What If

Okay, so normally if a stranger were to ask me where the nearest motel is  I would point in some vague and distant direction and NOT go with him. But, under the circumstances I think it is allowable. I helped Peter back into the passenger side of my car and began driving for the nearest motel, which was, as fate would have it, on the outskirts of town. Once, we parked he handed my a hundred dollar bill, ” Go in and ask for a single room for the night.”

Now, i don’t know much but i do know that they ask for ID at motels. Which means that Peter does not want to be found, and the reason for which he still hadn’t told me. But, i figured he would tell me soon enough and got out of the car.

Once inside the motel room, Peter plopped onto the bed. I could see the mud smudges on his shoulder and he seemed to be in a lot of pain.”Let me get some ice.” I say and grab a bucket and head for the door.

“There’s no need,” He said and grabbed my hand, ” I don’t heal the way you guys do. I just need to rest for little bit, and then we can decide what to do.”

I nod my head and expect him to sleep, but instead he looks up at me,”I bet you have tons of questions for me, eh?” I smiled sheepishly.

“I will tell you the whole truth, but, once in you’re in, you’re in. There’s no going back. You’ll be in danger.” He looked me dead in the eye. That feeling in the pit of my stomach again, and again it wasn’t the burrito. Common sense told me to say somethign to

What If..

We made it to the park in complete silence and i was beginning to feel tired, and cranky. That and my phone was ringing off the hook because i wasn’t at work. They were not going to believe this: I’m sorry, Mrs. Meloni but a hot-notorious-in-denial-felon hijacked me after i accidentally hit him with my car. Yeah, totally convincing.

I looked over from the drivers’ seat as we sat parked. He looked vulnerable and small, i almost felt sad for him. Almost. “What’s your name?” i asked gently, afraid that he would sass me the way i had been sassing him.

“Peter.” he answered, his voice gravelly. He looked as if all the effects of being hit by my Ol’ Aspire suddenly hit him.

“Well, you should start explaining if you want my help.” What? What am i doing?

He looked over at me. Surprise. Green eyes, nice. No, stop. “You’ll help me?”

“It depends on what kind of help you need.” That’s right, create a loophole for yourself. Smart girl, Erin.

“It’s a long story.”

“Well, as long as it’s raining and you’re in my car we’re not going anywhere.”

“Look, over there is a bridge why don’t we park underneath the pass?” I looked over. Yeah, that would be better than staying cramped in little Ol’ Aspire. I turned the car back on and began driving.

“Okay, but the first drug dealer i see we’re leaving for iHop or something.” That twitch again.  Man, this guy needs to either laugh or smile.

Once, we were under the bridge he got out of the car, and i debated my original plan: ditch him once he was out. But, You clothed me when i was naked, and you fed me when i was hungry echoed in my mind. Craaap. I reached over and locked his side of the door and got out on my side with keys firm in grasp. I looked at him over the car and saw relief flash through those greens.

“Thank you.” He said simply. No more explanation, no more words. And for the first time in, O i don’t know how long, i was touched by his gratitude. Simple all-encompassing thank you. I shook my head, this guy is probably conning me.

“What is your story?” I asked too harshly. I knew it was too harshly, but i needed to remind myself that this situation is dangerous. I don’t even know who this Peter is.

“Where should i begin?”

“How about why you were being chased by Agent Smith and Smith.” He shook his head and exhaled.

“Okay. Well, those guys are Watchers, a special task force assigned by a rogue agency to find those like me.”He walked over to the front of the car and leaned on the hood and looked down at his feet.  Then he turned to me, and said nothing. “And what are you?” Curiosity was getting the better of me. He frowned. It looked as if he was arguing something in his head. A twitch, and it didn’t look like he was going to smile or laugh.

“I’m sorry. You should go, thank you for your help. Just get into your little car and forget about this. I’m so sorry. Good bye.” and he began walking towards the park.

“Wait!” I didn’t really know why i shouldn’t let him just go. And i had nothing to really make him stop, but i walked after him. “Wait. I am sure we can notify someone and get you help-”he stopped and looked at me incredulisly.

