Final Project

For my final project I decided to look at the book Fight Club. I chose to read the novel and after write 3 new synopsis' for the book as if it were different written with minor changes.

To begin here is the original synopsis of Fight Club: 

 Fight Club's estranged narrator leaves his lackluster job when he comes under the thrall of Tyler Durden, an enigmatic young man who holds secret boxing matches in the basement of bars. There two men fight "as long as they have to." A gloriously original work that exposes what is at the core of our modern world.


Fight Club if it were a comedy: 

Title: Comedy Club
Synopsis: Comedy club follows the life of an your average ordinary business man, Tyler. Tyler lives a boring life of traveling across the country inspecting deadly car accidents. This life is not providing him with the life he wants causing him to create something never conceived. On his own accord Tyler creates an under ground world of comedians and clowns who come together once a week, gather in a circle, and do their best to make each other laugh. The first rule of comedy club is : you must laugh at comedy club. Comedy sets go on as long as the jokes stay well delivered and are well received.

Fight Club if it were an supernatural fantasy:

Title: Supernatural Club
Synopsis: Tyler lives an ordinary life as a vampire hunting and killing other things, drinking blood, avoiding sunlight, you know, the usual. But this life is boring to him. He's being doing it for centuries and it feels like the same thing over and over. Kill, drink, avoid, repeat. Over and over. He wants excitement in his life. Tyler comes up with a brilliant idea of creating an underground underworld club. At this club all types of supernatural beings come and hang out. Tyler creates the worlds first dance club for the supernatural. In doing this Tyler becomes super rich and famous and lives an awesome life and continues to do so for several hundred years, without anybody questioning how he hasnt aged, until one day he forgets about daylight savings and is tragically killed. But nobody knew, the maid just thought it was dust.

Fight Club if it were about cooking competition:

Title: Culinary Club
Synopsis: The novel Culinary Club follows the life of you're average everyday restaurant chef Tyler Durden. Tyler works at one Jeff Ruby's restaurants, he gets paid well but is quite bored. Every day he makes the same meals over and over again with little to no variation. The constant conjuring up of new dishes for the restaurant has kept Tyler awake for weeks and made him insomnic. The head chef of the restaurant tells him his dishes aren't good enough and to just give up. This puts him over the edge. Tyler leaves his job and rejects societies norms. The following week as his new found mental illness sets in Tyler thinks of the idea of Culinary Club. In this club people come together and cook against each other in a fierce competition. The cooking lasts as long as it has to until a winner is chosen. 

To end this post here is a picture of the T-rex from the first Jurassic Park movie: 

Lets talk about 'Fight Club'

“Fight Club” is an interesting book to say the least. Written from the view point of an insomnic man who lives a boring every day life as a recall analyst and spends his free time ordering furniture from IKEA magazines who’s life is turned upside down when he meets Tyler Durden, shortly after his apartment is blown to bits.

Throughout the novel many interesting things occur. First of all being that two grown men with jobs start an underground fight club that attracts other grown men with jobs. This club serves one purpose: to go against the basic laid down rules of society and as well as being a way to make these people feel free. Every thing about fight club goes against social norms, these men beat the crap out of each other and love it no matter if they win or lose, they just love the rush.

This book is written in the most weird ways I’ve ever seen. The book transitions from the main characters conversations with others to the conversations he has with himself while having conversations with others. The book is also written in quite a jumpy way. One minute he is talking to his boss, the next he is noting how if his boss is wearing  a gray tie it must be Tuesday, the next he is talking about how him and Tyler sabotaged some soups at some fancy rich hotel restaurant. The book flows like the mind of the main character. He is not consistent with any of his thoughts and is mind is constantly traveling from place to place, even though most of those places have nothing to do with the intial conversation he was involved in. By writing like this the author has really embodied the insomnic and metal problems the character is going through. Also, it talks about how it possible to make explosives from parts of soap. You may need that later on, you never know.

Overall,  if dark humored, twisted novels are not your thing I’d recommend staying away from ‘Fight Club,’ but hey, if you’re looking for a new writing style to check out or read about some really interesting characters I would highly recommend reading this novel. It could also mentally scar you though. For instance I was unaware that you could make soup by using human fat. Interesting.

To end this post here is a picture of Dave Franco:

Listicle: 5 Reaons Why Donnie Brasco should have been 'whacked' before the 200th page

Donnie Brasco, A.K.A FBI Agent Joseph D. Pistone is tasked with doing the nearly impossible: infiltrating and becoming a trusted member of the Bonanno crime family. Posing as a jewel thief Agent Pistone spent 6 years of his life undercover, with hardly any family contact, in an operation so secretive that the New York Police Department had him listed as a connected member of the family. Eventually, Pistone is able to gather enough evidence to put hundreds of ‘connected guys’ away for a long time, and does so by spending another 6 years of his life testifying in court rooms.

