irish and photosensitive. Dad raised me to be cautious and take care of myself in the sun. I know the best sunblock brand. I naturally reapply. I don't tend to swim on cloudless days or between 10am and 2pm. I even stand in the shade a lot when I'm outside for extended amounts of time.
So what happened?
I had one of those feeling young and invincible moments.
I had been going to the pool all week and had been fine. My roommate's sister was visiting and we have to be with our guests at the pool or they'll be asked to leave because they aren't residents. She loves to swim so I had agreed to go with her over and over. The day was cloudy and it looked like it might rain or even storm. We only got maybe 3 whole minutes of direct, unfiltered sunlight. However, my arms started to get red blotches and they spread quickly. Once I start to burn I burn fast! We had to get the heck out of dodge.
The damage? I lightly burned my face and legs, I had angry blotchy pink spots all over my arms, and I was bright pink all around my collar. We broke out the After Sun Aloe Vera. I even started storing it in the fridge so it would be cold. I was angry with myself for not picking up a section of my grandma's aloe plant when I visited several weeks ago. I decided to wait and I can't remember my reasons anymore.
I'm not likely to get one of the "invincible" feelings about sun exposure again any time soon. I've had to wear sunblock at work (the strong, spray on kind that makes you look stiff and shiny, bleh) and I've had to dodge the sunlight between 10am and 2pm. An already established burn doesn't need any encouragement to get worse. I've been walking faster in the sunlight and slowing down in the shade. I've even been holding my arms in shady spots in the car while driving. It's been interesting. I feel like a ninja trying to hide from the sun. Needless to say I've learned my lesson.
Ninja Lesson: Don't overestimate your abilities or toughness.
That's it for this post! Thanks for reading. If you have any feedback for me just leave a comment or send a message to thehalflingninja@gmail.com
You're never too small to make a difference in the world.
-The Halfling Ninja
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Ninja Training Update # 1
I've made great progress in my ninja training since I started several months ago. My strategy has been to take one small, simple step at a time. Often what causes a lifestyle change to fail is doing too much too fast. We only have so much willpower and taking on a lot of change can sap that power and cause us to crumble. It's one of the wisest pieces of advice on health I've ever heard and it really works.
My first small step was taking caffeine out of my diet. I have an anxiety disorder and caffeine was just fuel on the fire. That one small step led to taking pop out of my regular diet. It's something I can only have as a treat, but funnily enough it's been over 6 months and I don't crave it. That step led to water being my main drink. Anything else is a treat. I never thought I could be a water drinker. I hated water and drank soda all day every day. The change is amazing! I love water now and pop doesn't even look desirable anymore. My next step from there was focusing on basic healthy habits. I was terrible at taking care of myself. The basic daily habits I worked on was eating 3 meals (I was averaging 1 and a half), drinking 6 glasses (50 oz) of water, and sleeping at least 7 hours. Creating solid habits in those areas taught me a lot about myself and my anxiety triggers.
My newest small step has been to tackle the added sugar in my diet. I took a week and just recorded my daily amount of added sugar in grams. At the end of that week I calculated my average: 61g. For several weeks now my focus has been to limit my daily added sugar. I started with 50g and slowly worked my way down. This has led to me naturally making small changes in my diet that limit added sugar. Sugar is hidden in a lot of foods and many foods that appear healthy have more sugar in them than you'd expect. I am now at my goal of 25g of sugar or less a day! I learned the hard way when I made the move to drinking only water that sugar is addictive. You have to take it slow to get off the stuff or you'll suffer. My final goal of 25g or less is actually the recommended daily maximum according to my research. And I just hit it so YAY!
It's been 9 months since I started. I have lost around 40 pounds and solidly built many healthy habits into my daily life. The best part is maintaining this is easy since my strategy is to turn the changes into habits. When I reach my weight goal, staying there will come naturally. But my main focus is my health and not just my weight. I'm so excited about my progress and the road ahead.
That's it for this Ninja Training Update. Feel free to send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment. Thanks for reading!
You're never too small to make a difference in the world.
