Author Archives: adrajagopal

A Study Into Coming Out / My Reflection of a Pandemic Senior

Posted on by under Literature, Moden Literature, Thing-a-Majigs

For my independent reading book, I chose This is How it Always is by Laurie Frankel. Because of this, the voice I decided to amplify was the trans voice. My voices project is called A Study Into Coming Out, which focuses on how both remaining in the closet and coming out of it can influence both the person in the closet and the people outside of it.

Link to project here

One of the most influential ideas to come out of this, for me at least, is the idea of coming out multiple times. In movies, there’s a big build-up to this one momentous occasion, where it’s told once; then judgment day is upon them. However, my research shows that just isn’t the case. Sure, there’s the first time to their friends or the time they tell their parents that are really nerve-racking, but there’s also the thousands of times when they tell strangers. Every time they meet a new person, they have to come out. In the words of Simon Spier, “Why is straight the default?”(Allbertali). Another influential idea that I discovered was the idea of existing outside the binary. About half of my sources have to do with characters or people who come out as non-binary. It’s exactly what it says: outside the binary. People are right in that gender is a spectrum, but then some people don’t even exist on that spectrum. They hover above or around it. But just because they don’t exist on the gender spectrum we know doesn’t make them any less valid. There’s a whole world out there of demi-boys, agender people, non-binary people, genderfluid people, and genderqueer people that I didn’t even start to scratch the surface on. There’s so much left to learn.

What I hope people take away from my project is that there may be a million reasons why someone comes out or doesn’t. I also want them to know that their reaction and support(or lack thereof) makes a noticeable impact. Every person within the voices project was supported by someone in their life; that’s how they were able to grow and feel comfortable. When a person comes out to you, they may want you to be that person. On the flip side, if a person doesn’t come out to a larger group, even if you think it may help them, there may be other reasons. Above all, though, it is not your choice. Coming out is something so extremely personal to the LGBT+. By coming out, this person is choosing to announce that they are a marginalized identity, they may be attacked, but they will be themselves. That, to choose to open themselves up to discrimination, is an incredibly brave choice. It’s also one you can’t make for them. Even if you think you are helping someone, or for whatever reason you may have to do it, outing someone is extremely detrimental. All these stories prove it. So, whatever you take away from this collection, at least take away the idea that it isn’t your choice, it’s theirs.

Moving on from the project, I believe the most important thing I learned about myself at Naperville North is that it’s ok to fail. People say it all the time, but no one really wants to fail. However, North pushed and pulled at me in ways I had never been pushed or pulled. It forced me to grow. Sometimes, I couldn’t reach the benchmark. But that’s ok because I knew what I needed to work toward and that I could work harder toward it. Through Naperville North, I was able to discover that failure is not an absolute negative. It is neutral. Only what we decide to feel about failure can make us hate it or appreciate it.

Some advice I would give the class under us is to not be a senior in a global pandemic(seriously, it sucks). Besides that, something you can control would be the effort you put in. Trust me, I know that once you find out where you’re going to school, the last thing you want to complete is some busy work in classes, or write yet another essay. But do it. Even if it’s the worst thing you’ve written because you can’t be bothered, turn in something. Yes, it’s important for your grade, but it’s also important for you. It gives you a sense of finality, of “At least I turned in something”. As every senior has, I’ve been hit by senioritis. However, I kept chugging along, even if it was at the pace of a snail. I urge you to do the same.

Shadow and Bone: From a book Reader’s perspective

Posted on by under Literature

For those of you who have not been bombarded with promotional material for Shadow and Bone, that’s impressive. However, Instagram knows that I love books, and have read all the books in the Grisha verse. As everyone knows, books are always better than movies. So, did Shadow and bone stack up?

Now here’s the thing. I really have movie adaptations. All my favorite series have been crippled by them. Shadowhunters, Percy Jackson, I am number 4, Ender’s Game, Artemis Fowl. Not one of my childhood books has emerged unscathed. So, I came into this expecting Shadow and Bone to an absolute shadow of the books. However, I was pleasantly surprised. What sets apart this series from the others? The plot.

