#his tendency towards obsession is likely to kill him one day if he doesn't learn to outsmart it

[brionysea]

this man is pissing me off

[heliphantie]

Weirdo kids must stick together.

Recently I rewatched "Meet the Robinsons" and realized how wrong I was believing that Bruno is the most tragic Disney character to date. Goob (aka Michael Yagoobian, Bowler Hat Guy) outdid it years ago.

Bit of rambling about Goob:

"Tragic" in my book is the character who's not only been through something terrible but also contributed to his own misery while there was no one around to prevent him from doing so.

Of course, like in case of Bruno, Goob faced inevitable happy end, and one can argue that he's even more fortunate, because his mistakes were erased and he got a valuable second chance to live life from scratch, but on the other hand, there is no guarantee that this future will not be destroyed as well. In fact, each scenario of his life is gloom in its own way: from getting killed by a former ally to ending with half of his life wasted without any prospects, and a "happy" ending is no exception.

He won respect of kids who would otherwise beat him up (and did so) for a missed ball (I understand that baseball is sacred for Americans, but this is some unhealthy fanaticism), mistress of orphanage, who seems very caring otherwise, apparently, is heartless enough to forget about the child left in abandoned building, and it's a question if those adoptive parents shown in the end would like him without the cup of victory and in condition in which he appeared before parent candidates in former timeline (awarded, like a pig at the fair, kid can please anyone). And the very fact that he came to meet potential family with an award is alarming. Apparently, Goob tends to getting obsessed with things, be they good or bad, in general. And if person doesn't realize he has a tendency for obsessive behavior and doesn't learn to control himself, he's at the risk of developing dangerous fixation even toward positive reward. Can we be sure that the prize at the baseball game will not become an idea fix for him, and doesn't become a source of overblown pride and stale his personal development?

Since he's stripped of dark experience and unaware of other futures, he learned no lesson of "move forward" - the fundamental moral of the story! - he may repeat the same mistakes one day.

Maybe coming to that exact realization, his adult version prefers to disappear into nowhere, leaving behind question mark in notebook with failed "plans", having decided to keep this sad experience and move (to where?) forward from the present point despite being in ruins, but the main character does not allow him to do so, rewriting his life in the spurt of naive nobility... (Perhaps it's assumed that behind the scenes Lewis informed his roommate about his alternative future, but nothing in the movie itself implies so.) Goob's future is left misty and uncertain no matter with what choice he goes, by own will or not.

Bruno on the opposite, with his troubled past and lost years of life, has steady place to dwell in at the present, even if he cannot (but perhaps would like) to go back and make different decision, and has caring, trustworthy people around him.

With intention or not, character (and rather complex antagonist) in the half-forgotten cartoon was given an indescribably sad fate, all wacky entourage and tomfoolery notwithstanding.

 

On the happier note… I'm still getting used to Bruno being part of Disney canon (and he still definitely *is* the most complex, paradoxical, rich character Disney canon ever had). I’d like to draw more of him interacting with various characters outside of his movie.

Alt. version:

[the-portrait-of-seraph]

July’s Review

The Sea, The Sea: Murdoch, Iris

I did not like Charles Arrowby and his DISGUSTING white person food (obv a joke don't cancel me). Like I grew up in an ethnic household and don't see the appeal of buttered spaghetti with basil or unseasoned salmon broil-

Putting that aside, the fact that he tried to manipulate and kidnap his childhood sweetheart who was MARRIED, doesn't really redeem him either.

Another unreliable narrator I don't like, maybe because I can't relate to kidnapping my beloved. Arrowby is truly an unlikable character, he has twisted ideals and even goes as far as to become a monster because of his obsessive love for Hartley.

Murdoch has an amazingly unique and witty writing style, which I do admire greatly, and I would like to read some of her non-fiction/philosophical works!!!

The Rubaiyat: Khayyim, Omar [7.5/10]

I feel like this is one of those books that trend in the Western world due to its "oriental" nature, as well with its mystical, other-worldly themes.

It's good though, I'm not hating on the Rubaiyat. It's romantically poetic and flowing, which is something I look for in poetry.

