Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

From zero to misty

11.11.2009 by David Murray // 7 Comments

It's beautiful in Chicago lately, and so I rode my motorcycle to see Where the Wild Things Are; my wife and kid took the car.

Cristie reported that Scout cried all the way home in the car.

Which would have alarmed me, I guess, had I not cried all the way home on the motorcycle.

Categories // Uncategorized Tags // C.S. Lewis, crying, Maurice Sendak, movie, Where the Wild Things Are

Comments

  1. Kristen says

    November 11, 2009 at 6:11 am

    So, I guess that would be a “two tears up” from the Murray & Murray movie reviewers, then?

    Reply
  2. Amy Jo says

    November 11, 2009 at 7:31 am

    You can listen to the soundtrack in its entirety here: http://tinyurl.com/ycalhjg
    All the songs were composed by Karen O. from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I thought she did a beautiful job.
    p.s. my evil step mother is named Judith.

    Reply
  3. David Murray says

    November 11, 2009 at 7:34 am

    I can’t risk listening to, watching, or thinking about anything associated with that movie while I’m at work.

    Reply
  4. Eileen B says

    November 11, 2009 at 10:02 am

    It was sad? I had no idea. All I heard was that it was way more adult than you’d think it would be, seeing that it’s a children’s story. Did you watch it with different eyes since you knew more about Maurice Sendak, David?

    Reply
  5. David Murray says

    November 11, 2009 at 10:27 am

    C.S. Lewis said, “No book is really worth reading at age of ten which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of fifty…Those of us who are blamed when old for reading childish books were blamed when children for reading books too old for us. No reader worth his salt trots along in obedience to a timetable.”
    This was Sendak’s philosophy to a tee. “Tell [children] anything you want,” he says, “as long as it’s true.”
    The idea that children can’t “handle” subjects like death and fear and loneliness is as questionable as the notion that adults have all that stuff under control.
    So: When Scout turned to me in the movie theater looking to see if I thought the boy’s departure from the land of the Wild things was sad, she looked relieved to see tears streaming down my face.
    We’ve got to be strong for our kids, and we’ve got to protect them. But not from the kinds of feelings they’re already feeling–and the ones from which they’ll never be immune.

    Reply
  6. Kristen says

    November 11, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    Oh my goodness!! I’m having paroxysms of ecstasy!!! That Lewis quote is absolutely MARVELLOUS!! I cannot believe I’ve never come across it before!!
    I don’t know where you found that, but I’ve appropriated it now, because it’s the story of my life in one sentence!!! Just brilliant!!!!
    P.S. I see in re-reading my comment that I have now exhausted my lifetime’s allotment of punctuation, and must now die. It’s been just lovely knowing you all.

    Reply
  7. David Murray says

    November 11, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    Kristen, we hardly knew ye. Glad you liked that C.S. Lewis quote; it was deeply instructive to me when I read it and it still gives me courage.

    Reply

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