             1.   He constantly brings in ‘friends’ who are obvious FBI agents trying to be undercover.

Throughout the book ‘Donnie Brasco’ is constantly bringing his ‘old friends’ around his newly found mafia friends. He pushes his mafia people to work with his old friend, a person who he swears “was alright when [he] knew him,” (pg 166) but is clearly an agent. Seriously, how many people do you know who are dying to get into the vending business in Milwaukee that is known to be mafia run? Not many. And anytime a situation comes up where a person needs money all of a sudden Donnie knows this guy that can lend a couple thousand at a moments notice in “good faith with no questions asked. If you’re a mob captain that wouldn’t seem a little bit suspicious?

             2.    Half the time they find out the his friend is an FBI agent

In one special case in the book Donnie brings around a friend is going undercover in Florida and is trying to get some connections. He had been trying in Florida for quite some time with no progress, so the FBI asks Donnie to help in out, which he happily agrees to do. On the first time Donnie brings this random new guy around, showing him off to all his mafia friends telling them what a great guy he is, a guy from Florida walk into the restaurant. As soon as this guy walks in Donnie and his new found friend duck out as quickly as possible. Seems like anybody, espically mafia people, would find that suspicious. The very next day Donnie’s captain Lefty asks him why he’s brining that guy around, that he’s a FBI agent. Somehow Donnie gets out of this extremely sticky situation with a few “hey I didn’t know”’s and some “he was good when I knew him.”
            3.   He acts like an FBI agent

Throughout the novel he constantly tries to act like he isn’t an FBI agent, though I feel he makes it much more obvious. He tries to blend in by not getting involved on his own, he has to get them to involve him, which I think is incredibly obvious. He doesn’t go around getting involved and when a plan is brought up to pull a ‘job’ he pokes holes in it finding ways for them to put off the job. He also refuses to have anything to do with drugs, stealing, really being on any job at all, and says he prefers to do jobs alone, (even though he constantly brings around people he had done previous jobs with).

           4.    The constant and unnecessary use of ‘mob’ language

It’s understandable that in order to  be able to fit in with the mafia people you have to talk like them. That doesn’t mean an F bomb should be dropped in every sentence, or whenever you’re talking to another connected guy it means you’re bullsh*****g. Or when something is too good to be true or sounds you say “Fugehabouit.” It an unnecessary word to say when talking about how good somebodies mother or wife made meatballs. Just say they’re good. That’s all that is needed.

            5.   I really don’t like him in general

I don’t see “Donnie Brasco” as being a hero. I see him as a person who would rather spend 6 years undercover and then another 6 in courtrooms testifying instead of staying home and helping to raise his children and be with his wife. It wasn’t like this was an operation he was assigned to go undercover for, he asked to do it. He dragged out the operation for a longer period of time than needed as well. I give a year, maybe two, at most three, but not six. In three years he should have been able to witness enough and gather enough evidence to put most of those guys away from a long time.

Joseph Pistone is no hero. He is a workaholic distant father he spent more time on the job than with his family. He was entirely obvious is what he was doing, and this just shows how dumb the mafia really is. And he looks nothing like Johnny Depp, (who played him in the movie).

To end this post here is a picture of Leonardo DiCaprio

Truth in Memoir

In my opinion a book needs to be about 78-80% truthful. This allows for the author to embellish slightly, thus providing the reader a more enjoyable and entertaining experience. I also believe that the most important part of a story is the way that it ends, it doesn't matter what road you take as long as you get to the same place. However, in the beginning of the book there should be a disclaimer informing the reader of the made up parts of the story. Half truths are okay. If a person goes to jail for several hours in real life, but makes it 3 months in the book it shouldn't matter. In the end they were in jail, that's the only important detail. If an author makes up some details or interactions they shouldn't be shunned for it. They are doing this in order to make a more entertaining, more compelling story for the readers. There should be a line between genres. If there wasn't people could read a story about some supernatural creature and some how come to the conclusion that it is actually real. A reader should be notified of what genre of book they are going to read to allow them to prepare themselves for what's to come. If the genre is not clear than the reader could make inferences that are not true and confuse the reader. In the end, I think adding details and events to stories is necessary for authors to do. People do it every day when they tell stories to others, what's the difference if an author does it?

To end this post here is a picture of Matthew McConaughey:

Adapting Shutter Island

If tasked with making a production of Shutter Island  the first thing to find is what type of adaption it should be. The book could work as a t.v.show with its constant twists and cliff hangers, however it is a show that would only last for a season, which many studios don't find favorable. In this case that would make the best adaption choice for this book to be a movie. In adapting Shutter Island  by Dennis Lehane the three most essential elements would be choosing the scenes to keep and which to cut, casting the actor, and the soundtrack selections.

The most important choice, I believe, would be the actors. In choosing the actors you need to find a person who is believable, can form to the role, and is somebody the readers and author can see in the role. In this book the actor has to be able to play like they are a hardened war veteran who has suffered traumatic loss and coping with recovering alcoholism. On the surface the actor needs to appear fine and collected but underneath it all he is struggling deeply with his internal demons (Looking at you Leonardo DiCaprio).These elements are essential in order to be able to adequately perform the role of Teddy Daniels. If even one characteristic is missing the character is going to seem off and out of place. Each character has many minute details that are essential for each actor to embody. If a simple twitch isn't shown the movie will lose important characteristics embodies in the book.

