It’s funny that I have barely mentioned the main character at all! Eric Calhoune is such a likeable character and seems like someone I’d like to have as a friend. His sense of humor in the book is priceless and his voice is unique. I love how he can be so comfortable with himself, and that he isn’t concerned with what other people think of him. It’s fresh to see someone who isn’t insecure because he’s heard it all- not because they’ve “found true beauty in themselves” or something like that. I’m glad that Chris Crutcher doesn’t use all the cheesy clichés in his writing- but I suppose that I wouldn’t care if there were a bunch of hokey things in there. I also like how Moby is iffy about things like abortion and God- because I know there are so many other kids who aren’t completely set on their beliefs like Mark Brittain. Moby’s just…cool, that’s all I can say.
One thing I thought was weird was that though Moby, Ellerby, and Brittain are on the swim team, there wasn’t a swim meet in the book. I don’t know if I’m happy or sad about that because my cousin is a swimmer and I went to one of his meets a few weeks ago- it was really boring. I loved all of the parts in Lemry’s Critical American Thinking class- it was the chance to get inside the other characters’ heads. Also, I enjoyed the witty conversations between Moby and people like his mom, Ellerby, or Sarah Byrnes.
Another thing I have yet to talk about it Crispy Pork Rinds. The clever title makes me laugh, but I’m not sure whether or not I like the idea. Sure, it was a way to get back at those who did Eric and Sarah Byrnes wrong- but it was so absurd. Was it really that embarrassing for the victims? What was it really doing? I’m in nobody’s favor in regards the newspaper. If Crispy Pork Rinds was talking about something less absurd then I would have been in more favor of it.
Something that I’ve been thinking about was the fact that Sarah Byrnes’ mother refused to help her. If I had been feeling guilty for years about abandoning my daughter I would do anything to keep her from out of her current misery. I don’t know if I’d call it selfish or just outright cowardly. I’m confused why she wouldn’t testify to help her daughter- isn’t that what any mother would do? She’s lucky that Sarah Byrnes ended up fine and found a new family with the Lemrys. I mean, Mr. Byrnes could have killed Sarah Byrnes- he’s just scary.
Carver was a huge surprise in this book. Who knew that he was just going to go find Mr. Byrnes and beat the crap out of him? Not to mention that he did two tours of duty in Vietnam! For a while I thought he was going to be a jerk after he got the other guy out of the way in order to get closer to Eric’s mom. Now I see that Carver was a really cool guy.
They should make Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes a movie! I think they’re going to, but they should have Keanu Reeves (the Matrix) be Mr. Byrnes, and Tina Fey (Mean Girls) be Mrs. Lemry. Danielle Panabaker could be Jody and Jamie Bell might make a good Mark Brittain. I have no idea who would be Sarah Byrnes, Ellerby, and Moby- They’re too tough to think of willy-nilly! But I would definitely go see this if it did become a movie!
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5 comments:
I thought your blog was very reflective and had a lot of your emotions and your ties to the characters on a personal level was very thought provoking. I especially appreciated your character suggestions for the movies based on personality. I enjoyed your thoughts on the characters and your ideas regarding the decisions they made in the novel. Very well done.
thank you! i feel like i'm being evaluated. so what thoughts were provoked?
Hey, Anna.
Kelsie here...
...well, that's all.
I can't think of anything to say.
I'll come back later with something witty and insightful to say about your blog.
It was wonderful, by the way, all of them were. You're really an amazing writer, and I enjoy them because I can tell you wrote them.
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