From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #569 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Friday, January 11 2002 Volume 01 : Number 569 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 01:00:20 -0700 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Fw: MN Covenant Launches Newly-Designed Website: Covenant Communications Press Release 7Jan02 US UT Prov I4 > AMERICAN FORK, UTAH -- Independent LDS publisher, Covenant > Communications, recently launched its newly designed website, > http://www.covenant-lds.com > to better meet the changing needs of its customers. And on this website, under "Submissions," I found: > If the readers return positive > reviews, an editor then makes an in-depth evaluation of > the manuscript. If the work shows real promise, it is > usually returned to the author for further refinements > before being presented to the New Product Committee. > This committee (representing Covenant's editing, > marketing, graphics, finance, and sales departments) > makes a final decision on the manuscript. Did I miss something somewhere? I wasn't aware it was considered particularly ethical in the publishing industry to ask for rewrites from an author before that author even knows if he is going to be accepted and paid for his work. - -- D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com ================================== Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com ================================== - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 21:46:36 From: "Eric D. Snider" Subject: Re: [AML] Fw: MN Idaho Man's Story Comes to the Big Screen Jan 18: ExcelEntertainment Press Release 5Jan02 US UT SLC A2 Margaret Young: > >I had one comment/question on Thom >Duncan's post about Elder Groberg being almost too good--not being tempted >by >the Tongan girl who offers herself to him and therefore not introducing >real, >believeable conflict into the story. The truth is, John Groberg IS that >good, >and it would be unfaithful to him to present the story otherwise. As I >contemplated this, the person/character who came to mind was Sir Thomas >More. >There was a man of steady, unchangeably high character. _A Man For All >Seasons_ shows him in the midst of conflict, his very life at stake--but he >does not change or yield to the temptations around him. He keeps his >silence, >breaking it only when it no longer serves his purposes. Yet _A Man for All >Seasons_ is a GREAT play/movie. I'm just curious--what would you critics >of >_The Other Side of Heaven_ say in comparing it to _A Man for All Seasons_? >Why >does one work so beautifully and the other fall short? > That's easy. Because Sir Thomas More's dilemmas are, as you point out, life-threatening and ceaseless. Elder Groberg's (and I speak here of the movie portrayal, not necessarily of his real life) are momentary and aren't made to seem very powerful. He doesn't seem to be tempted by the native girl even for a split-second, which takes all the possible drama out of the scene. And if there's another temptation he faces it, I can't remember it. He is never homesick, unmotivated or any of the other things that 99.99 percent of all missionaries feel at some point during their missions. He's blandly likable at the beginning, and blandly likable at the end, in exactly the same way -- no change, no learning, no growth. Someone took me to task for my review of the film, pointing out that there is too an opponent or villain in the movie, and it's Satan. To this I respond: He's not a very good villain. He shows up in one scene, to tempt Elder Groberg with a girl, and that temptation is utterly ineffective. And then he never shows his villainous face again. If Elder Groberg was tempted - -- or indeed had any significant obstacles -- they are not shown in the film. (His language-learning marathon no doubt was very difficult, but it constitutes only two minutes of the movie. After that, it's smooth sailing.) Everything in the movie is overcome very easily, with little soul-searching or drama. Eric D. Snider _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 01:30:23 -0700 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Annual Movie Tabulation Linda Adams wrote: > > > > GLAD I SAW > > > Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon > > > >Mondo overrated. So boring I didn't finish it. So what if the flying > >ninjas was a cool effect? The story was a snoozer. > > And the ending was just plain WEIRD. Be glad you missed it. Glad someone else agrees with me on this one. I also disliked the critically acclaimed "Chariots of Fire," "Out of Africa," "A Passage to India," "The Gods Must be Crazy," and "The English Patient." > GLAD I SAW > Braveheart (finally...edited for TV version though) **** I don't do edited for anything movies, anymore than I do abridged books. Now that I have a DVD player, I even avoid "modified to fit your screen" movies. > Last Temptation of Christ (1st half, *; last half hour, ***) First half, *1/2; last half hour, *1/2. > Shrek *** One of those good to watch once movies. The second time around, it's tedious. > Cast Away **1/2 How many castaway movies can they