Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Never Let Me Go



I recently finished reading Never Let Me Go by novelist Kazuo Ishiguro. Frankly, I didn't really get to appreciate his writing until now. It's actually the first Ishiguro book I read from cover to cover. I tried to read one of his earlier novels, but it didn't hold my interest all that much-- I fell asleep and forgot about reading The Unconsoled after the 4th chapter (This was 2 years ago. Maybe one day I'll try to finish it). After that, I didn't bother to read any of his works. I know it's bad to judge an author based on one book, but at that time, I guess I was just looking for something more insightful and gripping minus those dragging pages that just wouldn't get to the point.

Set sometime between the early 1970s to the early 1990s, Never Let Me Go is a novel which narrates the life of Kathy H. from her childhood at a boarding school known as Hailsham to her life in the present day. She focuses on her relationships with lost friends, Ruth and Tommy, now that she’s a carer assisting organ donors. Apart from being a love story (between the characters Kathy and Tommy), it is classified as a dystopian novel. It begins during the advent of mass human cloning; an age where technological breakthroughs have been implemented, where there is a cure for cancer and the average human lifespan has been significantly prolonged.



Vintage cover design by Iris Weinstein


I decided to read Never Let Me Go after watching the film based on the novel. My brother invited me to watch it with him one summer evening. To my surprise, the film's storyline appealed to me; its heavy concerns were told with artistic restraint. I also found the ending insightful in relation to the tragic fate of its characters. Needless to say, I wanted to read the novel because I got to watch the film.  

Most people would disregard reading a novel after watching its film adaptation. But, I urge you. There is truth in clichĂ©. This novel offers so much more than what its film version represents. After reading the book, I found so many inconsistencies in the film. The whole story almost changed. I don’t want to be such a spoiler, but I just have to mention a few instances. Anyway, you’ll only understand what I mean if you read the entire novel.

·        The character of Tommy in the film wasn’t very well depicted at all
·        Kath did have sexual relationships with different clones in the cottage
·        After seeing Ruth’s possible through a wide glass office window, they went on to follow her to an art gallery
·        No tape got lost in the film
·        Kath and Tommy found her lost tape at Norfolk
·       The scene where Ruth gives them the Madame’s address happened when they visited the stranded ship, not while in the center
·        And I can just go on all day about every compromised aspect of this novel…




screen cap and film poster image
*image from filmofilia.com


By now, I realized that screenwriter Alex Garland and director Mark Romenek could have done infinitely more to actually remain faithful to the characters and the events of the story. But, they didn't, they just had to have their way. It's almost like bastardizing someone's precious work. So many chapters were compromised and I actually felt so sorry for Ishiguro.

However, my saying this doesn’t mean it’s a bad film. In all honesty, I still think it’s beautiful and worth watching. If it was that awful, I’m sure I wouldn’t even try to read the book. I’ve simply accepted that it’s rare to find an adaptation that gives justice to the original material. It’s a given that a reader will somehow be disappointed upon watching any adaptation.

The novel had so much weight which failed to translate in the film. Although it was able to deliver poignant scenes thanks to actors that could really act, what disappoints me is the fact that the screenwriter deleted and changed so many events. It’s quite interesting to see how different people would treat the same story. After reading the book, I’m quite sure it’s possible to include some of the scenes; it wasn’t at all necessary to alter facts.



A screen cap from the film
(from left to right)
Ruth, Kathy, and Tommy’s “get together” years after the Cottages
*image from spot.ph


But then, between the novel and the film, the insight in the film’s ending was really what captured me. Kathy’s character pondered on the concept of human resemblance: if clones were exact genetic copies of humans, then maybe what they experience during their lifetime as clones isn’t that much different from actual human beings. Like people, clones were portrayed to know love, joy, pain and suffering in this story.


If I were a clone…

It made me think about how I’d feel if I was told I did not have a soul. What if I’m just an animal to be harvested for my organs? I just feel chemical reactions. There is no love inside me. So what if I can write poetry and create beautiful paintings? What good is my intellect and consciousness? What good are emotions and relationships?

Wait, I shouldn’t even think that far. I’m not human.

Monday, April 4, 2011

On Music

Music: What are we missing?


Because I am quite an audiophile, I decided to have a special spot for music here on my journal. The post below is a rehash which I updated from my Overture account. I think it's a very appropriate introduction for the topic. For those waiting for day 2 of my travel journal, don't worry. It will be updated very soon. J


Due to lack of anything truly productive to accomplish, I preoccupied myself by going online to watch a lot of old music videos and read about artists that I practically grew up listening to. After some thought, it occurred to me that I am in fact a witness to the music industry's disintegration since the propagation of free music sharing via mp3 in the late '90s.

