Tag: #imagine

Books, Music

How to Actually Enjoy Classical Music (For Book Lovers)

Aubrey Leaman

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Classical music can be pretty boring.  Why would you choose to listen to something that long and that abstract? Lots of people try to figure out how to “understand” the music, but understanding is definitely not always the same as enjoying.

Of all people, I was perfectly primed to love classical music. I grew up with a professional classical musician as a father, was taken to numerous concerts, took piano lessons constantly ever since I was seven years old, and participated in chorus and band in high school. I even became a classical music major in college and had extensive formal training. And while I didn’t hate it or anything, I certainly didn’t love it.  Like so many people, I just didn’t “get” it.

So forget understanding.

How can you actually ENJOY classical music?

Believe it or not, it is possible.  As a book lover, I found the secret…

Books take you on adventures that spice Continue reading “How to Actually Enjoy Classical Music (For Book Lovers)” →

Books

What If Werewolves Were In Jane Eyre?

Aubrey Leaman

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(SPOILERS for Jane Eyre)

What if instead of being mentally insane, Rochester’s secret wife was actually a werewolf?

Just imagine: Jane hears strange noises in the night that sound like a mix between human and beast (so far, so consistent with the actual novel).  But then it turns out the creature, Rochester’s wife, is a werewolf.  Would the story really change from the standpoint of plot??

It might change how we perceive Rochester’s character.  Hiding Continue reading “What If Werewolves Were In Jane Eyre?” →

Classical Music Stories

Classical Music Stories: Alice in Wonderland

Aubrey Leaman

Down the Rabbit Hole

You’re falling! Down, down, down you go. You keep expecting to collide with the ground and keep bracing yourself but you keep falling just the same.

You’re still falling.

You’re still falling.

You start to fall asleep (high notes). After all, you can only grit your teeth in expectation for so long.

Once you’re asleep, you have a nightmare (very low notes). What if you never ever stop falling but are stuck in a loop forever??

When you wake up you find yourself on the floor. Apparently landing woke you up, but you’re not hurt at all—phew.

(But of course you still have no idea what’s going on…)

 

Where do you think the music would go next if it continued?

Classical Music Stories

Classical Music Stories: Wuthering Heights

Aubrey Leaman

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Divertimento for Strings No. 4 by Antonio Salieri

Quartetto Amati

Young Catherine Linton is wandering out on the moors, basking in the beauty of nature and birdsong. The music becomes mixed with some darkness as she catches sight of Heathcliff, though…but she doesn’t know the danger she’s in and keeps rejoicing and just being her bubbly self. Besides, Heathcliff is acting the perfect gentleman! Nelly, who is with her, tries to interject a few timid worries and warnings, but she is basically unaffected. After all, what’s the worst that could happen??

 

Books

GPS Literary Characters

Aubrey Leaman

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What if your favorite literary characters could be the voice on your GPS?

George Wickham (Pride and Prejudice) would give directions that seemed to make perfect sense but would end up taking you to the wrong place.

Peter Pan would give you false directions and then change them at the last minute while laughing hysterically.

Jane Eyre would be the best because her directions would be to the point and practical.

Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit) would be a close second. Although, come to think of it, he Continue reading “GPS Literary Characters” →

Judging the Book By Its Cover

Judging the Book By Its Cover: Suffocating Expectations

Aubrey Leaman

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My Idea: Well, with a name like Presto, what was Frankie supposed to do? Ever since he can remember, people have told him he should be a musician.

When he banged on pots and pans as a toddler, the neighbor lady would yell through the window to his mother: “Hey, would ya look at that! I told ya Frankie would be a natural!”

In first grade when it was his turn to tell the class what he wanted to be when he grew up, the teacher interrupted him with, “Oh, Frankie, well obviously you’re going to be one of those music people!”

Now as a 5th grader, the day is rapidly approaching when all of the students will get the chance to learn a few notes on a string instrument of their choice to Continue reading “Judging the Book By Its Cover: Suffocating Expectations” →

Classical Music Stories

Classical Music Stories: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Aubrey Leaman

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Brahms Waltz No. 3, Op. 39

(Brass version)

The music is slightly creepy and mysterious as Dorian flits around at parties, acting and sounding like the perfect gentleman (especially as the sound gets brighter). But there have been rumors about his horrible actions that leave people unsure of him…who is this man, really??

 

Missed the last one on Peter Pan? Here it is!

Judging the Book By Its Cover

Judging the Book By Its Cover: Marvel Edition

Aubrey Leaman

 

25066780My Idea: The world is ending. Every superhero has been vanquished, every villain triumphant.  Until…

Ms. Marvel appears on the scene.  She embodies the best traits of every hero before her, making her the ultimate superhero: the strength of Hulk, the fierce loyalty and endurance of Captain America, the sneakiness of Black Widow, the leadership of Thor, the flight of Iron Man, and the archery skills of Hawkeye.  But faced with the nameless power now decimating the city, will she be enough?

Goodreads Summary: “From the moment Kamala put on her costume, she’s been challenged. But nothing has prepared her for this: the last days of the Marvel Universe. Lucky she’s got the help of Carol “Captain Marvel” Danvers! Between Continue reading “Judging the Book By Its Cover: Marvel Edition” →

Judging the Book By Its Cover

Judging the Book By Its Cover: Fate and the Princess Bride

Aubrey Leaman

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My Idea: Is it inconceivable that a love for the movie “The Princess Bride” could result in love between two people?

Apparently not.

Told from a third-person perspective, Wren’s novel alternates between following Adam and Elle as their knowledge of the movie subtly influences their actions and movements in various ways. Ultimately, they both meet in London where they fall in love, invoking the question: how much can a single inanimate object truly influence our lives?

Goodreads Summary: “When Ozarks native Hatty goes ‘whole hog’ during karaoke, she catches the eye of Prince John. He isn’t what she expects the heir to a small European nation to be: he’s affable, witty, and isn’t put off by her tell-it-like-it-is demeanor. Their flirtation should be short lived, but a force stronger than fate—Hatty’s newspaper editor—assigns her to cover the royals. After spending time together, she and John soon begin dating, and Hatty finds herself making headlines instead of writing them.

But challenges loom that are even more complicated than figuring out how to Continue reading “Judging the Book By Its Cover: Fate and the Princess Bride” →