make and do anything fresh? Apparently at least one fewer than "Castaway." > WORTH A RENTAL (if you're not looking for substance): > The Family Man (if only to see Nic Cage get peed on by a real baby boy) Entertaining, but a rehash of "Mr. Destiny." > Bicentennial Man (depressing) I dreaded seeing this film. I figured Robin Williams as a cute, loveable, pathetic robot would be more than I could stomach. I actually ended up liking it. It wasn't depressing, it was bittersweet and poignant. > NEUTRAL: > Galaxy Quest > Blazing Saddles How can you be neutral about two of the great comedies of our times? The Trekkie phenomenon was a subject ripe for satire, and "Galaxy Quest" did a fine job of it (although "Free Enterprise" was darker, campier, and better at the satire part--and included the treat of William Shatner satirizing himself). Blazing Saddles is typical Mel Brooks, veering wildly between ingenius and idiotic and almost-obscene. But it's classic Mel Brooks. > WISH I'D MISSED: > Chicken Run I don't think this was the genius animation it was billed as, but it was good enough. (Wallace and Gromit shorts are better.) And you get to hear Mel Gibson do an American accent. > WANTED TO SEE BUT HAVEN'T BECAUSE I'M FINISHING MY NOVEL FIRST: > (let me know if I should MISS any of these, save me time and > money) Don't miss: > Gladiator--(maybe) I suppose you'll want to see the edited-for-TV version. How sad. > O Brother, Where Art Thou? Bizarre, but one you just have to see at least once. John Goodman as a deep South Cyclops--could you ask for more? > Traffic Not because it's such a "must-see" film, but so you can say you did, and so you can see Orrin Hatch's cameo that he later officially regretted because he was promised the film would be PG-13 rated, but it came out R. - -- D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com ================================== Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com ================================== - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 01:01:40 -0600 From: "Kumiko" Subject: [AML] Weekly Box Office Report By Preston Hunter www.adherents.com Feature Films by LDS/Mormon Filmmakers and Actors Weekend Box Office Report (U.S. Domestic Box Office Gross) Weekend of December 28, 2001 First off, we should mention that after last week's column was posted, additional data came in that slightly modified box office rankings. "The Other Side of Heaven" in 26th place nationwide in total box office revenue for the weekend of December 21st. Actually, it did even better: 24th place, even though it was playing in only 17 theaters -- fewer than any movie that placed higher than it. The per-theater average was even better: "The Other Side of Heaven" was in the top 10 by that measure. This week "Ocean's Eleven" was once again in 2nd place nationwide. "Behind Enemy Lines" slips only slightly from 11th to 15th place after four weeks in release. The nearly $3 million in ticket sales that this film took in this week push its total U.S. box office take to $51 million, which means it has now passed the $50.3 million made by David Veloz's previous best-performing screenplay: "Natural Born Killers" (1994). The third best box office performance in our roundup is "The Other Side of Heaven", now in 24 theaters and down only slightly from 24th to 26th place nationwide. Perhaps the weekend after Christmas was a popular time to see an IMAX film. Reed Smoot's "Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man" and "China: The Panda Adventure" both roughly doubled their previous week's take -- without being any any more theaters. This moved these movies up the nationwide rankings to 53rd and 56th place. New on DVD this week: "The Fast and the Furious" went on sale on January 2nd, and is expected to be a hot seller. This high-octane racing film had a $38 million budget. The movie surprised the industry by opening in 1st place nationwide and going on to gross over $145 million domestically. Mormon actor Paul Walker has the lead role as the film's conflicted hero who finds himself drawn into the world of illegal street racing. The movie is rated PG-13 for language (including a few instances of profanity), some violence, and some sensuality. Coming soon: Kurt Hale's eagerly anticipated comedy "The Singles Ward" opens soon. A teaser video is online at http://www.singleswardthemovie.com/movietrailer.html Steve Young, Gordon Jump and Will Swenson are in the teaser. Photographs of cameo players on the official website include Richard Dutcher, Julie Stoffer, Ron McBride and Wally Joyner. [If table below doesn't line up properly, try looking at them with a mono-spaced font, such as courier - Ed.] Natl Film Title Weekend Gross Rank LDS/Mormon Filmmaker or Actor Total Gross Theaters Days - ---- ------------------------------ ------- ----- ---- 2 Ocean's Eleven $16,907,714 3,075 24 LDS characters: Malloy twins 136,996,174 15 Behind Enemy Lines 2,977,124 1,332 31 David Veloz (screenwriter) 51,023,475 26 The Other Side of Heaven 111,621 24 17 Mitch Davis (screenwriter/director) 522,125 John G. Groberg (author/character) Gerald Molen, John Garbett (producers) 38 