9 minute read
DUNE REVIEW
from Issue 1 2021-22
Revered as one of the most influential science fiction books to ever grace the shelves, Dune has sold more than 12 million copies since its release in 1965, and has served as the inspiration for several renown works such as the Star Wars saga. With the anticipated Oct. 22 release of the movie adaptation, more and more people have begun to read it. However, its recent influx of attention begs the question of whether it deserves the popularity.
Frank Herbert, the author of the book, was far ahead of his time. Going against the grain of sci-fi concepts typical of the time, which show utopia and the beauty of the future, Herbert highlights the deep-rooted issues of society. The book has a breadth of controversial topics such as the future, religion, addiction, gender gentrification, and the hero complex within the main character, Paul Atreides. Herbert is able to touch on these topics sincerely and finds a way to execute his ideas into the story.
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The blueprint and ideas of this story are incredible. Herbert’s skill is incomparable when it comes to his world-building and creating complex and detailed settings. This, however, hindered the plot and storyline that he was trying to achieve. The action of the story took the backseat and many pages became dedicated to in-depth detail of the surrounding rooms or desert landscape. He went so far as to add historical documents chronicling his creative environment. This tended to drag out a lot of the story and soon became very boring.
The narrative is slow-moving and gets lost in the background of Herbert’s exhaustive setting. The utter lack of action and over-abundance of minute details being described can deter any reader from wanting to read it. The book is not for the ever-shortening attention spans of today’s generation; but for those willing to put the time in, it’s worth the wait.
Paul and Jessica Atreides are by far the best written characters in the book. Both of them are complex and dynamic, undergoing changes in maturity and thoughts throughout the book that helped develop their personality. There is never a time where one begins to fall flat, and it is fascinating to see the growth in each of them.
Paul begins as a naive and timid character and soon transforms and accepts his position in the world of Dune. He has depth and defies the typical “chosen one” trope by questioning destiny and creating his own path. Jessica begins as a subservient wife and evolves into a matriarchal role for thousands of people. Overall, the people in this book are very well thought-out and have immense thought put into them.
Herbert writes in a point of view that shows every character’s thoughts at any given time, making it difficult to tell who is thinking or speaking at any given moment. Many books have either one character that narrates or has designated chapters to each character. This is not the case with Dune. Similar to his many details, the characters’ ruminations are often arbitrary and don’t help to move the story forward. Many of the character’s thoughts, including Dr. Yueh’s, are a way to pound in the ideas that Herbert wants the reader to know. The same notions of betrayal are repeated over and over becoming almost juvenile.
One of the better points of the book is how long it was able to stay relevant and keep readers hooked for years. The original fanbase started in the seventies and has continued until modern times. Many of the characters, including Paul, have thoughts and feelings that are relatable for the reader even though he exists in a different world and time. The book helps readers to realize the power struggle that exists in our world today, and possibly in our future such as the ideas of corruption and using strength to control others. This book invites discussion and inspires change. Many of the problems within the text will hopefully be eliminated in the upcoming movie, which will hopefully be more concise and digestible for viewers while doing justice to the amazing world Herbert created. There have been multiple attempts at creating this movie in the past and all have failed, so I hope this time it won’t fall short of Herbert’s standards. The storyline is amazing and the world Herbert created is creative and innovative, but the execution isn’t there. Herbert has great ideas but is not a great storyteller. Critics seem optimistic about the upcoming movie, but the book is not worth recommending. •
TIME AND TIME AGAIN
review andie madding art evie colpi
FALL FAVORITE COFFEE DRINKS
Get ready for the cold weather with Editor in Chief Mia Hilkowitz’s favorite fall coffee drinks. These drinks can be found on Cocoon Coffee’s new fall menu, located at 6209 Snider Road in Mason.
*All drinks can be made lactose free by choosing a milk alternative including oat, soy, almond or coconut milk.
Each fall, Jewish people from around the country celebrate the high holiday season through commemoration, worship and most importantly, good food. While in-person gatherings may be limited this year, you can still experience the holidays with this family recipe. Kugel, a sweet egg noodle casserole, is a popular traditional jewish food served around the high holidays. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Boil noodles in a large pot of boiling salt water for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the noodles, but leave some water clinging to the noodles.
Step 2: Butter a 13”x9”glass baking dish.
