The Winsome Scholar

Yeah, the classes are blending.

First Hour

We will be discussing the next chapter of Eggers’s book tomorrow (through page 165).  We noted several things about the beginning of the book in class today:

• The Acknowledgements section is long.  Perhaps it is the author clearing his throat, perhaps Eggers is setting the stage (like a chapter-long opening paragraph), perhaps he is using this section as a means to deconstruct his own life.  A few of you were distracted by the opener, many loved it, others skipped it (Noo…).
• We noted the incredible transitions between the first and second, and second and third chapters.  Eggers is definitely taking us on an emotional roller coaster. As you read, though, keep in mind the overall tone of the sections.  Does the story ever get somber or depressing?  What is he doing when the tone is ecstatic?  Where is Toph at these times?  Is it ever completely serious?
• We discussed the author’s use of humor at length.  Some of you mentioned the fact that he is rarely, if ever, serious.  It seems that every time he makes a sincere statement, he undercuts it with humor.  Why do you think he does this?  In what kinds of situations do we do this?

As you read the next chapter, think about Dave and Toph’s relationship.  The fact that Dave must balance being a brother and parent wears on him, and he often has a hard time balancing the two positions.

• Finally, as you read Dave’s tortured thoughts after he leaves Toph, try to understand why your parents ask you to call them when you’re out late.  Eggers paints an accurate portrait (minus the hat smelling thing, maybe.  Maybe not.) of the stresses of parenting in this chapter.  How does that work out during his first chance to spend time with his friends?

Third Hour

We’re reading through Part One (to page 39) tonight.

Ahh, the Perks.  Are there any (perks, I mean) that you’ve seen so far?  What kind of boy is Charlie?  What kind of girl is his sister?  Do you relate?

We discussed the syntax and diction of this book at length today.  As you read, take note of how Charlie’s letters become more complex and more clearly written.  How does this affect you as a reader?  Does it at all?

We also talked about the impact of a good book on how we think.  When we finally break away after diving into a book, after turning away from the world around us, the cadences and structure tends to color our vision.  Like this:

See you all tomorrow.

*See Wm. Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Act 5 Scene 1

NPR’s John Ridley interviews rapper MF Grimm, novelist Jodi Picoult, and Joss Whedon about moving from their original mediums (music, prose, and TV, respectively) to graphic novels.  NPR Story

Quick reading list:

• The Tenth Circle, an excellent half novel / half comic book about a father’s strained relationship with his daughter
• If you are looking to study dialogue (for any type of fiction writing), check out Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1-3, or any of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes.  No really.  Good stuff.

Amazing story of student initiative and giving.  NPR Story

"Rickrolling," memes.  NYT Story

Autism: The Musical review.  Popmatters story

Popmatters reviews Spirits in the Material World, a reggae tribute to The Smiths.  Popmatters Story

Treehugger revisits a "what the future holds" issue of Modern Mechanix from 1968.  Treehugger Story

Analysis of one of author Tobias Wolff’s prevalent topics (lying), and what this topic says about literature.  Slate Story

Article by Louis Menand about the "comics scare" during the Cold War Era.  A great overview; definitely worth reading if you’ve never heard of the Comics Code.  NYT Article

Discussion of Nine Inch Nails’ latest album.  You know: the free one.  Popmatters Story

NPR: World Cafe’s David Dye interviews Chris Walla about his newest album, Field Manual.  Have any of you heard it?  NPR: World Cafe Story

This is really amazing.  Dan Phillips creates homes using 85% recycled or reused materials, which is incredible in itself, but Phillips works with the working poor to…  Just watch. 

via Treehugger Article check out Phillips’s website.

Anyone looking to major in geology?  Something to think about: NPR Story.

Domingo Martin plays a song using his Moleskine journal as his only instrument.  Video at Moleskinerie.com Article.

Interesting commentary on the current election slogans.  In These Times Article

Library WII.  Gothamist Article

John Marks writes about Stoker’s Dracula and how it reminds him of . . . Easter.  Just check it out: NPR Story.

with some sad news.

Arthur C. Clarke, author of 2001: A Space Odyssey, has died.  I’m not sure how many of you are familiar with his works, but there are many eulogies and tributes available online (Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times, NPR, Google Search) for you to check out.  Much has been made of his most famous work, 2001: A Space Odyssey (first a book then a movie with Kubrick), but I am most familiar with him though his World of Strange Powers miniseries.

We have lost four brilliant minds in less than a year (Clarke, Ingmar Bergman, Madeline L’Engle, and of course, Kurt Vonnegut).  I’m not sure why this has caught me so off guard, but I can’t help but imagine what my world would be like if I hadn’t read A Wrinkle in Time when I was in elementary school, if Clarke’s World of Strange Powers hadn’t scared the pants off me when I was younger, or if I hadn’t watched The Seventh Seal in college.  I won’t attempt to explain the impact Vonnegut’s oeuvre has had on my love of reading, because I’m not sufficiently talented to explain that in a blog entry.  It seems to me, though, that when an author goes beyond simply keeping the reader’s attention, beyond entertainment, and is able to impact the reader’s perception of the world, the author has tapped into the true power of the written word.  That is, I believe, the point of most (if not all) writing.  Just something to think about.

For your journal (perhaps), here are Clarke’s Three Laws of Prediction:

1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

What authors, artists, musicians, inventors, magicians, scientists, politicians, philosophers, or saints have had an impact on your life?

Per aspera ad Astra.