Mulholland Drive 64,285 43 84 Joyce Eliason (producer/writer) 5,608,043 47 Out Cold 33,984 104 40 A. J. Cook (female lead) 16,515,735 53 Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man 18,239 7 605 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 12,989,871 56 China: The Panda Adventure 13,712 16 157 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 1,716,261 63 Galapagos 8,566 7 794 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 12,020,923 69 Joy Ride 5,471 12 87 Paul Walker (2nd billed star) 21,966,161 77 Island of the Sharks 3,762 5 976 Alan Williams (composer) 10,572,509 83 All Access 2,067 3 269 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 995,122 91 Mark Twain's America 3D 437 1 1277 Alan Williams (composer) 2,137,296 - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 08:10:26 -0800 (PST) From: Ed Snow Subject: [AML] Re: Jericho Road (was MN New Boy Band) Tom wrote: "I wish the members of Jericho Road all the best but I can't shake the feeling that they are selling themselves short by being labeled as a "Christian" band." I understand where you're coming from. I think there's 2 ways for Mormon artists to market their contributions (Ben Parkinson's essay on this in an issue of Irreantum was excellent but the name of the essay escapes me now) (i) to Mormons, and (ii) to the world (or in this case to a larger non-Mormon market). The Christian market is a huge market. Once established, Jericho Road will then have the cachet (like Orson Scott Card) to later come back and do overtly Mormon material if they wish. Ed Snow ===== Read free excerpts from _Of Curious Workmanship: Musings on Things Mormon_, a Signature Books Bestseller at http://www.signaturebooks.com/bestsell.htm __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 08:33:08 -0800 (PST) From: Darlene Young Subject: Re: [AML] Must-Read Lists Jeff Needle said, "I don't know if any of you have the same problem I do with Russian novels -- I simply can't keep track of the characters. With no disrespect intended, the names all begin sounding alike to me. Worse, the same character is often known by several names. It's just hopeless." My freshman year at BYU I was lucky enough to be able to take a Tolstoy/Dostoevsky Honors Seminar from Dr. Thomas Rogers. Home for Thanksgiving break, I could not quit raving about my newfound passions, these two Russian writers. My father told me that it had always been a personal goal of his to read these two and that he planned to--just as soon as the publishers came out with versions in which all of the names had been changed to "Fred," "Joe," "Martha," etc. Really, we mock, but it isn't all that bad of an idea. We translate all the other words--why not the names, too? What worked for me was keeping a list of the names and nicknames on a bookmark that moved through the book with me. I promise, these books are worth the trouble! Which ties into the discussion about accessibility and books that you have to work for.) For myself, I'm very glad I've read these books once, and I plan to read them again soon, but it's taking a while to build up the energy for the attack. Still can't get up the energy for Don Quixote, though. Is it worth it, anyone? ===== Darlene Young __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 09:37:34 -0700 From: Thom Duncan Subject: Re: [AML] Weekly Box Office Report Kumiko wrote: > By Preston Hunter > www.adherents.com > > "Oceans's Eleven" has also become the top-grossing film ever to feature a > main character explicitly identified as a Mormon. Hardly a main character, in my opinion, and there were two of them, after all. They would be considered perhaps one step below featured actor. Thom Duncan - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:19:48 -0700 From: "Annette Lyon" Subject: [AML] Eternal Memories? (was: _Lord of the Rings_) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:19:57 -0700 From: "Annette Lyon" Subject: [AML] Life in Mormon Cultures ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 14:39:08 -0500 From: Richard Johnson Subject: Re: [AML] Must-Read Lists I haven't posted my "list" yet, but I had to comment. When I was taking Russian as an undergraduate, my professor took me aside, told me I wasn't doing as well as the others in the class (there were three of us) but that I seemed to have good comprension. If I would read Anna Karenina in Russion, and discuss it with him (in Russian) it would bring me up to the others in the class. Took me two and a half months and my primary memory is that the book has way too many Russian words. Richard B. Johnson Husband, Father, Grandfather, Puppeteer, Playwright, Writer, Director, Actor, Thingmaker, Mormon, Person, Fool I sometimes think that the last persona is the most important http://www2.gasou.edu/commarts/puppet/ Georgia Southern University Puppet Theatre - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:55:54 -0700 From: "Eric R. Samuelsen" Subject: Re: [AML] Annual Movie Tabulation Of course, much of the fun of this is sniping at each other's opinions. = Coupla quick comments: I loved Crouching Tiger, but can understand those who didn't care for it. = There's