This TV series is made up of two series. There is the title series, Shadow and Bone, and then there is the sequel series that features a completely new cast of characters than the original, Six of Crows. These characters are completely different from the first. Shadow and Bone feature characters that are royalty, that are important. Their action plays a large influence upon the importance and stability of the country. Six of Crows focuses on thugs and criminals from the slums. Their tag line is literally, “No Mourners, No Funerals.” Because they understand their death has no meaning. And yet, everyone loves the crew who tried to pull off an impossible heist because why not? They are far more beloved than the original set of characters. So, the TV show combines them both, and this is the genius of the show that enthralls book readers.

Since Six of Crows takes place two years later, the author, Leigh Bardugo, created an entirely new plot for the book fans. While the events of the first book transpire, the characters from the dreg’s gang take on a job that was never seen. While the sun saint tries to dispel the fold, the crows undertake another impossible heist while staying completely in character. And that’s the fun in the show for those of us who love the Grisha verse, and for those who don’t know it. While new viewers are meeting the characters for the first time, those of us who already love them are still getting new content. Just as everyone else is amazed by the plot, so are we because it’s just as new to us.

Moving onto my personal reaction, I must say the casting and setting are absolutely stellar. For those of you who have not read the books (you should), the characters were uncanny in their role; especially Jesper. It was amazing how true the show stayed to the book. Even more so, I liked how they played upon the character’s thought. In the books, the chapters switch perspectives, so you get each character’s internal monologues. You can’t really replicate that in a show. However, they still managed to convey each character’s desire while missing that critical part of their storytelling.

As a die-hard Grisha verse fan, I was extremely worried when I heard the Riverdale director would bring my beloved world to life. Despite the horrible possibilities, the show managed to bring the wonder out of the books and onto the screen, while making me feel like I was cracking the books open for the first time. What are you waiting for? Go watch it!

Here’s Why I love Public Domain, and Why You Should Too:

Posted on by under Classic Literature, Literature

The Great Gatsby, Mrs. Dalloway, and In Our Time. On the surface, these books have very little in common. They have different messages, are part of different literary movements, and really are not similar. The one thing they do share, however, is the fact that they entered the public domain on January 1st, 2021. You may be thinking, why am I so excited about this? What makes public domain day for a book so special?

According to Standford law, public domain, “refers to creative materials that are not protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright, trademark, or patent laws. The public owns these works, not an individual author or artist. Anyone can use a public domain work without obtaining permission, but no one can ever own it.”(Stim) So here’s the general gist. A set amount of years after an author’s passing, there is nothing to gain from copyrighting their works. So, they enter the public domain. Everyone can use them, and no one can own them. It’s truly communal art at its finest.

So, Gatsby entered the public domain this year, and people were pretty excited. With the trainwreck this past year was, people needed some creative outlets for the upcoming year. For example, there is The Great Gatsby Except Gatsby Says Bestie Instead of Old Sport by fiopsonly. Also, a large portion of Disney fans are lobbying for a Great Gatsby movie… in muppet form? (While I personally think it would be amusing to see Mrs. Piggy as Daisy, it doesn’t seem likely because of Disney’s own copyright issues) My whole point is that the public domain not only allows us access to such pieces, but it also allows us to expand upon them.

Now I’m not going to sit here and say that replacing the phrase “Old Sport” with “Bestie” vastly improves the story. It doesn’t. But here is what the public domain can do for the public. Now, authors can use the plot of gatsby in a modern adaptation. You may be thinking, couldn’t they do that before? Well, not really. They would have had to buy the rights, and those rights don’t really transfer to a plot-based similarity. If you aren’t quite clear on what I’m saying, think of it this way. Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew was adapted into 10 Things I Hate About You. Its not anywhere close to the original text, but its major plot points are anchored in the novel. However, we can relate to Patrick’s ballads much more than Petruchio’s. Even though they lament the same thing, we understand Patric more because he exists in our world.