“You still don’t get it do you? I am wanted by an agency that is more powerful than any ’someone’ you could get a hold of. Besides, it would be too dangerous for you and I am so sorry i pushed you to come here. I was desperate and didn’t know what else to do. But, that is not your problem. I’m going to go and you should too, but your way.”

It’s weird that when you hear about these things on the news, or watch a really cheesy Lifetime movie, you know exactly what you would do. But, the moment it does you don’t really know what your thought process is or decision making paradigm, you just sort of act on autopilot.

“You said they wanted your head back there! Are they going to kill you? Because, if they are going to kill you I can’t just drive away and live my life…”yeah, i hate to admit it, but i am so rambling right now. Peter Felon walked over to me and gently put his hands on my shoulders, “I’lll be alright. Just slow down.” I calmed and took a breath, okay, that’s better.

“What’s your name, little one?” he asked me. The way he said it was so kind and gentle. And it didn’t seem condescending at all.

“Erin” i answered in a small voice. My courage astounds me somtimes.

“Erin, I will be alright. And you will be safe now if you leave me here. If you  help me anymore i can’t guarantee your safety.” He was so calm and rational.

“But, if they are going to kill you I can’t just stand by and do nothing.” It is true, when someone comes bounding, or in my case crashing, into your life you can’t just sit by and watch things happen. You gotta try, you might fail, but you gotta try anyway, because, you know what? You just might succeed if you try hard enough and the good Lord okay’s it.

“Alright. Do you know where the nearest motel is?”

So What If…

As anyone who fancies themselves imaginative or even creative, we posers of creativity, or imitations of a tired process, often create within the context of someone else’s universe. I suppose that is why there is an entire website devoted to being the training wheel to creators (aka Fanfiction.net). But, on my way to work i reflected on the last conversation i had with someone over a cup of coffee. Now, i thought it would be trendy and somewhat “soho,” for those of you who know what i mean, but in all reality it was a conversation of finding a balance. I mean both she and i were speaking however, what was actually said was of little recourse because it didn’t really say anything. Well, there I went off track again. Okay, where was i? O yeah, so i was in my car reflecting about this not trendy coffee conversation. And both she and i agreed that “Twilight” was a fun book, and that girls, women, and pretty much everyone should not take it seriously. Here are some side effects of taking “Twilight” too seriously:

-Speaking dramatically when asking someone for a pencil in class (*so00 did happen to me, i just looked at her like “what is wrong with you?”)

-Doing your hair to look like Kristen Stewart, when your head is shaped like a mango and, the result makes your head look the moon. (* a really good friend of mine has done this-and i don’t know if i should say anything. should i?)

-Walking home from class and you wave to a friend, who quickly freaks out because there a van driving at moderate speed down the road.

-Knowing WAAYY too much about Robert Pattinson, and actually defending his acting. Not that his acting is bad, but if it was so good then you probably don’t need to defend it-he’ll do that.

So, because of these irritating side effects that i have observed in the young adult female population i began wondering what if? A simple hypothetical: what if? This post (and probably the next couple of posts) is dedicated to what if supernatural creatures were simply natural?

It was raining. I usually like rain, but today rain sucked. I had to fill out a graduation card by five and i don’t get off work until forty-five. And then i got stuck out in the rain because, my umbrella mysteriously had gone missing…So, my feet are soggy, my head hurts from trying to mental gymnastics in my chinese class. But, that’s okay. I’ll get into my car and drive to work-and everything is going to work out one way or another. I mean millions of people have faced harder things on a daily basis so, yeah. I got in the car and tugged the hood of my sweatshirt down and wriggled my head, hopeful to get my hair dry. I wish Texas weather was more predictable. But, it isn’t.

