Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Brewnerians: Read a story from Welcome to the Monkey House and respond. I'll try to start with a question, but feel free to begin if I haven't arrived there yet. Choose three (or more?) of the stories to respond to. Maybe you can write about confusions, or guesses, or comparisons, or the language, or characters, or the White Rock Girl or....whatever catches your attention.
me
About Me
- kbrewner
- Notice: the full moon (in eclipse) is over my right shoulder.
The White Rock Girl
Psyche
50 comments:
This story was "cute," but I don't think this would ever really happen. This is definitely a chick story but that doesn't mean it's bad. Sometimes we need stories like this to give us a little hope. I think every woman has the dream of the perfect man coming to rescue her from a mediocre life. We shouldn't waste our lives waiting for this to happen, but we can dream, can't we?
I agree with Kara, I think that this story is definately for girls, but I liked it. I think every girl secretly hopes that some guy she liked for a long time, would just one day show up and say he feels the same way. I have watched movies with this premise and they have done very well. I watched them.
I think one of the ideas of this story is that you might not know how much you want something until you realize you can't have it. I'm sure it's not fun to be in that situation. It's a shame Newt did not realize, or did not say, he loved her before she got engaged, because now it seems that he has just created one big mess for the both of them.
This story seriously reminds me of the movie, My Best Friend's Wedding. This also makes me wonder, why do so many people wait to make a move when the time is almost too late. For Newt, he didn't confess his love to Catharine until he finds out she is getting married. Why do people do this? If you want something that badly, you should just go for it (ah sorry I used it.) Don't wait until the very last minute to do so!
I completely agree with Keelin after reading the story. I thought the story was warm to the heart and gives that extra bit of hope that we'll actually end up with the person we are supposed to. I find interesting that the two in love are only a couple years older than us. We really should stop waiting until the last minute. Overall I thought the story was also "cute," but I always have been a sucker for this stuff.
This story was definately a girly story. (Hopefully Ionana doesn't see this) I also thought this story was a little disappointing because this story went basically the same way as all love stories. A man is in love with a girl who has a boyfriend or is engaged. The man tells the girl that he loves her and asks her to be with her. The girl says "no" but the man keeps trying to get the girl and eventually does. Maybe I would have liked the story better if the man didn't get the girl to mix things up a bit. I agree with what the other people said about waiting for things to long.
I don't know why this is a "girly" story. I didn't like the plot at all. I agree with Keelin: he shouldn't have waited.
But the plot wasn't the only thing I didn't like. I felt like the story probably took place over a longer period of time than my actual reading did, but Vonnegut didn't really play on that. That whole bit where she stares at him for an hour seemed kind of short. I mean, he didn't even try to make the reader feel like an hour had passed.
I was sorely disappointed. I usually enjoy romanticism as much as the next guy, but this was a sad attempt.
However, in answer to the question, I'd ask Vonnegut which one he would rather live through: "Long Walk to Forever" or "The Great Gatsby"?
I agree that Newt should've made a move earlier, but I also think it's easier to judge from hindsight. In the moment, we sometimes create safety nets because taking the plunge or making the move is scary. Being rational and cautious is not a bad thing, but I think it's a skill if you know when and how to balance rationality with your own wants or needs. If Newt had conveyed his thoughts earlier and followed his desires, Catharine may not have met rich the husband-to-be and Newt wouldn't have had to win her over (again).
Overall, I agree with Kara that this is "cute," though I wouldn't go as far as to say this is one of Vonnegut's best.
I was definately not a big fan of this story. Good for Newt becuase he ended up with Catharine in the end, but I am dissapointed with Catharine's character for being stupid. If she really loved Newt all along, then why didn't she just say so to him? He is a shy guy and she knew that he loved her as much as she loved him. That wasn't fair of her to do to her fiance. She acted immaturely.
Haha, Emma I agree. But, at the same time I think part of my romantic self is drying up with all this knowledge we are taught. The feelings that Catharine and Newt have are so common, widespread…realistic maybe. And, I really feel for them. BUT, why did they end up together? I’m sorry guys, but you can’t expect that every time you tell a girl you love them they shall swoon into your arms, break off all engagements, and walk by your side till the end of time. I wish it were so, because then romances movies and chick flicks would no longer sell. But, it isn’t and Newt and Catharine are just another romantic box office hit. Why Vonnegut, what were you thinking?
