vw--it is a hard life, but there might also be a cultural bias toward darkness in stories and songs. A Chinese-American friend was talking to me about "Crouching Tiger" in terms of Peking Opera and she said "Chinese love to cry. They don't feel they get their money's worth from a show unless there are a lot of tears." Chinese in daily life are more cheerful and laugh a lot, but in the theater they want the sorrow, even today. Maybe there is something like that going on? My dad worked in Appalachia for 3 years in anti-poverty work and there was a lot of horror but also a lot of camaraderie and sly joking and goofing around.

Robin, that is a very good point. Maybe we will talk about it in class today.

The author of this particular book was very anti-formal writing. She went to Vanderbuilt (sp?) University, but only studied writing after being promised she wouldn't have to write any poetry. Her writing career was mostly short stories, except for this particular novel.

Only, it's not really structured like a novel. It's structured more like a series of short stories. My professor said that she suspects that Haun's two main forms of inspiration were murder ballods and quilts. It makes for an interesting weave to the story.

And I'm sorry if I got a little graphic for everyone. I was just so shocked by what I was reading... I probably should have kept that last bit to myself, though.

I wasn't shocked, I was intrigued. So, thanks for posting.

I don’t think so. But, I’ll make not of it and check it out on my own. We do have to watch an Appalachian horror movie (not thrilled about this assignment), and we’re watching Deliverance in class. That’s all I know about.

vw, it's important to remember the beauty of Appalachian life, too. It's tough and sad sometimes, but I also know that some of the happiest people I know come from Eastern Kentucky (and still live there). I'm a little miffed that your prof is showing something like "Deliverance" and not showing something a little more up to date and a little less prejudiced towards mountain people. Do check out "American Hollow" on your own if you can. Also, if you would like something else, check out "Song Catcher". It's got some great singing and also has scruffy Aidan Quinn. And Iris Dement has a cameo singing.

When we walked into our sign language class today, the instructor said, "There's my class clown!" Today he crawled up to all the younger babies and smiled and patted their heads. Then he crawled into the middle of the room, sat up, clapped his hands and made his howler monkey sounds.

I'm going to have to make a standing appointment with the principal when I get him into grade school.

I was just so shocked by what I was reading... I probably should have kept that last bit to myself, though.

Not at all. Everyone needs somewhere/someone to talk to about these kinds of things and who better than us! (I mean, seriously, people were talking about [whitefonted for possible TMI] the different types of penis piercings in Natter this morning.)

Thanks Susan...I understand the sentiment. I feel like we are in a building year also...though I'm willing to be surprised!

I'm going by myself this year, am planning on taking K-bug next year, and then hopefully CJ the year after. I told him he had to be at least 10 cause I like to get to the ballparks early and stay until I get kicked out - makes for a long day, but lots of autographs and fun.

Has anyone ever read The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel? I've read the first couple of chapters and have found it....really unconvincing. It just seems to be all throwing softball questions to christian scholars. I peeked ahead at a section titled "The Rebuttal Evidence" to see if there was some real content and it was sort of .... there is this group who questions a lot of stuff and here is a critic of theirs to talk about them.... Ugh. The problem is that my wife is hoping that I will get a lot out of this book, and I hate to tell her that it's just not happening.

Vanderbuilt (sp?)

Vanderbilt.

I grew up too far south for Appalachia, but my part of Alabama has more affinities with that culture than with the moonlight-and-magnolias version of the South. Well, it did until it all got overran by Birmingham's New South boom over the past 20-30 years. So from my limited experience, I'd say it's a gritty culture, but cheerfully so, with a certain fascination with the macabre. And it was always amusing to reflect on all the stories Dad had told me about how Brother Howard, the local Baptist pastor, was the son of a big-time moonshiner from Prohibition days.

vw, I wishwishwishwish I could get you a picture of my great-uncle Joe. My dad has this huge portrait of him hanging in their living room. He served in WWI, came back to Kentucky and ended up getting shot while riding his mule through a hollow in 1957. The official story is that he was involved in a "land dispute". Mom says he was killed by a jealous husband. I have so many stories from my Dad and Grandpa. I would LOVE to sit in on that class with you.

Oh, and Happy Birthday, Lexine!!!

Has anyone ever read The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel?

I read something like that once... maybe the same book? about 18 years ago or so. The one thing I remember was the the author telling the reader to contemplate the following two phrases:

Jesus is nowhere.

Jesus is now here.

I guess that was supposed to illuminate the paradox of the "Where is God?" question. I just wanted to say to the author, "Dude, that's an accident of spelling...."