Writing

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questus libris Julia Brazer

I acquired texts many different ways. The first few readings of Stallybrass, Johns, Eisenstein, Poe, and Haye’s, I had read off of my classes website that my professor provided online. I accessed Pierre; Or, the Ambiguities by an online format provided to me through my professors webpage as well. Reading the online version of this book was a tad bit strenuous due to the many pages and small text. The next text’s that were required for this course included two short videos called “The Eagleman Stag,” “Snooze Time,” and “Cargo.” I accessed these three videos via youtube and vimeo, which were links all provided as well on the class site, but there were all also accessible through a google search. Listening to The Night Circus, there were many options. I chose to listen to this audiobook on youtube. The audio clips are separated into multiple youtube videos and took about 20 hours to complete, although it took me about 14 because I had listened to it at an increased speed. The two television shows that were assigned, The OA and Russian Doll, were available for streaming on Netflix. The Movie of Stranger Than Fiction, was played in class and the screenplay required to accompany this text I got to through googling the title and reading it online. The podcast that we listened to “S-Town,” I listened to on Audible. Although I had not started the last assignment, I will access it through a online gaming website called “Steam.”

#questuslibris #Netflix #Steam #youtube

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#QuestusLibris – Lindsey Senatore “Blog”

Hey hey hey readers! It’s me again, Lindsey, your favorite blogger back with some opinions I’m ready to share!
As you all know, technology is everywhere and it gives us so many new opportunities and choices of ways to access readings of all different kinds! So many choices….it’s almost overwhelming.
Imagine you’re assigned to read a book for your English class. What do you do?

Buy a physical copy at the book store?
Buy and download it to your kindle?
Buy an online version?
Buy an audio book version?!

Buy…okay I’m actually going to stop here because I think these are the MAIN choices you have and you get my point, it’s a lot. No worries, you don’t have to determine at this moment what you’d choose. However, I definitely suggest it’s something you think about now.

For me,
I have, at different times, resulted on each of these different options. I cannot say one definite answer of one method I like better than another. It is not easy peasy black and white like that. For me, it a lot of it depends on 1. Price (I cannot lie) 2. The genre of book and 2. What my intention behind the read is and 3. Does one method offer benefits over another based my current schedule?

So, when we had to read Melville, I immediately went for the cheaper ebook option and definitely regretted it. I realized that although I let price dictate that choice, I should reconsider in the future because it is VERY hard to read a story book online because they are meant to be invested in.
I also wish I had went to the library to read Poe’s ‘The Man of The Crowd,’ rather than reading it online because I much prefer reading ANY story book in the physical form because I can get comfortable and just really dive in!
The nigh circus. We were instructed to listen to it, but I am happy I did because based on my scheduled at the time, it was much more efficient to be able to listen to it because I had a lot of driving to do at that time and I could just put it on while I was in the car. Wow! 21st century is neat!!!! Driving an reading simultaneously?! Insanity!
I need to make side comments though and say, if we were to be instructed to go buy a nonfiction textbook…I would easily decide to buy it online because it is significantly easier to study that way as I can use the search tool to quickly find terms I need to review.

So! As you can see, my friends, there are actual solid reasons you should have before choosing the medium you want to consume your book in. Do not be like me prioritize price and not consider the full picture of all pros and cons. If you have to read a story, choose the method that you think will enable you to enjoy it most…because if you enjoy it, isn’t that priceless 😉

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#Questusreviewus #strangerthanfiction – Lindsey Senatore

I have to start off by saying, if you have never seen the film, “Stranger
Than Fiction,” you need to change that. To my knowledge, there is no
movie that is even comparable to it because the premise is so unique.

!!WARNING!! By continuing to read you will experience *SPOILERS*

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Okay, so I hope those of you left are either people who have already
seen the movie or people who just enjoy spoilers (do those kind of
people exist…?)

Moving forward… Who is Harold Crick? When the movie began, we
see him hearing a voice. We are left to wonder for a bit whether he
has schizophrenia or if there is something fantasy-like going on. We
quickly find out that it is the latter. Karen Eiffel, an author in the film,
was writing a novel with a main character, “Harold Crick.”
Unbeknownst to her, she was writing about a real-life person and
everything she was writing about him, came to be! Harold, however,
did not discover this as early as we (the viewers) we told. This caused
him to panic and seek to discover some answers. Why was he so
panicked? Well! He noticed that everything the voice said, was
happening! This made him super terrified when the voice mentioned is
upcoming imminent death!

