Daniel Silliman

27.3.02

The Milagro Beanfield War
Book hunting at local used dealers the other day I found this great book and now I have begun reading it. I watched the movie before, not knowing it was connected to a book, and the movie was delightful.

The prose and the structure of the book give it a heavily authentic Mexican-American feel. It seems to wander, to tell local legends as a backdrop necessary to understand the current story.

It is a great book that feels like something from an oral tradition.

by Daniel Silliman @ 8:27 PM. : Comments 0

Enjoying the Dealt Hand
Spring Break isn't what I planned on, but I'm having a good time anyway.

I intended to visit my Uncle, Ron Silliman, in Philidelphia. My ride to Philly, planned out a month ago, fell through and I'm still in South/central Michigan. It's snowing, and it's the Midwest and not much of a get away. But then a break is a break any time I can sleep in and read a lot and learn without the restrictions of classes.

And I'm enjoying myself even if I am banished/stranded to this place.

I stayed the first few days my friend, fellow student and student journalist Elliot Wild. He was also a homeschooler and we had fun relaxing, cooking, watching movies and playing. One night we stayed up until 3 a.m. playing a presidential/history/geography trivia game. When we were almost done with the game as it was meant to be layed we changed the rules and then it lasted until 3 a.m. This is the kind of fun that just happens, it can't be intentional.

Now I am at another friends home. I'm staying with the Stacks in Hillsdale. Emily, a friend of mine, has gone to Boston for Spring Break and I am staying with her parents and brother. They are great people, very real and practicle and unpretensious in a solid Midwestern way. I knew them before, I ate dinner at their home once and attend their church, and am very comfortable. You learn a lot about someone staying in their home and sleeping in their childhood room.

I am enjoying myself beyond making the best of things.

by Daniel Silliman @ 8:22 PM. : Comments 0