Teaching a film as lit class this term and spending some time this week closely studying Joel and Ethan Coen’s pre-Bob Dylan period film Inside Llewyn Davis. I am particularly interested in the themes of crisis and purposeleness. I also like the feel that the narrative is a mobius strip trapping the main character. I am seeingContinue reading “inside llewyn davis and the mobius strip narrative”
Category Archives: teaching
margaret atwood’s the handmaid’s tale
Prepping to discuss Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale tomorrow in my Lit 111 course. We’ll discuss more dystopian elements, feminism and watch some scenes from the film adaptation.
quick note on daniel chacón’s unending rooms
Working my way through Sergio Troncoso’s list of suggested Latino authors. I began with Troncoso’s novel From This Wicked Patch of Dust and moved on to Daniel Chacón’s collection of short stories Unending Rooms. This has been a long week of grading final composition and literature portfolios so finding the time to read has been difficult.Continue reading “quick note on daniel chacón’s unending rooms”
teaching, blogging and professionalism
I recently read an article about a Philly area teacher, Natalie Munroe, who lost her high school teaching gig after ranting about students, coworkers and administrators on a blog. And after reading and thinking about my own blog and my own need to write about teaching and teaching practices, I ‘m on the fence about thisContinue reading “teaching, blogging and professionalism”
fictive spaces and frank waters’ otherworlds
I should be reading the sixth essay in Bringing the Devil to His Knees. I still want to get through that book but the brain of school has me and I also wanted to finish up the Frank Waters memoir I’ve had on my desk for months. Interesting that the last two books I’ve read haveContinue reading “fictive spaces and frank waters’ otherworlds”
sixth essay: joan silber’s “weight in fiction”
Spent a few nights revising course syllabi for the upcoming spring term so I wandered away from my goal to read through Bringing the Devil to His Knees. And I did want to finish before the term but the brain of school and work is here so I’ll press on, and perhaps this will inspireContinue reading “sixth essay: joan silber’s “weight in fiction””
salinger and chuck wachtel’s “behind the mask”
Took a few nights away from reading through Bringing the Devil to His Knees to reread Paul Alexander’s biography of Salinger. I received it as a holiday gift and wanted to reread because New Years Day is Salinger’s birthday and also because it helps me reconnect with Salinger and his material. The work means soContinue reading “salinger and chuck wachtel’s “behind the mask””
fourth night of notes: steven schwartz’ “finding a voice in america”
Tonight I am taking a look at the fourth essay of Bringing the Devil to His Knees–the Craft of Fiction and the Writing Life. And apart from the essay I am seeing just how slow my reading process can be at times–almost as slow as my writing process. I have such a stack of books onContinue reading “fourth night of notes: steven schwartz’ “finding a voice in america””
where’s iago? by susan neville
Vonnegut has come up again and again to me the last couple of days–his novels at the used bookstore I decided against and the interview with his wife on cspan at 3am that made me regret–and I find him once again as one of the catalysts to Susan Neville’s essay “Where’s Iago?” I’m still tryingContinue reading “where’s iago? by susan neville”
richard russo’s in defense of omniscience
A few posts back I mentioned how I wanted to read through my tattered copy of Bringing the Devil to His Knees edited by Charles Baxter and Peter Turchi and while on holiday break from school I finally have the time and energy to reread and give some sort of classification and summary to thisContinue reading “richard russo’s in defense of omniscience”
maxwell’s so long, see you tomorrow
I’ve written about the achingly beautiful book by William Maxwell before but tonight my students will be concluding their Lit 111 experience with this book–the last lecture anyway. This will be our final discussion before they head off to complete their term papers and prepare for their presentations. I hope I can convey to themContinue reading “maxwell’s so long, see you tomorrow”
Cisneros and More Random Thoughts on Failed Writing
I had the opportunity the summer before last to attend a Sandra Cisneros reading here in Illinois at the National Women’s Studies Conference. Attending this reading also inspired me to read her latest book Caramelo and I have to say I was so inspired by her words.As I enter Week 12 of my creative writingContinue reading “Cisneros and More Random Thoughts on Failed Writing”