I believe that existing in the public domain can do this for all texts. In reference to Gatsby, we don’t live in the roaring 20s where we can buy a mansion across the lake from our beloved. But the message of that Unattainable dream is still relatable. That is why the public domain is so important. While there is nothing quite like the original text, having that story packaged in a relevant way to us makes it that much easier for someone to understand what Fitzgerald was saying, despite his not saying it.

What is public domain: https://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/public-domain/welcome/

Other works released to the Public Domain this year: https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2021/

36 questions to happily ever after… just not the kind you’re thinking of

Posted on by under Literature, Moden Literature

It’s been a year since we’ve been in lockdown, and it’s made me reflect on what relationships are important to me. What “love” means to me. We all aspire to find that one someone, but that’s not all there is. There’s familial love, platonic love, and all sorts of others we as a society just don’t seem to value quite as much as romantic love. What makes romantic love so much more important?

 

In a study by Arthur Aron, he asks participants 36 questions of varying intrusion into their personal lives. He wanted to see if intimacy can be accelerated between them. In the end, it wasn’t the time they spent together or the way they were sitting, it was a mutual vulnerability that really connected people. When asked to look into the eyes of each other for two minutes, the participants could do it and said it helped their bond. In the end, the study proved. Mutual vulnerability does lead to a form of connection.

 

While in quarantine, I’ve lost touch with people, but I have become a lot closer with others. Even my pen-pals, I feel incredibly connected to, more than before. It made me wonder, Aron’s study never mentioned “love” in the way people think does. Those who know of this study often reference it like 36 questions to fall in love but that not what it offers. It does offer love, but not necessarily romantic love. It connects people and makes them familiar with each other. It creates a platonic connection. And so, I wonder if I’ve inadvertently answered these 36 or likeness with these people. Even if I only see them twice a year, I still know them, because I understand their fears.

 

So, when I was reminded about this study, I wasn’t surprised that people took it in such a romantic context. Who wouldn’t want love in two hours? However, I just feel like some people were cheated out of a great friendship. Maybe these questions could repair families. Why does everything have to center around romantic relationships?

 

The greeks had six words for love: Eros, Philia, Ludus, Agape, Pragma, and Philautia. As a civilization, they valued Phila, or friendship, more than eros, or romance. I always found it strange that we always know that our friends have our back, yet we have an inherent mistrust in love. When we are young, we do value Philia. But as we grow older and move into adulthood, that value falls away. Its no longer treated as a form of love. I find that really sad.

 

We’ve been stuck indoors for a year now. Think about who you’ve stayed in touch with. You survived a once-in-a-century pandemic with them. We are all soon to embark on our own paths, whether that be college, vocational school, military, or otherwise. Don’t give up on philia. Eros is important but no more important than our friends. Keep them close.

Study:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0146167297234003

NYT article: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/style/no-37-big-wedding-or-small.html?auth=link-dismiss-google1tap

description of the grecian loves: https://www.yesmagazine.org/health-happiness/2013/12/28/the-ancient-greeks-6-words-for-love-and-why-knowing-them-can-change-your-life/

Quietness – Rumi

Posted on by under Classic Literature, Literature

Quietness- by Rumi

Inside this new love, die.

Your way begins on the other side.

Become the sky.

Take an axe to the prison wall.

Escape.

Walk out like someone suddenly born into color.

Do it now.

You’re covered with thick cloud.

Slide out the side. Die,

And be quiet. Quietness is the surest sign

that you’ve died.

Your old life was a frantic running

from silence.

 

The speechless full moon

comes out now.

 

      As a poet who was striving for enlightenment, Rumi uses poetry as a vessel to tell the world about life lessons and how to make meaning of our time on Earth. In his poem, “Quietness”, Rumi uses silence as a metaphor for a transitionary period, creating the idea that letting a facet of yourself die is good, and helps promote personal growth.

      In the first three lines, Rumi goes right into the message using a second person’s commanding tone. Coupled with his end-stopped sentences, it creates a compelling argument stylistically as we read the poem. He tells the reader, right off the bat, “ Inside this new love, die.”(1) Even within the first line, he brings up the idea of death and gives the command for us to die. He combines the idea of comfort within love and fear within death and allows us to feel the embrace of love, even in death. The second line of “your way begins on the other side.”(2) seems mystical, and implies a journey, even beyond this realm. The choice of using the words, “way” and “other side” help convey this, creating our journey to the afterlife.

