He gives us children . . . to dream

Fabulous idea to end the school year with a Play. The kids loved it. I had to have a few boys play Mama each week and it was a blast, my favorite part.

The story line is pretty good. I'm shocked at how many versions there are. How many times producers changed her work, how many times she changed her work. I just can't really see that being productive to something you (and the world) considers such a masterpiece. I guess the world of performance is a different one.

Poor Walter, I really feel for him. Donovan played the most convincing Walter -- cruel, animal like, pathetic, and decent. When watching the 1963 movie you really see how crucial Ruth is to the plot line. I like her role. And Mama, how can you not love Mama while all the while wishing she'd just stop meddlin with everyone else. She is so well intentioned, but you can't help but notice that if she'd butt out and let her children lead their own lives every problem would just go away. New ones would arrive of course, probably worse ones. But at least they'd be problems the characters created on their own.

Asagai is adorable, but what I want is the sequel that talks about how shocked and disappointed she was with her move to Africa. At least, that is my understanding of that whole movement to return to the homeland during the 60s. That novel truly would be interesting.

Purposeful blood?!?!

I'd say I'm surprised I got through this, considering the title -- but I had to read about a teen at "sick" minds. I'd also say I'm surprised how long this took to get through -- but A Walk Two Moons is taking me thrice as long.

I first started reading this back in 2008 or 09. I would get all down and then walk over to Barnes and Noble for a quick read. It really did always make me feel a little better. Suddenly though, I had no need to make these visits so I asked for it on goodreads swap.

I really like Patricia McCormick. You can tell she does a lot of research before she writes her novels. She always explores the most complex of teen girl issues. I wouldn't want my daughter to red them until she was old enough to handle the truth. But that last word is the reason I would want her to read it, truth. McCormick really has a way of telling the world the truth about things so many of us prefer not to talk about.

The Night is darker, and brighter, each time.

I love teaching this novel. It's been a few months since I read it. I'm glad I read it with the other two parts of his trilogy. It is definitely the best of the three. So much emotion packed into so few words.

If you have not read this, you must. It is hands down the BEST holocaust work you will ever come across. I don't get why Anne Frank is so popular, this is the real thing. All that fiction coming out now . . . bleh . . . this is the real thing.

His writing is so fascinating. It's at it's best in this novel. His struggle with God, his father, the physical need to survive . . . all are so amazing. The themes in this novel only get better with each read. This last one made read #4 for me (plus the fact that I've read it 5 times -- for each class -- on read #4 and 3 times -- for each class -- for read #3. Pretty much, I love it. Love reading it; love teaching it.