The Halfling Ninja
thehalflingninja@gmail.com
My first small step was taking caffeine out of my diet. I have an anxiety disorder and caffeine was just fuel on the fire. That one small step led to taking pop out of my regular diet. It's something I can only have as a treat, but funnily enough it's been over 6 months and I don't crave it. That step led to water being my main drink. Anything else is a treat. I never thought I could be a water drinker. I hated water and drank soda all day every day. The change is amazing! I love water now and pop doesn't even look desirable anymore. My next step from there was focusing on basic healthy habits. I was terrible at taking care of myself. The basic daily habits I worked on was eating 3 meals (I was averaging 1 and a half), drinking 6 glasses (50 oz) of water, and sleeping at least 7 hours. Creating solid habits in those areas taught me a lot about myself and my anxiety triggers.
My newest small step has been to tackle the added sugar in my diet. I took a week and just recorded my daily amount of added sugar in grams. At the end of that week I calculated my average: 61g. For several weeks now my focus has been to limit my daily added sugar. I started with 50g and slowly worked my way down. This has led to me naturally making small changes in my diet that limit added sugar. Sugar is hidden in a lot of foods and many foods that appear healthy have more sugar in them than you'd expect. I am now at my goal of 25g of sugar or less a day! I learned the hard way when I made the move to drinking only water that sugar is addictive. You have to take it slow to get off the stuff or you'll suffer. My final goal of 25g or less is actually the recommended daily maximum according to my research. And I just hit it so YAY!
It's been 9 months since I started. I have lost around 40 pounds and solidly built many healthy habits into my daily life. The best part is maintaining this is easy since my strategy is to turn the changes into habits. When I reach my weight goal, staying there will come naturally. But my main focus is my health and not just my weight. I'm so excited about my progress and the road ahead.
That's it for this Ninja Training Update. Feel free to send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment. Thanks for reading!
You're never too small to make a difference in the world.
The Halfling Ninja
thehalflingninja@gmail.com
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Re: Pride And Prejudice And Zombies
5 Stars = Favorite, would read over and over again
4 Stars = Highly enjoyable, would read again
3 Stars = Enjoyable but would not read again
2 Stars = Tolerable
1 Star = I hated it
Pride And Prejudice And Zombies is a retelling of the classic Pride And Prejudice with a zombie spin. The essentials of the story stay the same, but with some added color, particularly red. Zombies make many appearances and normal scenes from the original version are spiced up a bit. Arguments become actual fights. Slight changes, inessential to the plot, occur here and there and serve to make the story more lively, action oriented, and gruesome. After reading the original so soon before reading this version, I also noticed that the story was more direct, with some unnecessary details and complicated phrasings taken out. The end product was a more direct telling of the classic story with a splash of blood-lust.
I'm not sure what was more fun, reading this version soon after reading the original or if I had read the zombie version first. Reading it second, I was able to see where the additions and omissions happened. But it would have been so fun to read the zombie version first. I wasn't a stranger to the plot. I'm a big fan of the movie. The movie is one of my 5 star ratings. I could watch it over and over. So I knew I would be a fan of the book, whether original or zombie version.
I enjoyed this book. In several places, particularly key scenes, the addition of sword fighting and zombies made things epic! Of course I say that after knowing what the original scene really was. But the additions were so funny and at times movie worthy. I actually wish this was a movie. I would definitely watch it! That said, this book does not make my 5 star list. In all, I give it 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed it but I probably wouldn't read it again. In many places the book read almost exactly the same as the original. The additions sometimes had a choppy quality, like they were just sprinkled throughout the story instead of made to be an integral part of the story. But there were moments when the additions made the story better or caused a normal remark from a character to change greatly in meaning.
Abuse Survivor Warning
This retelling involves a slight change in scene during the Lydia/Wickham incident that might be triggering to some. Also I use a triggering word beyond the spoiler warning.
SPOILER WARNING!!!
Okay, that fighting scene between Elizabeth and Lady Catherine was EPIC! I thought it might happen since so many of the big scenes were zombified, and I was so happy to see that I was right! It was so much better than just the argument in the original! Especially since Elizabeth bested Lady Catherine and then spared her life, letting her live with the humiliation of being beaten by someone of inferior birth and training.