Even though we as the reader are led to think that Newt shouldn't have waited so long, that is not the premise of this story. vonnegut is telling us that if something is meant to be (I use that term refferring to whether something feels right, not fate, because Vonnegut has often criticized fate in his works)you should pursue what you want no matter what obstacles, engagement, lie in the way. this story is one of hope and a message saying it is never too late.
i don't think i should have read this. if i wrote this story, everyone would have died at the end. i hate happy endings that much. cute gets annoying after a while because it NEVER EVER happens. ugh. for once, i agree with ioana.
I definitely agree with Jake because in the end, it wouldn't have mattered if Newt had waited to tell Catherine he loved her or not--he and Catherine ended up together. And yes, Vonnegut does often satirize fate, but the underlying message in this story is not one of destiny but of love and hope. Catherine made it seem impossible for Newt to win over her heart but he didnt give up hope and his persistance paid off in the end.
This story is one that comes right out of the movies. I guess you can label it "cute", but I see it as a boring, overused ending in a story. I think the story was to romantic and in the words of Dennis Kim "to girly."
I definitely agree with what Keelin said as well... My Best Friend's Wedding is exactly the movie I was thinking about while reading the story. Telling someone that you love them is probably one of the hardest things to do, but "timing is everything." Like Srona said, maybe if Newt didn't wait until her WEDDING DAY, he wouldn't of had to win her back again.
Keelin, you are so right! This IS My Best Friend's Wedding! This story was the classic sappy, happy ending love story. Vonnegut had me going for a while though because I actually thought he would leave that Newt guy in love but out of luck. However, I've always been a sucker for this romantic stuff. A few others also mentioned the fact that people are procrastinators, and I find this to be true as well, which is really quite frustrating. Typical to any story like this one, Newt waits until Catharine is ready to start a new chapter in her life to confess his love. I also am annoyed that Newt probably didn't consider what this would do to Catharine. Getting married is a huge step, and for Newt to come in and mess with Catharine's head and make her second guess herself is kind of rude. Nonetheless, I agree with most of the girls in classifying this story as "cute" and very appealing to those hopeful romantics, but guys, quit waiting forever to make your move!
p.s. Mary's comment about this story v. Gatsby is so true. Way to go, Mary!
I agree with everyone else in that this story was basically the cliche love story. I think Kurt Vonnegut was trying to get a few messages across through Newt and Catherine. One message is to never give up on your dreams, no matter what you have to do to accomplish them. Newt went A.W.O.L. to confess his love, and even after all signs pointed to his feelings not being mutual, he persevered and eventually wooed Catherine. Vonnegut also appears to be a firm advocate of the concept of fate, and believes that if two people are meant to be together, they will somehow, someway end up together.
I liked this story simply because I was hoping that Newt and Catharine would get together in the end. Besides the fact that once in a while hoping that two people will fall in love is nice to think about I didn't think the ending was very well written. Newt is going to get punished for coming home to see Catharine and profess his love but he waited too long to tell this to her and although I want to believe he will not have done this in vain, I don't think he chose the right option. He basically ruined Catharine's engagement and her fiance may really have been in love with her.
I agree with what Jake said about that these two characters were "meant to be." Although the whole thing may seem a little cheesy, and too much of a "chick story," I think that we have those "meant to be" situations in our everyday lives. Maybe a story like this was written to help us recognize them.
Newt could be classified as a Grade A Balla. He A.W.O.L.'s, leaving his "girlfriend" behind never to have experienced intimacy with her and "expects" to return to an intimate relationship with her despite her engagement. In reality, not only would she tell him that he is just too important to her and she doesnt see him that way but also just tell him that she has only ever seen him as brother. However, they end up kissing at the end of the story, backing up the romantic notion that they should be together. Vonnegut is preaching infinite hope. He is proving to the reader that by never giving up and always trucking forward, we can achieve our deepest desires.
I really didn't like this story at all. The whole idea of them never having had something romantic before and then, all of a sudden, just be in love really bothers me. I may have found this story more believable had I had more of a backround on the characters or their relationship before he knocks on her door, but Vonnegut doesn't offer us any of their history. I feel like this story is something you'd tell someone if they asked for an extremely brief version of The Notebook. The reason I liked The Notebook, though, is because we knew their past together and how "right" they were for each other. Without that knowledge I can't really buy into this story.
This is the kind of stroy that makes you feel good after you read the happy ending, but I agree with Victor when he siad that Newt has just created a big mess. If Newt and Catherine love each other, what is Catherine going to do? Is she going to marry a man she doesn;t love because she has already committed and wants to do the "right" thing or is she going to marry her fiance but keep seeing Newt or is she going to run away with Newt? The option are never ending but which is the best option for Catherine? I feel bad for Catherine because she has to make the decision that could have been prevented if Newt had just told her about his feelings earlier. I think this is more of a sad story for Catherine instead of a happy story for Newt.