I do see how the Rubaiyat would take the world by storm. I actually learned about this book through that Buzzfeed Unsolved video on the Somerset Man, which is also amazing haha.

I also didn't include a photo because the book was from a library and I had to return it fyi

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with The Sea: Mishima, Yukio

Done and dusted, I wrote a whole analysis on the novella. Let me know if you're interested in reading it :)

If you're new here, one thing you should know is that I love Mishima Yukio! There's something compelling about his work and that also applies to TS2FGWTS

Noboru is such a little shit. I found him quite unlikable and unreliable as a narrator in a sense. I hated how everyone mistook his hatred and sociopathic tendencies as the innocence of a young teen. That's how you get killed *looks at Ryuji*

Everyone in the story is at fault here, and Mishima doesn't avoid saying that in the slightest. Noboru's mother and fiancé, Ryuji, enabled the young boy and his vile actions. Not to mention Noboru's friends, walking red flags all over!

Everyone is also miserable in their own ways. It's like it's almost a characteristic in Japanese literature; everyone is either miserable or boring-Other than that, I really enjoyed reading this book :)

The Trial: Kafka, Franz [9.5/10]

Mhmmmm, Kafka *swoons*

I love him very, very much. Most of us tumblr users do. I have never met two types of tumblr users, those types being: mentally stable and the other being:  Kafka-hating.

The Trial is famously known for its trial of Josef K., who had supposedly done nothing wrong, but was thrown into the bureaucratic process of figuring out what he had done wrong.

It's a complexly written book without a set pace (but feels like it drags on forever) and many turns, but I promise you that it's an amazing read. It is difficult, but it's a rewarding type of difficulty, not a "holy shit i'm going blow my brains out" type of difficulty.

Also, same situation with the Rubaiyat

#freemymanjosef,wedon'tevenknowwhathedidwrong-

Selected Poems of Pasternak

I read this one for the sake of reading. Not for academic or discussion reasons. I read it because I felt drawn towards it.

I found this book at a secondhand bookstore in the Dongdaemun area of Seoul. The seller said he obtained this book from a clear-out at the U.S. air base in Osan. It felt like fate had found its way to that bookstore on that day. And so I purchased it for 3,000 won or around 2 dollars and 30 cents-

It's beautiful, Pasternak's work. It isn't overly flashy or bombastic, it depicts a quaint life and unique themes in nature; so I would recommend reading this book in the spring/winter months.

My Sister Life stood out to me the most, I would like to recommend it.

The Sound and the Fury: Faulkner, William

This just wasn't my thing. It wasn't difficult, but it was rather off-putting to me. Not to mention that I didn't really feel like picking up and reading the book.

This book was surprisingly dark? Like, wow. Faulkner really served with this one. Justice for Benjy, his treatment was undeserved. His mom needed to chill-

Faulkner did a spot on job with depicting a dysfunctional, decaying family. I also admire his usage of multiple viewpoints and stream of consciousness, but other than that, nothing particularly stood out to me.

Giovanni's Room: Baldwin, James

Added to my list of favorites!!! We're ending July right!!! I was actually supposed to finish this book in August, but it was so addicting!

This book was so, so amazing. There's so much I could cover, but I'm going to write an analysis about it soon; so let me know if you're interested in that.

David and Giovanni deserved to be happy (despite their mutual destructiveness). Fuck Guillaume, I didn't like him too much-

The plot aside, the writing itself is a work of art! I loved Baldwin's first novel Go Tell It on the Mountain, so I feel like Giovanni's Room is a satisfying runner-up.

Since the novel does touch upon internalized homophobia and homosexuality in general,  it was called Baldwin's "professional suicide note", but personally think that this book had served its purpose as a foundation for queer literature and artistry. Truly ahead of its time.

I am simultaneously happy and unhappy with this month’s reading list. I didn’t read a lot of books, seven to be exact. It doesn’t follow the flow of my regular reading pattern, and I felt disappointed in myself because I promised myself I would read more during my summer break :(

On the other hand, I was reading books I was happy with. There are so many good reviews and I really enjoyed reading these books. 

As July says goodbye, August brings its greetings. Stay safe everyone :)