The fight between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy was also great. It wasn't as epic, but I pictured it as being just as full of passion as the argument in the rain in the movie. Charlotte getting infected with the plague was an interesting long term plot twist. Mr. Collins hanging himself after sending his advice about Lydia was a nice touch, tragic, but given the tone of this whole retelling, it fit. I was a little confused about the twist in Lydia's running away with Wickham. At some points it made it out to be a kidnapping, rape, and murder. But Lydia wasn't taken against her will. Once Mr. Darcy found her, she refused to leave Wickham. They never said rape, but I took the term dishonor to mean that. I could be wrong. I do understand that Wickham taking her with him, her wishing for marriage and him having no intention to marry her, as greatly dishonoring her, especially in that day and age. Wickham being rendered lame was an interesting change in the story. I'm sure many fans of the story who hate Wickham got a lot of satisfaction out of that. It did make for some funny scenes. Also, yay! There were ninjas in the story!
That's all for this Re:View! Thanks for reading! Send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment.
You're never too small to make a difference in the world.
The Halfling Ninja
4 Stars = Highly enjoyable, would read again
3 Stars = Enjoyable but would not read again
2 Stars = Tolerable
1 Star = I hated it
Pride And Prejudice And Zombies is a retelling of the classic Pride And Prejudice with a zombie spin. The essentials of the story stay the same, but with some added color, particularly red. Zombies make many appearances and normal scenes from the original version are spiced up a bit. Arguments become actual fights. Slight changes, inessential to the plot, occur here and there and serve to make the story more lively, action oriented, and gruesome. After reading the original so soon before reading this version, I also noticed that the story was more direct, with some unnecessary details and complicated phrasings taken out. The end product was a more direct telling of the classic story with a splash of blood-lust.
I'm not sure what was more fun, reading this version soon after reading the original or if I had read the zombie version first. Reading it second, I was able to see where the additions and omissions happened. But it would have been so fun to read the zombie version first. I wasn't a stranger to the plot. I'm a big fan of the movie. The movie is one of my 5 star ratings. I could watch it over and over. So I knew I would be a fan of the book, whether original or zombie version.
I enjoyed this book. In several places, particularly key scenes, the addition of sword fighting and zombies made things epic! Of course I say that after knowing what the original scene really was. But the additions were so funny and at times movie worthy. I actually wish this was a movie. I would definitely watch it! That said, this book does not make my 5 star list. In all, I give it 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed it but I probably wouldn't read it again. In many places the book read almost exactly the same as the original. The additions sometimes had a choppy quality, like they were just sprinkled throughout the story instead of made to be an integral part of the story. But there were moments when the additions made the story better or caused a normal remark from a character to change greatly in meaning.
Abuse Survivor Warning
This retelling involves a slight change in scene during the Lydia/Wickham incident that might be triggering to some. Also I use a triggering word beyond the spoiler warning.
SPOILER WARNING!!!
Okay, that fighting scene between Elizabeth and Lady Catherine was EPIC! I thought it might happen since so many of the big scenes were zombified, and I was so happy to see that I was right! It was so much better than just the argument in the original! Especially since Elizabeth bested Lady Catherine and then spared her life, letting her live with the humiliation of being beaten by someone of inferior birth and training.
The fight between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy was also great. It wasn't as epic, but I pictured it as being just as full of passion as the argument in the rain in the movie. Charlotte getting infected with the plague was an interesting long term plot twist. Mr. Collins hanging himself after sending his advice about Lydia was a nice touch, tragic, but given the tone of this whole retelling, it fit. I was a little confused about the twist in Lydia's running away with Wickham. At some points it made it out to be a kidnapping, rape, and murder. But Lydia wasn't taken against her will. Once Mr. Darcy found her, she refused to leave Wickham. They never said rape, but I took the term dishonor to mean that. I could be wrong. I do understand that Wickham taking her with him, her wishing for marriage and him having no intention to marry her, as greatly dishonoring her, especially in that day and age. Wickham being rendered lame was an interesting change in the story. I'm sure many fans of the story who hate Wickham got a lot of satisfaction out of that. It did make for some funny scenes. Also, yay! There were ninjas in the story!
That's all for this Re:View! Thanks for reading! Send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment.
You're never too small to make a difference in the world.