It's definatly a "chick flick" sort of story, but I don't think it's as sappy as everyone led me to believe. I like how the boy is so aloof yet openly in love with the girl, and the girl feigns strong reluctance to Newt's advances. It's a nice airy simple story. It's also nice to hear from an author that was not a womanizer, even if he did name the male lead in this story "Newt."
I really, really, really did not like this story. I thought the whole thing was completely stupid. Although would not put my feelings into hate because I was semi-glad that Catharine and Newt ended up together. I feel that they could have expressed their feeling sooner. I felt really bad for Catharine's fiance. I also really did not like this story because the plot was too cheesyand way too much of a chick flick kind of a story.
P.S. I totally agree with Ioana that when a guy tells a girl he loves her, she should not immediatly fall into his arms.
I was surprised by this story, Because I was expecting a really sappy love story. Instead, I got a story that reminded me of Jim and Karen's romance in "The Office". I hate to admit it but this story wasn't all that bad, short and to the point. Maybe this is how love is really supposed to be unplanned and last minute. Newt didn't make a mess of things he helped Catharine to not make an incorrect decision that would alter her life forever. I don't know, maybe this is a fantastical view of the way love is, but this viewpoint certainly made for an atleast somewhat compelling story. Maybe Vonnegut got this right, maybe not, all I can say is that this is a story that promotes hope for those stricken by love.
I really liked this story a lot. Since we are comparing this to moveis, I totally pictured a whole the Notebook setting in my head, although now that i think, My best friends wedding would suit it better. I feel bad for Catherine becuase since Newt wasn't sure about his feelings until it was almost too late, she had to choose between two people, not to mention that Newt came out of the blue. I think the story is really comforting though. I like thinking that there is one person out there and no matter what happens, if we're supposed to be together, then we will be.
oh yeah, and it would have helped to know what AWOL meant.
Although this story is a girl's story (which is not a bad thing by the way) I agree with the others who said that the plot gives a good sense of hope. I though it was very interesting that they end their walk by a school for deaf children. I think this could symbolize that they knew they wanted to get married but were blind to the fact until the very end. Catharine, at first, seems to think she cannot marry Newt because it would not be socially acceptable. The ending was the typical happy ending, however, I liked it.
Yes Vonnegut, you should feel shame. This story is crap. This is the stuff Disney is made of, not Vonnegut. Little girls everywhere are being fooled into believing into happily ever after and Vonnegut should not help them continue the hopeless dream. I much prefer his stories of the future or his comments on society than this sappy stuff.
I seriously loved this story. I feel like everything I have read this year in English (and even in Spanish) has been so negative. I just wait for someone to die at the end of every story. Some people will say this story is sappy but I say it's refreshing.
I also really liked the narration in this one. I feel like I always have to read characters' minds, interpret their every action. The narrator in "Long Walk to Forever" was nice because it told us how the characters were actually feeling. It was cool to compare the all-knowing narrator's vioce with the actions and dialogue of Newt and Catharine.
I really don't like sappy stories like this one...I agree with joey that the fact they walk past a school for the blind is interesting though, and could symbolize how they are blind to see they want to be married. Sometimes, people also don't realize how much they want something until they see they can't have it. This was still an interesting story.
This doesn't happen. Boys suck too much. And girls don't like it when guys are shy. Guys should just tell girls if they have feelings. It's really not that romantic to be ambushed a week before you're trying to put your life together...in fact, it's sort of upsetting and she is going to have to make a lot of really awkward phone calls now explaining why the wedding is off. Plus, weddings cost a lot. Her dad must be pissed.
Who names their kid Newt?
I agree with Victor. Newt could have had Catherine for all those years, but the second she becomes unavailable he sudenly realizes he loves her. This story reminds me of the Notebook, and Nicholas Spark's writing style. Maybe that's why i liked it, but I think Vonnegut has written a lot better stories.
i agree with kara, thta this is a chick flick/ short story, but i agree most with the dream of hope. Vonnegut might be embarassed because this story is too cute to be real, but many people thought that flying in space was too cool to be real. I know theres a difference between science and life, but then again, the differences can be minimalized. Scientists are learning more facts, and guys are learning about girls right? i ssure hope so. tee hee.
