It’s time to introduce the final editor for this semester, an editor who has already made presence on the JFR blog with his “From Fact to Film”, which looks at historical fact compared to historical films. This week we are introducing Jakob Kagay, Asst. Nonfiction Editor; Asst. Fiction Editor. Please take a look at his blog here: From Fact to Film
Jakob is a senior at Lewis University who is majoring in History with a concentration in Public History and minoring in Professional Writing and Business Administration. On campus, he works at the front desk of the Library and interns at the Adelmann Collection on the second floor. During his free time he enjoys playing video games and being the Game Master for a Dungeons and Dragons game he plays with a group of online friends. He also enjoys learning history whenever possible, reading history books and watching documentaries or historical films whenever possible.
Below is our Q&A with Jakob Kagay:
Who are you and what is your role in the Jet Fuel Review?
My name is Jakob Kagay, and my role in Jet Fuel Review is Asst. Nonfiction Editor; Asst. Fiction Editor, and as a film blogger.
What book might we find on your nightstand right now?
All Quiet on the Western Front. I have read the book multiple times and it is one that I always enjoy going back to. It is an excellent look on World War I from the German perspective and it is one of the most important works made on war itself.
If you had the chance to co-write with one author, who would you choose? Why?
Harry Turtledove. I thoroughly enjoy his alternate history novels and would have a ton of fun being able to research all the possible scenarios that go into crafting some of his worlds.
Describe your perfect reading atmosphere.
I appreciate total silence when I am reading. I have difficulty being able to focus when other people are doing things or having conversations around me, though I have gotten better at drowning the extra noise out.
What might your personal library look like?
My personal library is filled with history books of all different subjects. I appreciate a good amount of fiction as well and especially books that look at alternate historical scenarios, such as Harry Turtledove’s Southern Victory series.
If you could “re-make” a poorly written movie that was based on a book, what movie would it be?
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005) because the original radio plays and books did a vastly superior job telling this story. Douglas Adams did work on this film, however, he passed away early on in its development. If he was able to live long enough to finish the film, who knows what it would look like today. I know that a lot of people enjoy the film, but to me it just seems like an inferior version of something that already exists.
What piece of literature can you reread over and over again?
A guilty pleasure of mine is conspiracy theory books. I always get some fun out of reading what people can come up with to support their outrageous claims. Books on the Kennedy assassinations are my personal favorites.
Give us a quote from your favorite (or any) book/movie.
“We’re fine. We’re all fine here, now, thank you. How are you?” – Han Solo (Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977))
If you were invited to have coffee with any fictional character, who would you most like to meet? Why?
Honestly, I think I’d want to hang out with Winnie the Pooh. It would be incredibly relaxing. Just to be able to laze around and being happy to do nothing at all would be absolutely serene.
Share your top five favorite pieces of writing (anything included, be it movies, books, etc.).
Books:
- Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (1955)
- All Quiet on the Western Front (1928)
- Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (1991)
- The Devil in the White City (2003)
- How Few Remain (1997)
Movies:
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Patton (1970)
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
- No Country for Old Men (2007)