Time to enter the crazy world of blogging

Hello world.

I'm David.

Now that we've been properly introduced, I figured I'd let you know what I plan to do with this here blogging page.

My hope is help everyone get a little perspective on the various texts I produce, read, and observe.

Now, for those unfamiliar with the broad literary-analsisy term "text", you're in for a real treat. Basically, a text is anything that conveys information, and this allows it to go beyond the simple book to encompass everything from movies, music, literature, and newspapers, to art, billboards, and even the internet itself. Granted, this is a simplistic view (and also, granted, it is the view I adhere to; it's not necessarily "truth"), but I think you'll understand what I mean as I post more. Mostly I'm going to write about books, movies, music, and television, but every so often I might delve into other arenas.

I also might start tempting fate, and posting my own "original" texts (the scare-quotes are to indicate how little self-esteem I have in this regard (and how much false modesty I therefore try to display)).

Who am I, and why should you care about my opinions? I'm no one. I just happen to consume a great quantity of texts, I like to talk, and I have the unfortunate stigma of "English Major" permanently attached to my being. As such, I tend to have a great deal to say about "stuff" and "things."

I'll start with my favorite book for my first installment.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is a novel that I think all writers one day aspire to write. No, I don't think all writers want to write science fiction (although, deep down, I think a lot of them do, but can't, because it's actually very difficult (more on this later)), but I do think they want to write the complete, critically acclaimed book that becomes an instant classic and is beloved by children and adults alike.

Hyperbole? Perhaps. I do love this book, and I'd gladly fight a war of words on its behalf. But, with anything, you can take my word for it, or you can take the words of the text itself. Is it the greatest piece of writing ever? No, it's not. There are flaws. But unlike a lot of books, the flaws are not so glaring as to render the reader unable to function. Few and far between, everyone I've known who has read the book has never focused on them, but rather has sang its praises.

First off, it's a cool premise. Near future, war with aliens, children geniuses, school in space, zero-gravity laser tag. That in itself would probably make an enjoyable story, and, oh wait, it did. It's called "Ender's Game", and it's a short story. What makes the novel so incredible, at least for me, is that it goes beyond the mere glitz-factor of the Battle School, and plays up psychological, historical, political, and emotional aspects as well. Truth be told, the latter is the least emphasized of the listed aspects, and this is one of the "flaws" someone might find, but in the end, Card does a good job of giving us enough to establish that these are not just characters, they are human characters.

Honestly, I could go on and on about this book, but I'd prefer if everyone just read it. Then, write back to me what you think, and let me know if you would keep this book on your shelf or not. Before I figuratively go, though, let me take up the point I had made earlier about this book being for children and adults. I will say this until my face goes blue: Young Adult literature (YA) is the hardest thing to write in the world. Young people are picky, have short attention spans, and possess much smaller vocabularies while demanding much more explanation. Card has written a book that not only endears itself to children right away (with a cast of children, including the protagonist and most of the antagonists), but allows them to enter a complex, adult world without feeling condescended to. On the flip-side, adults have a book were the complexities are expanded with deeper readings and analysis, but isn't bogged down so that they miss out on the adventure and intrigue.

In case you're interested in learning more about Card, visit his web-site at http://www.hatrack.com/. To see what some other people think about Card (and not in a particularly gracious manner), check out this and some of its links (for the interest factor, if nothing else) http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/5/28/22428/7034.

Until next time. . .