I began the usual drive to my work and felt kind of tired, three hours of sleep can do that to you. That and kinda make your cynical, when you don’t mean to be. I turned my mp3 player on and, of course, the completely wrong song comes on. “The Temptations” “My Girl” comes on and i glare out my windsheild. Then, i laugh. What the hey? I mean so today didn’t go the way i wanted it to, but i still have plenty of things going for me: 1) I love Jesus and He loves me 2) i ate today, how many people in the world can say that?….i kept listing the great things about my life out when WHAAMMMM! My car swerved to the left into what in a busy suburb would be on-coming traffic. I slammed the brakes-never a good idea, just fyi-and hit my head on the back of my seat then on the steering wheel. Ow! I yank the parking brake up and get out of the car, i must have hit a dog or something. As i near the front of my car i see a a dude on the ground. O God! I hit someone! I am in soo much trouble, my parents are going to yell from here to high heaven! High heaven, where did that phrase come from? Stop it, Erin, focus on guy on the ground. I poke at him, “Eh, Uh, Sir?” He moans and tries to move. No, O God, please don’t let him die! I get on my knees and turn him over, then i remember that i have my cell in the pocket of my hoodie. “Don’t worry, I am calling an ambulance!” Then, he grabs my hand forcefully, and a breif flash of something happens in thepit of my stomach. Crap, either it is what i had at Burrito King or fear. At this point, i am hoping for Burrito King. “No, don’t call an ambulance. I…I am alright.”

“Shhh” i say, this guy is totally delusional! “It’s alright. You are going to be okay, once they get here you’ll be fixed up in no time.”

“No.” He says sharply and juts up and i see his face, and one word: hot. Man, i would hit the hottest guy. ” Look, i just need your help.”

“To get up?” I ask, “Because, if i help you up i am taking you to the hospital.”

“Look, i am going to be fine. I just need you to be cool.”

“Cool? COOL? Look, psycho, i just hit you with a car and cool doesn’t really apply here.”

“I’m fine. really.” He is getting frustrated, i can tell. I frustrate a lot of people.

“Whatever. Look put your arm over my shoulder and i’ll help you into my car.” He looks at me doubtfully. Okay, yeah so i’m only like 5′1” but, i am stronger than i look. I roll my eyes and say, “Come on, you won’t crush me.”

He puts his arm around my shoulders and leans, okay so i was wrong. This hot dude is a fatty! I am going to die! God! AH! “You okay?” he asks me. I smile and pretend, there is no way i am going to admit that i am not strong enough. “Fine.”

I put him in the back seat of my really super-old beat-up Ford Aspire. Then i begin for the hospital, when like five guys pop out of nowhere. They look like the FBI. Great! I slow down and debate turning around, i don’t want to get in trouble with the law anymore than i have already.

“Don’t!” hot felon yells.

I ignore him. Felons are bad, and bad people lie. “Listen, you don’t want to stop for them.”

“Why not?” I ask as i pull up to them. But, before i can stop hot-felon-guy has put his foot over mine and is gunning the gas. “Crap! Are you crazy?!” he asks me! “No, are you? Are you running from the police? You can have my car, just let me go!” All the words spill out. Brave, yep that’s me. “Shut up! Put it into fourth!” He yells and i calm, okay, we can’t stop yet. I put it into fourth, and surrender, “Where do you want to go?”

“Where do you live?” he asks.

“Heck no! I’m not taking you there. I will take you wherever else you want to go. But, my place is off limits.”

“I have nowhere else to go and those guys are after me.” He says dejectedly. I feel guilty instantly. I am such a people pleaser, but that changes here and now. I will not endanger my roomie.

“Not my problem, perp.” Okay, so i am still not sure why i said that. Maybe too many Hunter reruns or something.

“What?”He asks and turns to me from the passenger seat, and there is light look of incredulity. I freeze, caught! Using bad ’80s cop slang no less. Crap.

“I don’t care what you did, but i am sure that they will go easy on you if you don’t take hostages. Think about it: your life is worth much more than a moment of heated desparation.” Wow, I am something! I am articulate and intelligent, i should be a hostage negotiator.

“Tell me again, why shouldn’t  i kill you?” He asks annoyed. Okay, so hostage negotiator is not in my future.

