52 Books, 52 Weeks, Only More to Come...

I did it. What does it matter if it's the last day and I only had a few hours to spare? I finished reading 52 books in 52 weeks. It wasn't easy at all. I struggled at points. Some books were long, some were short. Some I disliked strongly, others I fell in love with. But I kept reading and each new book opened up my mind to new ideas, experiences, and understandings. Books really are beautiful.

Sometimes it is hard to find time to read. Life gets in the way. Heck, life gets in the way of most things I want to do: write, travel, explore, etc. But I believe reading is a key essential of life. As my favorite character from Game of Thrones, Tyrion Lannister, so shrewdly puts it, “I have a realistic grasp of my own strengths and weaknesses. My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword, King Robert has his warhammer, and I have my mind… and a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge. That’s why I read so much, Jon Snow." Back at ya, Mr. Lannister.

If you hate reading, I encourage you to give it another chance. No one likes to be told to read when they are at school, but reading for your own pleasure is an immensely wonderful thing. So, please READ.

Why not make some superlatives for all the reading I did this year. People like lists, right? I like lists.

Favorite Book: The Arm of the Starfish and/or The Amber Spyglass really surprised me.

Least Favorite Book: The Hunger Pains - just god awful trash!

Longest Book: The Goldfinch -  it was over 1,000 pages and went on and on...

Favorite Character: Lizbeth from the Millenium Series

Least Favorite Character: Quentin Coldwater from The Magicians, BY FAR. He's the WORST.

Biggest Letdown: Allegiant - Why, Veronica Roth, why? Just a terrible ending...

Favorite Author from these 52: Madeleine L'Engle or Agatha Christie - Old Ladies, FTW.


2014, you've been a weird, challenging year. I accomplished a lot of things, but I still yearn for more new and exciting adventures. I'm always hopeful at the end of the year/beginning of the new year and I won't change that. I've always been an optimistic person.

So, as I go into 2015, I know that I want to see more, create more, and be more alive. I'll be doing the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge again. I'll finally finish my first book and also some of the many screenplays I'm writing.

2015 is the year to put myself out on the ledge, get vulnerable, and live...


So cheers to that. See ya on the other side, brotha!

-ben josé

Below follows the 52 books I read in 52 weeks, 2014 Edition.

1.  Heir to the Empire - Timothy Zahn
2. The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
3. The Girl Who Played With Fire - Stieg Larsson
4. The Fall - Albert Camus
5. Candide - Voltaire
6. On Writing - Stephen King
7. Divergent - Veronica Roth
8. Carrie - Stephen King
9. Redwall - Brian Jacques
10. The High Druid's Blade - Terry Brooks
11. The Arm of the Starfish - Madeleine L'Engle
12. The Accidental Billionaires - Ben Mezrich
13. Sparkling Cyanide - Agatha Christie
14. The Shining - Stephen King
15. The Wishong of Shannara - Terry Brooks
16. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest - Stieg Larsson
17. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
18. The Hunger Pains - The Harvard Lampoon
19. A Swiftly Tilting Planet - Madeleine L'Engle
20. Eragon - Christopher Paolini
21.  The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
22. Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer
23. Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry
24. House of Secrets - Chris Columbus & Ned Vizzini
25. A Handful of Dust - Evelyn Waugh
26. The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman
27. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
28. The Fault In Our Stars - John Green
29. The Magicians - Lev Grossman
30. Allegiant - Veronica Roth
31. American Gods - Neil Gaiman
32. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
33. Inferno - Dan Brown
34. An Acceptable Time - Madeleine L'Engle
35. The Subtle Knife - Philip Pullman
36. Animal Farm - George Orwell
37. The Egypt Game - Zilpha Keatley Snyder
38. Dark Force Rising - Timothy Zahn
39. The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
40. The Amber Spyglass - Philip Pullman
41. The Thousand Dollar Tan Line - Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham
42. Aurorarama - Jean-Christophe Valtat
43. The Beautiful and Damned - F.Scott Fitzgerald
44. The Seventh Tower - Garth Nix
45. The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler
46. Dragons in the Waters - Madeleine L'Engle
47. The Prince - Niccolo Machiavelli
48. The Murder at the Vicarage - Agatha Christie
49. Death on the Nile - Agatha Christie
50. A Floating City - Jules Verne
51. The Scorch Trials - James Dashner
52. Yes Please -  Amy Poehler

Day +5: Finished, But NO STOPPING

Everyone give a "WHOOP" because I "won" my third straight NaNoWriMo. On the last day of November. With 2 hours to spare. TWO! It came down to the wire and I was writing non-stop on the last weirdly rainy in LA day. But I did it. 50,000 more words done. Only problem is... wait for it... waaaait for it.... I'm still not done with my novel. *Price is Right fail music plays*

Still not finished. But now my novel has a staggering 193,853 words. That is an insane amount of words. I wonder if I have yet worked the words "kumquat" or "fart" into any of the 193,853 words. I don't think I have actually. And that is an INJUSTICE.

