See, I had imagined lots of teacher ramblings, but I've been off work for more than a week. My teacher brain quits functioning within about three days. I can say, though, that I have been thinking about William Saroyan's novel, The Human Comedy, which I will teach for the first time when we return from winter break. Here's what I've been thinking: "Oh my gawd, what am I going to do!!!!!" Haven't ventured much further than that one thought. Don't get excited, freshmen. I'll have my act together before you crack the front cover.
The Five People You Meet In Heaven is an interesting little book that can be read in about two hours. It's a litmus test kind of book; if you don't shed at least a little tear during the last four pages, you have no soul. If you're wondering about the status and location of your soul, that's how you can find out. That, and the scene from "The Sixth Sense" in which the boy gives his mother a message from her mother. If that didn't get to you, quit worrying about the state of your soul. You don't have one.
The last installment of "The Lord of the Rings" isn't that bad. I spent considerable, precious, class time ribbing a few of my AVID girls who are Tolkien fans. But even I have to admit that I paid attention during this movie. In the first two, I oggled Legalos - that's one hot-looking elf - and enjoyed more than three hours of silent musings over a box of Junior Mints. And cackled at my husband each time he said, "That's not how it happens in the book." I swear he said, "His eyes aren't blue in the book." I wonder if he could tell you what color my eyes are, without looking. But change the eye color of a hobbit, elf, dwarf, ork, whatever those creatures are, and you'll hear about it. If mercy rained on you, and you weren't subjected to this trial, I'll sum it up for you. Here's the point: Power corrupts. There. A two-word, complete sentence. Apparently, a large demographic felt the need for a 10-hour movie to make the same point.
Thanks to my lovely, generous sister-in-law and her delicious amazon.com gift certificate, I will soon be the proud owner of my very own DVD of my very favorite movie, "Broadcast News". I'll keep you posted. I might buy two of my other all-time favorites, "Avalon" and "Da". And I need to rent "High Fidelity" because I only saw bits and pieces while doing laundry and grading papers. I actually watched "Gone With The Wind" and "Lord of the Rings" on the same day. And I'm still talking about movies.
Suggestions for more movies to watch and books to read?