      The third line helps emphasize this point when he says, “Become the sky.”(3) By allowing ourselves to die(or a facet of our selves), he says we can transcend corporeal form and meaning, painting the meaning of our life. His use of words like, “die” and “become” help set the tone. One is very distinctive and harsh. The other is the gradual development. By contrasting this, he is able to help view death in a positive light; it’s something to work toward, note fear.  He continues this thought in the fourth and fifth lines, telling his followers to, “Take an axe to the prison wall./Escape.”(4-5) Once again, the use of end-stopped sentences is a clear stylistic choice, bringing out the urgency within his words. With his combination of short diction and frequent periods, Rumi rushes the reader, almost forcing them past our point of hesitation. Throughout this section, he also uses assonance to help section the transition of his poem, despite only having to stanzas. The use of words such as “die”, “side”, and “sky” help create the illusion of a transition into the next phase, despite there being none. The sixth line is where the transformative meaning of the poem in regard to the self starts to flower. After escaping the prison of your mind, then you can, “Walk out like someone suddenly born into color./Do it now”(6-7) This represents the shedding of the previous self. Once again, the succinct and direct addressing creates a powerful message. He contrasts this with the idea of quietness. While the connotation of quiet is usually audible, Rumi uses wordplay and context to shift the meaning from calm and quiet noise to a bleak color scheme. Comparing this to the self, he calls out those who cannot existing color; they are quiet and dead, for “Quietness is the surest sign/ that you’ve died.”(10/11) Once again, the use of assonance couples together these two lines, separating them from the rest of the block. In addition, the imagery he spins allows the reader to truly understand the implications of a quiet soul, and drive home his point. This is further supported when he says, “ You’re covered with thick cloud/ slide out the side.”(8-9) Metaphorically speaking, clouds often represent confusion or a person being lost. Rumi is calling the old soul lost, and no longer relevant. By using the adjective of a “thick” cloud, the metaphor is further implied as someone who is very lost; someone whose soul, whose mind is extremely quiet. 

     One direct contrast that further divides this stanza is the distinct lack of end-stopped sentences. In fact, Rumi moves into enjambment, which is the exact opposite of what he was doing previously. This change halfway through the poem once again signifies a transition but also signifies confusion. In the first portion of the stanza, Rumi uses end-stopped sentences because he is certain that he is right. He is commanding the reader to follow his lead. But as the “thick cloud”(8) starts to appear, even his vision is clouded, showing how muddied the old self truly has become.

     The last two lines in this stanza wrap up the initial thought but also brings it to a nice close. By saying that, “Your old life was a frantic running / from silence.”(12/13), Rumi acknowledges the human plight of trying to avoid this “quietness.” by using words such as “frantic”, he perpetuates that hurried tone, as if death truly is upon their heels. By separating the “from silence”(13) using enjambment, Rumi can isolate it, but also create this disjoined connection to the first part as if to understand the effort put into escaping it, even if it was futile.

     The final portion of the poem is significant because of how it parsed away from the rest. While it is physically parsed away, there is no mention of  “death” in any form, despite being abundant in the previous stanza. Quite frankly, the use of the moon, a symbol for the calm of the night, as a connection to the silence of the heart is odd. “The speechless full moon”(14) is the source of beauty, a muse, an inspiration for many. Despite its connotations, it ignites the soul back into color. For Rumi to pair it with the adjective “speechless”, shows us that even quiet can be multi-faceted, just like humans. While many crave that tranquil calm, not all calm is good, and this line showcases it better than others do. The final enjambed line of “comes out now.”(15) connects to the previous thought. The peace of the soul, though in full color can now come out. While it is quiet, it is not silent. There is an important distinction to make between the two words. By separating the last line from the previous one, he is able to do that, creating a semblance of that calm through the tone for the reader.

      Overall, Rumi’s use of contradicting stylistic choices helps bridge the gap between life and death as well as stagnation and growth.

