Working it out on the page

I just read an excellent book by Darin Strauss called "Half a Life." The author discusses an accident he had half his life ago while driving, when he hit a sixteen year old girl on a bike who suddenly crossed from three lanes over into his car's path. He was eighteen at the time. It's a courageous, honest, and generous review of what he has gone through, and how he has lived life as this tragedy hovered over him through the years.

It's Kind of a Funny Story

Speaking of movies, I recommend "It's Kind of Funny Story." It's about an adolescent who walks into a hospital ER feeling suicidal. He gets admitted to the adult psych unit. Over five days, the movie tracks his life in the ward and his interactions with his fellow patients. I liked it because the progress he makes, the lessons learned, are slow and quiet and genuine, and the performances superb, especially Zach Galifianakis, Keir Gilchrist, and Emma Roberts. There is a scene where Zach Galifianakis, a patient but also a mentor to the kid, says "If I were you....I'd just live" That's what the movie builds to, a reminder that that, wherever we are, there are always moments of opportunity for us to do the living in our lives, if we will just stay awake and realize it.

Roger Ebert - Reviewer Extraordinaire

I love the movie reviews of Roger Ebert. After seeing a movie that speaks to me in some way, I often check out his on-line reviews (rogerebert.suntimes.com) and find, without fail, that he helps me understand more clearly what I've seen. He's a wonderful writer and is incredibly perceptive. Give it a try.

Hello Fall