The Halfling Ninja
Friday, June 5, 2015
Re: Olive and Sinclair Chocolate
My roommate and I were at the grocery store picking up a few things. Near the artisan cheeses we came across a display for artisan chocolate. We love artisan bread and cheeses, so naturally this grabbed our interest. My roommate was the person that originally taught me that not all chocolate is created equal. She was the first to introduce me to higher quality chocolates like Lindt. Needless to say, after really only knowing Hershey, it opened up a whole new world of chocolate to me. But I wasn't prepared for what we just discovered.
Olive and Sinclair Chocolate is southern artisan. It is hand crafted in Nashville, Tennessee. They start with the raw cocoa beans and expertly craft them into bars of solid deliciousness. The beans are select single origin and taken in small batches. They are slow roasted and ground, but not just ground, stone ground. The makers combine traditional methods and modern European technique. The ingredient list on the package boasts only 3 ingredients: Cacao Beans, Brown Sugar, and Cacao Butter. It is also a fair trade item.
But no.
This chocolate is the ABSOLUTE MOST DELICIOUS chocolate that I've ever had the pleasure to taste! I literally had to use a lot of self control to spread it out over several days. I wanted to eat the whole thing, but I loved it so much that I hated the idea of the bar being gone. That may sound odd, but here's the context: This chocolate bar is normally around $7.00. Who buys a chocolate bar that expensive? I'm not one to throw that much cash on a sweet tooth fix. The bars were on sale when we picked them up. The sign said $4.00 Buy One Get One Free. My roommate says that she thinks they rang up for regular price at the checkout. I don't know. I was returning an item to the shelf while she was checking out. We didn't check the receipt.
We got the regular 67% bar (there are a variety of flavors). It's not like your ordinary chocolate. It's a bit harder and crunchier. You can hear a person bite and chew it. The flavor is not super sweet like many chocolates. It runs closer to dark chocolate. There's a richness that's not bitter and not overpowering. To me personally, it's chocolate the way it was meant to be. I am a minority in my household however. My roommate didn't find it remarkable and says it must be an acquired taste. My other roommate didn't like it at all, but I suspect her hatred for dark chocolate influenced that considerably. This chocolate isn't for everyone. I totally get that. But for me, it is the king of chocolate bars.
That's it for this Re:View (can you review chocolate?). Thanks for reading! Send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment. And don't forget:
You're never too small to make a difference in the world.
The Halfling Ninja
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Adventures In Cooking: Roasted Corn On The Cob
I have some great news! My family will truly rejoice. I have a reputation for not eating vegetables...or fruit...or anything remotely healthy. I can proudly say that I have a new vegetable that I like! Not only a new vegetable, but it has taken the new first place spot on my veggie list. It's roasted corn on the cob. I've hated corn for as far back as I can remember (which is pretty far back). But one day at a friend's house I decided to give corn another try. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I like it. But it wasn't until several weeks later that I really got hooked. I was introduced to roasted corn on the cob. Since then I have craved corn on the cob. Craved it over candy, and I was being offered candy at the time. I knew this was something I needed to learn to cook. Enter this first Adventure In Cooking.
I followed a recipe on the internet. I started with some unshucked corn from the grocery store (I so miss the days when I just picked it from the fields). I got to relive some of the glorious farm work days while I shucked all the corn in the kitchen. Then I pulled all that annoying corn silk off and cut off the end and the tip. I also cut out any bad places I found. Just like the old days. That marked the end of familiar territory.
Next I unraveled the last of our tin foil and placed it over a baking sheet. I buttered each ear of corn and lightly sprinkled them with salt and pepper. Then I placed them in the oven (I promise I preheated the oven lol). Every fifteen minutes I would open the oven and rotate the ears with some nifty tongs. I barely have cooking experience (at least on my own) and this was definitely my first time with corn on the cob.
Here is the beautiful result:
The browning is intentional. I love the flavor it adds when its browned. Call me odd. My roasted corn on the cob was a beautiful and delicious success! I'm so happy, first because I love roasted corn on the cob and now I can make it. Second, because I feel so accomplished to have successfully cooked something delicious on my own. This was the first of many adventures in cooking. I'm looking forward to the next one!
That's a rap. Send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment. Thanks for reading!
You're never too small to make a difference in the world.