 

Pride and Prejudice and Star Wars?

Posted on by under Uncategorized

Recently on Netflix, the show Bridgerton has been extremely popular, with its twisted tales and lavish costumes and scenery. One of the tell-tale signs of the Regency era is the empire waist, where the waistline is right under the bust

As an avid historical fan, I can immediately tell apart the Georgian, Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian eras based on the types of dress the women wear. However, if you do not spend your free time researching the intricacies of skirt shape, it can be hard to pick it out. The regency era, with its stand out gowns, is actually one of my favorite eras.
The gowns themselves are very beautiful, but the art that came from the era was even more popular. During this time period, we saw a resurgence of female writers such as Jane Austen. This era is known for its romanticism as new intellectual art was born. In my opinion, the greatest invention of this era came from the great mind of Mary Shelley, the brilliant author of Frankenstein. If you have ever tried to read Frankenstein and promptly put it down because of its flowery language, fear not; that was Shelley’s older brother trying to “make it better”. If you find the original manuscript, it’s much better.

Now here’s the thing, When placed alongside the other works of the era, Frankenstein seems a bit out of place. Books of this era talk of presenting to society, the social season, and of course, romance. Frankenstein seems so out of place from the other writers of the age. So what prompted Shelley to write such a horrific novel?
Well, she was the daughter of a political writer and a feminist. Looking through this lens, it makes perfect sense that such a novel was created from the mind of this house. Instead of the grandeur we often imagine, Shelley found herself trapped within the construct of marriage, yet scorned for what she is. In my opinion, that bears a startling resemblance to the monster in her own story. She called out the horrors of her own society in the way she knew how; by writing it.

 

In doing so, she unwittingly created an entirely new genre: Science fiction. So the stereotypical geeks that everyone thinks about when it comes to star wars and star trek? They were all formed from a young teenager trying to avoid the standards society set for her.

Her creation of this genre was nothing short of genius. It truly is amazing how much of an impact she has had on the modern world. However, I can’t be the only one that sees the horrific irony in the sci-fi community today. Women are often scorned for liking such things. If they aren’t they are often assumed to be fake fans. We get quizzed about the different timelines, the events, and all other measures meant to clear out the fake fans. This haven that Shelley created for women has been reclaimed and is keeping out its original audience. I understand the importance of modern science fiction and its messages, but I also think it’s important to understand its origins. If you’ve watched Star Wars or even others, I urge you to read Frankenstein. (Once again, read Mary’s version. Percy Shelley did not know the definition of concise; its awful) Not only is it a thrilling read, its messages still apply today, and created such an important section of our culture.

On Halloween, little girls are often asked what they want to be and are promptly shoved toward the princess section. With a little nudge, that section could open to a whole other space, where a prince isn’t needed; they can build their own story without the need of a partner. I believe that Shelley’s message has been lost to time, and I believe we should all bring it back. It is one of the newest formulated genres, and it was created by someone that many of us can relate to: a teenager who just wants a choice in life. So please, go read the book. Maybe Science Fiction will take on a new meaning. Maybe the things you love frighten others. Maybe it will open up our minds to the alternative perspectives that we don’t consider.

Sources:
Mary Shelley:https://www.biography.com/writer/mary-shelley
The Strange and Twisted Life of Frankenstein: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-strange-and-twisted-life-of-frankenstein

 

Why Everyone should read Chick Lit(Yes, Even Guys)

Posted on by under Literature, Moden Literature

 

For those of you who are unaware, Chick Lit is a genre that, as described by GoodReads as, “ a genre fiction that addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly. Although it sometimes includes romantic elements, chick lit is generally not considered a direct subcategory of the romance novel genre, because the heroine’s relationship with her family or friends is often just as important as her romantic relationships.” Sounds great, right? So why does Chick Lit get such a bad rep? And what can you do about it?

