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Precious, Not Few
I can't wait to see the film, though I might have to wait until it comes out on DVD. I definitely recommend the book as a powerfully written testimonial of a subject we don't hear nearly enough from today, and in fact for the last year or so, have been using an example from Sapphire's text for a writing prompt and discussion with entry level writing students. They are always intrigued, but now might be more motivated to pick up the book, after seeing the film: How do we explain exactly what affects us about this writing? I find that taking very small excerpts, and drawing out what ideas and meanings come to me, can help me to pinpoint more clearly what it is about this writing that attracts or repels me as its audience: For example, I find the language of Sapphire's novel Push, to be deceptively simple while concealing depths of feeling and meaning. Words are often spelled phonetically, and contain some rhythms similar to those employed by Zora Neale Hurston. Here's an excerpt: "I jus' fall in Mr Wicher's class sit down. We don't have assigned seats in Mr. Wicher's class, we can sit anywhere we want. I sit in the same seat everyday, in the back, last row, next to the door. Even though I know that back door be locked" (Push 4). What I love about this short passage is how much is communicated in few words, how Sapphire says so much with so little. Here are just a few of my thoughts on this three-sentence passage: The structure of the first sentence, with its word usage, the "jus fall," gives me a feeling of abruptly sweeping into a room and falling into a chair in one swift motion--with purpose, and with a noticeable "I don't care" attitude, perhaps. "Jus" falling into the chair without a thought could indicate that this person is feeling a bit defeated in some way; she falls into the room and the chair. But then again, it seems that even though seats aren't assigned, this person behaves as though they were, giving the impression that she wants structure and stability she can control, not change. She distances herself from others, yet perhaps to also draw attention to herself, by sitting in the back, the last row. This character shows us that she literally has her back against the wall--but that she has demonstrated control over the situation because she has knowingly chosen this position--she knows the door is locked. Sometimes a locked door can provide a kind of support, because no one can open it and surprise you, or knock you down--even if the opening door might bring a good change. What I'm doing here is called "close reading," something we do a lot in literature, but also in advertising. Every word counts, and every word and sentence must communicate something to the reader without it being spelled out.— November 28, 2009 1 a.m.
The Slightly Hodge-Podge Composition
The longest I've cycled is to and from UCSD via PCH and Mission, sometimes cheating and loading my bike onto a bus in Pacific Beach, to avoid those last killer hills to campus. Of course from UCSD back to Hillcrest is a breeze, downhill all the way ;)— November 27, 2009 11:28 p.m.
Scorpio's BLACK FRIDAY education
Oh, it is definitely resultant of some leftist-elitist plot.— November 27, 2009 10:38 p.m.
Remains of the Day
re:#14: Sweet post, littleimmigrant ;) re:#16: As the saying goes, the 1950s called, and it wants that lime jello salad back! Gotta love retro food ;) re:#17: Joe, you really ARE quite the cook! LOVE a man who cooks--and generously with the salted butter. And ladies, he's cute, too--too bad he's taken ;) re: #18: "SD may have missed the whole Jello mold craze, being lucky enough to be so young as to maybe not have had every experiment with Jello given to her as a "treat"." Nope, didn't miss out, MsG. Born in '70, so got plenty of jello for "dessert" after a solid, homecooked meal of top ramen (poor, overworked single mother ;( I love those sites for retro food, with pics and recipes. Also fun are the Mennonite (think "Quakerish") cookbooks passed around in our family; strange cold dishes with lard as a preservative, and gelatin to give 'form.' Yes, the 80s did intro some good things, did it not?— November 27, 2009 10:35 p.m.
Inconvenient Death
Sure? ;)— November 27, 2009 10:25 p.m.
Scorpio's BLACK FRIDAY education
"Now, if only women knew how to PART THEIR FRICKING CARS!!!!" How, exactly, does anyone "PART" his/her car properly for you? Is this a biblical thing, like parting the Red Sea, so your car can get by? "My wife promised me some sexual action for payback tonight, so of course, I made her sign a contract. But that's another post!!!" I for one vote that we do not get that post. It is interesting that you've mentioned having to negotiate with your wife for sex on several occasions. Bummer ;)— November 27, 2009 10:24 p.m.
Turkey Day
Even my mother-in-law only made one or two cracks about the nuts being fattening." Hee hee! Love it. Yes, I'd like to check out your blog on this topic, MsGrant! And I prep the frozen perogis just like you do (impressed you make your own dough!). They go down well with sour cream as well as fried onions, and an Asahi beer. Asahi is really crisp and clean in flavor, so it cuts through the fat and richness of the pirogi nicely. As for fake meats, we don't endure them, and the only product we buy is a hickory-smoked soy "turkey" sliced lunchmeat. When I am well, I like to cook good food, from which one never misses meat.— November 27, 2009 10:30 a.m.
Inconvenient Death
So true, Microsoft. Do you belong to the Sierra Club, or any other organizations promoting better accommodation for cyclists, and petitioning/protesting the budget cuts for mass transit?— November 27, 2009 10:23 a.m.
Remains of the Day
re: #7: What Joe said. Your writing has a clarity and honesty that I appreciate. So a capirotada is a kind of bread pudding without egg, layered and baked with banana, peanuts, raisins, almonds, and cheese. Sounds very interesting.— November 27, 2009 9:17 a.m.
Remains of the Day
Oh, and I do agree that the opiates altered his consciousness and opened some mental doors. I don't believe in heaven, but I think this man began to believe in it. Not the first near-death conversion I've seen... I do like this concept of 'intuitive rebalance' as well. It affirms that we have the power to calibrate ourselves emotionally as well as physically, when necessary, and that the solutions will come naturally ;)— November 27, 2009 9:11 a.m.