“Just try it, buster, and i’ll stop this car and let the feds catch up. And i’m not going down without a fight!” That’s right, if am going to die atleast i can be proud of myself.

Silence.

Not good. I must have really hurt him with my Ol’ Ford Aspire, and a flash of guilt streaks through me. Snap out of it! He’s a felon, don’t feel bad. The feds will probably put a metal on you for catching this notorious felon. I look over at the notorious felon and he is staring at me.

“You think i am a wanted criminal?” He asks me and shakes his head.

“Aren’t you? Those guys in the suits must be FBI and they are definately after you.”

“What’s your name?” I was not going to give hot-notorious-felon my name, just in case. Then, i remember something what my roommate from freshmen year’s Grandma told her say in a fight. Yeah, that would have been a lot easier if i had just said Daryle. Anyway, i responded, “What color you want your casket?”

“What?” he asks cocking his head at me. Note to self: Don’t follow someone else’s Grandma’s advice. “Did you just ask me what color i wanted my casket?” there was twitch, and that twitch resembled something of a smile. Great! I am entertaining a felon.

“What’s your name?” I countered. “And what crime did you commit?”

“What? I am not a criminal and those were not the FBI back there.”

“Look, i don’t even want to know. I will drop you off wherever and let you go your merry way. And i am sorry about the whole car thing.” I honestly meant it too.

“I don’t know where to go. You are my safest bet right now, they don’t know you.” What? No. No. I should have just kept going when i hit you, felon!

“No. I can take you to the police, i am sure they can help you. But, that is as far as i go, I’m sorry.”

“Are you?”

“Not really.”

Another twitch.

Silence in the car, then a popping sound. I look over to see what hot-felon guy is doing and i see him pop his shoulder back in place. AHHH-MYY-GOD! That is gross, and i am responsible for it!

“I really think we should get to a hospital.”

“No, i told you they’d find me there.”

“Who?”

“I can’t tell you, because then you would be in danger too.”

“Well, it looks like you got me involved anyway now doesn’t it?” I exhaled. That was mean, besides what if he is telling the truth? “Look, if you want my help then i need some answers.”

“Okay, so those guys back there want my head. You see…we are…um…special.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Pull in over there.” He pointed to an exit for the park. I began to change lanes for the exit when i noticed another car changing lanes too. Okay, well we had been on a highway. But, when i pulled onto the exit instead of slowing down the car sped up!

“Uh, Felon, i think one of your buddies is behind us.” I said nervously.

“What?!” He said irritatedly then turned to see the car i was eyeing in my rearview mirrow. “Crap!”

“What should i do?! What should i do?!” I asked frantically. Again, Erin the brave comes out.

“Let’s try to loose ‘em. Quick turn at the light!” I squeezed my eyes shut and turned to the left and listened to my brakes whine. I peeked out of one eye and saw that we had made it. Whew! I looked into the rearview mirror and the dude was gone, man, i am good!…or on-coming traffic promised certain death on him. Whatever, I’ll take it.

“Okay, just keep heading for the park.” He said and with his good armed pointed ahead.

“Why? It’s raining.” I said.

“Because, it’s raining. No one will see us.” he said as if talking to a child.

“Everyone except drug dealers.” I mumbled. It was dusk on an already cloudy day, the park was sure to be full of drug dealers.

“I heard that. And you don’t need to worry about them.”

“O, so you’re a drug dealer!” It all made sense now. He probably came from Mexico and is part white and part Latino, that’s why he’s hot, and came over to make his millions by getting young children hopped up on cake. It was like a puzzle with all the peices finally falling into place. Well, i would drop him off at the park and then speed my way out of the park never to see him again. Yeah, that’s the plan.

“No! What is wrong with you?” He said shaking his head. Apparently, i said my last comment out loud. “I am not a drug dealer. I just don’t think they will be bothering us. that’s all.”

We rode the rest of the way in silence. My silence was silent fear of the drug dealer beside me, while his seemed to be an irritated silence.