Holding myself from constantly editing my writing has obviously led to this momentous occasion. But I must still hold back. I need to finish the novel first. You may be questioning my sanity or if I'll ever finish, but fear not, I have a fun fact to share that will hopefully instill as much hope in you as Katniss instills hope in the people of Panem (which is a lot, despite herself).

My novel takes place over a short period of ten days in a row.  And we follow eight characters over the course of those ten days. That's not the long of a period of time, so how come it is taking so long, Ben? I shall ignore your question, and just gladly tell you that I am currently on the last day of those ten days. So the end, it is near!

I only have 24 more hours to get through... and even though everything in my novel has been building up to this last day and it is the climax and everything relies on it and, oh god, I can't screw this part up!

Blog reader? Are you there? I'm probably talking to the void of the internet at this point. But just know. THE END IS NIGH.

OH, also, I still am doing the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. Yea, so I'm a bit behind. I have to read 11 more books in the next 26 days! AHH! So, excuse me while I go lock myself in my room.

Until next time...

- ben josé

Day 17: AHHHHH!

Um, it's Day 17 and we have a crisis! More than halfway through NaNoWriMo and I only have 5,672 words! That is not gooooood. And instead of writing more about it here, I'm gonna go and try and up my word count...

So, kthx bai

Day 0 - Less Than 24hrs til NaNoWriMo

Day: 0
Word Count: 0

It is finally here, folks! NaNoWriMo 2014 (or, National Novel Writing Month, in case you've come down with a case of finely tuned amnesia!).

 

Turn up the music! Bring on the tea! It's time to write a novel again. Errrr, or in my case, it's time to FINALLY finish my novel that I began a mere two...three....years ago. Don't ye worry your fine self, I promise you, this is the year it shall be finished! You hear that, Buoyancy, you're gonna be as finished as Amanda Bynes' illustrious career! We miss you, Ashley!

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, so I hope that I get to typing. It is the final day in the Hollywood house that I've lived in with my five other roommates (and a dog and a cat) for the past year. AU REVOIR, SELMA HOUSE. It's been a crazy year of ups and downs, but regardless, things were learned and lived.

Pause. I am listening to David Bowie's "I'd Rather Be High (Veneitian Mix)" and it is just maaaaagical. Mr. Bowie, my personal baby-snatching hero, is definitely going to be one of the artists I will be listening to as I take back up on my novel. Music for me sets the mood for writing. I'm a fan of ambient sounds, rain/thunder, movie soundtracks (Add "Gone Girl" soundtrack to all your playlists, please), and video game music. It is surprisingly a beautiful genre full of many various melodic, soothing tunes.

You may or may not know that my novel is set from eight different point-of-views in the third person. Obviously, George R.R. Martin (you know that guy) is partly my inspiration. He wrote some books... Well, music helps me get into each of my different characters perspectives because obviously a poor, young thief doesn't listen to the same music as a rich, older housewife! DUH.

Oh, and my novel is Steampunk-Fantasy, which just so happens to be the theme of NaNoWriMo this year. If that isn't a sign that I need to finish it this year, then I don't know what is.

There are going to be a lot of distractions and excuses, but I shall remain strong. GET AWAY FROM ME, NETFLIX!

Cheers to a happy, fun NaNoWriMo! And remember, "There Is Nothing Wrong With Hating Rock Critics" or in this case, "Book" critics. JUST WRITE AND CREATE! Thanks, Of Montreal!

- ben josé

currently listening to: this smashing hit, gruntilda's lair, from banjo & kazooie. DON'T JUDGE ME.

31 Days til NaNoWriMo 2014: SteamPUNKed

Just announced: NaNoWriMo's 2014 Theme: Steampunk!!! Okay, I am nerding out because my novel (ya know, the one three years in the making now) is steampunk themed! So, this must be a sign that I will finish it this year and everything will be great? Right? Right.

It's about to be the month of October, the month of spirits and fall. That means only 31 days left to prepare for the forthcoming NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, for the plebeians). As I have been working on my novel all year, I just need to further crack my knuckles and prepare to devote ALL my time to it, not just moments here and there.

