"Use All The Crayons!" ... Prison
5-star amazon “Evan & Elle,” review …
“Evan & Elle is a wonderful story well told. The author has done the unbelievable in somehow suspending disbelief in the most unbelievable of circumstances. As a reader, I was sucked in within a few pages and never lost empathy for the characters. Between the trials and travails of Evan and Elle, Chris Rodell introduces us to a number of characters, some of whom you will recognize. How he believably brings these characters together across time and place, I don't know. But he has done it. There is something on literally every page to make you stop and think, or laugh, or both. He touches every third rail. You will have deep thoughts about religion and politics. You will also have laugh out loud moments about religion and politics. Rodell is a genuine philosopher who is unafraid to use both human tragedy and slapstick humor to tell his story. In short. Buy the book. Read the book.”
— Jim Saunders, Bovard, Pa.
That’s the abbrev. review. You can read the full and other reviews right here
Student letter of the week …
Class ended last night, but I’m very gratified to still be getting notes from students saying they appreciated my stories. This is from freshman Mary K.
“I wanted to at least give you a final goodbye since I won't be here for our final class which I regret. I know that doesn't sound sincere, but I truly do feel awful for not being able to come. I always looked forward to your class and being able to talk with you and hear your fascinating stories every week. You have been my favorite professor so far for so many reasons. You've pushed me as a person and made me want to do better in my writing. I hope I get the chance to take another one of your classes in the future, if not then at least share a beer with you in Latrobe. Thank you for everything,
Thanks to reader Kirk B., Altoona, for understanding how much I appreciate readers/subscribers who pitch in the regular dough I need to fund the gaudy extravagances that dominate every aspect of my profligate life away from the laptop.
PRISON
• Yes, I'm aware that Sing Sing is a maximum security prison that incarcerates many of New York's most vicious cut throats, but every time I hear Sing Sing I convince myself that Sing Sing is populated entirely by wrongly convicted Muppets.
• News reports say smart communication devices top in-demand prison contraband. Now that’s what you call a cell phone.
• Your life will be more fun if you don't judge new friends on their virtues, but instead on their potential as compatible cellmates.
• How ironic is it that New Hampshire felons must make license plates that read LIVE FREE OR DIE while imprisoned?
• I’d take high road more often but I always get hassled by cops whenever they see a car as crappy as mine in nice neighborhoods.
• New prisons are the only structures that require occupants break in before they can break out.
• Keep scores, but never settle them. Keeping score can lead to satisfying moments when you recall those who said you couldn’t do something. Settling scores can lead to jail sentences.
• Remember, we are born free and spend the rest of our lives constructing prisons around ourselves.
RANDOMS
• What is it about the language that makes "The Steel Curtain" sound so much more fearsome than "The Steel Drapes?”
• People who say revenge is a dish best served cold fail to realize if revenge had a drive-thru traffic would be lined up for miles.
• We hear lots about Jesus as the Son of God. I wonder about Uncle Jesus. Wouldn't it have been cool to say Jesus was your Uncle?
• People convicted of road rage offenses should be sentenced to master and when possible go from here to there via tap dance.
• Because fickle publishing industry insists it is looking for timeless books, my next novel is going to be about a broken clock.
5-star amazon “Evan & Elle,” review …
“Evan & Elle is a wonderful story well told. The author has done the unbelievable in somehow suspending disbelief in the most unbelievable of circumstances. As a reader, I was sucked in within a few pages and never lost empathy for the characters. Between the trials and travails of Evan and Elle, Chris Rodell introduces us to a number of characters, some of whom you will recognize. How he believably brings these characters together across time and place, I don't know. But he has done it. There is something on literally every page to make you stop and think, or laugh, or both. He touches every third rail. You will have deep thoughts about religion and politics. You will also have laugh out loud moments about religion and politics. Rodell is a genuine philosopher who is unafraid to use both human tragedy and slapstick humor to tell his story. In short. Buy the book. Read the book.”
— Jim Saunders, Bovard, Pa.
That’s the abbrev. review. You can read the full and other reviews right here
Student letter of the week …
Class ended last night, but I’m very gratified to still be getting notes from students saying they appreciated my stories. This is from freshman Mary K.
“I wanted to at least give you a final goodbye since I won't be here for our final class which I regret. I know that doesn't sound sincere, but I truly do feel awful for not being able to come. I always looked forward to your class and being able to talk with you and hear your fascinating stories every week. You have been my favorite professor so far for so many reasons. You've pushed me as a person and made me want to do better in my writing. I hope I get the chance to take another one of your classes in the future, if not then at least share a beer with you in Latrobe.
Thank you for everything,
PRISON
Yes, I'm aware that Sing Sing is a maximum security prison that incarcerates many of New York's most vicious cut throats, but every time I hear Sing Sing I convince myself that Sing Sing is populated entirely by wrongly convicted Muppets.
News reports say smart communication devices top in-demand prison contraband. Now that’s what you call a cell phone.
Your life will be more fun if you don't judge new friends on their virtues, but instead on their potential as compatible cellmates.
How ironic is it that New Hampshire felons must make license plates that read LIVE FREE OR DIE while imprisoned?
I’d take high road more often but I always get hassled by cops whenever they see a car as crappy as mine in nice neighborhoods.
New prisons are the only structures that require occupants break in before they can break out.
Keep scores, but never settle them. Keeping score can lead to satisfying moments when you recall those who said you couldn’t do something. Settling scores can lead to jail sentences.
Remember, we are all born free and spend the rest of our lives constructing prisons around ourselves. Be sure to, in addition to all that hard-earned security, allow yourself a little built-in liberty.
RANDOMS
• What is it about the language that makes "The Steel Curtain" sound so much more fearsome than "The Steel Drapes?”
• People who say revenge is a dish best served cold fail to realize if revenge had a drive-thru traffic would be lined up for miles.
• We hear lots about Jesus as the Son of God. I wonder about Uncle Jesus. Wouldn't it have been cool to say Jesus was your Uncle?
• People convicted of road rage offenses should be sentenced to master and when possible go from here to there via tap dance.
• Because fickle publishing industry insists it is looking for timeless books, my next novel is going to be about a broken clock.
Thanks to those of you who recently showed your support by sending cash or the equivalent to me at PayPal, Venmo, 874 Solomon Temple Rd., Latrobe, Pa, 15650).
All Chris’s books can be purchased through www.ChrisRodell.com
