Thursday, 10/21 Agenda

Postmodernism discussion---Fugitive Pieces, Bloodsucking Fiends, The Things They Carried, etc.

http://www.kristisiegel.com/theory.htm#postmodern

Get Rita Dove books


http://people.virginia.edu/~rfd4b/
 www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/rita-dove
Begin reading "Thomas and Beulah"

Go to Rita Dove websites.  Post a comment about Rita dove's poetry.

Workshop Stories and Discuss Bloodsucking Fiends

ENTER BENNINGTON CONTEST, HOLLINS, AND BLUE PENCIL ONLINE:
www.bennington.edu/go/news/young-writers-competition
www.hollins.edu/undergrad/english/thorp/thorp.htm
www.thebluepencil.net/the-bishop-prizes/path-to-the-prize/

CREATIVE WRITING MAJORS WRITING RETREAT--Sunday, Nov. 14, Ellison Park
For you and your parents.  Guest workshop leader, Wendy Low, Writers and Books
Get registration form.  It's free!

Break into groups to read and discuss your Bloodsucking fiends stories and the discussion questions posted on the blog.

Finish Reading Bloodsucking Fiends and story

Today work on your Bloodsucking Fiends story and finish reading the novel.

Why?  Next Wednesday, you will be taking the PSAT and next Friday is the end of the marking period!
So, get to work today and you can enjoy the long weekend.  See you in a week!

Encounter with an "Imaginary Being"

Fugitive Pieces short stories are due by the end of the period in FINISHED form.  Be sure to spell check and revise.

NEW ASSIGNMENT a/la Bloodsucking Fiends (it's that time of year!)
Write a short piece that involves an encounter with an "imaginary being" --a little touch of magic realism, here.  Your short fiction piece can be funny, sarcastic, spooky, or "deadly serious."  What would it be like
to talk to or perform an action  with a ghost, a werewolf, an angel, a zombie, or yes, a vampire?

Give it a try.  Consider it a writing prompt for you to experiment with.

Other things:  Writing contests--Check out Bennington's writing contest and The Blue Pencil online.

Christopher Moore on writing and Vampires

http://watchmojo.com/index.php?id=8330

http://watchmojo.com/index.php?id=8357 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bhb744dw18

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/22/the-new-vampires-9-possib_n_620202.html#s103541

Read interview handout

Completed fugitive Pieces short stories are due on Wednesday!

HMWK: Read to page 117

Discussion Questions for Bloodsucking Fiends

Reading Group Guide

Questions for Discussion

1. Everyone has been exposed to Vampire lore, either through books, movies, or television. How does Jody's transformation into a vampire differ from how you always thought someone became a vampire? In what ways is it similar?

2. Jody and Tommy's relationship moves at a rather alarming pace, and within a week of meeting each other, they are in love. Is love at first sight possible? Or in their case, at first bite? Why do they connect so instantly?

3. The book is filled with religious connotations, whether intentional or not — from the mention of "the pyramid" (The TransAmerica Tower), to the use of crosses to ward off vampires, to the Animals being referred to as "Crusaders." How intentional do you think this was on the part of the author? What do these add to the story?

4. The book touches upon the idea of euthanasia — the practice of ending the life of a terminally ill person in a painless or minimally painful way in order to limit suffering — in that Elijah Ben Sapir, the vampire who creates Jody, only kills those who are about to die or whose lives are limited in some way. What are your feelings about "mercy killings"? Do vampires have an ethical standard?

5. When Simon threatens Jody after she refuses to turn him into a vampire, she ends up killing him in the front of his truck. Jody then blames the killing on Elijah, however, and never confesses it to Tommy. Why not admit to it when Elijah has been restrained?

6. Why are Jody and Tommy "set up" as the culprits in the recent crimes? What would it mean if they were caught? Why do these crimes need to be pinned on anyone? Couldn't the criminals cover up thecrimes in another way?

7. By the end of the novel, both detectives — Cavuto and Rivera — begin to believe in the supernatural and that vampires could exist. To what extent do you believe in the supernatural, either vampires, ghosts, or even just that some people may or may not have psychic ability?

8. Tommy uses Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat, which of course is fiction, as his "Owner's Manual" for learning about Jody and her new powers. Discuss the author's use of fiction within fiction in order to tell a story. Have any members of your group read The Vampire Lestat? How do the two books compare?

9. Once Jody becomes a vampire, she finds that she has many new and different abilities, including superstrength, heightened senses, and superspeed. Which do you think is her most needed new superability?

10. Though Jody finds herself immortal, she also retains many of her normal human characteristics and failings, including vanity, fear, anger, and disgust. Discuss how even though she has become immortal, and can protect herself from many of the regular dangers of everyday life, she is still unable to disassociate herself from normal human emotion.

11. At the end of the book, the reader is left with the impression that Jody is about to turn Tommy into a vampire. If she does change him into a vampire, how do you imagine their story continues? How would it continue if she does not?

Enhancing Your Bookclub

1. Would you be willing to give up your normal life — being able to go out in the daylight, not being immortal — in order to become a vampire? You'd be able to live forever, have superstrength and -speed, among many other different gifts. Would it be worth it? Why? Why not?

2. To read more about vampires, take a look at the following titles: The Society of S by Susan Hubbard, Vamped by David Sosnowski, The Book of Renfield: A Gospel of Dracula by Tim Lucas, and Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Costa.

3. Learn more about vampires: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampires.

Christopher Moore is the bestselling author of You Suck, A Dirty Job, The Stupidest Angel, Fluke, Lamb, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, Island of the Sequined Love Nun, Bloodsucking Fiends, and Practical Demonkeeping. Visit the

official Christopher Moore website at www.chrismoore.com.

Week of 9/28 and 9/30

View the end of Fugitive Pieces (Tuesday).

Continue to work on short stories. Due next week--Oct. 6.

Check out Christopher Moore's website (see link). Pick up Bloodsucking Fiends.

Amadeus on Thursday: Research vampire lore. Go to vampires.com. Post a comment reflecting what you learned about vampires!

HMWK: For Monday, read through Ch. 8 (pg. 60) or further