Life has been going well so far. Instead of moving in November like I did last year, my girlfriend and I jumped the gun and will be moving in October! Aha! Still in Los Angeles, just to a completely different part of the City of Angels. Excited for the change.

 

Also, I fixed my broken phone, fixed my broken car, finished up other issues. I don't want any distractions when it comes to NaNoWriMo. The cruel apple red face of Netflix stares me down and I can't look away, but I must, I MUST. Be gone, Netflix! I banish you from my sights. After binging three seasons of Scandal, I just can't. But, what is that...more shows, more movies. WHY!?

 Excuse that mental break above, I will find a way to disable my Netflix during NaNo, or else doom will fall. In my spare time, I've also been writing for this great site called Whedonopolis.com. If you can't guess from the title they are lovers of all things Joss Whedon. Ya know the guy. He did Buffy, The Avengers... I could go on, but I shan't.

Anyways, I've been writing reviews for them including, Bates Motel, Salem, Under the Dome, Gotham, and Once Upon A Time. So if any of those shows interest you, take a look: www.whedonopolis.com. Also check out my book reviews on Goodreads! I'm doing the "52 book in 52 weeks challenge." 34 books down, so I'm a little behind schedule. Don't worry though, reader. Reading is fun!

Welp, that's about it. Let the countdown begin. 31 days. I already feel it. This is the year I finish my book. #Steampunk 4 EVAR!

-ben josé

Twenty Six: The Year of Creativity

Get ready you guy(s) for a very DEEP blog post as it is the eve of my birthday (technically, it's the afternoon before my birthday).
--- 
What is more important to a person: a life of safety and blandness, living in a world of total happy ignorance -- or a world where emotions, curiosities, ambition, and love are real, but so are pain, regret, depression, and loss? For me, the second option is the only way it can be. To take away any of those things (good or bad) takes away the essence of life.

On that note, today is the last day that I, Benjamin Fleck, am 25 years old.

Cue internal anxiety and panic.

It's been a great quarter of a century and I can't believe August 30th, 2014 - my 26th birthday has finally arrived. I remember when I was (still am) a kid. Being 26 years old was some elusive old thing that I thought I would never happen to me. Five seconds later, I'm turning 26. Time has proven over and over to be a bitchy, unending pit and I need a ladder. Or a helicopter. A hovercraft!

When looking back over my past 25 years, I've experienced a lot of great things. I was able to do so much, for which I am so grateful for. But, then again, I also look back and see all the things I never did or accomplished. I find I often regret the chances/opportunities I missed rather then regretting actual things I did.

Does that make sense? No. Well, it shouldn't because what I came to realize was that I literally want to do it *all* and I can't. There is no feasible way for me to make a student film, while rowing crew 6 days a week, and writing for a newspaper, while interning at a production company, and traveling leisurely on whims as I check in on the Game of Thrones set in Croatia. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, but I AM INSATIABLE.

How can I fix this? Anybody? I am seriously asking. Will I just have to learn to accept this and be happy with what I can do? Is wanting to do and experience everything actually a curse? They say "ignorance is bliss" and I am really starting to believe them, whoever "they" are. But, being ignorant is awful and I can't imagine having no idea what is going on around me. I am a very self-aware and curious (some say nosy) person. And taking that away from me would take away what makes me, me. Perhaps, I am just talking this talk because I just saw the movie, The Giver (which is an even better book. PLZ READ NOW). Regret can't exist without a desire to learn, see, feel, and experience. The bad comes with the good.

Read Me, baby Gabe!

So, that being said, I know I can never get rid of the regret. It will always be there. So, to counter that, I just have to promise myself that I will do my best to live life to the fullest. That means:  creating things, traveling, seeing as much of the world as possible, reading as many book as possible (I'm over half-way through with the '52 books in 52 weeks' challenge), experiencing things I've never experienced before, making new friends, starting things I've been wanting to start, connecting with people all over the world, putting myself out there, and finding what I love to do and doing it.

It is no easy task, but I am going to try my best so that when my 27th birthday arrives, and I look back over the past year, I won't be able to say "I regret not doing..." anything because each day, I did something creative, new, and engaging. I put myself out there and that is something that I can't regret.

Ya? Ya!

Oh, and I plan on taking a small video of something every day of my 26th year and maybe compiling it into one big video. That will encourage me to do cool things so I don't have a video of me just sitting in my room, binge watching Netflix (Olive Pope, you scandal!), while petting my cat and eating a bag of banana chips. Damn you, Trader Joe's.

So, cheers to my 25th year. On to the next...