a fine line between 'incomprehensible plot' and 'narratively = ambitious.' I think it stayed on the right side of that line. I'd = certainly rather see CTHD than Pearl Harbor, where the Ben Affleck = character supposedly dies, and there's absolutely no suspense, because = absolutely everyone in the theatre knows he didn't really. =20 But here are a couple of LDS lit connections: Chocolat, I loved, because theologically, I believe in a Christianity that = happens to be pro-pleasure. Chocolate isn't good for me, but I love it, = and while I may be sinning when I eat it because big fat guys with = diabetes should probably treat their bodies better, the sin is not because = I enjoy it. From time to time, we see a little puritan streak in = Mormonism, but that's something I think we should resist. We reject the = doctrine of Original Sin. We think God wants us to enjoy life. Chocolate = is central to my enjoyment of life. Great movie theologically, IOW. Gladiator was marketed as, well, a gladiator movie. I loved it because of = its take on the afterlife, and on the eternal nature of families. Okay, = there was no actual Roman emporer with the unfortunate name of Commodus, = and the much touted special effects are nothing special actually, and it's = pretty violent. But the central story is about a man who wants to die, = who knows that he can only see his wife and son again in the afterlife. = He's driven to fulfill his duty before he dies, but really, he wants to go = home, and home's not here. I think it's a deeply religious movie, and I = actually think it should have won the Oscar last year. Linda also hated Clueless, one of the greatest comedies ever made, and a = wonderful LDS film. Isn't it a movie about not judging others? =20 I think that for me, the movies I like best are movies that express ideas = I agree with, and since I'm Mormon, I tend to like movies that are LDS in = their theology. The most recent Deseret News included a letter to the = editor by an old geezer (self described), who detested Lord of the Rings, = because it was so dark, and made him feel bad. And he said, "instead, = watch a good happy movie. Like Sleepless in Seattle." And while I = haven't seen LOTR yet (due to not being able to sit in theatres anymore), = it is absolutely a good v. evil narrative. And Sleepless in Seattle is, = let's face it, pro-fornication. (Not that it's an evil film, or that = anyone who liked it might be evil, or that it hasn't other genuine merits = that would preclude our judging it or those who like it, end boilerplate = disclaimer). =20 Eric Samuelsen - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002 13:44:17 -0700 From: Steve Subject: Re: [AML] Must-Read Lists on 1/7/02 5:43 PM, Nan McCulloch at mcnandon@hotmail.com wrote: > Like I said about _Madame Bovary_, there are few redeeming qualities in the > characters in _The Great Gatsby_. Unlike most of the people on this list, > my opinion of a book has nothing to do with my fondness for the characters. > I enjoy books that are well written and that present a world that is > unfamiliar to me. I am fascinated with the shallow, excesses of the 1920's. > My parents were young marrieds in the 20's and I have one of my mother's old > beaded flapper dresses. Since they were not prone to excess, I find this > contrast particularly interesting. Thanks for asking. Nan, Thanks for responding. S. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 14:52:32 -0600 From: "Rose Green" Subject: Re: [AML] Anna Karenina (was: Must-Read Lists) (I know that _Anna Karenina_ was written by a religious man, >by the way--but it's still a horribly depressing story of passion gone >wrong.) > >Annette Lyon No, not at all. It was originally titled "Three Marriages," about which it is--Levin and Kitty, Oblonsky and his wife (her name escapes me at the moment) and Anna Karenina and her husband. You have one extremely happy marriage (Levin and Kitty) because they live the principles of trust and fidelity and actually know each other, you have one so-so marriage because they (Oblonskys) sometimes are true to each other and sometimes try to actually talk to each other (and sometimes not). Then you have the Karenins, where Anna actively and purposely breaks her marriage vows. Despite the title, I didn't ever have the feeling that Anna was the main character--if anything, it was Levin, who seemed rather an autobiographical representation of Tolstoy. Without preaching in his book, Tolstoy is able to show the results of the decisions his characters make--Anna's choices are gradually totally limited due to her bad decisions, while the Levins won't even stand for infidelity in jest, and are the happy ones in the end. Tolstoy makes you love all the characters, even the ones who act stupid, and while yes, Anna's life is depressing, that doesn't follow that everyone's is. As a Mormon, I was particularly attracted to Levin's search for religious meaning as well--not that I feel like it was ever truly resolved at the end, but the honest struggle was there. As a novel, it's also much better than War and Peace. W&P does a lot of wandering (by today's standards, anyway) into