The Teacher's Funeral : A Comedy In Three Parts (2004) - Plot & Excerpts
Sì. Scelgo i libri dal titolo e quindi non potevo perdermi questo libro XDDopo l'ennesimo BEL libro che quasi sicuramente non vedremo mai in Italia ho preso una decisione: se un giorno diventerò sufficientemente ricca (diciamo anche schifosamente ricca.. Del genere che i dubbi esistenziali sono se prendere il sole in Brasile o alle Hawaii), aprirò una casa editrice che pubblicherà opere straniere che le nostre si sono fatte sfuggire, pubblicandole a prezzi irrisori..E proporrò sicuramente questo libro!!Se leggete in inglese senza problemi (inizialmente il libro mi ha messo un po' in difficoltà, lo ammetto) e avete un paio d'ore da dedicare ad una bella lettura allora questo libro fa sicuramente per voi!Come dicevo poco più su, ciò che mi ha conquistato per primo è stato il titolo: non solo la parte macabra -la morte della povera maestra- ma il fatto che si trattasse di una commedia e che poteva dunque riservare interessanti sorprese.. E così infatti è stato!! Lo so che prima o poi sbatterò il muso con qualche lettura estremamente deludente solo perché il titolo suonava bene.. Ma fino a che l'esperimento funziona, a me sembra un ottimo modo per scegliere random cosa leggere :DLa storia è ambientata nel 1904, quando le prime macchine fanno la loro comparsa, quando il passaggio dei treni nelle vicinanze è un'occasione che riunisce tutta la cittadina.. E un periodo in cui la scuola è quello che è: una stanzetta (se va bene), alunni di tutte le età che svolgono lo stesso programma e insegnanti che lasciano un po' il tempo che trovano.Russell, il nostro narratore, ha 15 anni e combatte ancora con l'esame dell'ottavo grado (una nostra terza media, per intenderci) ma non si fa troppi problemi: scapperà il prima possibile in Dakota.. E la morte della sua insegnante sembra essere l'occasione perfetta: Infatti subito pensa che la scuola verrà per questo motivo chiusa per sempre, così da salvarlo dalla scelta.. O no? Arriva infatti a sorpresa una nuova insegnante più temibile della precedente: Tansy, sorella di Russell :DE che ve lo dico a fare.. Russell è assolutamente disperato (soprattutto quando pensa di saltare scuola e si rende tristemente conto che non può XD) e progetta ancor più spasmodicamente l'agognata fuga con l'amico Charlie.Una serie di avventure, di lezioni fallimentari e di situazioni (tragi)comiche, l'affetto del padre di Russell per i suoi figli (se fosse stato sviluppato un pizzico di più, sarebbe stato perfetto!) e pure un po' di amore vi terranno compagnia fino all'ultima pagina del romanzo, promesso!Il penultimo capitolo è stato meraviglioso, giuro! Non posso dire troppo perché rischierei spoiler immensi, ma è veramente tenero :')L'ultimo capitolo l'ho trovato da una parte un po' frettoloso (anche se un frettoloso "giustificato") dall'altra assolutamente perfetto: adoro le decisioni prese dall'autore, tutte perfette e sensate.. Bravo!!Per quanto riguarda lo stile.. alcuni pezzi mi hanno fatto molto ridere, altri li ho trovati davvero geniali.. Ma devo ammettere che ogni tanto la storia è risultata un po' confusa, troppo "veloce".. Credo di essermi persa dei passaggi chiave :/Una lettura nel complesso estremamente godibile, veloce e fresco.. Consigliatissimo!!Charlie hadn’t emptied the bottle himself. He could be a handful, but even he wouldn’t take up hard liquor. His dad was the Methodist preacher. Us Culvers were Methodists too. It meant you could do pretty much as you pleased as long as you didn’t drink liquor or dance. Especially dance. Us Methodists said dancing was nothing but hugging to music.Then after dinner she sent us down to the garden to pick a big bunch of glads. “Flowers?” I said, dancing out of her range. “We’re boys. We don’t pick flowers.” “You’ll be picking up your teeth if you don’t.” She made a fist.There was tragedy in his eyes, but he liked funerals better than weddings. As he often said, “Better tears now than tears later.”“Besides, when did Dad ever take anything out of your hide?” I said. “When did he ever once whup you?” “That time you got me to steal his .22 rifle to kill rats in the barn, and I shot Siren instead, and she kicked the door off her stall.” “Well,” I said, “other than that.” “The time you got me to plug every watermelon in the patch to find the ripest one, and we ruined a whole wagonload of – ” “Well,” I said, “if you don’t count – ” “The time you – ” “All right,” I said, “all right. But Dad’s not going to do anything, so forget all about it. Put it out of your mind. We’re innocent.”As a school study, it was known as ‘orthography’. It was the most important subject in the education of that time. You may not have anything to say, but you dadburn better know how to spell it.“I won’t live out home no more,” Glenn said. “My brothers were on me day and night about quittin’ school. They don’t want me gittin’ ahead of them. They’d do anything to keep me down.” “Why?” “That’s the way people is who ain’t goin’ anyplace in life theirselves. They don’t want you goin’ anyplace either.