Everyone hates this story because it's too girly and too cliche -- does anyone realize this is a true story? Vonnegut wrote it about an afternoon he spent with his first wife. How much is true and how much is edited to make for a more interesting story? I don't know. Did he really go AWOL to go get the woman he loved? I don't know, but I hope so! This clearly is a very different kind of work for Vonnegut and it's certainly not my favorite thing he's ever done, but I like it because it gives a glimpse into his life. And if someone really and truly lived through such a lovely, idyllic afternoon, isn't that something nice to think about? In response to the original question, what would I say to Kurt Vonnegut ... I would say, "How lovely that you have such a nice, warm story in your life. How nice that you can always remember that you had that one perfect afternoon." I would also tell him that I far, far prefer his original title, "Hell to Get Along With," because it positions the story in a much more realistic way -- "Long Walk to Forever" is so romantic it becomes unrealistic and makes love and marriage just seem so easy and perfect. "Hell to Get Along With" is such a great, accurate representation of love and marriage ... it's never perfect and it's never easy. I think it almost makes it MORE romantic with his original title, because it shows that even though these characters are imperfect and the timing is all wrong, they don't care -- they just want to be together.
Yes, this is the typical love story Vonnegut depicts as the ideal situation for any girl to be a part of. His other stories do the same thing to a variety of audiences. "All the Kings Horses" forces the reader to think about what he/she would do if he/she was forced to play a game of chess with real living, breathing people. Vonnegut writes this story to expand his audiences' appeal if life-threatening situations are not the reader's cup of tea.
I loved this story. I've always gotten into the chick-flick mushy stuff that's unbelievably cute. Even though it was the tradtional story of Newt, her long time friend, coming right before the wedding and professing his love her in hope she'll just drop everything and go with him, I especially liked how Vonnegut portrayed him as the simple man. Whenever he explained the walk as "one foot in front of the other-through leaves, over bridges" I liked him more and more. He just simply stated what they were going to be doing and simply stated his love to her. I felt this was a good tactic to make the audience fall for Newt despite that what he was doing wasn't going to be morally right. I especially liked the ending where she "knew that if he stopped and turned now, if he called to her, she would run to him. She would have no choice." When he called for her and the story ended with her in his arms I was very excited that the story ended like that, but upset that I had to read another story after that because that would have been a perfect way to walk away from the book for the day.
I thought this story was nice. It was different than the usual "science fiction" short stories that I've read so far in this book. I agree with Dani. She wrote that Vonnegut used many tactics to make the audience like Newt when what he does is not something all that like-able. Most people would frown upon a man who steals another man's fiance-let alone, a week or so before the wedding. I really enjoyed Vonnegut's writing style in this piece. I felt like the way he described the walk seemed so peaceful. Although there is no mention of forever within the story, I thought it was cool how Vonnegut described the walk in a way where it felt like a peaceful eternity.
So yeah, this story is made for girls but whatever, I like it. I'm actually something of a hopeless romantic, so I like these type of stories, especially the way Newt says exactly how he feels about Catharine. I'll speak my mind on almost any topic, but when it comes to telling someone how I feel about them I'm a total coward, so the idea of someone doing just that feels good.
But there's a problem. The story seems to have a happy ending, but just because they both love each other doesn't mean everything will work out. Catharine is still committed to marriage, and it's possible she could go through with it.
After reading this story I couldn't help but be annoyed. Ask anyone and they would tell you that I am a hopeless romantic who loves every "chick-flick" movie and book known to man, but honestly it was extremely hard for me to like this story at all. Yes, every girl wishes that the man of their dreams will take that leap of faith and break down all barriers between friendship and love, but come on, never ever would we wish that that man's name is Newt! Also, I would never respect someone who went A.W.O.L to absent-mindedly declare his love for me before my wedding, which shows me selfishness and idiocy. I mean, could his timing have been any worse? All this "newt" caused was confusion in a young girl and played the "love is so fun when it is new and exciting" card. Normally, this sort of thing would not bother me, especially in the movie The Notebook because Noah had a normal name at least.
As I read Long Walk to Forever, I thought of the typical Hollywood romantic plot line. Boy loves girl but conflicting situations halt their love. The girl moves on and by the time the boy comes back to profess his love, he is too late. This story was basically The Notebook with different names and a shorter time period for the girl to realize her feelings toward the boy. I'm not trying to say I don't like the mushy, "aww I wish my love life was like that" plot lines, I'm actually all for those stories. I had the exact same reaction stated above as I read this story. I loved Newt's repeated lines, "One foot in front of the other-through leaves, over bridges-," this line seriously got me every time. I saw Catherine falling in love with Newt with each step they took during their walk and even I felt more in love with Newt as I read this line. The ending of Long Walk to Forever again reminded me of The Notebook, the girl is left with the decision to either continue the wedding or come back to the person she truly loves. The ending was pretty predictable just because I related the story to the movie, which I love.