- ben josé, 25.99 years old

EDIT: As luck would have it, I broke my phone in the Salt Lake City Airport the day after my birthday and since my cellphone was going to be my means of recording a video every day, I definitely have a problem! WOMP, WOMP. So, looks like that is going to be put on hold until I get a new phone - which might not be for a bit since the new iPhone 6 was just released! Stay tuned...

Nostalgia is the New Black

Hallo, I'm baaack! So sorry, my reader(s). It's been a crazy few months. And not just in Westeros. Life got in the way as 'they' say. Who is the 'they' in that statement? I don't know, the IRS? Btw, I am super mad at the IRS right now. Can you guess why? :)

If you haven't been watching GoT, then SHAME!

Anyways, like I said, I've been busy, yo. Fellowships, weddings, job searching, Game of Thrones. STAR WARS casting news. It's just too much! But, I found some time to finally update the blog. You Are Welcome.

Cousin Got Hitched!

The theme of this post is: Nostalgia! How did you know?

I guess I've always been the sentimental type. When I started high school, I yearned for the happy and comfortable days of middle school. When I started college, I yearned for the happy and comfortable days of high school. When I left college, I just cried and consumed lots of alcohol. The real world? It sucks!

I realize every time I leave a place, I often find myself thinking about all the great friends, experiences, and times I had in that past place. It's hard for me to let go of the past. I cling on to friendships. I continually talk about my past crazy stories, like the one time I slept on a fountain in France. Nostalgia isn't bad, but you can't live in the past. You must move forward in life.

I recently realized this (I know, after 25 years, I finally realize this). I started a new job last month and it happens to be very close to my old office. Close enough that I actually walk past my old office on the way to my new office. I spent close to two years in that old office. So many good times, bad times, and exciting times. Yet, now when I pass it, it feels like a total stranger to me. Everything changes so quickly.

To quote fictional character, Benjamin Button (my life coach) as he returns home: "It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you." I can't ever go back to the places and the times of my past. If I did, it wouldn't be the same. The people will be different. I'll be different.

This is probably very obvious to everyone else, but I've had a hard time coming to terms with moving on and letting go. Life is full of change. We move from one place to the next. From experience to experience. From people to other people. Don't hold on to the past. Appreciate the time and experiences you did have, but then keep on truckin' on. Life doesn't wait!

This has been Ben José 

With a Danny Tanner lesson. 

cue sentimental music. 

P.S. I am indeed still writing my novel, among other things. Yas.

P.P.S. Still not over it. Don't let me down, Episove VII.

Lupita & Brienne of Tarth. DARTH YEAH!

WRAPRTY

Howdy folks! It has been exactly two weeks since LeNoWriHo (Lent Novel Writing Holiday) has started, and things are going well. I've made the "No" of the acronym to actually stand for multiple things, not just a novel. They include: a pilot, some spec television scripts, a feature film, and TV reviews. Yes, there is a lot on my plate right now, but this is what I love to do. Now pray for me to finish everything I start. I want to reach that WRAPRTY.

TME 2 PRTY YLL

Side note: I have never seen so many specialized license plates since moving to Los Angeles. People here are really into customizing their plates with cool slang, broski. I'm not even kidding. It's laughably bad. I've started taking pictures every time I see one and I now have quite a collection of "fun" plates. Stay tuned for those later.

Virtual Camping is the only camping I do!

On April 1st, Camp NaNoWriMo starts. Basically it is the April version of NaNoWriMo - I will be participating this year. Instead of the strict rules of regular NaNo, during Camp NaNoWriMo you are allowed to pick your own word count, you can write things other than a novel, and you get grouped into metaphorical "cabins" to work with other similar writers. All together sounds like a fun experience. This will be my first year doing it. I've set my word count for 50,000! CAMP TIME, y'all.

WAAAAALT, what happened!?

I wonder if Damon Lindelof ever did NaNoWriMo? Oh, Damon Lindelof. I just saw him. That, my friends, is called a seamless segue way. Mel and I went to go see the LOST: 10 year Reunion at Paley Fest here in LA. Not only were creators/writers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse there, but also some of the cast, including gigantic adult human-sized Malcolm David Kelley aka WAAAAALT! So crazy to think that Lost ended 10 years ago. It was a show that changed my life and made me realize that I want to work in TV and that I want to do what they did.  

Angry side note: *If you don't like LOST, just leave. I loved the controversial finale. For me, it was never about all the mysteries (that was just added fun)! It was about the characters and their journeys... which is what I am trying to emulate in my novel. It all comes full circle here, folks.

But, I have to stop myself before I go too deep into a one-sided Lost debate with myself. So, as Desmond says, "See ya in another life, brotha!"

