The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

This is one of the books I’m teaching at school. I think that the wonder and simplicity of Lewis is on display, and I want my students to experience that. I can’t ever help but indulge in homage based on what my teachers did when I was in school. Reading The Hobbit as a senior felt special. I’ve been struggling to manage writing the curriculum for this class and complete my national boards at the same time. I got sick a few times teaching this book. I hope I’m doing a good job at all this.

Street of Shadows

Genre is fascinating to me. A stupid star wars novel is made wonderful because of its focus on crime noir as a genre. I read this in an airport, during down time in class and in a coffee shop with my wife on a Saturday.

Bless Me Ultima

I was a dumbass and a lunatic for thinking this was a boring bad book in high school. This story is special and my imagination was wild while reading it. Antonio’s struggle with his religion and his family is remarkable. This was mostly a “listener” out on runs and it helped me escape from my worries about school and mock trial.

The Searchers

This book was mid. Fun in its premise and descriptions of New Mexico and in how many times the cowboys butcher their own horses.

Frankenstein

My students struggled immensely with this book. So many complained that it was too hard to understand. This book has some of the most beautiful monologue in a novel and I’m afraid that my students “missed it” because it was “too hard”. I think that is a shame and I don’t know what to do about it. I think the monster is human.

No Country for Old Men

I’m struggling at work. I love what I do and I pray everyday that I get to do what I do for a long time because I love teaching. I’m struggling with the teaching, and the curriculum writing, and the national boards, and the mock trial coaches getting the boot so I’m the only coach now and I need to assume all of that responsibility, and the being a good husband, and being a good friend, and being a good man. All of that all at the same time sucks. But you know, its where I am right now. My brother is also a pill but that is another post. I loved the tense monotony of this book. The tone of the narrative is crushing. Maybe I’m naive, but I really thought we were going to get a happy ending, and for whatever reason I was more satisfied with the book that I got Bell waxing philosophical about the weight of it all instead. I finished this while woman was sleeping and I just laid in bed for a little while before turning off the light.

The Familiar

This book sucks. I’m making progress at work and I’m starting to feel more grounded with mock trial and boards. The premise is good, but it doesn’t really say anything it. I’ve been spending more time outside and the sun feels nice. The diction is extremely poor. Whenever the author is describing sex in the book, she exclusively uses the word “fuck”. Whenever the author is describing a man’s penis, she exclusively uses the work “cock”. Doesn’t this narrative take place in 1600? Why are the characters using modern porn words to describe stuff? None of the Female characters are friends. Their rivals, enemies, inserts for social commentary on class, lovers, or servants. None of the women like each other. They are all tools to one another, and to the men around them. And don’t get me started on how the 1600’s Spanish Inquisition book where magic is real is just a hunger games re-skin. Stupid af.

I wake up and I just want to keep going in this season. I don’t want to quit.

Have no fear,

C. Randir