the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time: Reading Faulkner

I’m reading Faulkner’s novels in chronological order with a friend. We’ve read Vonnegut and Hemingway, so Faulkner seemed the obvious choice after Hem. After spending so much time with Hemingway, then beginning Faulkner, one of the most obvious takeaways we’ve had is wondering why these guys get compared so much. Other than attempting to be … Continue reading the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time: Reading Faulkner

Universal Horror

A friend of mine who is a big film and book nerd asked me to make some horror film lists for him since it wasn’t a genre he knew well. It’s been a fun process (I’ve been a horror film fan for about 35 years!). You can read my top ten here. The UNIVERSAL MONSTERS … Continue reading Universal Horror

¡calaveras!

For years, I have celebrated Day of the Dead by writing “calaveras literarias.” Some people write poems for loved ones, but another tradition is to write humorous “tombstones.” I write the latter–or try to. I mostly try to make fun of myself for my students. This year’s is Bama-centric. I’m constantly asked about what team … Continue reading ¡calaveras!

fail better: my almost movie marathon crawls to the finish line

I failed at the movie-a-day schedule. I’m okay with that. If you’re interested, the other entries about this one-man horror film fest are here, here, and here. Also,  here.  Click on the titles for trailers. The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941) Like several others I’ve watched, his one probably is an outlier, but if the Faust … Continue reading fail better: my almost movie marathon crawls to the finish line

flash merry the folk in masquerade or Halloween film fest pt. 4

If you’re interested, the other entries about this one-man horror film fest are here, here, and here. Click on the titles for trailers.   Beware! The Blob (aka Son of the Blob) (1972) Hilariously awful “sequel” to the classic film. Directed by Larry “J.R. Ewing” Hagman. You’ll know within ten minutes if it’s a movie for you. … Continue reading flash merry the folk in masquerade or Halloween film fest pt. 4