Christopher’s Comments (group member since Mar 05, 2009)

Christopher’s comments from the fiction files redux group.

I think the ending of this story truly makes it great. I mean, Chekhov is a wonderful writer--his prose and diction ought to be studied by anyone who wants to write--but it's those last three paragraphs that make the story for me. I've always struggled with endings, especially in short fiction, and I think Chekhov nailed this one...how can we be free, Gurov repeating "How?" almost in agony as he clutches his head, and the slow realization that the hard work of their relationship is just beginning.

That's a crying shame, Lauren. But I thought you had some cranky old guy with white hair that stood up on his head. Or was that your junior year?

And what's wrong with Star Trek, I'd like to know? :)

To clarify, it's not my AP kids who are reading Chandler...it's my college-prep (regular) students. Though maybe I should consider teaching Chandler to my AP class. Hmm...

Michael wrote: Have your class follow this link to more and more examples of the new post-grammaticism:

PFL "

Unfortunately, our school blocks access to Myspace and Facebook and other social networking sites. (Though not Goodreads!)

Margaret, thanks for the suggestion, and for the free lesson plan. JE, if you're out there, could you send me a copy of this tome when you're done with it?

If I could get a copy, I think my students would love it. I could even assign them passages of "Moby-Dick" or Shakespeare or something to rewrite in the style of "A Prescription for Love." Michael, you're a genius. Mo, sign me up for a copy!

Ben wrote: "Michael wrote: "So Ben, did you ever get around to reading any of PFL...?"

oh yes i did! the whole thing! here is the little "review" i wrote of it:

"okay, this was a terrible book. BUT! it was s..."

I'm printing out this little gem of quotations and sharing them with my AP students. They wrote novels themselves this year (in groups of 3-4) and they are just freaking amazing. They'll appreciate the bizarre horror of this linguistic noodling.

Adrian wrote: "God, look at the moderators! It appears to be an Internet rogues gallery.

I think the moderators should have to wear outrageous costumes and fight each other in an arena.

"
Maybe they could do this at Dorkapalooza.

Hey, bacon girl...I'm going to start teaching Chandler next week, but leisurely is good. I've decided to teach the course again next year. Which is an easy decision since the department chair signs off on who teaches what and, well, I'm the department chair. Maybe I could bring some fresh insights from my students--they often surprise me by what they see. Or don't see.

I'm Chris, or Swann, or Swanny to the old-timers here. (Pardon me as I adjust my dentures...) I joined FF back in '07, before the blackout. I'm a high school English teacher who's written a novel and I am trying very hard not to become like the Richard Dreyfuss character in "Mr. Holland's Opus" because, well, that would just be sad. This is my virtual family, and it feels like we just moved into a new house.

I like medieval lit, literary thrillers (love Alan Furst and Martin Cruz Smith), most everything Shakespeare, the Romantic poets, et cetera.

Good to see all you people in our new digs. BTW, I call the upstairs room with the desk in the dormer window.

Anytime anybody wants to read "The Big Sleep" or "Farewell, My Lovely" by Chandler, let me know...and I'm always up for some Garcia Marquez, although it seems like "100 Years" has dropped off the list...