Research Q...(struggling here)

What to write about....always subject to change.  How about - How does self-reflection/self-criticism help Santiago and/or Alice grow?  There are probably many ways to go towards making an arguement for or against something in either Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or The Alchemist.  I can only hope there is something good that can come out of the researh to use towards the question above.  Time to make the doughnuts.

Personal Legends = Dreams

Many thoughts floating through my head.  To me Personal Legends are peoples dreams.  What people aspire to do with their lives, who they want to be, and what they want to get out of life.  I see Santiago changing his Personal Legend several times in the story.  Also I am seeing the phrase/word Maktub, or "it is written".  To me, I take this as everything is predestination.  Whatever happens is meant to happen.  No matter what choice is made, that was the choice that was going to be made anyway.  Language of the World or universal language is another thing I interpret as being able to understand each other without spoken language.  Nonverbal communication such as a look, a gesture, or even a sound.  Something we all would understand.  Santiago has also said "beauty is the great seducer of men".  When I read that, I thought of the gold chest plate Santiago admired, the shiny silver sword in the marketplace he wanted, the merchant's daughter he couldn't wait to go see, and now Fatima (the name of a Prophet's daughter, hmmm), the new love of his life.  At first I wondered if Fatima was the merchant's daughter, it's still possible I guess.  Will Santiago find his Personal Legend?  Is it what he thinks it is?  Will it continue to change?  Stay tuned.  Oh and finish reading the book and we shall see.

Burton v Book

Here is my take on things.  There are a few things worth noting (differences/similarities) between the Tim Burton Alice clip we watched and the Alice book we are reading.  Difference - In the book we read that the mouse is quite tired, almost lazy, as it is always trying to sleep.  In the clip the mouse is very much awake and energetic.  Similar - In the book the Mad Hatter is as crazy as he is portrayed in the clip/movie.  Difference - The March Hare in the book seems to be as crazy as the Mad Hatter while in the clip I get the sense that the March Hare is so crazy, he is on the verge of being dangerous, maybe even rabid.  Similar - The Cheshire Cat is as mysterious in the book as he is in the movie.  Difference - As for Alice, in the book she is portrayed as a child and in the clip she is a young adult.  The book Alice is a classic and lasts the test of time.  A very enjoyable read.  What Tim Burton does is to update the book into a movie which for me was an enjoyable watch.  It makes the book come to life.  After finishing this book, I look forward to re-watching Burton's film again.      

Caterpillar here.

Hello. Caterpillar here.  What a great place to be smoking this hookah, all by myself.  The land of fantasy and queer ideas of reality, what a wonderful wealth.  Am I smoking a legal or an illegal substance, I'll never tell.  After all I am sitting on a mushroom which may or may not be hallucenegetic as well.  I met a little girl today, Alice is her name.  She seems lost and confused, maybe that's just her game.  I asked her to recite a poem, which she did without luck.  I felt like telling her, "Man, you just suck".  Alice whined about changing size many times this day.  I advised her about my mushroom which could change her size either way.  Is this all just a dream I'm in? Have I performed some sort of sin?  If it's a dream, I shall soon awake.  Unless I OD for heavens sake.     

Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll aka Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.  An English writer probably best known as the author of the Alice in Wonderland books.  Born in 1832 as the third child of 11 children, he was the first son.  In life, Charles had several hardships which he overcame.  When speaking he would studder.  As a child, a fever caused him to lose his hearing in one ear.  As a young adult, a case of whooping cough resulted in a weak chest probably giving him shortness of breath for the remainder of his life.  Mathematics is what Charles excelled at.  He wrote several books about math and even taught math.  Charles was also known for his abilities in storytelling and game playing.  He used his vivid imagination well.  Charles never married and passed away in 1898, 2 weeks short of his 66th birthday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Carroll
http://www.online-literature.com/carroll/

My favorite book

Hello Peeps.  What is my favorite book?  Good question.  It's been a few decades since I was in high school and I was forced to read books.  That being said, I'm an old fart with a poor memory of the books that I did read.  Of Mice and Men comes to mind.  Good book, good story.  Poor Lenny.  Is Reader's Digest a book?  If Reader's Digest is a book, I'll go with that as my favorite.  I've been reading it since the 80's.  Lots of short stories, so it's a quick read.  If Reader's Digest isn't considered a book but rather a magazine, I'll revert back to Of Mice and Men as my favorite.  When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.  When life hands you limes, go buy some tequila.