From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #309 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Friday, April 27 2001 Volume 01 : Number 309 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 15:02:26 -0600 From: Thom Duncan Subject: Re: [AML] DUTCHER, _Brigham City_ I'm an idiot. What can I say? I've come to realize that my flip remark in reference to Richard Dutcher, "Genius or just someone who saw Places in the Heart?" may be misconstrued by some that I didn't like the film or, worse, that I don't like Richard's work in general. Nothing could be further from the truth. I immensely liked "Brigham City" both as a film in and of itself, and as a symbol of the kinds of Mormon art I have longed to see more of for nigh onto twenty years now and which, at least insofar as the theatre is concerned, I feel I have had some small influence. My quibbles on this forum with "God's Army" have never been intended to dissuade anyone from seeing the film, or denigrating Mormon film making. As a playwright who, for some reason, can't seem to write a word that isn't somehow related to Mormon culture, history, or doctrine, I feel that I understand, and can whole-heartedly support, what Richard is trying to do. I've come to realize that, at a certain level, we Mormon artists should stick together. As long as we are generally producing good art, we should be willing to overlook minor flaws, or artistic differences -- especially when viewed in comparison with so much other art in which people of religious sensibilities are often mocked or misunderstood. It would pain me more than I am capable of writing if someone were to think that I meant anything personal in my comments. - -- Thom Duncan Playwrights Circle an organization of professionals - -------------------------- Shameless Plug - ------------------------------- Don't miss the Playwrights Circle Summer Festival at UVSC! *J. Golden* - a one-man play by James Arrington, starring Marvin Payne *SFX5* - 5 original short science fiction plays *Peculiarities* - a new full-length play by Eric Samuelsen For more information about the Playwrights Circle and our summer festival: http://www.playwrightscircle.com - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 20:02:36 -0700 From: Jeff Needle Subject: [AML] Clair POULSON, _I'll Find You_ (Review) Review ====== Clair M. Poulson, "I'll Find You" 2001, Covenant Communications Inc. Paperback, 310 pgs., $14.95 [Reviewed by Jeff Needle] "I'll Find You" is described on its cover as a "novel of suspense." This is partly true; the middle of the book is filled with exciting intrigues and puzzles. Unfortunately, the rest of the book is entirely predictable and, at times, tiresome. The story centers around two Utah families. Jeri Satch is a lively and vivacious 5-year-old. Her best friend, Rusty Egan, also 5 years old, lives next door. They play together regularly, and the families, both LDS, are good friends. One day a strange car pulls up and Rusty is snatched from his yard. Jeri, terrified, calls out to him, "Ill find you!" The police search, but all in vain. Rusty is just gone. Seventeen years later, Jeri, now an accountant for a firm in Sacramento, California, is assigned the job of visiting one of their clients, a local prison, to help their bookkeeper in her work. While at the prison, Jeri is given a tour, where she spots a fellow who she knows in her heart is Rusty. (He now goes by Randy, the name given him by his captor.) He also recognizes her, but can't figure out where he knows her from. Turns out Jeri has been obsessed with Rusty (now Randy) ever since the kidnapping episode. This has affected her ability to maintain any kind of relationship with any other man. She manages a second visit with him, where she reveals who she is, suspecting who he is. He gradually comes around, and the childhood friends are reunited. Randy is in prison for grand theft. He claims he lost the money while fleeing the police, but they don't believe him. Neither does his cellmate, an utterly evil person going by the name of Chum. Randy is released early, the authorities believing that he will go for the money, and they, keeping an eye on him, will find the money and recover it. But Chum has other ideas. Shortly after his release, he catches up with Randy and threatens physical violence unless Randy gives him the money. "I'll Find You" is mostly love story. Several budding romances find their way into the book, but there isn't one of them that isn't entirely predictable. From the outset, the author telegraphs his moves so clearly and obviously that I found myself wanting him to get on with the story we already know what's going to happen. And sure enough, it all sorts itself out exactly as you suspected. But on the positive side, the book presents good role models for young men and women who may be confused as to how to act in confusing situations. Jeri's insistence on maintaining her high standards, along with lessons about the possibility of redemption and the healing power of love. The transition from Randy back to Rusty is well documented, and presents a hope-filled picture of the power of the Gospel to change lives. Young people will like this book; old folks like myself will find much of it tedious and repetitive. But, then again, maybe repeating the good in life isn't so bad after all. - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 13:57:12 -0600 From: "Sharlee Glenn" Subject: Re: [AML] Books to Read Tracie Laulusa wrote: > I know the authors don't benefit from sales like these.) So now I have > books by Marilyn Brown, Eric Samuelsen, Benson Parkinson, and BJ Rowley to > keep me busy. Sharlee, your One in a Billion is lovely. The clerk raved Thank you, Tracie. Wish I could take credit for the illustrations. Rachel Hoffman-Bayles, a recent graduate of BYU's art/design program, did a beautiful job illustrating the book. I especially love her rendering of the Gardener's hands--very Michelangeloesque. Sharlee Glenn glennsj@inet-1.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #309 ******************************