HP5--Your Thoughts?

I saw it.

Dd I WANT to see it? No.

Did my son want to see it? Yes.

So, I saw it. At least he didn't make me go at midnight.

But next week, I'm going to a midnight release party for HP7.

That's just crazy. But I'm doing it for the boy. How noble!

Here's your chance to talk it all out: HP fans--What did you think of the film adaptation of HP5? (We'll assume that there's an understood spoiler alert pertaining to all comments that follow this post)

AND--perhaps most interesting to me--based on your understanding of the mythic heroic archetypal structure (which HP so clearly follows, and I do not doubt it will continue to follow to the end), what do you predict for HP7?

LAZ

I am gratified to hear that some of you are continuing to check the blog--I too have felt a little bereft without blog conversations. Far be it from me to stand in the way of its continued use--you are most welcome! I cannot guarantee that you will have a class-based blog next year--I know my AP will be required to do it, but the other classes might not have it the same. At this point, because I don't have class lists for AP4, I'll likely be sending out a general email announcing that I've activated a new blog, regardless of what class anyone's in. That way, at least you'll be able to talk about Lear and share some ideas.

In the meantime, here's what I can tell you: so far this summer, I've read "Clan of the Cave Bear," which I quite enjoyed. I've been meaning to get to it for quite some time--and was stunned to discover that it's a SERIES--now I have to read them all! Darn.

I've also reread the first 2 books in David Eddings's 5-volume "Belgariad" series--a prototypical mythic-heroic story, but I haven't read it since high school, and I have dreams of compiling a list of such works for the purpose of an independent reading assignment. I'm midway through the 3rd volume now

I'm also currently into "The Mists of Avalon;" if I like it, I'll add it as an optional reading for my AP4 to accompany "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." the same might go for Mary Stewart's Arthurian trilogy--I read "The Crystal Cave" eons ago, and finally acquired the final 2 volumes to read this summer.

Still to come: Khaled Housseni's new book, "A Thousand Splendid Suns," and Philip Roth's "Portnoy's Complaint."

Also looking forward to seeing William Gibson, creator of the cyberpunk genre, at the Phila. Library in August.

Oh--and I saw S. King's "1408." I won't see many films in theater, but that was worth the cost of admission. The same will not be said of much of the summer offerings. Speaking of which...

Yes, I find it will be impossible to escape the summer without reading the final volume of Happy Rotter, much to my dismay. My son has insisted we see the 5th film on opening day--at least I talked him out of the midnight show (how convenient that he has baseball camp early the next morning!) At least I'll get it out of the way early, so I can get on with more important things. The preliminary reviews have rated it reasonably high--83%, I think, on Rotten Tomatoes--so at least I won't be choking back bile as I sit there.

Feel free to make some suggestions of your own. And thanks for continuing what we started!

LAZ

Severe Withdrawal

For all of you who are still checking the English blog regularly, I would like you to know that you are not alone (in your freakish obsession with Honors English III). I have obtained confessions from both Tina and Theresa which state that they, too, suffer from a serious addiction to literary masochism. Basically... I miss the blog? And I'm excited for next year's blog?

I actually have a question for Mr. Lazarow, if he (you) happen to read this. What is his (your) e-mail address besides the school one? I sent an email with recommendation stuff to the old MTPS email but I don't know how that's going to work.

Anyway. I miss you guys; feel free to inform me how to mitigate the extreme pain of blog-withdrawal.

-Danielle