Kenneth R

How has he impacted your life, if at all? Will we likely have another author of his caliber among us again?

I'm not interested in a dictionary definition but what others think the word means. Since I've not encountered a vampire yet, I am curious about the experiences of others in this particular realm.

I find the works by authors who have either been forgotten, overlooked, or never given much of a reason to exist except to publish "dead" books (a book that is published only to sit lonesomely on a library shelf)--to be of interest. Example: I greatly admire Jon Hassler; does anyone else read him? Or Theodore Dreiser (has he been completely forgotten?) Or Thomas Hardy--so darn good! I greatly admire Pete Dexter and Ferrol Sams and Lillian Smith and Carson McCullers and Elizabeth Spencer. Any one else? And Carolyn Doty and Dave Eggers and Ha Jin. This is only a few!

I've recently seen MY WEEK WITH MARILYN and I'm curious how verisimilar it is: does the writer of the screenplay relate with any truthfulness the "real" people like: Lawrence Olivier, Arthur Miller, Colin Clark, and of course Ms. Monroe? The debate between Olivier and Monroe regarding how one goes about performing feels honest and forthright. Is it?

The man died this weekend. What a loss. Do any of you have any thoughts about Vaclav Havel and his contributions to the literary world?

The former Czech Republic president died this past weekend, age 75. He was something of a flower child in that he strove to connect politics to ethics and morality. But more importantly, he was a marvelous playwright. Do you remember him and if so how?

It is that time, following the lost of someone close, let's say a parent. There is a disposition of little things, meaningful things, following the internment. You are provided one memorabilia to claim as a gentle but lasting monument to remembering the lost one. What you have to choose from are: 1) photos from the past, 2) a set of books that the deceased treasured, or 3) golf clubs. What would you choose?

It seems that so many young people want to "become" an actor. I've acted. It's one of the most difficult tasks I've ever undertaken: why? Because I took it seriously and wanted to do it well. It is exhausting. It is humiliating. It is hateful. It is in the hands of others in terms of final product (acting partners, directors, choreographers, etc.). So, I don't get it. What's the attraction?