The genre is defined by its categorization of a female heroine. When I asked my female friends if they wanted to read a chick Lit book I liked, they were all for it. Yet when I recommended it to my guy friends, they all shirked at the idea. You probably know why. The common responses are “I don’t read Chick Lit.”, “That just doesn’t interest me.”, or more simply put, “No.” This is something that not only exists within this genre though. Ask your guy friends vs. your girlfriends. How many have finished Percy Jackson or Harry potter? How many have finished Hunger Games or Nancy Drew? When my friends always ask me to recommend books, I throw list upon list at them. I always seemingly get the same response. “I couldn’t get past the first book.” The one common denominator: they all had female protagonists. Now, I’ve read dozens of books with male protagonists, and I like them, but it’s hard to relate. We don’t have the same struggles. However, whenever I find a book that has a well written female protagonist (aka NOT Bella Swan), I find myself immersed in the novel. And it’s the same with other identities, like race. As John Green Said, literature is about connecting, and I find myself within these characters. 

So why should you read Chick Lit? Well, if you’re female, you will find something to relate to, regardless of the plot. It’s in a world of books written for different people, it’s a genre just for you. You will be able to relate to the characters strongly and understand the plight they face. Also, they are pretty light reads. Sometimes, all you want is to not think. A nice Chick Lit book will give you a few hours of bliss.

More importantly, though, I think men should read Chick Lit. So much of the world is connected through literature. We empathize because of it. Yet, in a ~shocking~ twist of events, men seem to avoid Chick Lit like the plague. It’s seen as embarrassing to read, despite having a really meaningful storyline. With their hesitancy to read these books, they put forth the idea that men’s issues are important. Women? It’s embarrassing to talk about theirs. So, break the norm and read some books. You may find yourself understanding people in a way you couldn’t before

While most books in this group do have romance, they cover so much more. I encourage everyone, regardless of gender to pick up a book with a female protagonist. Even if it’s not true Chick Lit, it will still leave an impression on you as a person.

 

My Personal Recommendations

Fiction: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L Konisburg

Fantasy: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Historical Fiction: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Mystery: One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Autobiography: Becoming by Michelle Obama

 

Audiobooks: Should you use them?

Posted on by under Uncategorized

When I go into a bookstore, the first thing I do is smell the books. Sure, I may look a teensy bit psychotic while doing so, but it lets me know about the store itself. Where the book has been and has it been stored with other books, or sitting in a warehouse, forgotten. When reading, I like to read physical books or e-books because I know how much I have left and if there is going to be another plot twist. (there no way the happy ending is here with 200 pages left) Most of all, it’s the ability to imagine the individual world and characters, to create a world only you envision in that way. So, it makes sense that I was hesitant about audiobooks. There is no smell or history, you’re constantly in the limbo of how much is left, and someone is feeding you the words. Your imagination is at the mercy of their vocal inflection and tone. Because of all of this, I thought I would hate audiobooks. They seem to take away everything I love about reading. So I never used it

Fast forward to this year. I finished reading this book, Aurora Rising and loved it. That’s when I realized the author had also written the Illuminae Files. For those of you who don’t know, the Illuminae files are a popular book series. The only issue for me was that I couldn’t get over the formatting. Words were crossed out to make it like a classified folder, and it made reading the book hard. Yet, I had heard so many amazing things about the book. So, I decided to try the audiobook. Here are my thoughts:

First off, the book is amazing. Both the plot and characters are deep and complex. I do have to admit, I wouldn’t choose an audiobook over reading. It’s a very different experience, and I prefer the visual. However, listening to the novel really helped me read it, and those who read the story were great voice actors. So, if you want to use them, go for it! they are enjoyable and offer a relaxing experience. However, if you are like me, yet you still want to try an audiobook, here are some tips to make it easier:

  1. Listen while doing something you dislike: Have to do laundry? no one likes it, but having the audiobook gives you something else to focus on while you do it. it gives you an easy reprieve from mundane tasks.
  2. Listen to it before bed: people say not to use technology before bed, but no blue light is around while listening to audiobooks. It’s a great way to relax and get a good night’s sleep while knocking out some books.
  3. choose a genre you like: look, we all fancy ourselves a Dicke’s reader. But the truth is, if you’re not interested in the novel, you won’t want to listen. If you want, pick up a beach read in to listen to the romance play out.