In order for the themes to be accurately captured the soundtrack is essential. It needs to be able to frighten and shock the readers as the book did. The soundtrack should be suspenseful and electrifying. If there is no suspense in the music then the movie will be boring.  Nothing will surprise readers or even people viewing the movie for the first time. In  any scary movie when ever there is a twist or shocking moment there is an equally impressive musical score to go with it. Without it the movie is simply bland and unappealing to audiences.

In Shutter Island there are not many scenes that would be able to be cut. As a matter-of-fact nearly every scene would have to be transferred to the big screen. The reason for this is because of the number of twists and turns the book has. Even what appear to be the most minor of scenes will come into play later on in the movie. A simple look at somebody's hands or way a person says something is essential to finding your way through this labyrinth of a book. If anything were removed from movie it would lead to much confusion from the audience, which is not good storytelling. In the end all twists should be wrapped up leaving the audience in awe as to how they didn't see such a thing coming.

To end this post here is a picture of Brad Pitt

Book 1 Project

Become an investigative journalist by signing up for the Sharp Objects: Virtual Experience. This virtual reality game offers you the chance to be thrown into the world of Camille Preaker. You will play as the journalist as she struggles with being thrust into a murder investigation in a town she once called home. You will are able to make Camille’s choices for her as you explore this interactive world. Investigate subjects, talk to police, and find clues. It is up to you to find the killer that has rocked this small town before he/she strikes again.

When Camille Preaker is forced to her home town of Wind Gap, Mississippi many of the problems she tries to run away from confront her face-to-face. You will follow Camille and will take the necessary actions you must as you try to uncover which of the town’s residents could have murdered two preteen girls. As Camille struggles with blatant alcoholism, self-harm and a mother she insists “never loved [her].” Make the decisions that will get you through the investigation and allow you to locate the killer. Investigate a town “so suffocating and small, you tripped over people you hated every day.” You will contact the police and interview every officer you can and develop relationships with all of them. Every resident is a suspect and you are to investigate each one who has a connection to the murder, even your own mother and sister. No person in this town wants you there. You are longer considered an old friend, you are the media, the public attention, and something this town does not want. You must get involved in these people’s lives and find which ones have demons they don’t want getting out.

Not only are you investigating these murders but also the death of your sister. You have to get closer to a mother you never had a connection with and find out what really happened. The problems in this town “[started] long before [anybody saw] them.” You will find that deaths of these two preteen girls wasn’t the first odd death to happen in such a quaint, happy town. You will trace all the towns major events back to the early 80s and find things nobody else ever knew. The small town every thought to believe was so kind and peaceful is something else entirely. The wives of town all gather and gossip about each other while pretending to be the best of friends, meanwhile they would turn on each other in a heartbeat. This investigation not only has the potential to make your career, but to also destroy what little family you have left, play your cards right.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn is considered to an extremely dark book, which does make some readers uncomfortable. The game has been toned down to make it more appropriate to some audiences. However, the game still remains pretty gruesome, so player be warned. Though toned town this game still embodies much of what readers enjoyed about the novel. The drinking, cursing, and awful decisions are still there, but not as heavily influencing on your character. The creators of the game, though trying to remain true to Flynn’s bestseller, did change the way it ends to still leave a bit of surprise to those who’ve read as well as for those who haven’t. The game also includes a tie-in downloadable pack that connects will Flynn’s other best-selling novel, and now major motion picture, Gone Girl. This tie-in will allow for the player to interact with the characters, Nick and Amy Dunne, in the weeks leading up to the opening of Gone Girl. Have fun and good luck.

To end this post here is a picture of Channing Tatum

What is a book?

A book is an adventure. A book is something that will take you to a place you have never been and never would be if it hadn't been given to you. Unlike movies or plays books give you a world that is made up but allow you to make it your own. The world isn't imagined for you like in a movie it comes from your own imagination. The author may have had specific images in mind when writing a book but a book still allows you the freedoms to design your own world and characters.

A kindle or an iPad is not a book. A book is something that you can physically hold and contains paper and ink. You can't adjust the brightness of the book or charge it. You can't leave the app open and come back to it later, you fold the page where you left off. To me a book needs to be felt. It needs to be able to be seen and put on a shelf when you are finished with it as a way of triumphantly saying "look what I have done." Books should be seen in an accumulation of stacks and not scrolls. You shouldn't have to scroll down a bookshelf, you have to browse it. To be able to look at all the work and creativity that these authors have put into their work.

The great thing about books are that you can use them any time and anywhere. The book is not going to die on you when you're in the middle of the climax and it isn't going to constrict you to a 3 foot leash attached to a wall. You are free to roam and go where you please. You can even bring it in the bath tub and not risk completely ruining it. (They are also cheaper to replace than any iPad or Kindle.)

The best thing about books is the experience you get while reading. The sound of the turning page, the smell of a new book, the crunch when folding a corner, the notes written in the margins. These are what make a book what it is. (Also, if there is ever some sort of post apocalyptic waste land books will still be around. The iPads and Kindles of the world will most likely not work. Books will be the only entertainment and can also be used to kindle a fire.)

To end this post here is a picture of Ben Affleck