Achebe at the Library

Here's some space for tonight's attendees to chat. Glad 4 of you were able to make it--but disappointed that only Daniel and I stuck around for the book signing!

For those who could not attend--and for those who would like to relive the moment, or who couldn't write fast enough to keep up with everything he was saying, keep checking the Library website--they will certainly put up a podcast of the interview.

And finally--Andy Kahan is the author events program director for the Library--we did our grad work together at Rutgers (actually, we also shared an office for a year!) As we chatted tonight, he regretfully mentioned that they had hosted an afternoon gathering for around 400 Phila high school students to talk with Achebe. He has promised to let me know if similar opportunities arise (normally, such events are only promoted to Phila schools).

Again, glad 4 of you made it--and sorry I didn't get to see 3 of you!

Enjoy the rest of break!

LAZ

Poisonwood Bible

I know Fatima created a post for all three books, but I figured we could talk about them seperately since they're three different books? Please tell me if I'm being obnoxious.

Heart of Darkness brings up an interesting point about human nature and coping for survival. Someone in class mentioned how Rachel's way of survival was to create her own little world. She's the one who suffers the least , emotionally, from this Congo adventure. She is not grieving and I feel like she has less troubles than her sisters and mother. Yet, we still see her as the bad charactor. Does this mean that in order to be a good person, you have to suffer, and in this case, suffer all your life?

Apocalyto Now

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to start a post so we can figure out when over spring break we want to see the movie. I haven't been to Blockbuster in a while, so I don't know if we can rent it or not. Either way, post when we're available. My house is open for a movie party if we want ;)

Tickets for Things Fall Apart

http://libwww.freelibrary.org/calendar/calbydate.cfm?DiaryDate2=%7Bts%20%272008%2D03%2D27%2000%3A00%3A00%27%7D&DiaryDate=%7Bts%20%272008%2D03%2D01%2000%3A00%3A00%27%7D

I don't know if someone else blogged this or not , but just in case I will. If I get seven yes'es tonight, I'm going to go ahead and buy the tickets. Its seven dollars a person, so if you guys are up, tell me.

The event is March 27th at the Free Library in Philadelphia at 8 p.m.

There's one yes for me :)!

Parable of Talents and more Milton

Okay, since apparently none of us know this Bible allusion, here it is, the Parable of Talents:

"The parable tells of a master who was leaving his home to travel, and before going gave his three servants different amounts of money. On returning from his travels, the master asked his servants for an account of the money given to them. The first servant reported that he was given five talents, and he had made five talents more. The master praised the servant as being good and faithful, gave him more responsibility because of his faithfulness, and invited the servant to be joyful together with him.

The second servant said that he had received two talents, and he had made two talents more. The master praised this servant in the same way as being good and faithful, giving him more responsibility and inviting the servant to be joyful together with him.

The last servant who had received one talent reported that knowing his master was a hard man, he buried his talent in the ground for safekeeping, and therefore returned the original amount to his master. The master called him a wicked and lazy servant, saying that he should have placed the money in the bank to generate interest. The master commanded that the one talent be taken away from that servant, and given to the servant with ten talents, because everyone that has much will be given more, and whoever that has a little, even the little that he has will be taken away. And the master ordered the servant to be thrown outside into the darkness where there is 'weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Talents

(Okay I know Wikipedia is not a "valid source," but it gets the job done.)

This parable is fitting for Milton's poem. Milton is saying that he must have faith in God's plan and not despair. He originally sees his blindness as a curse and nearly goes over the edge, but he then realizes that God must have taken away his sight for a reason. Milton had two ways of responding to this misfortune. He could be like the servant who only received one talent: bury his talent rather than invest it (in faith) and be cast out by God. Or he could be like the other two servants who invested their talents, strengthened their winnings, and were thus accepted and praised by God. In the turn, Milton decides to follow in the footsteps of the first two talents and accept God's plan.

Also, we can use this post to discuss Paradise Lost... I haven't finished it yet, but go ahead and discuss!

Heart of Darkness

Hey all.

I thought that it would be a good idea to start to discuss the books we're reading along with class discussions in the future. This way, if we have some questions (because the books can get confusing) we can ask them here. I do have questions and will be posting them soon.

Wittenberg Tickets!

Hey guys! I just bought the tickets for Wittenberg, and there are a few things you should know:

First, I was unable to get us 7 seats together. I tried to get 4 and 3, but I couldn't even get four together, so I got 3, 2, and 2. I hope this isn't a problem.

Second, I bought everyone a teen ticket, so we all have to pretend to be 17 or under (well, some of us don't have to pretend, but you know what I mean...). Tickets were $18, but there was a $4.50 handling fee, so everyone owes me $22.50.

I will pick up the tickets when we get to the theater. When I bought the tickets there was a note that said "All college students must present valid ID to pick up the discounted tickets at the box office," which makes me think that I'll have to present ID proving that I'm 17. That's no issue, I'm just hoping they don't ask all of you to show ID proving that you're all 17 too. In that case, maybe those of you who are 18 should bring student IDs and claim to be 16 or unlicensed?

Okay, well hopefully this'll all work out and we'll get some extra credit (God knows I'll need it after Laz grades my Italian sonnet...). See you tomorrow!