Audiobooks aren’t for everyone. However, they still provide a great alternative for those who are short on time or just don’t have access to books. If you want some, head over to North’s digital library, or the NPL digital library.(P.S, my favorite app is libby)

Happy reading!(and listening)

It’s time: This is why you should use fountain pens.

Posted on by under Fountain Pens, Thing-a-Majigs

For those of you who have known me since eighth grade, you knew this was coming. Some people collect cards, and others collect snowglobes. For me, it’s the eloquent fountain pen. Now, I’m about 70% sure an image of Thomas Jefferson writing the constitution popped into your head. (And you are correct; he used a Boston safety pen to write it) However, this instrument is not a relic, it’s just as relevant today as it was 200 years ago.

This here is a diagram of how a fountain pen works. Have you ever had a pen explode in your bag, dousing everything in black or red? This is the same concept, except it’s controlled, and it will not douse your bag(most likely). in most pens, there is an ink reservoir. Some are known as bladder converters, while others are a piston.

Bladder converter on a pilot metro

Piston Converter on a Lamy Safari

Personally, I am in the realm of thought that pistons are superior. They are easier to fill. This “feeds” into the feed(see what I did there?) and distributes the ink in a controlled fashion to the nib. Because of this, less pressure is needed to remove the ink from the pen, so long writing sessions become easy-peasy lemon-squeezy, helping to knock out whatever you may need to write.

Another important aspect of the build of the pen is the country in which is it manufactured. Some pens, like Lamy, Pelikan, and MontBlanc are german which means their nibs will write broader, or thicker. On the other hand, Japanese pens, like Pilot, Platinum, and Sailor have finer lines. Personally, I use extra-fine nibs, even on Japanese pens. I love that crisp, thin line that showcases your handwriting. If you prefer a thicker line or want to fully showcase the properties of your ink, using a larger nib or a German pen may be the way to go. So now you know how the pen works. This is where the fun part begins.

The absolute best part of using fountain pens is ink. Remember in middle school, when everyone would have giant packs of Papermate flair pens because there were so many colors? Fountain pen ink comes in thousands of colors. If you want to see for yourself, check out https://www.mountainofink.com/, where there are reviews for nearly every ink on the planet. Inks can have also sorts of properties. Whether they have glitter, change color, or have really good shading, there is something for everyone. One brand, Noodler’s, has a line of bulletproof ink. Even an ink removing laser developed by MIT can’t remove it. (Yep, they tried!) Some simply have an amazing history behind them.

Tyrian Purple, for example, is one that really piqued my interest. For those of you who don’t know, Roman senators had purple robes because they were a status symbol. The dye used for them was harvested off the Phoenician coast and was extremely expensive. This ink is a recreation of that specific color. Even more interesting is that this dye doesn’t fade. Instead, it gets brighter as time goes on.

This ink, called Dark Matter, has an even more interesting story. The owner of this brand ended up getting his hands on a bottle of ink from Los Alamos, which was where the Manhattan Project took place. I own this bottle, and the color itself is really nice. While it is black, it writes like a very dark green, which adds a bit of flair to my words.

Lamy Safari(left) and Pilot Metropolitan(right)

If you have learned more than you ever wanted to know about fountain pens and wish to leave, this is your chance. However, on the slim possibility you want to get involved in this hobby, I have some great suggestions for you to start with.  The two pens I showcased earlier, the pilot metropolitan and the Lamy Safari are both dubbed the best starter pens. Personally, I prefer the nib on the pilot, but as said earlier, it all comes down to preference.

If you like the idea of the pen but don’t want to deal with the hassle of ink, try a cartridge. It’s like a disposable converter with minimal mess. However, if you want to dive right in, I highly recommend Noodler’s Dark matter for black ink, and Pilot Iroshizuko in shin-kai for blue ink. While not my favorite, Pilot Iroshizuko in kon-peki is also a fan favorite. If you want a little spice to your writing, J. Herbin’s Emerald of Chivor is a fan favorite with both color-changing and glitter properties.