- ben josé

LeNoWriHo! (Or how I am spending the next 40 days. Also, acronyms are fun!)

I've deactivated my Facebook, I've thrown myself into my novel, I'm writing book and TV show reviews, I'm reading more and more, and social life is taking a backseat. Why you ask? Because it is LeNoWriHo!

Why, what could LeNoWriHo possibly mean, Ben?? Let me tell you! It means: Lent Novel Writing Holiday. Yes, I came up with that all by myself. I consider myself somewhat of an acronym connoisseur.

I've got my thinking hard hat on! (No, I'm not a construction worker).

For the next forty days and forty nights, I shall write, read, blog, review, and more! My last blog post was all about seizing the moment and realizing that both good and bad moments are never permanent. So in the spirit of Catholic guilt, I shall give up the addiction to Facebook, the addiction to stress and worry, the addiction to cronuts... (er, actually, I won't be giving up cronuts, who am I kidding with that one!).

Heaven never tasted so good.

So, 

Follow me as I continue to write my novel. Things are heating up in this fake world inside my head. Only the fluorescent screen of my computer shares in the exciting drama of my novel. Soon, world, soon...

"A mind needs books, like a sword needs a whetstone."

Follow me as I compete in my first ever "52 books in 52 weeks" challenge. I kept seeing my former roommate compete in this challenge year after year and I kept telling myself I was going to do it. 2014 is the year. Check out my goodreads page and be my friend to see the stats! I'm already 10 books in. 42 more to go.

Follow me as I also compete in a "Reading Bingo" with my girlfriend. Basically, you have to read a specific book in order to cross it off the bingo sheet, such as the "second book in a series," "a forgotten classic," etc. It's a fun way to read and learn. Nerd Alert!

I'm the green one. Mel is red. She clearly needs to catch up :)

Follow me as I write book and television reviews for the website Whedonopolis.com. They write about all thing Joss Whedon and all things geek. One of the shows I review is Bates Motel, which is in its second season. If you haven't seen the first season yet, please watch it on Netflix. The show is quirky and creepy and altogether a bit psychotic!

Now... LeNoWriHo shall commence! I promise* I will stop using these obnoxious acronyms.

*by promise, I mean I don't promise. Not at all.

- ben josé

This Too Shall Pass

*Warning: Overly dramatic and sensitive "life-inspiring" blog post to follow!

Currently listening to a song called "Moving On" from the "Lost" Soundtrack by Michael Giacchino and realizing that "this too shall pass." That quote harkens back to a story about a king who thought everything was going well and he wanted his council to give him advice that would help him weather any hardship. They said to him "this too shall pass." At first he didn't understand what it meant, but soon his kingdom was attacked and he had lost everything and had his back against a wall. And then he remembered those words: "This too shall pass." And he was content, for even his hardship would pass. Change is the only permanent thing in this world. Everything changes. Emotions, circumstances, hardships, joys... they are not constant.

It's been a tough few weeks for me, trying to focus on writing while also looking for a new job. Life keeps getting in the way. I'm an ambitious individual with a grand imagination and high expectations for my future. It pains me so much everyday to be stagnant and stuck. I know things will change though. This feeling of hopelessness and entrapment will pass. I just need to keep moving on and not looking back or to far forward.

Be in the present. I hope this for everyone. I stumbled upon a YouTube video entitled "Top 5 Saddest Pixar Moments" and I decided to watch it at work for some reason. [Side Note: Don't ever watch a 'sad Pixar' clip at work. You'll regret it]. Damn you, Pixar, you know how to make a grown man tear up. Perhaps the saddest story for me was that of Carl & Ellie from "Up."

If you've never seen "Up," be prepared to cry within the first ten minutes. Carl and Ellie were adventurous and fun and loved each other dearly. They had dreams of exploring the world. But life got in the way. Over and over again. And they never got to live their dreams and see the world...

One of my worst fears. Life is short... I don't want to waste it. I want to see the world, meet new people, share in experiences with the ones I love.

Sorry if this is a depressing/weird/unrelated post, (aka Dear Diary), but I just needed to get these things off my chest. I've deactivated my Facebook (or what I like to call, WasteBook) for the time being. Time to focus on the more important things in my life: my loved ones, my passions, adventure, travel, cats, nature, writing...

Adventure is out there! Don't wait...

So, everyone go out and do what you want to do. Don't be afraid, or wait, or make excuses. Life is too short to not take that risk or that chance.

This has been benjosé with your cliched inspirational post.

P.S. My book is still coming along, so don't worry, my intrepid readers. You will see it one day. I'll leave you with this: #LeNoWriHo