Pearl Harbor: the Transition Year

So, that movie “Pearl Harbor” was on AMC and i was like, i haven’t seen this in forever. Needless to say, I watched it. As i watched Josh Hartnett stand up in slow-motion while his hawaiian shirt fluttered in the breeze, I remembered just how overdone this movie was. I remembered alot of things as i watched the movie.

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Ben Affleck was considered one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive

Ben Affleck was a major character in a movie where his future wife (Jennifer Garner) was a minor character.

It was before people began meshing the names of people together just because they were dating (i.e. Bennifer, Brangelina, etc..)

You were allowed to accompany your friends, family, anyone up to the boarding gate at the airport and could even carry nail clippers with you!

Leonardo Di Caprio was still skinny

Josh Hartnett was a rising star

I was caught in my first riot at school

Shia LeBouf was Luis Stevens in “Even Stevens”-pre the plasticky Zac Effron and Vanessa Hudgens

“Friends” was still the number 1 sitcom on primetime

Bill Clinton’s statement “it depends on what the defintion of what is is” was the biggest controversy

Chad was the name of my favorite stoner not something that hung from voting ballots

Tom Cruise was married to Nicole Kidman and did not use couches as jungle-gyms(atleast not in public)

Some people still didn’t know who Orlando Bloom was

Heath Ledger belonged with Julia Stiles

Greenday was a band about music not politics

everyone remembered the Titans

The “Texas 7″ caught because of that show “America’s Most Wanted”

and then, of course, September 11th changed almost everything. So, i wasn’t trying to get nostalgic but it just kind of happened so here is a link to probably the dumbest thing on youtube. I think one of the kids barely speaks english so here ju go! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcbqpABZAVY&feature=related

Shipwrecks are Apropos of Nothing

Stephen Crane once wrote, “Shipwrecks are apropo for nothing.” After my, now infamous, pineapple incident I would replace the word shipwreck with pineapple. Pineapples are apropo for nothing. I don’t eat pineapples and the smell is really kind of sick to me. Yet, this fruit-which everyone I am around seems to like-seems to be everywhere i turn. I wrote down my pineapple incident because it is funny, and a person who read what i wrote came up to me later and asked, “Did that really happen to you?” Unfortunately, yes it did. But, the person who doubted this story, now fascinates me. This person who would ask me for the truth, yet seems confused himself as to what the truth is. The familiar brown that beckons him homeward and even inward, and the blue that dances around him giving him a self he has never seen before, seem to be warring and jarring his insides. Fear reeks before him, what should he do? Whom should he choose? What he once thought he wanted is now being questioned by this new and exotic spirit. Self. He chooses himself, but in this choice he realizes that even in his selfishness he cannot decide where he would be. The chant of being lifted high above the storm pounds his ears; the chance of discovering, the voyage into the unknown sits to his right. Yet, the chant itself is being pounded by his old brown, the warm brown that he has known and was so sure of. Chant, dance, sit, pray, prostrate. He looks up and before him is the cross-not the cross as he has known it: it is not a symbol of sacrifice from the immaculate conception, but dogma and creator. The Brown and the Blue both were created and bow to this cross and as he stares at the cross he sees not Christ or wood but colors. Brown beats and chants in his ears, Blue like ocean dances and stills, Red swirls as he tries to focus on cross.

Chant, Dance, Sit, Pray, Prostrate. Cry, Weep, Die, Mourn, Laugh. More people. More time. The smells of salt and carpet saturate him. Louder and louder yet far off and away. Jerk your head away, make it stop-Who are you-Too much-Too much-Cross-Sweat-Desire-Whom do you choose-Where will you go-Stomp-Stomp-

He looks up and he sees the Holy Mother. Fear not, says she, my son. His eyelids quiver and he wants to blashpheme her to her image. Why had she daughters? They are as pure as she, yet he cannot make out. Light stings his eyes and he is unknown, the chanting is faint, the dance is faint, and even our Mother is faint. Jerks his head. Tears sting his eyes and he knows. And then he hears a word, the queer word that began this all, “Pineapple.” He repeats it as his own chant, but when he sees Brown his mouth shuts at apple and all is “Pine.” He is Pine, not complete. Pine. Brown. Pine Brown. Pinebrown. He looks into the Blue and sees gold, brown, red. He sees the pineapple in her. Where is he?