If you think that's sad, I feel a lot worse about this because I know I contributed to its demise by downloading my favorite music. Yes, I would rarely buy EPs and albums. And I would be a liar if I said I no longer do that, because I still do. But, it's just like what Bob Dylan said, "you better swim now, or you'll sink like a stone/ coz the times they are a-changin'...". Free music available on the internet is something we (musicians and listeners) have to accept, however painstaking.



image from http://www.gradontripp.com





image from http://anni90.tumblr.com/post/296887029/jeff-buckley


The truth is, most record companies almost no longer give breaks to musicians with real talent and potential because they don't want to risk losing money on anyone. They would rather spend it on "sure hit musicians", which leaves us all with little variety to listen to these days. But, my saying this doesn't mean I don't listen to pop music. My point is, more of these other artists should be heard. Great music can be heard in the internet, all we have to do is know how to use this medium to find it. As listeners, it is our role to know more. It's not enough that we just take in what's laid down before us.


For struggling musicians, I imagine some of them could be earning more revenue from gigs and concerts than in actual record sales. I remember when Trent Reznor left his record label and boldly stepped out to distribute music directly to fans. You can read more about his opinion on free music here. I also remember a friend of mine once said, "Music, in the purest sense, should be free", and I honestly still believe in it. But, if making it free would mean real music will not be heard, then we have to find other ways to help the industry.


Here in the Philippines, I could still remember the days when local mainstream radio stations played good music back in the '90s. Playlists included music from Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Jeff Buckley, Morrissey, Jars of Clay, Moby, Filter, Blind Melon, Collective Soul, Barenaked Ladies, and it went on and on (along with some Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys, of course). Though they played selected hits from the said artists, radio stations were able to introduce good artists to listeners while still playing bubble gum pop. Back then, they were able to maintain balance to cater to every listener's taste, which I don't see happening much these days (save for a select few). There are stations that mostly play old music, but they don't really introduce us to good new music, except for this one (and I hope more people would go and follow).



image from pep.ph



image from ianodon.blogspot.com


After this realization that the music industry is really in bad shape, I've decided to make a list of albums I must buy. I'm not really buying them out of guilt, I'm doing so because: 1) I want to support these artists 2) I want MY own copy of their albums because their music has become part of my life 3) in the purest sense, I genuinely love music.


I will update my list soon. For now, I have listed below my top must have albums (in no particular order):


Radiohead - any, if not, all albums
R.E.M. - any, if not, all albums
Stereophonics - any, if not, all albums
The Cardigans - any, if not, all albums
Pete Yorn - musicforthemorningafter
Belle and Sebastian - any, if not, all albums
Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War
Vertical Horizon - Everythng You Want
The Smiths and Morrissey - any, if not, all albums
Jeff Buckley - any, if not, all albums
Oasis - Definitely Maybe, any, if not, all albums
Fra Lippo Lippi - Light and Shade, Crash of light album
The Cure - any, if not, all albums
Tool - Lateralus
A Perfect Circle - Mer De Noms
The Sundays - any, if not, all albums
Feist - any, if not, all albums
Death Cab for Cutie - any, if not, all albums
Gin Blossoms - any, if not, all albums
The Pixies



image from toolbandprojects.com



Since my trip to the U.S., I sought out some of the albums I've posted above. I even added more bands and artists to my list. To give you an idea, take a look at the photo below.



This officially starts my music collection


OPM artists/albums:

Eraserheads - Cutterpillow, any, if not, all albums
Johnoy Danao - Dapithapon
Cynthia Alexander - Ripping Yarns
Urbandub - Influence
My Imaginary Friends
Barbie's Cradle (I gave away my CD to an old friend, I want my own again)


If you know these albums/artists I've posted, then well and good. Let's hang out some time, we have a lot of "catching up" to do. If you don't, why not try listening to them some time? I promise you, you won't regret it.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

California

On the Other Side of the Pacific Part I

When I resigned from my work as an online copywriter and helpline associate last December, I knew I needed to take some much needed time off. After almost a year without any proper vacation, I was fortunate enough to have a few days of sight-seeing, soul-searching, and parental independence. Last February, I left the country with my brother Ian (yes, this is a travel adventure with my bro J) for an epic 12-day vacation all over California and notable destinations in Nevada and Arizona.

To start things off, since I know I can’t write about my entire experience in one entry, this vacation journal will recount the first day of my tour.

When my brother and I arrived in LAX, glorious rain and freezing winds welcomed us. I could feel my hands and ears start to numb the moment we stepped outside the airport. But of course, we were already warned about the weather. We had our winter jackets, gloves, and bonnets ready in our hand carry bags. By the way, yes, it was my first time on American soil. Frankly, I don’t think I will ever get used to that kind of weather.

We were greeted warmly by a PR associate from the travel agency that booked our trip. He drove us from the airport to our hotel in Anaheim Park and oriented us a bit about the city; where to dine and shop, etc. Because we were tired from the 13-hour plane trip, we didn't have time to go around and check out the nearby restaurants and stores. According to our itinerary, our tour bus was going to pick us up at 7:30 a.m. the next morning to start our road trip to San Francisco.

