In case you're wondering...

... Jie and I are only communicating with each other via this blog and not talking to each other in person. That's the only logical reason why we're posting messages on a blog that's only read by the two of us. :)

Another Movie!

By the way, we also watched Bowling for Columbine (for the first time) this weekend, and it was also very good.

Lest someone misinterpret Jie's previous post, in which she said that she's "satisfied" by Fahrenheit 9/11, what she meant (according to her) is that she was satisfied that the issues had been brought to the public's attention by the movie. Even though we pay attention to current events pretty closely, there were still some things that disturbed us.

Movie!

We just had a chance to watch "Fahrenheit 9/11." Very satisfying (for the most part).

The Good Earth

I just finished reading Pearl S. Buck's "The Good Earth" again and was still very captivated by it. Although many of the aspects of life described in the book are very much antiquated even in modern China (e.g., polygamy, arranged marriages, the dynamics of inter-generational relationships), I believe some of the themes still have universal resonance today (fidelity, frugality). I'm sure many readers found parts of the book repulsive, such as the behavior of protagonist Wang Lung. But I think Buck did a good job at creating a character in Wang Lung who is realistic with respect to his time and place, who has his strengths and flaws just like anyone else. My favorite character, however, is Wang Lung's faithful wife O-Lan, who courageously endures more suffering and hardship than anyone else in the book.

I enjoyed the first part of the book the most, up to when O-Lan dies, because Buck takes her time in developing the plot and characters. After O-Lan dies, the book starts to increasingly read like a soap-opera, hurriedly skipping from one story line to another. Overall though, I enjoyed the book for its epic scope and attention to details.

I'm planning to catch the 1937 movie version of this story sometime next week. I just hope I won't be put off by the fact that the lead actors are all caucasian (big surprise). If anyone knows of a more recent remake of this movie, please let me know.

Not much

Another "stormy" day has passed and no rain was in sight. I'm glad to have had a chance to walk along the beach before the day was over. We had a casual dinner at a nice outdoor burger joint (Moody's Pub). It is suppose to have the best burgers in town and it wasn't too bad. I had a grilled chicken sandwich (Fan had the burger), which was very tender and tasty. The bleu burger was a true bleu burger in the sense that the amount of bleu cheese equaled the size of the 1/2 lb. hamburger patty. These all came with fresh cut fries:)...YUUUUUUUMMY...who cares about the Atkins;)

Random thoughts

:) :o) :oD

Ta-Da!

I've finally caught up with the blog craze.... Now all I need is a beeper. Cell phone in 3-5 years, I promise.