“There once was a hero blue in a world of brown…”

I promis i will stop but this was too funny not to put on here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u8d55hP2E8&NR=1 

Bridget Jones fight scene 1

Bridget Jones Fight Scene that is hilarious! God Bless, youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlhAqFKBEBs

Top 5 fight Scenes from Modern Movies According to Me

So, i was thinking about the top 5 fight scenes according to me. After much thought and research:) I have come to the conclusion that my list is the best list!…Ever!

#5 Gladiator: Russell Crowe getting stabbed in the side and still winning, one word: Awesome! I mean, hello, watching Russell Crowe fight Johnny Cash with a pseudo-middle eastern sound in the background is ultimate in dramatics as well as being really well shot. That Jerry Bruckheimer really knows how to get ya! “Are you not entertained?!”

 

#4 Troy: okay, so it goes without saying that both Bradd pitt and Eric Bana spent too much time in the gym proir to shooting-not that anyone is complaining, i know i’m not. But, the end when Brad (it always makes me feel cool calling actors by their first names) is yelling, “HECTOR!” and it takes Eric like a billion hours to get down to him since everyone wants to stop and talk to him, is like everyone waiting at the flagpole after middle school because the captian of the football team and the captain of the basketball team are going to dook/duke(?) it out, and everyone is there because like your friend Helen is with Paris who is cousins with Achilles girlfriend (Briseis) who is also cousins with Hector who helped take Helen who is sisters with Andromanche who is like so in your ancient weaving class in fourth period, and well you have to be there. Then, when it finally comes time to fight you are not disappointed: Brad is flying through the air with a spear and o-so-hot Eric is ducking and rolling and hacking with his sword. Then the ultimate bad-Ace thing to do is take the dead body and drag it through the dirt just to be like, “Shove it!”

#3 The Patriot: So when Mel (who should be here anyway because of Braveheart) is on his knees back turned to that Roth dude ready to be killed, then totally catlikely matrixes it and stabs him with an American flag is soooo cool by itself! But when you add the backstory of that Roth dude killing Mel’s kids throughout the movie you feel so justified by the gore and violence-even though you know it ain’t real. Plus, like how unpatriotic and un-American is it to kill Heath Ledger?! I mean both he and Mel may be Australians but i think that America has adopted him because we pay them millions of dollars-without us they couldn’t eat! And now, let us take a moment of silence to remember Heath Ledger because well, if you don’t know you should really get out more……………………………………………………………………………………………………………Okay, moment passed. But, yeah you get my point with this.

#2 Bridget Jones Diary the edge of Reason: So before you go all agro on me leme esplain. So watching two old English guys kind of catfight to the Darkness “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” is probably the most entertaining thing to watch if you are having a bad day. I mean just watch it and you’ll think to yourself, “Well, at least i don’t look as stupid as that right now.” Unless, of course, you did fight Colin Firth and Hugh Grant and looked that stupid-but highly unlikely. Plus, they are catfighting like stuffy old guys for a fat girl with greasy hair! I mean both romantic and funny and violent-what could be better than that?

#1 the movie you all have been waiting for…suspense…know you are skipping over to read what it is…300! Okay, now the hard part was picking which fight scene. Now, i originally wasn’t going to go with this one but the more i thought about it the more i was like-yeah, manpanties notwithstanding, the movie kicks some serious tail! So, when Gerard Butler’s wife-who was pretty much brutalized by creepy eyebrow guy who is still kind of cute so i think i need counseling-stabs him after he mouths off and repeats the words he used when he raped her was like, “AWWw she didn’t!” I mean “This will not be over quickly, you will not enjoy this, and I am not your queen” was so cool I was like, get it girl! But, overall you could go with so many different scenes from this movie and still be like yeah it has to be #1.