Destinations for day 1 of our California tour:
Solvang Danish Village 
The historic Hearst Castle-- built by newspaper magnate and art aficionado, William Hearst


We woke up, had a hearty buffet breakfast at our hotel, and boarded the bus with the rest of our luggage. Because we’re going to San Francisco, we had to stay at another hotel for the night in Union City, which meant we can’t leave anything behind. We got some much needed (weight-lifting) exercise just by transporting our luggage from the second floor of the hotel to our bus. We were also lucky enough to have sunny weather that morning (although the cold went right through two layers of clothing, at least it didn’t rain). Seeing the California sunrise uplifted me—I knew it was going to be a wonderful day.


California Sunrise

We arrived at Solvang (which means “sunny field” in Danish) at around 10:00 a.m. Located in Santa Barbara County, it’s a lovely traditional Danish village right in the central coast of California. It was strange to walk through a slice of Europe on my first day in America. Because it is a heritage site, the architecture was well preserved and it also featured interesting galleries, clothing boutiques, shoe and antique shops as well as plenty of cafes.  It’s also known to have 70 world-class wineries. Our tour guide also mentioned that the village had luxury hotels and inns where tourists can stay.



Solvang strip



Windmill! 
(they don't use it anymore, of course)



Clock tower



I just had to take a picture at the Hans Christian Andersen monument



While crossing



I could smell the sweetness from a street away!



I'm not big on wine, but I wish we had more time to taste some



Yours truly with bro Ian

After walking around and taking pictures, we had a nice lunch at one of the Belgian diners along the food strip. If I remember it correctly, the name of the diner was Belgian Café.


Philly roast beef sandwich with coleslaw

Yes, we both had huge plates for lunch. 
Ganun naman lagi eh. Busog kung busog!



Burger with potato salad


We left Solvang right after lunch. I believe it was a 3 or 4 hour scenic bus ride before we reached Hearst Castle. To be honest, it was the first time I've ever heard of the place. The tour guide did a lot of talking about how some crazy rich dude wanted to build a castle on top of a hill which had a zoo, 3 luxurious swimming pools, and guest rooms fit for a queen. The crazy dude's name was William Hearst (I must have read about William Hearst somewhere, but I'm sure I wasn't paying much attention at that time). 

Anyway, for those who don't know, William Hearst is an important figure in the publishing business. He took over his father's newspaper company in the late 1800s and later on became successful in establishing a chain of news dailies and magazines circulating the United States. If you've read Cosmo, Harper's Bazaar, Town and Country, and Good Housekeeping, then you should know William Hearst is the dude behind all that shizz (type Hearst Corporation on Google). He also happened to collect most of the popular art back in the 19th century. My guess is, he had that castle built to house all the art he horded over the years.



William R. Hearst

Hearst Castle is located in San Simeon, on top of what is known as the Enchanted Hill. Built in 1919, it was designed by Julia Morgan, the first woman to have a degree in civil engineering from the University of California (she also studied design at the Ecole de Beaux-Arts in Paris). In fact, she kept on designing and re-designing the castle until 1947. The design was greatly influenced by Spanish and Roman architecture. Our tour guide mentioned that William Hearst couldn't make up his mind to finalize the castle's construction. He just wouldn't settle for any specific design. They kept on expanding and reconstructing the guest rooms, halls, and even the pools.


Hearst Castle tower




The first constructed pool




The dining hall




A picture in a picture



Male guest room


A tour bus brought us up the Enchanted Hill. By this time, it started raining again. When we got to the top of the hill, the outdoor tour started while it was drizzling. Unfortunately for my brother and I, we weren't able to bring our winter jackets and umbrella, we stood there freezing. I wasn't able to take much outdoor shots. We were all basically waiting until the tour could start inside the castle. But, I must say they were able to preserve the castle and its surroundings very well.



The tour guide


I was actually more interested in the man behind the castle rather than all the art and architecture. Most of the paintings were Roman Catholic art because it was the popular art available at that era. William Hearst had good taste. But to be honest, I found the castle's over-the-top furnishings and design too kitschy. I don't like it much, and I mean kitschy in an obnoxious manner. When I went through the place, it did feel like it was quite unfinished. You almost get a sense of disorderliness not because the place was ancient or unkempt. It was arranged in such a way that you felt it was trying too hard to mimic European architecture. If you've been to Britain, Germany, or any other European country, I don't think you would be able to appreciate Hearst Castle much. In any case, it was still worth the visit. 

We boarded the bus and endured another 5 hours on the road before we could reach our hotel that evening. If I recall it correctly, we ate at a Chinese buffet on the way to Crowne Plaza. We arrived at 10:30p.m. I took a warm shower, wrote on my journal, and slept.

And that's day 1 of my epic vacation. To view the complete photo album of this tour, please visit this link.

For my next destination: San Francisco