The first is Alice Munro's short story collection Runaway. People speak of Alice Munro's work admiringly--reverently--kind of like they do with John Cheever or Anton Chekov. Except that I've never really read any of them.Then, in school, I was assigned a few of Munro's stories to read. They were amazing. I found one of her books at a used bookstore for $1 (if there's one place I'm on high alert for divine signs, it's at a used bookstore). I bought it and talked my mentor into assigning it to me for the semester. Two birds, as it were. Anyway. It was incredible. And I don't doubt that any other story collection you can find of hers will be just as life changing. In her own words, which I've stolen from one of the stories: Runaway is "a great crippling whack in the chest." And I mean that as a compliment.
The second diamond in the rough is HBO's
Temple Grandin. Claire Danes plays the autistic legend--a woman who faced autism in a time when it was wholly misunderstood (and institutionalized). She pursued her education and ultimately changed the way we think of humane treatment of animals and understand autism. It was a great/moving/superbly-acted film.Dave cried. Just saying.
Now, read! Watch! And let's discuss.