All in all, I liked this story. Vonnegut added in a story for the hopeless romantics (me being one of them) and for the ones who believe in hope and love finding its way back. Yup, this story got me and it didn't help that I was listening to mushy songs with cutesy lyrics as well...
The preface with Vonnegut's sarcasm about this story ruined any possibility of the "cute" appeal. Instead of reading this story and feeling my heart warm, after every kiss I had to role my eyes. This shows how important persona is. Vonnegut ruined his persona as a romantic writer, and therefore the story had a different appeal. Different is not bad though, becuase I found the story enjoyable despite the sickingly romantic aspect.
I also want to mention another "romantic sotry" by Vonnegut: "Who am I This Time?" This is one of the worst love stories ever created. In the end, the two characters ended up getting married, but I wouldve prefered if they died instead. Henry and Helen got married, but have no relationship or personality. They morph to the characters they portray from scripts and do not have anything original that makes them distinct human beings. Their reliance on play scripts to communicate with each other is ridiculous and makes both an empty relationship and empty lifes.
I felt that this story has now become somewhat of a cliche, and i, personally, found it to be boring and predictable. The main reason for my feelings on this story is that i completely disagree with the choices that Catharine makes. If she could really love anyone more than the man she was about to marry, then her would-be marriage would be absolutely pointless. Sadly, this type of marriage happens much to often because it's not for love or any real need to be together, this marriage is a fake attempt to do what everyone else in the world does. I would like to say that Catharine really needs to stop following the wave of other people telling her to get married as soon as she can, and look into her own feelings. If she had done this earlier, she could have spared the feelings of her poor fiance, and maybe he could have seen that he was about to enter a marriage based on feelings as fake as plastic and hollow smiles and that would barely last a year before explosion.
Not going to lie, I'm definitly a sap for the cute love stories, so I actually did like this story. Sorry if that makes all those haters angry out there. This story was definitly a little to much at times, but still the overall idea of finally admitting your true feelings to someone is what got me. Telling someone you love them with the chance of being rejected is definitly a huge leap of faith. Even though Newt decided to tell her only a week before her wedding, he still did told her. Newt could have just as easily gone on with fighting in the war and accepting that the girl he loved was going to marry someone else. So yes, he did wait till the last minute, but that doesnt mean that if you approach the last minute, you should just give up and call it quits. Do something.
This story was pretty boring. Not only was the plot predictable, but nothing about the characters’ actions made me wish that my life was like this story. First off, Newt is a dull character. To me, personally, nothing about him makes me swoon. He seems shy and timid, which to me, does not sound attractive. Not only that, but he is A.W.O.L. Catherine isn’t very interesting either. She is a common love story character: about to get married, but still in love with her best friend. The story is cute, and Vonnegut has added in some minimal originality, but I think overall, there is a lack of creativity. Long Walk to Forever has the basic structure of a love story, but Vonnegut didn’t really give the characters any substance. Newt and Catherine are basically draped over the skeleton of a love story, but there is nothing else to fill the story up.
This story was one of those common sappy love stories. I did not particularly like or dislike it. I felt that this story was a condensed version of the novel, The Notebook. One thing I really liked about this story though was that it was actually realistic unlike the other science fiction stories in the novel. Additionally, I liked the character Newt, who had courage to confess his love, although I think the timing was off -- though I would have been disappointed if he did not tell her until the last minute.
One big gripe we have about the keyboard is an easier read and more aesthetically pleasing than
those other QWERTY phones too, though it consistently scores
higher than the potential benefits. Tilt slightly away from the stock Ice Cream Sandwich pastures we're confident the company will start selling it on March 21.
my web site; find more info
paphos car hire: 16-Sofronis Avgousti, 17-Marinos Satsias,
6-Andreas Avraam, 2-Paraskevas Christou, 3-Elias Charalambous, 15-Marios Nicolaou 14-Christakis Marakgos 85, 5-Nektarios Alexandrou 7-Efstathios Aloneftis 45+1, 13-Chrysis
Michail, 12-Konastantinos Makridis, 9-Iaonnis Okkas 8-Giogos Efrem 90 11-Michael Konstantinou.
While it's unmistakably HTC, there are some steps you can take a look at paphos car hire Cyprus. If you are opting the bus option then you have a travel website or blog? You need to do at the rental agency.
my homepage - paphos car hire companies
But when you start your search for farmacia on line produces 1.
How many double entendres can I weave into the body through the nose.
My weblog; learn this here now
Post a Comment