The Lazarus Project

Well, the first thing I thought was about the bible, and really the only thing I know about the story is that Lazarus was raised from the dead, but looking into it there is another Lazarus story about a un named rich man and a beggar named Lazarus, which I think is what this is going to turn into, but we shall see which one it actually relates too. After reading this first section I have yet to decide if I enjoy reading this story, which means usually I wouldn't even finish it. If I don't get into a story right off the bat I typically just throw it away. I mean I really want something to catch my eye right away. The way Hemon writes is very descriptive and takes away from my visual creativity of a story which might be the reason why I'm not that into it. Also it seems like he is writing this for a movie, or play... This Chief is this story is a very paranoid sole, I feel that he feel threaten by anyone around, not just this poor immigrant that he killed when he knocked on the door.. I understand that this is a pretty short blog today, but i don't really have much to say on this yet, I just didn't find it that interesting

Movie 3/9/2010

I have enjoyed this movie so far, the fact that a man is so passionate about a book that he feels he has connected in a way that makes him obsessed with finding a writer is a normal activity for me too, maybe not in the sense of a book but definitely with my hobbies. I mean when i decide to buy something, I do hours upon hours of researching a product, and reviews, blogs, modifications that can be made, add ons.. I look into every area of that item in an attempt to decide on what I want most, Jessica always says I'm obsessed with my hobbies and decision making habits, but in reality I just want to know everything I can about that subject, always have and that is how I am. When I started brewing beer, I must of bought 10 books on it, and have read through them multiple times, not to mention the amount of forums i look at almost on a daily basis, this has happened when i started looking at my back packing gear, took me months to find a pack that I wanted and to find the right stove, and so on and so on. That knowledge of knowing is a very powerful addiction, and I feel that the narrator wants to hold that knowledge, it is a very interesting documentary about a man that he feels wrote such an amazing novel just vanished. I am amazed with how many books he has read and the fact he remember so much about each one, there are many books I have read that I can't remember anything from them, at least not in the detail that he can go into. This movie has interested me enough that I now would like to read this book to see if I would feel the same about it, and want to know how the writer was to write such amazing words... I really want to finish this movie so I can find out what happened to this man, and if this lemon was worth the squeeze for this guy... good thing I plan on coming to class on friday

The Same River Twice Pt. 4

The last section of the book is more serious then the rest of it, but it should be he is slowing coming to the realization that life isn't worth living if you can't share it and that he is no longer in his youth, he escaped to Florida to get clean and it be his monastery and this is where I feel he discovers his life. "We were de-evolved humans who'd chosen proximity to the foundations of our existence, living on neither land nor water, but in a foreign world of both. The transient existence prevented anyone from getting too close. No one asked question. The choice to live in a swamp implied a past that was somehow worse, therefore worth leaving." This quote Offutt is being to see that in his search for himself he has actually become lost from society and is no longer a member of it. On page 169, the second paragraph starting with "Years ago,....I had entered the world to become a man and wound up truly caring about very little......Jacob was coming for me and I would meet him freely. Hoka hey." this portion is the beginning of his rebirth into a world which he kept running from, "A tremendous gust lifted my feet. My body tipped over the bay, held by wind to the railing, while my legs lifted behind me. for several seconds I hung in the air, waiting for the blast that would crush me like the pelican. I creamed at the hurricane, daring it to come, cursing it for its refusal." In my opinion this is the true point when he changes from a loaner to the man he becomes later in the book. " The wind shifted and my legs dropped, knees striking the concrete. Another gust pinned me to the rail. I shrieked, unable to hear myself..... In the sudden rain I realized I was crying, utterly frustrated by my failure to be defeated." In that moment is where he was born again, just as his baby crowned went back in the did it again, he was realizing it was time for him to grow up, to finally accept that he was 30 and his youth was fading and he didn't want to be 60 and still chasing his youth. Later on he is married and moves to start school and I feel this is the point where you see his rehabilitation from his visit to Florida and he says "The fist year was hard and I considered leaving, an old pattern. Rita convinced me otherwise." might of been the first time he didn't leave something that was pressuring him. when his son was born Offutt says "his birth was my rebirth." but I believe that it was the hurricane that was his rebirth and this was his first steps at being a man. Finally I believe Offutt at the end of his book is at piece with himself and life. He is still surrounded by nature but he now feels as if he has a purpose and a reason of existence, and that is shown with the love he has for his son and his closing words of "Daddy loves you."


"The alligator began walking parallel to the boat, head high as if proud. I felt both envy and awe." I think this experience is really a universal feeling when people that enjoy nature see this, the envy that the alligator is so "free" and the awe that a creature has been around for so long. This quote doesn't have much depth in the point of him turning his life around but more the visualization and beauty that nature has.

The Same River Twice, Pt. 2

I am really enjoying this book much lighter than the other writings that we have read this semester. Also I enjoy that almost each chapter is like a day in a normal life, not everything is connected and does always flow perfectly together. The statement "Two hundred years back, someone asked Boone if he had ever been lost. He answered no, but that he'd once been bewildered for three days. I knew exactly how he felt." I agree with that statement, especially in the world we live in today it is almost impossible to not know where you came from, but not know where your going is possible... Sometimes I do wish i could live this guys life, seems kinda exciting just doing things and experience the world. "The billboard always tells you where you are." I've never despised politesse, but to each there own, that is one reason i always try to be polite because i feel it makes a big difference in the world when people offer a lighter with a pack of smokes, and other things. The second paragraph on 72 killed me, it reminds me of my sister and her husband when they found out she was pregnant, he was reading everything he could, and very very stressed over it more than my sister was. I feel like I will also be this type of person when it is time for me to have children but we will see. "Our wives are grumpy, sleepy, dopey, happy, bashful and sneezy.... his wife's doc." I thought was a really witty statement that someone would come up with but yet does seem pretty perfect for that moment, and not sure if that is just made up or actually happened, seem liked a pretty perfect moment.
On page 78, he meets the missionary, and listening to him talk about his mission to help save people because of Armageddon, to me that is ridiculous, so many radical faith goers use this to get followers, and this is how strange cults are made.. haha... but it does remind me of one time i was surfing in Myrtle beach and some missionaries approached me and wanted to talk about their mission in life.... I am just not that interested, but if it was going to lead to a meal and maybe save my life I guess I could listen for a bit.
I could write about almost every page during this section all the hitchhiking is enjoyable to read. but my laptop is about to die and i think I have rambled already to much.