“The Peanuts Papers” will appear soon. It’s a selection of essays by heavy-hitting writers--e.g. Ann Patchett--on the art of Charles Schulz.
NPR--a source I don’t consistently trust--says that the book is slightly “sweaty.” There is sometimes too much effort expended in trying to prove that “Peanuts” is profound--with references to Brecht, Chekhov, Kant, that sort of thing.
Maybe. But it seems to me “Peanuts” can withstand comparisons to major literary works. (“‘Peanuts,’” says Ann Patchett, “taught me how to write.”) Loneliness, absurdity, religious searching, self-sabotage, love: These are weighty themes, and they are just as crucial to “Peanuts” as they are to “Uncle Vanya.”
In a “trailer” for “The Great Pumpkin,” Linus becomes excited by a mountain of leaves, throws himself into the middle, then remembers he is carrying a treat. The moral: “Never jump into leaves when you’re holding a wet lollipop.” (And maybe try to keep an eye on your own impetuosity, in all scenarios.)
The Hobbesean (there I go, just like Ann Patchett!) war between the strong and the weak/overly-refective: Lucy promises she won’t move the football, and she swears there is no need for doubt, since she is wielding a signed document. Charlie must, must defeat himself, even as he seems to know, or half-know, what he is getting into. Once Lucy has triumphed, she adds a final, Trumpian observation: “It’s a funny thing, the document wasn’t notarized....”
You can make a short drama even from a solitary leaf and a gust of wind: Snoopy transports a leaf to the pile by puffing it, oh so persistently and delicately, across the entire length of a field. He seems to be saying--in his own economical way--that witless humans miss too much. Laboring humans miss the beauty that surrounds them; they forget to notice what is miraculous about a leaf.
Am I trying too hard? Getting sweaty? Ah, well. We have a few days remaining until the Great Pumpkin arrives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=i1AxyNhJX4A
NPR--a source I don’t consistently trust--says that the book is slightly “sweaty.” There is sometimes too much effort expended in trying to prove that “Peanuts” is profound--with references to Brecht, Chekhov, Kant, that sort of thing.
Maybe. But it seems to me “Peanuts” can withstand comparisons to major literary works. (“‘Peanuts,’” says Ann Patchett, “taught me how to write.”) Loneliness, absurdity, religious searching, self-sabotage, love: These are weighty themes, and they are just as crucial to “Peanuts” as they are to “Uncle Vanya.”
In a “trailer” for “The Great Pumpkin,” Linus becomes excited by a mountain of leaves, throws himself into the middle, then remembers he is carrying a treat. The moral: “Never jump into leaves when you’re holding a wet lollipop.” (And maybe try to keep an eye on your own impetuosity, in all scenarios.)
The Hobbesean (there I go, just like Ann Patchett!) war between the strong and the weak/overly-refective: Lucy promises she won’t move the football, and she swears there is no need for doubt, since she is wielding a signed document. Charlie must, must defeat himself, even as he seems to know, or half-know, what he is getting into. Once Lucy has triumphed, she adds a final, Trumpian observation: “It’s a funny thing, the document wasn’t notarized....”
You can make a short drama even from a solitary leaf and a gust of wind: Snoopy transports a leaf to the pile by puffing it, oh so persistently and delicately, across the entire length of a field. He seems to be saying--in his own economical way--that witless humans miss too much. Laboring humans miss the beauty that surrounds them; they forget to notice what is miraculous about a leaf.
Am I trying too hard? Getting sweaty? Ah, well. We have a few days remaining until the Great Pumpkin arrives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=i1AxyNhJX4A
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