Tanner Storck

    9-27-20      There is something so intriguing about not giving a specific name to characters in a book. In Frankenstein the monster is simply called The Monster. In Interview with the Vampire , the interviewer is never named. In A Wild Sheep Chase , the protagonist is not named. In Annihilation none of the main characters are named. In the previous books we read in class, there were some named characters but in this book there are no named characters. I think this adds an extra layer of mystery to the story, making the reader more suspicious of all the characters and who they really are.                 Based on what I’ve heard about the film adaption of Annihilation , it sounds like the characters are all given names and backstories. I think for many books and films it is important to give characters names. This story is very unique and by not naming the characters, it allows the ...

Unlike in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire , Haruki Murakami’s A Wild Sheep Chase does not contain a physical monster. The horrors found in this book deal more with the confusing nature of reality. What is real? What is being imagined? It all comes back to the question that the narrator asks: Does my life matter? A Wild Sheep Chase differs from the previous books we read in that it is more so a fantasy novel than a horror novel. Today, this book does not seem all that horrifying but it may have been more so when it was originally released. Another possibility for this is that Japanese horror is more defined by fantasy elements and the unknown. The values discussed in this book are clear. The narrator seeks it throughout the books entirety. He wants to know if his life matters. I think this theme can be found in many books and films both new and old. The way the story is written is quite unique by being broken up into parts. Each part jumps t...

9/14/20 When I first heard the title of this book I was concerned. I mostly associate vampires with teen romantic drama films and TV series. The fact that the title is an interview...with a vampire makes it all the stranger. It sounds like a comedy but it is most certainly not.  This book has an interesting format. The title is in no way misleading because it is actually an interview with a vampire. The interview format of it is original but since it is not an interview with a human it is much more intriguing. Throughout the book, we learn about Louis’ past. We learn about how he became a vampire and his troublesome, centuries-long journey. He moves in and out of relationships, but some of his relationships (Lestat specifically) seem to always come back to haunt him. Parts of this book feel like your typical teen vampire story. There are some elements taken from Dracula and other iconic vampires but there are some aspects of the book that make it more modern and diverse. Th...

 Blog Post for 9-7-20 Class: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the iconic story of Dr. Frankenstein’s reanimation of life. The story has been told around the world and the novel is not the only way the story has been told. The story was converted into a film adaption numerous times. Other films and books have taken inspiration from Frankenstein . The themes presented in the novel can be seen across countless pieces of literature and media. Many science fiction stories revolve around humans creating something that they end up disliking in some way. These themes are evident, whether it be a creature, monster, or robot story. The lifeforms created by the humans simply want to feel what humans feel but in many of these stories, the things created by the humans become the antagonists. The themes found in Frankenstein were important then and they are just as meaningful today. Although the story is very deep and complex, there is one very clear point made. The monster simply wants to be...

 I look forward to this class. My favorite genres have always been fantasy and science fiction. I can't wait to read and learn about the literature of my favorite genres.