"The Chocolate War" is Vividly Real!

Lately, I've been reading a lot of books that I plan to use with one or another of my classes. Good thing that I love YA novels.  This weekend, I read Robert Cormier's acclaimed novel, The Chocolate War in preparation for a unit that I'm doing with my Freshman class.  

Synopsis: "Stunned by his mother's recent death and appalled by the way his father sleepwalks through life, Jerry Renault, a New England high school student, ponders the poster in his locker - "Do I dare disturb the universe?" Part of his universe is Archie Costello, leader of a secret school society (the Virgils) and master of intimidation.  Archie himself is intimidated by a cool, ambitious teacher into having the Virgils spearhead the annual fund-raising event - a chocolate sale.  When Jerry refuses to be bullied into selling chocolates, he becomes a hero, but his defiance is a threat to Archie, the Virgils, and the school.  In the inevitable showdown, Archie's skill at intimidation turns Jerry from hero to outcast, to victim, leaving him alone and terribly vulnerable. A high school freshman discovers the devastating consequences of refusing to join in the school's annual fund raising drive and arousing the wrath of the school bullies." (B&N)

Review:  This book is extraordinarily controversial. "Because of the novel's language, the concept of a high school secret society using intimidation to enforce the cultural norms of the school, and various characters' sexual ponderings, it has been the frequent target of censors and appears at number three on the American Library Association's list of the 'Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books in 2000-2009'." (Wikipedia)  But reading this book with a group of inner city students is a no brainer.  My students can understand the themes of this book better than anyone.  The blatant depiction of  peer pressure, bullying, violence, manipulation, morality, ethics etc. will give my students much to discuss.  Some teachers steer clear of controversial books but I'm looking forward to hearing my students ponder the controversial issues in this book.  

The Chocolate War is one of the most realistic books that I've read in recent history.  If you've ever been a teenager, you'll understand the enormous complexities of this book.  An easy, fast, and wonderful read!  For you non-readers out there, I believe there's a movie, but my suggestion is to READ THE BOOK!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Snappy Socks?! Where Have You Been??

The other day, I was shopping in my local drugstore and walked by a display of socks. I thought to myself, "I should pick up a couple of pairs" because I was running low and hadn't yet had a chance to do laundry. The display said that they were "Snappy Socks".  I looked at them and they seemed to be decently made and reasonably priced, plus they had these snaps that keep the pairs together.  Hmmmm.  Interesting concept.  

Today I found out the beauty of these socks - no need to pair them up after washing. Okay, my least favorite chore in this world is pairing up socks on laundry day. Blech! Plus I invariably lose a sock or two in the wash cycle - I still have no clue where they disappear to.  Snappy Socks are so simple: wear the socks, snap them together after wearing, and toss in the laundry. Today, as I was doing my laundry, my snappy socks came out already paired and folded ever so nicely. You cannot imagine my excitement. Yeah, I admit it - I have no life. Additionally, these socks come in all sorts of fun designs and colors. I'm actually thinking about replacing my entire sock collection with these clever tootsie warmers.  The only socks I won't get rid of are my funky and fun toe socks that I bought in Rome - they have teddy bears, monkeys, and pigs on them.  I'm keeping those socks for life, no matter what!

Snappy Socks!  What an ingenious idea!  I just wish I had thought of it first. Drat!  Another lost opportunity.

My fun toe socks!  I don't care how worn they get
I'll never get rid of these socks!  They make me laugh!

Can I Buy a Neuralyzer?

I definitely spend way too much time watching movies/television or reading books. How can I say that? Well, it's because some of these entertainments are completely messing up my life. As I read or watch, I immediately want the cool imaginary gadgets to use in my own life. For instance, in September 2012, I wrote that I wanted a time-turner from the world of Harry Potter.  (Still do, by the way.)

Last night, after re-watching Men in Black, I have decided I would like a neuralyzer. You know the gizmo I'm talking about: the silver-pen looking device with the red light, "little flashy-thing memory-messer-upper" (J). (See the photo.) This handy little gizmo can "erase the memories of the past hours, days, weeks, months or years, depending on the chosen settings". The best thing about this invention is that those memories can be altered not just erased. There are portions of my life that I would like to have rewritten and this gadget would be the perfect solution!  How amazing would that be?  Flash and you can have all those memories modified into less painful ones.  Woot, woot.  Sign me up!