For those of you out there who like to write, this may be one of the best decisions you ever make. It was for me, trust me. If you have any questions, go to these sites:

JetPens: https://www.jetpens.com/blog/the-beginners-guide-to-fountain-pens/pt/927

GouletPens: https://www.gouletpens.com/pages/fountain-pen-101

Write On!

Asha Rajagopal

Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper: Can the genius take him down?

Posted on by under Classic Literature, Literature

A few weeks ago, I finished a book called Stalking Jack the Ripper by  Kerri Maniscalco. The historical fiction book recounts a mortician-in-training trying to solve the crime, using her wits to do so. One of the places where a body was found, however, was Scotland Yard. This is where General Lestrade from Sherlock Holmes works. It got me thinking; could Sherlock Holmes catch Jack the Ripper?

When surveying my family and friends, every single one of them said Sherlock Holmes.

“He’s Brilliant.” My dad said.

“But he needs clues to find the culprit. Jack the Ripper left nearly none.” I responded

“He can work with what he has to pull it off.”

I disagree. I believe that Jack the Ripper would be able to escape. I think that, despite his best efforts, Sherlock Holmes’ methods would work against him in this case.

On September 25th, 1888, Jack the Ripper  mailed his most credible letter to the press, detailing how he would mutilate the body of his next victim. This letter was not published until after that murder had taken place, showing that truly, Jack the Ripper had sent this letter. On top of that, the Grammar and language used in the letter were poor, showing that the homicidal maniac was most likely uneducated. Despite this, most of the suspects, even to this day, are educated men ranging from dentists to eccentric millionaires. His time frames were erratic, yet the murders always occurred in the same fashion; there was no doubt this was the work of a serial killer, but no one knew how to track him.

Enter: Sherlock Holmes. Born in 1854, the detective would have been in his 30s, his investigative prime during the string of murders. His stories of 221B have regaled people for ages. Some of his well known stories include A Study in Scarlet, The Hound of Baskerville, and The Last Bow. With his reputation for manifesting something from nothing, he has to be the man for the job, right? With a murder taking place in Scotland Yard, a serial killer now operating in his backyard, the Holmes and Watson team was sure to make a move.

Sherlock Holmes is a Genius. For that, there is no question. But, his particular brand of genius would not help him here. He has a very specific way of deducing what he can from what he knows. And, believe it or not, it has failed him before. In A Scandal in Bohemia, Sherlock Holmes is outwitted and outplayed several times by the woman named Irene Adler.

Irene Adler is a very peculiar woman, especially for her time period. She was a talented opera singer living on her own, who occasionally made midnight visits to the King of Bohemia.(the crown prince) When a photo is taken of the two together, the King turns to Sherlock Holmes after being defeated twice by her already. When she realizes the famed Sherlock Holmes is onto her, she dresses up as a man and tails him to confirm it, before leaving town with the photo included. So how was Irene Adler able to beat the amazing Sherlock Holmes? By being herself.

 

As mentioned before, Adler was not a normal woman. She operated outside of what society deemed woman should and would do. Sherlock’s methods to catch people bank on them playing to these norms so that they fall into his traps. Adler was not normal, but she also accepted the fact that she operated outside of these bounds. She used them to her advantage. That is how Sherlock Holmes was defeated.

Back to the concept of Jack the Ripper, this is exactly how he would evade Sherlock Holmes. At night, he stalks the East Side, killing women at random, but is completely normal in the day. His timing is erratic at best( a day between some, months between others), yet he was still able to go about his daily life, stirring no suspicion to him, even when he gave a letter providing more context about the person. While most people would think this odd behavior would make it easier for Sherlock Holmes to catch him, its that very same odd behavior, if leaned into, that could protect him from a very specific brand of genius.

Obviously, Sherlock Holmes is a completely fictional character, dreamt up by the brilliant mind of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Jack the Ripper is not. But, I do think that this is an important reminder: nothing and no one is infallible, even one of the most brilliant characters known to man.

 

Sources:

Jack the Ripper timeline: https://www.jack-the-ripper.org/timeline.htm

A Scandal In Bohemia by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

 

 

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