Eric Arvin's Blog, page 119

Glee - Teenage Dream

Aaaawwwwww....

30 Day Blogger, Day 5: My Favorite Quote

I remember watching the film version of John Irving's The Hotel New Hampshire when I was younger. There was a line in that film - and then later in the book, when I read it - that struck me as very profound even then. "Keep passing the open windows." Keep going. No matter how easy it would be to jump, keep going. It's a line that I have had reason to call up many times in my life. Strange that five words can keep you grounded. I liken it to the "it gets better" campaign of today. That's the power Irving's words had for me. "Keep passing the open windows." Indeed.

Hot Shot: Awesomeness

Perfection...

One Good Thing

Playing keep-away with my two year old niece, Serenity. She had a big purple balloon my sister gave her and was tossing it all over the place. Well, me and my sister, being much taller than Serenity, passed the balloon between the two of us and over the little one's head. She loved it. Even when she got dizzy and stumbled she was giggling.

I don't know why I've suddenly developed a tolerance for children. It's very strange. I've even had the faintest inclination to become a parent myself.

But that's crazy talk! I'm a mess. At least, right now.

Still, it was fun acting like a kid again. The most wonderful thing happened. I forgot all my problems for about ten minutes.

In a Shallow Grave (JJprods)

I mentioned my favorite book, "In a Shallow Grave", in the previous post. Here are some clips from the 1988 film version, set to its gorgeous score:

30 Day Blogger, Day 4: My Favorite Book

Being a writer myself, books are, of course, a rather large area of my life. I have boxes of them and have as yet to get Kindle simply because I like the feel - the weight - of a book in my hand. Of all the books I have read in my illustrious career as a human being there have been a few that have touched me so deeply it's as if they were written just for me. If I had to choose a Top 3 they'd be A Separate Peace by John Knowles, At Swim, Two Boys by Jamie O'Neill, and, my absolute favorite, In a Shallow Grave by James Purdy. Shallow Grave is a short novel, but it packs a punch. A disfigured soldier, his help, and a decrepit dance hall make for a truly haunting and strange romance. It was made into a film in 1988, starring Michael Biehn and Patrick Dempsey, but I think it's time for a newer version. Purdy's books are always dkisturbing (avoid Eustace Chisolm and Narrow Rooms if you're squeamish), but the literary adventure he takes you on is unlike any other writer, making him my literary hero.

Hot Shot: Is That a Gun in Your Pants or...

Sexy tats...

One Good Thing

I received a rather decent review for my first novel The Rest Is Illusion (first published in 2006) from fellow author Alan Chin HERE. Alan's reviews are enigmatic things. It sounds like he doesn't like the book in the beginning, but he highly recommends it in the end. I think the book itself is available until the end of this month before going out of print AGAIN. But hey, a great review? I'll take it!

30 Day Blogger, Day 3: My Favorite Television Series

Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure, Six Feet Under, Punky Brewster... er, I mean, something more manly. These have all been at the very top of my favorite series list. But the one that has had the most impact on me has been LOST. With LOST it wasn't just the idea of taking a group of strangers and throwing them together on an island. Any mediocre producer could have done that. What the creators of LOST did was turn an adventure series into something that was not only thrilling, but enigmatic, heartwarming, and deeply spiritual. The writing was top-notch, the production design was beautiful, and the music score was cinematic. It also had some of the best acting on television. The thing that set LOST apart from most series was, in the end, it wasn't about the island at all. It was about these amazing characters. I remember thinking around season three that I really didn't care if every mystery was resolved. It was the characters that I cared most about. I wanted to see them get their happy endings, and they did...eventually. LOST was one of a kind. There will never be another like it, and that's a bit sad. But it's greatness lives on, and its influence will be felt for years to come.

Hot Shot: In the Sun

Prettiosity...