If I can't have a neuralyzer, perhaps Lacuna Incorporated from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind might be real and can selectively erase those portions of the last three years that I would like to have eradicated.  Hmmm.  A trip down to New York City to hunt for this corporation might be in order. 

Additional imaginary doodads that I would like to see invented are:  the sonic screwdriver and a TARDIS (from Doctor Who), the invisibility cloak (from Harry Potter), the transporter (from Star Trek), droids (from Star Wars), and pretty much every invention from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  Each and every one of these inventions would add so much to my world. I'm sure there are some nerds out there working on these items.  Science nerds: please work faster!  And work on the neuralyzer first! Although a TARDIS would also be good.

Stop Being Contrary Just to be Contrary!

Ever come across someone who constantly feels the need to argue? You say, "left." They say, "right." You say, "that's pretty." They say, "that's hideous." And on and on.  No matter what you say, they feel the need to argue the complete opposite!  Drives me totally insane!  These contrary people don't actually have a good or relevant reason why they choose the opposite point of view.  If they did, then I wouldn't have a complaint, but more often than not, they just want to have a reason to argue.  

I come across this problem on a daily basis.  It's one of the annoying factors about teaching teenagers. They just feel the need to argue constantly instead of just listening to reason. I know it's probably a little ridiculous of me to expect teenagers to be reasonable, so I don't actually.  No, what is infuriating is when you come across such obstinacy in an adult! One would think that by the time someone hits 30, 35, 40, 45, etc., that they would have matured to the point where they don't feel the need to always be right and yet... (You'll notice that I started with the age of 30.  I'll allow some lingering immaturity for people in their 20s.)

Of course the best way to deal with people like this is to not engage them, but that annoys the heck out of me because then they end up winning when they're completely wrong.  But I do find that it is just easier and healthier to just walk away. I am the first person to admit when I'm wrong so I'm not saying that I'm incapable of admitting to another person's opinion. It's more about when you are around a person repeatedly and you notice that they are antagonistic about anyone else's opinion.  They are always right and everyone else is always wrong.  <grrrr>  I have learned in my years of living to just avoid these people like the plague.  Hard to do when you work with them for 8, 10, 12 hours a day, but somehow you get through it. 

Want a Little Drama? How About...

Now back to continuing my movie recommendations: shall we move onto dramas? I love dramatic movies. (Okay, I just love movies. Who doesn't?)  Choosing my top 5 dramas was actually much easier than I thought it would be.  The movies on my list are films that I watch again and again and just love every moment that I'm watching. I don't think there are any surprises here.

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994): It doesn't matter how many times I see this movie, I am always blown away by the performances delivered by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. Based on a short story by Stephen King and nominated for 7 Academy Awards (sadly, losing all), this story encompasses friendships, hardships, hopes, and dreams. And what makes this movie so fantastic is that it is incredibly moving and gives hope. It's everything that a superior movie should be. Red: "Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane." (Yes, I am aware that I picked a quote that is in direct contrast to the theme of the movie!)
2. Amadeus (1984):  A thousand years ago when I was studying music in college, I had already figured out that Mozart was my favorite classical composer (followed by Rachmaninoff), so going to see this movie was a joy but it was also a requirement for passing one of my music classes. Winner of 8 Academy Awards - including Best Picture and Best Actor in a Leading Role (F. Murray Abraham), this movie is enchanting and mezmerizing. F. Murray's performance as Salieri is masterful, as is Tom Hulce's embodiment of the brilliant, albeit obnoxious, Mozart. Plus one must not deny that the score would be categorized as genius! Mozart: "Forgive me, Majesty. I am a vulgar man! But I assure you, my music is not."
3. The Green Mile (1999):  Another thrilling movie based on an incredible Stephen King story. I love, love, love this movie. Nominated for 4 Academy Awards, this film stars one of my favorite actors, Tom Hanks who is consistently amazing. True to form, he is not a disappointment in this movie. Despite the tragic ending for John Coffey, this movie too encompasses friendships, hardships, hopes, and dreams - themes that King seems to favor.  Old Paul Edgecomb: "I guess sometimes the past just catches up with you, whether you want it to or not."
4. Schindler's List (1993):  You have to love a movie that stars: Liam Neeson, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Ralph Fiennes and is directed by the astounding Stephen Speilberg! Nominated for 12 Academy Awards and winner of 7, Schindler's List is a reminder that there can be humanity and caring in this crazy world and that hope can be found in the most unexpected places. This movie is arguably the best holocaust-themed movie. Oskar Schindler: "Stern, if this factory ever produces a shell that can actually be fired, I'll be very unhappy."
5. The Godfather (1972):  Nominated for 11 Academy Awards and winner of 3, it took me nearly 20 years after its release to get around to watching this film. I don't know how or why I avoided seeing it for so long, but it was well worth my time. With a deeply talented cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duval, Diane Keaton and Abe Vigoda, this movie is incredible! Sonny: "Goddamn FBI don't respect nothin'." Interesting trivia:  "Marlon Brando won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance, but turned down the Oscar, becoming the second actor to refuse a Best Actor award (the first being George C. Scott for Patton). Brando boycotted the Academy Award ceremony, sending instead American Indian Rights activist Sacheen Littlefeather, who appeared in full Apache dress, to state Brando's reasons, which were based on his objection to the depiction of American Indians by Hollywood and television. Al Pacino also boycotted the Academy Award ceremony, as he was insulted at being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor award, noting that he had more screen time than his co-star and Best Actor winner Marlon Brando and thus he should have received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor." (Wikipedia)