Step 3: Whisk eggs and sugar until eggs are frothy and sugar is dissolved. This should take around one to two minutes. Step 4: In a medium sized bowl, add the cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt to the eggs and sugar mixture. Whisk to combine. Then, add microwaved butter to the bowl and whisk together again. This creates a sauce for the kugel.
Step 5: Add noodles to sauce and toss to coat using a spoon or spatula.
Step 6: Transfer noodle mixture to baking dish, tipping the dish to evenly distribute the noodles.
Step 7: Bake kugel in the oven for one hour. Rotate pan halfway through until top is browned. Let cool for 20 minutes, then serve. •
Pumpkin Pie Latte
Ingredients:
• Pumpkin syrup • Caramel syrup • 1 double shot of espresso • Cinnamon • Choice of milk
White Pumpkin Latte Iced Chai Pumpkin Latte
Ingredients: • White Pumpkin Latte • White chocolate mocha • Pumpkin syrup • 1 double shot of espresso • Choice of milk Ingredients: • Iced Chai Pumpkin Latte • Cold foam with pumpkin and caramel flavoring • Chai tea concentrate • Cinnamon • Choice of milk
AUNT JENNY DAYEN’S KUGEL RECIPE
Ingredients:
• 1/2 lb. of thin noodles • 1 stick of margarine (melted) • 3 eggs • 1/2 cup of sugar • 1 tsp of vanilla • 1 tsp. of cinnamon • 8 oz. container of sour cream • 8 oz. bar cream cheese (softened)
recipe & photography mia hilkowitz
continued from page 21
WHAT DOES THE SCHOOL BOARD DO:
The Lakota Board of Education is responsible for hiring and evaluating the district superintendent and treasurer. The board is also responsible for: • Adopting an annual budget and appropriation measures • Exercising taxing powers to raise money for the district • Considering and passing upon the recommendations of the superindendent in matters of policy • Informing the public concerning the progress and needs of the school
The Lakota Local School Board of Education operates under local control. Local control refers to the governing and management of public schools by elected or appointed officials serving on governing bodies such as school board.
(Top) The eight Lakota Board of Education candidates pose with the members of the Spark Editorial Board at Candidate Night
(Bottom) Candidate Douglas Horton answers a question at Candidate night.
NOW ACCEPTING CUSTOMERS FOR SPRING 2022!
• House Washing •Driveways & Sidewalks •Decks & Patios •Fences, Barns & Sheds
IT’S GAMEDAY...
photocaption evie colpi photography riley higgins Oct. 2-3 the East marching band came away with first out of all the bands in Ohio, and second overall with a score of 77 in the Northwest Ohio Bands of America (BOA) competition. East performed alongside wenty bands from all over Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Indiana. Their preformance’s theme is horoscope and consists of large circular props that portray zodiacs. The show is divided into four secitons that represent each of the four elements: fire, water, air, and earth. •
The East Thunderhawks took on the Sycamore Aviators and pulled away with a win (34-27). Before the game, the 2021 East homecoming court was announced onto the field. Nominees included both class and club representatives. The score was tied up, 20-20, at the end of the second quarter. At halftime the dance team, cheerleaders, and marching band put on a show for the students. In the second half, the teams went back and forth with the Aves striking first in the third quarter. The Hawks came back to tie it in the fourth, then drove down the field to take the lead. The Hawks defense was able to stop the Aves on their last drive of the game on fourth down on the 5-yard line. The sound of the victory bell could be heard as students were leaving the stadium. • photocaption aurora hutchings photography caleb vanatta
East Varsity Boys soccer took on the Sycamore Aviators in a tight game that resulted in a 3-3 tie. In the first quarter, junior Jacob Nguyen and senior Connor Pletikapich managed to score goals in the first half but Sycamore was close behind with junior Nico Bello and senior Aidan Young scoring two goals to tie both teams at the half. As the second half continued, senior Sycamore player Garret Friedrich scored a goal. With only a few minutes left in the last half of the game, senior Jack Pascoal (pictured above) scored East’s third goal, tying the game with East Boys Soccer barely escaping the clutches of a loss to Sycamore. •
On Sept. 13 East varsity tennis team swept the courts 4-1 against Mason. East junior Kirsten Kusel, who has been playing tennis for five years, knew this was going to be a hard game. “Knowing Mason, their shots are always spot on, have speed, and they anticipate everything,” Kusel says. But that didn’t stop her from going in with a positive attitude. “In tennis it’s so easy to get down on yourself, so going into it with a good attitude really helps your game,” Kusel says. That positive attitude is just what East needed to beat Mason. •
