Stick By Michael Harmon

The sun shimmered, bouncing off the grass like a reflection from a mirror. The stands were packed at 5326 Willow Lane sports complex aka: Braves Feeding Grounds. The musky scent of sweat filled the small huddle, but nobody seemed to mind. In all white, the braves stared intently at coach Brett Bastian; waiting for the motivating speech that was sure to come on our biggest game of the season, braves vs wolves. In place of the electrifying peroration we had become accustomed to, Brett would deliver a life lesson that would long outlast my soccer career.

Brett: The New Woman Ernest Hemingway once stated that, “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.” This quote can be applied to the new woman and how she may feel in the transitioning world she lived through. The new woman sees herself as free and just as able to engage in fun activities as any man. She sees herself as strong and independent and successful in realizing that she has conquered a world where men rule over women and where women have strict jobs to stay quiet and do what they’re told. The female protagonist in the novel, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, Lady Brett Ashley follows this idea to a T. She is rebelling against the traditional role of a woman and being her own independent woman with the intention of working for and pleasing only herself.

The Tyndale Code by Daniel Patterson is a Christian fiction that depicts the biblical archaeologist Zack Cole’s search for the killer of a Catholic priest and a priceless 1526 Bible crafted by William Tyndale in Guatemala. Author Daniel Patterson gives his characters a certain animation that makes the one feel as though they were part of the story. For instance, this action style of writing is evident when Zack’s motel room is stormed by a border agent looking for money. However, in response, Zack electrocutes the invader with a Taser, evading a bullet soon after the Taser was applied.

When the father’s asking Chris Borland to sign a football to his son, the situation appears to be a case where one person isn’t allowing another person’s judgment to have implications on one’s own decisions. After investigating cases where playing football and other sports had longstanding indemnities on players, Borland decided not to play football anymore. In order to accomplish what he wanted via football, Borland would have to be a more belligerent person than he wanted to be. However, for the son, he could accomplish exactly what he wants by playing football. Granted the son may enjoy playing football, there may be some risks involved.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: SHERIFF RODNEY WARD (53) runs the sheriff’s office in San Bernardino. He’s baffled when an accountant, AARON YEATES (32), walks in to the sheriff’s department and confesses to punching a police officer. Yeates claims he was pulled over by a deputy in Chiriaco Summit for no reason and that the officer pulled his gun on him, causing Yeates to fear for his safety. Yeates punched the deputy and took off. Sheriff Deputy, BUDDY, a rookie on probation, questions Yeates and discovers that the deputy that he hit was Kowalski; a hot-tempered cop that no one really likes.

Within Oneself Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses shows comfort is not always found in a place or in another person; sometimes comfort can be found within oneself. San Angelo, TX, where it all started to change. A boy whose only person he really grew up with had left, left him without a home as well. A new beginning awaits three young boys with different views of life, death, religion and love. But what awaits them can be a deadly comfort for the cowboys.

Firstly, Jake Barnes, a World War I veteran who as a result of a war injury is impotent, is a direct representation of an alienated character being pressured to conform to society. He served his country and hence conformed to society’s expectation and fulfilled his role as a male citizen. But now due to his injury, he can no longer conform to society’s expectations of him. Although he does not say so directly, there are numerous moments in the novel when he implies that, as a result of his injury, he has lost the ability to have sex. He will never have biological children and likely will not find romantic love.

One of All State’s biggest advantages over other company is their slogan, “You’re in Good Hands”. Allstate wants to convey the idea that they are going to take care you of, and you have nothing to worry about. The authors, tell a story about how Allstate sales manager, came home from the hospital from seeing the doctors for his daughter, and said “‘The hospital said not to worry… we’re in good hands”. This is the same feeling, impression Allstate intends to give off, and it is a strength. Also a strength, the man the says the slogan, Dennis Haysbert.

Into The Wild Analysis “Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives,” stated Alan Sachs. This applies to Chris McCandless who always had to live life to the fullest. Chris McCandless wanted to live a life away from others for many different reasons. He had issues with emotional intimacy with others and himself. He always needed to live the extremes of life.

Troy is seen as a tragic figure because he is seen in the play as this type of character. Troy as a young child lead himself to his own destruction or “fall.” Troy did not willingly cause himself to fall, but as a young kid he was just trying to pursue his dreams of playing baseball in the big leagues. As a kid Troy did not have his parents there to help guide him to the best decisions possible for his future. Later Cory, Troys son, is entered into the play talking about playing football and possibly taking it to the big leagues.

Chetan Bhagat is a modern day William Shakespeare. Steve Jobs is a modern day Thomas Edison. And Jake Barnes is a modern day Sisyphus. On the outside Jake and Sisyphus seem to have nothing in common. One chases a girl he can never be with, and the other pushes a rock up a mountain, just to watch it roll down so he can push it back up.

I have a soft spot for horror send-ups. I Was a Teenage Wereskunk being a blatant send-up of all the 1950's I Was a Teenage films and Wereskunk does try to pay due homage. Though it silly tone and forced comedy miss the mark as often as it hits it. Though I do love its up beat charm and commitment to being as campy as possible.

The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway, depicts the internal and external struggles of masculinity of each character in the novel. Ironically, Brett, the only woman in the book, displays masculinity throughout all of her actions. Each man in the book gravitates towards Brett as they search for their own masculine identity. For example, Mike Campbell, Brett’s main lover, uses Brett to channel his masculinity. Mike has no real masculine traits without Brett, so instead he covers up these shortcomings with alcohol.