As always, I have some honorable mentions for this category: The Godfather, Part II (1974), Gone With the Wind (1939),  To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Memento (2000), and Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet (1996).  There are many, many, many more but I had to limit my list!

Ugh! Visor Mirrors are Horrible!

This guy clearly doesn't share
my complaint!

Why, why, WHY??? Why would a car manufacturer put a visor mirror on the driver's side without having a cover for it?  I bought a new car a few days ago - after deciding it was time to retire my old Jeep - and the only thing about the new vehicle that truly annoys me is the fact that the driver's side visor has an uncovered mirror on it. Who thought that would be a good idea??  Every time I flip the visor down, I'm stuck looking at my own visage - not something that I enjoy at all. It's a complete distraction!

If anyone has a friend or family member who designs automobiles, would you send my complaint to them??  It is highly annoying!  Ergh! Tell them they must never, ever do that again!

Now if I looked in the mirror and saw Catherine Zeta-Jones or Marilyn Monroe looking back at me, I might feel differently, but I'm not one who spends time looking at my own ugly mug. Blech! I will have to think of some way to cover that mirror.

A "Room" Is Just A Room...Unless It's The World

I'm on the hunt to find great books that my students will enjoy and be willing to engage with.  Goodness knows, attempting to get them to read classic literature is failing miserably - although I do keep trying. Currently, I'm reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with my juniors and Jane Eyre with my seniors. The juniors (except one) all hate Huck Finn; my seniors haven't made up their minds yet about Jane. The tragic thing is that I love both books, which drives my students nuts. Therefore, I've decided to add some modern novels into the mix - in addition to the classics. I believe that I have found one that I can use with my seniors, Room by Irish-born playwright and novelist, Emma Donoghue.

Synopsis: "To five-year-old-Jack, Room is the world. . . . It's where he was born, it's where he and his Ma eat and sleep and play and learn. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma it's the prison where she has been held for seven years. Through her fierce love for her son, she has created a life for him in this eleven-by-eleven-foot space. But with Jack's curiosity building alongside her own desperation, she knows that Room cannot contain either much longer." (Amazon.com)

Review: This novel is a fascinating look at stories that we hear about time and time again: a girl who is abducted and held captive for years. Of course, this story has a unique twist in that the abducted girl has given birth to a child. The novel is told from the viewpoint of 5-year-old Jack who has lived in Room his entire life and knows nothing about the outside world except what he sees on television. This book is a moving, amazing book and is not to be missed. Room can be best summed up with the following quote from Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife and Her Fearful Symmetry: 

"Room is a book to read in one sitting. When it's over you look up: the world looks the same but you are somehow different and that feeling lingers for days."

I couldn't have said it better myself.  I'm hoping that my seniors will love this book as much as I do! I won't know for a couple of months - we need to finish Jane Eyre first.  Then I want to do Wide Sargasso Sea as a companion book to Jane Eyre.  You don't need to wait though.  Get to your nearest bookstore or library, pickup Room and be prepared to be amazed. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars