Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Infernal Love Triangle Devices



There have been many curious thoughts floating around in my head while I’ve been reading the Infernal Devices books. I’m currently in the middle of book three, Clockwork Princess, and definitely in the thick of the drama between Jem, Will, and Tessa. For those of you who have read this trilogy, you fully understand what I mean.
One of the biggest ponderings in my brain has been a distant memory I’m very much reminded of through Tessa’s struggle of giving half of her heart to each of the boys and being tormented by this.
Years ago, so many more years ago than I originally thought, I had taken a great liking in a boy I’d met and hit it off with. We immediately were instant messaging each other all the time, always looking forward to chatting every single night for hours about random things; art, writing, life…you name it. I was happy and in love, giddily so.
There was a slight problem in my bliss, however.
He was already involved with someone and had been for a while, long enough so that there was no way for me to compete with it. He loved her and had no interest in leaving her, but he also liked me a lot, too. We were really good friends and I believe if he had not been previously committed, I would have jumped at the chance if he asked to date me.
It did not pass the way I imagined it would.
What ever does, really?
There came a point where I began to understand that there was no way for me to win over all the love of this boy and it felt like I was pulling him away from his beloved, when that wasn’t my aim at all.
Amid these thoughts and worries, I had drawn out a crude comic using my amazing artistry (not) and it depicted a boy and two girls by his sides. We were all smiling, existing together happily. (His girlfriend thought my crush on him was cute and she didn’t mind that I talked to him a lot, probably because she thought I wasn't a threat, which is true - I really wasn't.) Then, he took out his heart (obviously it was a figurative depiction, not the real, beating, bloody organ) and went to give it to one of us, but upon realizing there was indeed only one heart, he frowned. It was certainly troubling to have two people so close to you, but have to choose one over the other. This is the struggle Tessa was going through.
The comic-boy had a realization and split his heart into two equal pieces, happily presenting one to each girl. We smiled, at him and at each other, content with his decision. At least I imagined myself content.
But then, his face twisted, he clutched his chest, and fell over dead. The comic-girl and I looked at one another in shock. I then realized that the only way for him to be happy and alive was for him to have his heart whole, even if it was with someone else. Defeated, I surrendered my half to his beloved and she put it back together, essentially reviving the boy. The girl thanked me, they waved, and skipped off together, leaving me behind and alone to draw in the dirt and wonder if the situation could have possibly gone in my favor instead.
Gradually we began to lose contact, messaging one another less and less until the only contact that remained was seeing occasional posts from him on Facebook.
As I’ve grown up and expanded the understanding of my own emotions, I realized I had truly loved him, but only so far as the idea of being with him. We were great friends, really, but I never would have lasted long with him. There were many lifestyle choices he made that I didn’t agree with, but while we chatted, I simply overlooked them.
In the end, it was better that I let him go (he wasn't ever really mine anyway). He wasn’t meant for me, and while I was struggling with the idea during out tight friendship, I know now that what happened was for the better. I still love him as a person and wish him all the happiness he can stand, but at the same time I know there is someone else out there for me. Peace was made and I was content once more.
I’m not sure how Clockwork Princess is going to end, but I have a feeling Jem is going to die and as his last wish, will demand Will to make Tessa happy because that’s all that Jem wants, and Will and Tessa will be together. She will reconcile with her residual feelings for her dead fiancée, her and Will’ll have a kid (somehow? Maybe?) and name him James and call him Jem.
Just a wild hypothesis. We’ll see how true it ends up being once I finish the book this week. There’s also a slight possibility they don’t get together after their mutual friend is long gone.
What I learned from the whole situation was that I’m very particular about the qualities and lifestyle choices of the man I will marry in the future. (Oh yes, this will happen.) I, someone who always tries to have the lowest of expectations, am expecting a lot of the man for me. This makes it very easy for me to believe that once I find him, it won’t be long before I know he’s the one. God knows what I’m looking for and what I need, so once I’ve recognized all that, it will be obvious.
This is what I believe.
Anyway, that’s just a little tid bit of my life. I’ve recently discovered that I don’t post much about myself; it’s mainly fictional writings and updates and lists at the shallowest level. Here and there I’ve mentioned personal things. Maybe that was already enough for you. Maybe you really don't care. If so, that’s cool. You’re not obligated to read everything I post. You’re not even obligated to read a single thing of mine, but I do appreciate when you do. So thank you.
I guess that’s all for me. For now.

Vicki out.


Image (C) http://emokid711.deviantart.com/art/Stitched-heart-100992011

Monday, July 15, 2013

Much Ado About Something

Salve, tutti!
Hello, everyone!

It is yet again time for another summer update on my lists and progress! It's not quite as impressive this past month as the previous one was, but hey, progress is progress no matter how you slice it, and that is all that matters to me (especially about how my second book is coming along).

So, here's the line up. I also have a spot of explaining to do (I'll get to the asterisks toward the bottom):


My reading list:

Inheritance (of the Inheritance Cycle by Paolini) (5/11)
The Girl who Played with Fire (5/20)
Man's Search for Meaning (5/25)
The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (5/31)
City of Bones (6/7)
City of Ashes (6/14)
City of Glass (6/23)
City of Fallen Angels*
City of Lost Souls*
Clockwork Angel (7/15)
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
The Return of the King
Clockwork Prince
Clockwork Princess

My movie/show-watching list:

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (4/28-5/08)
Wreck-it-Ralph (5/07)
Cats Don't Dance (re-watch) (5/14)
Dinosaurs: We're Back! (5/14)
Road to El Dorado (re-watch) (5/20)
The Fountain (5/22)
Saving Private Ryan (5/24)
Swan Princess (5/31)
Swan Princess: Escape from Castle Mountain (5/31)
Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure
 (for old time's sake; I was obsessed with these movies as a child!) (6/1)
The Road (6/8)
500 Days of Summer (6/9)
The Possession (6/13)
Matrix Trilogy (re-watch) (6/15)
Avengers (rewatch) (7/2)
Phantom of the Opera (rewatch) (7/3)
Thor (7/3)
Bachelorette (7/4)
Mean Girls (rewatch) (7/4)
Tarzan (rewatch) (7/5)
Despicable Me (7/5)
Déjà vu (7/7)
The Island (7/10)
Hell's Kitchen [season 10] (7/7 - 7/16)
Legion
American Psycho
(new) Tron


Games:

Bioshock (6/3 – 3:55 PM to 11:58 PM = 8 hour completion)
Halo: Reach (6/4 – 9 hrs: 16 mins: 48 seconds on one day)
Bioshock 2*
Bioshock Infinite
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo 2
Halo 3
Halo 3 ODST



Serious:

Revise the living daylights out of first book in trilogy (5/21)
Outline second book (6/28)
Write second book (7/1 -    ) [I’m fifteen thousand words in, with lots of story left to tell!]


Ah, so here it all is. I've watched more movies in the last month than done much reading (due to being busy, of course) but hopefully in the coming few weeks I have left I'll get done all the books I want to.

As for the asterisks - they mean this:
I am removing them from the list. The two books I'm cutting are because I have talked with some people I trust who say the now-series would have been much better if the author had stopped at the end of the third one, which I have finished. So, my interest was lost upon reading the blurbs about the next two books and thus I am chopping them from my list. Nothing personal.

I'm also cutting Bioshock 2 from the list because I have started it, with a couple other people, and it's just not holding my attention. I thought it would be cool to be a big daddy (as I loved that little nugget in the first one) but for some reason it just seems to be an illogical continuation of the first Bioshock. They brought in a new villain and a new protagonist, if I'm not mistaken, and left the environment as Rapture. Overall, nice idea, but it isn't doing it for me. Bioshock Infinite, however...that one I'll definitely need to finish. (:

So! This is my progress. Not quite so impressive. I just have two more updates on this list left (one more on August 15th and the last one probably around August 24th - I leave for college on the 25th which means summer will be officially over!). 

Fun fun fun!

Talk to you later!
Arrivederci!