The Halfling Ninja
I followed a recipe on the internet. I started with some unshucked corn from the grocery store (I so miss the days when I just picked it from the fields). I got to relive some of the glorious farm work days while I shucked all the corn in the kitchen. Then I pulled all that annoying corn silk off and cut off the end and the tip. I also cut out any bad places I found. Just like the old days. That marked the end of familiar territory.
Here is the beautiful result:
That's a rap. Send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment. Thanks for reading!
You're never too small to make a difference in the world.
The Halfling Ninja
Friday, May 22, 2015
Re: Skyward Sword
Visually, this game looks kinda like a watercolor painting. The colors and lines are soft and relaxing. Facial expressions were toned down from Twilight Princess. The emotions that flickered across the characters' faces in Twilight Princess took my breath away, but I guess it wasn't important to a lot of players because Skyward Sword didn't possess it. It's a little sad because there were so many emotional moments in this game that would have benefitted from it. Words and voices speak volumes, but we can't underestimate the power of visible emotion in telling a story.
I'll be honest. The dungeons and temples in this game made me want to pull my hair out. It deviated a bit from the usual Zelda pattern. Often there seemed to be no clear direction to go. The layout of each place was a bit confusing. It was anything but linear. Over and over I saw the same areas used in different ways. This was interesting and creative. One location would be travelled over multiple times, but objectives and settings and details changed. After the first exploration of a place it was refreshed anew by changing circumstances like volcanic activity, darkness, flooding, or time fluctuations. I was impressed by how circumstances could make a familiar location look new and intimidating.
There were some creative and unexpected moments packed into this game. I never thought I'd see the day that Link had his own minecart level. Neither did I expect to hold time in my hands and be able to throw it. This game is packed with little gems like that. I also found the story compelling. Skyward Sword is a bit of an origin story and I love origin stories. Zelda's character was developed a bit further than the wait around to be rescued, stay silent and watch, or enchanted sleep times of the past (or should I say future?). She definitely played an active role and had a developed personality. Go Nintendo!
My favorite part of this game was the boss battles! For all that the dungeons/temples were frustrating, the boss battles were exhilarating! From the first boss battle to the final boss battle I was kept on my toes. It never became a boring pattern. It had my heart pumping and my eyes wide throughout the fight. I'm not usually one to find tons of enjoyment in boss battles. I used to view them as a necessary evil. I preferred adventuring. This game flipped that on me and I found it refreshing and greatly enjoyable.
All in all I personally rate Skyward Sword 3.5 out of 5 stars. There were great things and really frustrating things. It was hard to rate because of the frustration and also because the frustration paid off in awesome moments. But I can't put it on the level of Majora's Mask (my favorite Zelda of all time). While the story was great and the boss battles were amazing, it's a game I will probably never replay. I would replay the boss battles, but not the rest of the game. With any other console Zelda game I'm happy to replay, but I can't say that of this one. I should say that 5 out of 5 stars for me puts a game on a favorite of all time video game list. Few games will reach that level. Four stars is highly enjoyable and definitely would play again. I realize 3.5 looks like a low rating, especially for a Zelda title. I'm definitely not knocking the game. I recommend it!
That's it for this Re:View. Thanks for reading! Feel free to send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment.
You're never too small to make a difference in the world.
The Halfling Ninja
Friday, May 15, 2015
Re: Water For Elephants
5 Stars = I loved it! Would read again and again
4 Stars = Highly enjoyable and would read it again
3 Stars = Enjoyable but wouldn't read again
2 Stars = Tolerable
1 Star = I hated it
In this Re:View I'm going to be talking about Water For Elephants (the book, not the movie) by Sara Gruen. This book has been on my To Read list for quite some time. We're talking years. I finally checked it out at the library and I'm so glad I did.
Before I go further, I'll explain my structure here. I'll review the book without giving spoilers first. Then I'll give a clear warning before delving into spoiler territory. If you hate spoilers don't worry. I hate spoilers as well. Rest assured. I'm looking out for my fellow spoiler haters.