all kinds of philosophical and historical contemplation that really don't have that much to do with the plot directly. I have to agree with others, however, that something like Crime and Punishment was't enjoyable for me to read. Maybe Dostoyevsky is important, and yes, I'm glad I've read some of his works, but mostly I just find them depressing. Maybe it's because I just can't relate to the experience of being an ax-murderer. Rose Green _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 21:08:10 From: "Eric D. Snider" Subject: Re: [AML] Peter JACKSON, _Fellowship of the Ring_ (Review) Annette Lyon: > >Okay, D. Michael, help me! I recognized the voice during the movie, and was >going nuts because with all the makeup, I couldn't place the actor. Now I >recognize the name, but I still can't place the face. What else has he been >in? > I'm not D. Michael (though I would like to be), but I'll answer anyway. If you go to http://us.imdb.com/Name?Rhys-Davies,+John , you'll see his entire list of credits. The "Raiders of the Lost Ark" movies might be where you recognize him from ("Indy, why does the floor move?"), or perhaps "Sunset Grill" or the "Sliders" TV series. And may I recommend the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) for all your "What was he in?" needs. Eric D. Snider _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 21:08:45 GMT From: cgileadi@emerytelcom.net Subject: Re: [AML] Life in Mormon Culture > So if what some of you guys are saying is correct, it sounds as if our kids > would be better off being raised some other way than "in the Church?" > Somehow the course the Church is taking today misses the mark? Hmm. > > Linda Hyde What if it were "in the church but not of the Church?" What if it were possible to embrace the good stuff of being a Latter-day Saint separate from the negative cultural stuff? When my kids are old enough, I let them read _Paradise Vue_ or _The Rummage Sale_. They can begin to see what Mormon culture is and how it's not the Gospel. It doesn't hurt for them to see me rolling my eyes when someone sings a schlocky rocky pop Mormon song in Sacrament Meeting. Kids are smart. They can make the distinctions fairly early. Cathy Wilson - --------------------------------------------- This message was sent using Endymion MailMan. http://www.endymion.com/products/mailman/ - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 13:31:53 -0800 From: jltyner@postoffice.pacbell.net Subject: Re:[AML] Actor's Roles (Was LOTHR Review) John Rhys Davies is a favorite actor with our family. At least two of his of roles have been Sala in the Indiana Jones films, and the professor, (cast regular), in the TV show "Sliders". He also did a memorable Joe Gargery, the blacksmith in a Disney channel adaptation of Dickens "Great Expectations". Kathy Tyner, Orange County, CA - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 14:23:34 -0700 From: Christopher Bigelow Subject: RE: [AML] Life in Mormon Culture Responding to Linda Hyde, who wrote: <<>> On the male side at least, I think it would really help if the Church thought of ways to appeal and involve youth beyond Boy Scouts and basketball. Those were the only two bones the Church threw me to gnaw on, and neither one satisfied. (I got my Eagle Scout, but I found scouting way too square and earnest and it made little or no impact on my imagination and ambition.) Or maybe it's unrealistic to look to the Church for cultural food. Maybe Church leaders should do a better job of helping youth encounter the larger culture instead of just warning them about it and trying to fill in the gaps with pap. Actually, I don't trust the mainstream Church to ever do much that way. I just wish Sunstone and the AML had youth programs--that might have saved me a lot of trouble. (Sunstone and the AML are like the gifted program of Mormonism, equivalent to programs in public schools for kids with extra creativity, intelligence, and cultural savvy. I barely tested into those programs, by the way, so I'm not implying I'm much above average in smarts. But some of y'all are, I reckon.) Chris Bigelow - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 14:26:38 -0700 From: "Jacob Proffitt" Subject: RE: [AML] Salt Lake Trib Article on Utah's Rel. Divide - ---Original Message From: Barbara Hume > At 02:42 PM 1/7/02, you wrote: > >LDS theology, alone among other world religions, offers a way to > >include nonbelievers in heaven--temple work. > > An online friend of mine, who is Church of England, remarked rather > caustically that the Brits don't appreciate our attempts to > proselyte them after they're dead and can't fight back. Who says they can't fight back? Don't they believe in an afterlife? Just because they're dead doesn't mean they can't determine their own destiny. I've always wondered at the resistance to baptisms for the dead that we get from certain communities. If they don't believe our doctrine, then why do they care? If they do believe our doctrine, then why do they object? I can understand being put off a bit if you thought it was slightly ghoulish. It kind if is. But objecting to the practice is something I'd expect