Honorable Mentions that probably should be on my list but weren’t:

Mr and Mrs Smith: when future lovers Bradd and Angelina beat the poo out of each other and still kiss and make up, again, and again, and again. lol

Enough: J-lo kicks the life out of her bad husband, the ultimate lifetime movie.

Braveheart: enough said

*okay, i have to say something. It is the essential epic movie that defined all fight scenes/battle scenes that followed. It invented war movies and an entire genre of male thought that is now manifested on a channel called Spike.

13th warrios: “today was a good day!” right as the one blonde guy dies, that is the defintion of a bad A@% right there.

Diehard with the vegenance: when Bruce is fighting that guy that plays Scar in the lion king. That is so yippis-kiyay-motherfletchers!

Well, i prob left out some true classics but i am not E! so, just write your own and then i get to read yours! see it will be the best of everything!

My Rock

There’s a rock on my foot

it bites me

digs me

will it rub into a pearl?

 

I walk,

it’s there,

it hurts,

will it rub into a pearl?

 

I ran across cemetery

saw Strange rock on head

what does it bite?

Will it rub into a pearl?

 

Faces, colorful faces,

laughing, holding pitiful

the rock, rock is heavy,

will it rub into a pearl?

 

Faces, ugly faces,

clutching my rock,

they won’t give it back

will it rub into a pearl?

 

I run,

ugly faces hoard my rock,

it bites me harder

will it rub into a pearl?

 

a cry in the sun,

fat faces,

my rock flies and weighs,

will it rub into a pearl?

 

Fat, colorful, ugly,

I surrender

they need my rock

will it rub into a pearl?

 

Will the biting, digging, flying, crying, clutching, hoarding,

pitiful, ugly, colorful,

cry surrendered rub into a Strange pearl on my foot?

I think not, let me be in cemetery.

The Island by Victoria Hislop

So, the tale begins the same way most tales do, for me atleast. I was shopping at wal-mart when a colorful cover caught my eye from the book section. Before this I had vowed never to get another book from the convienent store Goliath because, on more than one occasion the books purchased here became these literary excuses to own porn. But, this day and this colorful cover seemed different. It could have been because there were so many people at Wal-Mart that i didn’t want to spend the next half hour in line or my loathing to write off another possible source for books. Whatever it was I walked over to the book and read the back. I ended up half-hazardly shoving it into my cart and hustling over to a 20 items or less register.

Over the next day I engaged in a love affair with this book. The Island by Victoria Hislop began so well that i couldn’t put it down, and it’s basic premise of being a family saga amidst a backdrop war and small town gossip was alluring. But, what started off promising soon turned into a mix of a telanovela and Antonement. I soon forgot what the basic premise of the story was, at the beginning i thought it was about the journey into the past to move forward into the future. By the end, the emotionally exhausted women who narrate the story collide. Alexis, the post-college age great-granddaughter, who began her search to find an answer to whether she is in a good relationship with her current boyfriend weakly resolves her arc with a note and begins to mother her own mother. Sofia, Alexis’ mother and product of the mainplot in the story, is redeemed from her own immaturity-but, the audience was never fully aware of her agony so her character is saved from only a small conflict. Maria is already dead at the end and we never fully are given closure about what becomes of her after Sofia’s act of childishness.

Even with all these weak literary cliche’s the story is one that I am glad that I spent time reading. Hislop’s description of Greece and knowledge of Spinalonga was fascinating, and the reader becomes wrapped up in the mythology of leperousy of the physical and leperousy of the spiritual. Where some of the characters lack depth the main characters more than make up for it in their inner monologue as they handle seemingly insurmountable situations. The book is advertised as a “beach book with heart” and, while i would hesitate to praise it too much I would have to, even with my own doubts, agree that the book is just that. I would recommend it to someone who wants a leisure read that is character driven, but for someone looking for the next big thing I would say that this book is not that. But, i will be watching Victoria Hislop in the future and am looking forward to her next book “The Return.”