Given the time of year, where schoolwork begins to pile up for a teacher, I must have been in the mood for this teacher comedy when I picked it up. It takes place in 1904 within a one-room schoolhouse, so the method of school is obviously much different, but I found myself laughing at the main character's thoughts. "If your teacher has to die, August isn't a bad time of year for it." Since the schoolteacher dies the day before classes resume, the students are crossing their fingers for the year to be cancelled, as they "don't see much point in learning" anyway. Russell Culver, the main character and narrator, vocalizes his hatred for school the most and just can't see how the town would find someone mean and old like a teacher at such late notice. Unfortunately, his own sister bargains her way in, and he has to attend school and live with his teacher. There really can't be much worse for a 15-year-old living in Fort Wayne, Indiana.I found some of the wording brilliant and witty. "The only place a teenager can't see is in front of them." I also enjoyed the history tied within the plot. Besides the one room schoolhouse, it reminded me that back then a teacher couldn't be married. There were also places where automobiles were brought into play and the students desperately wanted to ride in one because all of their families owned horses.The main characters included Russell Culver and his brother Lloyd who spend every second together doing "normal" kid activities in the 1800's including fishing trips, scaring each other, and chores. The author, Richard Peck, set this up so that Russell would still have someone to talk to while he did everyday kid activities, and we were able to see that lifestyle in addition to just at school where he was interacting with other kids.Tansy is Russell and Lloyd's older sister and the new hired schoolteacher. She is apparently beautiful with suitors right and left, but her only concern seems to be passing the certificate test to keep the school doors open. The test will include her own knowledge as well as how much her students have learned.Main issues include getting along with peers of different ages in a one-room classroom, surviving school and the teacher, and completing farm chores at home. If you like history and are looking for some laugh-out-loud material, I recommend this book to you.
What do You think about The Teacher's Funeral : A Comedy In Three Parts (2004)?
Oh my word.The opening paragraph (which I read at work) had me in stitches...It doesn't take much to read this book with a Tennessee accent (they tell you that right off) and therein lies half the laughter. There is plenty to say about this story, it's set in 1909, the womenfolk are tougher than you might think and the boys more gullible than you might imagine. This was awesome enough, I think I'm going to round up a couple more copies and force my friends to read parts with me...or make them listen to me read it...If I say anymore it'll be nothing but spoilers, and I don't do spoilers. :)Adding this one to my personal library. :D
—Sharon
The Teacher's Funeral is my favorite, favorite, favorite Richard Peck novel. It is one of my favorite historical fiction books. I loved the humor. I loved the writing--the narration. One humorous incident after another, just more and more to love. I also loved the characters. I loved Russell, the narrator. I loved his sister, Tansy. I loved their Dad who was oh-so-wise. I loved Charlie, Russell's best friend, and it was fun to see Glenn Tarbox as well. I was cheering for him through the book! But one of my FAVORITE, FAVORITE characters, and probably secretly the reason I ADORE the book so very, very much is LITTLE BRITCHES (aka Beulah). This historical fiction novel is set in 1904. Most of the action occurs in a one room school house. The teacher is Russell's OLDER sister. Russell had been hoping--dreaming really--that since their teacher literally died a day or two before school was to start, that there would be NO MORE SCHOOL. He was dreaming of FREEDOM. What he got, of course, is his sister for a teacher. A sister who could see through him, who knew him backwards and forwards, and could tell when he was TROUBLE. He can do pranks, sure enough, but she always knows it was HIM and she punishes him. This one has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. And there is a lovely audio book edition of it as well.
—Becky
Life in rural, backwoods Indiana in 1904 has its trials and tribulations for the students at Hominy Ridge School. A one room school of eight grades.When Miss Myrt Arbuckle suddenly drops dead during the summer break in August, the kids get their hopes up of the school closing and freedom from learning. The school board has other ideas and hires Tansy Culver as the new teacher. She may not have her certificate for teaching and still be in high school, but she is determined to get the kids to learn their ABCs, numbers, geography and more. She has chalk dust in her veins and this is her chance.Privy fire, snakes hidden in the classroom, cold weather and wood stove are just a few of the things she has to contend with, along with the odd assortment of students in her small class.Russell Culver tells the story well and brings all the people to life along with the humour and colour of the time. An enjoyable read for adults as well as kids. With discussion questions listed in the back, both could read it together and talk about it.
—Chazzi