This book was a page turner. I had trouble putting it down to do other things like eat or sleep. That's always a good sign in a book. Water For Elephants is a very rich and dynamic story. You feel like you're there with the characters. Gruen brought the circus environment to life in a way I'd never seen it before. The majority of the story takes place behind the scenes of a circus, in the day to day life of it's workers and performers in Depression era America. The characters are complex, with a realistic mix of good and bad in each person. The structure of the story with the passage of time is beautifully done and really adds to the experience of the story. The storyline is truly gripping, a story of love, cruelty, danger, friendship, and showbiz.
Sara Gruen did a lot of research in the quest of writing this book. Many of the happenings in this book come from true stories or circus legend. She even got up close and personal with two circus elephants as well as researched many more. She managed to make contact with current circus workers, a feat not easily accomplished because many circus folk shy away from interviews because of the activity of animal rights activists in opposition to animal performances in circuses. She worked hard and researched thoroughly. Her finished work definitely shows that. I would personally rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I don't often give that high of a rating to a book. It's a rating I only give to my favorites.
Abuse Survivors Warning
There is some violence and unpredictable characters in this book. One scene in particular could be triggering for blank spots in memory or memories of blacking out during abuse. Read with caution.
SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!!!
Be warned. Spoiler content will be discussed now!
Can I just say it's refreshing to come across dynamic characters. Each character had light and darkness inside them. The bad characters weren't just bad for the heck of it. August had paranoid schizophrenia, a very real psychological disorder. He was violent and scary, but there was an underlying cause that made sense. I'm not saying it was all his disorder. He definitely made some bad and outright mean decisions. Uncle Al is a little more complex. Yes he was an evil and cruel circus master. But what made him that way was his ambition and dream. He didn't see people. He saw tools and a means to realize his dream. He was so fixed on his dream that he lost his humanity and failed to see the humanity of the people around him. Jacob was lost and directionless after the death of his parents and his freakout at his final exams. His intentions were usually good and he tried his best to help the people he cared about. He had darkness in him as well though. He wasn't a purely good character. No real person besides Jesus is purely good. At one point his rage towards August almost causes him to commit murder. Also, his fear got to him in that he kept Rosie's secret even from his wife their whole life together. Walter had a heart of gold, but you had to see it beyond his rough edges. Camel starts out strong, but in his darkest hour falls to pettiness and hopelessness. I don't think, given the chance, that he would have stayed that way. But it goes to show how even a strong person can bow to fear and hopelessness in the face of disaster. Marlena is a beautiful picture of someone in a bad situation, a situation that she walked into willingly and the trap closed before she knew what she'd gotten herself into. She wasn't perfect and the conflict she felt is apparent. She wore a mask and made due. Many of us do that.
I love how the story bounces from current day to the past in the storytelling. It's adds an extra layer of richness. It also shows how the very people that most of society think are the most boring are the ones with the most interesting stories to tell. I mean just think about it. They've seen so much history and had so many experiences. Our elders have so much they could tell us if we'd only ask and listen. They've seen things we can only dream of. I also love how the story starts with the circus disaster and then starts from the beginning. You know something huge is about to go down, but you don't know when or what events lead up to that moment. You get to watch it all unfold before you. Instead of the disaster being a shock, it's that moment when the pieces of the story link together and realization floods your mind.
The ending was pure gold. I loved getting to hear snippets of Jacob's life with Marlena. The acquisition of Rosie, Bobo, 11 horses, and a bereaved dog was hilarious and beautiful. But the best part of the ending was Jacob running away with the circus. He was 90 or 93. What did he have to lose? He still thirsted for adventure and he wasn't afraid to go for it. The book started with an adventure and it ended with one. You're never too old for adventure. His body might have been old but his heart was still young. It didn't end with death, it ended with life. It's an ending that makes me want to make sure I live every bit of life I can and not waste a drop.
That's it for this Re:View. You can send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment. Thanks for reading!
You're never too small (or too old) to make a difference in the world.
The Halfling Ninja
4 Stars = Highly enjoyable and would read it again
3 Stars = Enjoyable but wouldn't read again
2 Stars = Tolerable
1 Star = I hated it
In this Re:View I'm going to be talking about Water For Elephants (the book, not the movie) by Sara Gruen. This book has been on my To Read list for quite some time. We're talking years. I finally checked it out at the library and I'm so glad I did.