His search for answers involved a visit with a psychiatrist, a literal
professor, and eventually to Karen (after recognizing her voice and
seeking her down). He explains everything to her and then she
changes the ending to her story in a way that avoids his death.

I urge you all so much to see this movie because it brings attention to the narrator of movies, a role that is so often overlooked. In movies that have narrators, they are one of the main characters but we never wonder “who is this?” or “how do they know this?” Instead, we accept it and don’t give it any thought. Stranger than Fiction, caught us off guard when breaking a type of fourth-wall by bringing attention to this narrator. The character should never hear the narrator, so we are all like, “Woah, what is happening?”

Once we learn it is an author speaking, it only raises more questions! When did she begin writing
about Harold and why is he just now hearing her? Does he have the power to not do something
she says? If he doesn’t have the power, then is she like an all-powerful “God” figure? When she
says ways Anna reacts to Harold, does Anna make these choices herself or does Karen control
her too? Has all of Karen’s past novels affected real-life people as well? HOW IS ANY OF THIS
POSSIBLE?

We know it’s fantasy, but the realist/logical side of all of us cannot help but want ANSWERS…
NOW.

Unfortunately, none of these answers came. I believe this was intentional, rather than a “hole”/
mistake by the writers. The best fantasy has to leave room for the viewers to add on to it and
IMAGINE. Answers aren’t fun because answers put an end to the awe and wonder the curiosity
brings.

All in all, this movie is unique and well-done. It’s an incredibly fun concept to ponder.

So I will leave you with one thing to think about…

What would you do if you woke up tomorrow and suddenly a voice was narrating your every
move?

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Sweet Birthday Baby: A Russian Doll review by Mark Meyer

When I started watching Russian Doll, I wasn’t quite sure if it was my bag. The “Groundhog Day/Christmas Every Day” trope is a story that has been told over and over again (which is kind of funny, given the cyclical nature of the narrative). I also have a very hit/miss relationship with Netflix’s original programming; sure, I loved Stranger Things and the Black Mirror reboot, but other titles like Bird Box and Bright lacked a certain depth that I crave in stories, and the Trailer Park Boys reboot is just bad at this point. That said, I’m glad I persevered, because Russian Doll has a lot of good things going for it.

First off is the story. Adding a second main character into the mix put fresh spin on the looping narrative. As soon as Alan said “It’s ok, I die all the time,” I started taking guesses at what lies outside of Nadia’s routine. I had to know “Do they die at the same time?” “Were they related in a past life?” “Do they have anything in common?” In the end, I was satisfied with the answers I got.

Speaking of the end, the show does a great job of building up to the climax in the final episode. Without spoiling anything, I think the final episode does a fantastic job leading up to the deli scene.

I also enjoyed the aesthetic. The New York Deli and Maxine’s chic high-rise apartment felt fresh, and held a certain mythical quality for a southern boy like myself; it was a glimpse into another world for me. There is enough eye candy, like the gemstone portal that is Maxine’s bathroom door, to keep the scenery from getting stale as we continuously find ourselves in the same spaces.

But I think what really makes the show phenomenal is the characters. The cast is diverse and inclusive, and every character is distinct. Watching Nadia and Alan contrast and butt heads as they work together was wildly entertaining. Nadia’s friends Maxine and Lizzy contrasted riffed well with each other, with Maxine being more boisterous and Lizzy more subdued. The enigmatic Horse, the zany but grounded Ruthie, and even the scummy professor Mike all got my attention. Just like the setting, the characters are deep enough to keep me interested as they return in subsequent loops.

Russian Doll is not without its faults. The episodes leading up to Alan introduction feel drawn out and repetitive. This may have been an artistic decision, to imbue the viewer with the same sense of confusion and repetitive frustration Nadia is experiencing, but I wish they sunk the hook a bit quicker. I also would have like more exposition into Alan’s past. We get some information in conversations, but no flashback scenes like we got with Nadia. I understand why this is left out, since his problems were grounded in the present day, but I still crave a bit more back story. I also found John, Nadia’s ex, to be a bit distracting; he seemed really critical to the plot at points, but gets left out of the climax. These things seem like nuts and bolts that could have been tightened for a better narrative.

To conclude, Russian Doll is quality programming: it may not wow you, but it is an excellent spin on an aging narrative. I think it would be a stellar choice next time you’re fiending for a netflix original.

★★★★☆

P.S.: MFW our heroes are separated in the finale

#questusreviewus #505in5 #russiandoll