only from people who seem to think they can go their entire lives without ever being offended by anybody else. Jacob Proffitt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 13:31:11 -0800 (PST) From: Darlene Young Subject: [AML] Reading Programs With the new year and with my continuing struggle of knowing how much time I ought to be spending on my writing--and reading--I am beginning to think that I ought to get a little more structured in my reading. In the past, I have simply read everything I could get my hands on that was recommended by someone I trusted. This method has thrown in my path many excellent things that have broadened my perspectives and enlightened my life. However, I'm beginning to be interested in a more methodical approach to educating myself and increasing my talents. I am getting more serious about being a steward of my time and my gifts. So I would like to set up a reading plan--perhaps for my lifetime, perhaps for just a year. I would like some suggestions. Have any of you developed reading plans for yourselves? How did you go about it? What time frame did your plan cover? How did you choose which books to read and what kinds of reading to pursue? I'd like to hear how you balance your reading goals with your writing goals, and also how you balance different kinds of reading. (Do you have goals that include books about writing, books about religion, books about child-rearing, for example?) Regardless of what I end up designing for myself, I must make sure to allow plenty of opportunity for spontaneous reading as well, or I will rebel and abandon all! ===== Darlene Young __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 21:34:58 From: "Eric D. Snider" Subject: Re:[AML] Annual Movie Tabulation Eric Samuelsen: > >GLAD I SAW >O Brother Where Art Thou (Best use of music ever in any movie, ever). > This is why I love Eric Samuelsen (well, one of the reasons). He's not afraid to make blatant, absolute statements like "best use of music ever in any movie, ever." It's almost like he WANTS people to argue with him. :-) I loved the music in this movie, but surely there's a musical film that used music better. "Moulin Rouge," for example -- or "Mary Poppins," which happens to be the most perfect movie musical of all time. (See, there _I_ go doing it.) > >SAW AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT >Pearl Harbor ... Worst movie of the decade. > You obviously haven't seen that Tom Green monstrosity "Freddy Got Fingered," or the Martin Lawrence travesty "Black Knight," just to name two from 2001. And I hope you continue to not see them. Eric D. Snider _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 13:44:16 -0800 From: "Jeff Needle" Subject: [AML] Unresolved Novel Endings This isn't really a Mormon lit question, but I'm sure some LDS novels fit in from time to time. I've just finished a fairly good psychological mystery novel. I was intrigued by many of the characters, some of which played a major role in the first parts of the book. When I finished the book, I realized that the author left many questions unanswered. Characters that played prominently just disappear. Situations that required closure never attained such. When this happens, what is most likely? 1. The author is just a sloppy writer. 2. There is some value to leaving questions unanswered (aside from making a sequel possible). - ----- Jeff Needle jeff.needle@general.com "We're all only fragile threads, but what a tapestry we make." Jerry Ellis, "Walking Walking the Trail" - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 14:03:06 -0800 From: "Jerry Tyner" Subject: RE: [AML] Life in Mormon Culture Since my wife was so offended for not being verbal about her post I'm going to respond to it here. =20 As I have reread and contemplated what Chris and D. Michael have said in their obviously heartfelt posts about their experience and life in Mormon Culture I keep coming back to what I often think about those born into the Church, you folks don't know what you've got. In many ways as a member of the Church all my life there is a certain amount we take for granted. I, however, was one of those who was very quiet and reserved. I very much wanted and needed the approval of the adults in my life and it would kill me to think I had done something to upset them. Many of my friends would disrupt class and when they did I felt bad. I liked to stay in the background. That said I was one of those who tried to do everything as right as I could. I was not perfect and really detested those my wife identified as the ones who would put a front on at Church and do as much wrong as they could outside of the building. I loved seminary but never took full advantage of it. I went to all of my meetings but many times as we were growing up my family would go inactive for a few years until my teenage years and then Mom always made sure we were at Church. I did know my wife's best friend's family. Her sister was in many of my high school classes and her father was my electronics teacher all three years of high school. my teacher had also been my bishop while I was growing up. It was funny now thinking back when