Before I go further, I'll explain my structure here. I'll review the book without giving spoilers first. Then I'll give a clear warning before delving into spoiler territory. If you hate spoilers don't worry. I hate spoilers as well. Rest assured. I'm looking out for my fellow spoiler haters.
This book was a page turner. I had trouble putting it down to do other things like eat or sleep. That's always a good sign in a book. Water For Elephants is a very rich and dynamic story. You feel like you're there with the characters. Gruen brought the circus environment to life in a way I'd never seen it before. The majority of the story takes place behind the scenes of a circus, in the day to day life of it's workers and performers in Depression era America. The characters are complex, with a realistic mix of good and bad in each person. The structure of the story with the passage of time is beautifully done and really adds to the experience of the story. The storyline is truly gripping, a story of love, cruelty, danger, friendship, and showbiz.
Sara Gruen did a lot of research in the quest of writing this book. Many of the happenings in this book come from true stories or circus legend. She even got up close and personal with two circus elephants as well as researched many more. She managed to make contact with current circus workers, a feat not easily accomplished because many circus folk shy away from interviews because of the activity of animal rights activists in opposition to animal performances in circuses. She worked hard and researched thoroughly. Her finished work definitely shows that. I would personally rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I don't often give that high of a rating to a book. It's a rating I only give to my favorites.
Abuse Survivors Warning
There is some violence and unpredictable characters in this book. One scene in particular could be triggering for blank spots in memory or memories of blacking out during abuse. Read with caution.
SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!!!
Be warned. Spoiler content will be discussed now!
Can I just say it's refreshing to come across dynamic characters. Each character had light and darkness inside them. The bad characters weren't just bad for the heck of it. August had paranoid schizophrenia, a very real psychological disorder. He was violent and scary, but there was an underlying cause that made sense. I'm not saying it was all his disorder. He definitely made some bad and outright mean decisions. Uncle Al is a little more complex. Yes he was an evil and cruel circus master. But what made him that way was his ambition and dream. He didn't see people. He saw tools and a means to realize his dream. He was so fixed on his dream that he lost his humanity and failed to see the humanity of the people around him. Jacob was lost and directionless after the death of his parents and his freakout at his final exams. His intentions were usually good and he tried his best to help the people he cared about. He had darkness in him as well though. He wasn't a purely good character. No real person besides Jesus is purely good. At one point his rage towards August almost causes him to commit murder. Also, his fear got to him in that he kept Rosie's secret even from his wife their whole life together. Walter had a heart of gold, but you had to see it beyond his rough edges. Camel starts out strong, but in his darkest hour falls to pettiness and hopelessness. I don't think, given the chance, that he would have stayed that way. But it goes to show how even a strong person can bow to fear and hopelessness in the face of disaster. Marlena is a beautiful picture of someone in a bad situation, a situation that she walked into willingly and the trap closed before she knew what she'd gotten herself into. She wasn't perfect and the conflict she felt is apparent. She wore a mask and made due. Many of us do that.
I love how the story bounces from current day to the past in the storytelling. It's adds an extra layer of richness. It also shows how the very people that most of society think are the most boring are the ones with the most interesting stories to tell. I mean just think about it. They've seen so much history and had so many experiences. Our elders have so much they could tell us if we'd only ask and listen. They've seen things we can only dream of. I also love how the story starts with the circus disaster and then starts from the beginning. You know something huge is about to go down, but you don't know when or what events lead up to that moment. You get to watch it all unfold before you. Instead of the disaster being a shock, it's that moment when the pieces of the story link together and realization floods your mind.
The ending was pure gold. I loved getting to hear snippets of Jacob's life with Marlena. The acquisition of Rosie, Bobo, 11 horses, and a bereaved dog was hilarious and beautiful. But the best part of the ending was Jacob running away with the circus. He was 90 or 93. What did he have to lose? He still thirsted for adventure and he wasn't afraid to go for it. The book started with an adventure and it ended with one. You're never too old for adventure. His body might have been old but his heart was still young. It didn't end with death, it ended with life. It's an ending that makes me want to make sure I live every bit of life I can and not waste a drop.
That's it for this Re:View. You can send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment. Thanks for reading!
You're never too small (or too old) to make a difference in the world.
The Halfling Ninja
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