I would call him "Bishop Dickinson" in class and some other kid would ask what I meant and he would have to explain he had been my ecclesiastical leader. I think I gave him more accidental missionary moments than he could count. He was one of my favorite teachers and I loved hanging out in his class. He was a very soft spoken man and was very 50/60's with the narrow lapelled olive green suit and narrow ties (very weird for the 70's). He had known me since I was a small boy so there was a special relationship there. When my wife and I announced our engagement their family was more excited than anyone we knew because they knew and loved both of us. Many talk about when they gained a testimony. I do not ever remember questioning the doctrines or teachings of the Church. When I went on my mission after two years of College (Fullerton JC) and Institute there I was very concerned after a couple of months that I did not have a testimony. My companion sacrificed and we fasted together. That night when I went before the Lord there was not this overwhelming burning feeling or a blinding light. Just this quiet sensation with the words: "You have always known." I was not prepared for that but I knew it was true. There maybe some people who do not realize how much they effect young people. My family visited Utah many times and after my grandparents became active we went to Church with them. How proud my grandfather was to introduce his son and two grandsons as being priesthood holders. I was a deacon at the time. This was back in the late 60s in Bountiful, Utah. After over an hour and feeling very uncomfortable (I do not do well in places with people I do not know) I asked to go to the bathroom. The Advisor said okay with the comment "Well if you can't hold it?" and the whole class roared. When I got back he said "Did everything come out okay?" teasingly and the class laughed again. Needless to say I did not feel welcome and didn't want to go to Church anymore there.=20 There was always this teasing from Utah members about being one of those California Mormons as if we were second class. I don't think that is as true now as it was in my youth. That said there was even a comment made in a resent Priesthood meeting I went to in another ward about Californians Mormons and doing missionary work. I told about a dear friend of Kathy and mine who had gone through a bitter divorce and how even though we had not been successful in teaching her the Gospel yet I had snuck little things in and she thought very highly of us and many others she knows who are members. To me there just seems to be this "Holier than thou" mentality in many of the Wards (not just Utah) which I could never accepts or become a part of. There is still this mentality the some members kids are perfect and no one can say otherwise. Growing up it was really bad. Now many of those perfect kids are inactive. Really makes you wonder. As parents we have tried to stay more involved with our children than our parents were with us. Scouting gave me a great blessing of having my son by my side. I'm still working on how to stay close to my daughter. Tough not having a mother to council with (she passed away in 1983 before my daughter was born). Hopefully we will survive the teenage years more than my parents did with my sister. Do we know what we have? This is long and rambling but the bottom line is some do and some don't appreciate what we have grown up with. I didn't always enjoyed the talks in Church. With some exceptions (there will always be boring speakers - sorry) I really have gained more and more from attending all of my Church meetings (and being in the Stake Young Men's leadership I have my share).=20 I have read the first two books in a series about Enoch and his trying to establish his city. I get the very powerful feeling it is the way Joseph Smith felt when he was trying to establish Zion. He could not get everyone to do all that needed to be done and it tortured him to the depth of his soul. No matter how hard he tried he could not get the Saints to be one in heart (pure in heart) and to help everyone so there was no poor among them. We just finished a glorious Stake Conference and I came away with an overwhelming feeling that the Church is now going toward what we really need to be in order for the Savior to come and the City of Enoch to return. Zion is defined as the "Pure in heart" and I get the distinct impression that is where President Hinckley is trying to get us to. Think about the Perpetual Education Fund. My family directly benefited from the Perpetual Immigration Fund so this was exciting. This is one more step toward "having no poor among us". Watching the growth of the Church, the growth of the converts, and the growth of my family are very exciting. Boring - I guess it depends on your perspective. As for me and my house the time we are living in (both personally and Church wide) are very exciting and even some of the boring meetings have some highlights when you look for them. Jerry Tyner (husband of Kathy) Orange County (Anaheim), CA - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #569 ******************************