Life lessons Archives - Bob on Books

Cover image of "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!" by Quentin Schultze.

You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!, Quentin Schultze. Edenridge Press LLC (ISBN: 9781937532017) 2024.

Summary: Life lessons from the movie “A Christmas Story” from a friend of storyteller and screenplay writer Jean Shepherd.

We all have our favorite classic Christmas movies that we can watch over and over again. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is probably at the top of my list. But in second place, I would probably pick “A Christmas Story.” Part of the reason is that we lived in the Cleveland area during the filming of the movie. There really was a Higbee’s store! In addition, there are so many memorable lines:

“You’ll shoot your eye out!”

“Frah-JEE-lay”

“The line ends here. It begins there.”

“That [Olds SOB] would freeze up in the middle of the summer in the equator.”

“Mom hadn’t had a hot meal for herself in fifteen years.”

“Triple dog dare”

“Oh, f-u-u-u-d-g-e”

I’ll bet you can remember the scenes just from the lines!

Quentin Schultze, who taught communications for many years at Calvin College, had the unusual experience of inviting Jean Shepherd, who wrote the film’s screenplay, to co-teach a course on storytelling. Along the way, he had the chance to gain an inside glimpse into the storytelling behind the movie. Specifically, he contends that, embedded in the different scenes, are a number of parables, life lessons as it were reflecting Shepherd’s keen insights into human nature.

Schultze begins with Ralphie’s dream to get a Red Ryder “200-shot range model air rifle” to protect his family from Black Bart and the villains of Cleveland Street. He pursues the dream the whole movie, and Schultze believes that lesson of pursuing dreams is a good one, even if we make fools out of ourselves.

Subsequent chapters draw from other scenes, warning us against obsessions like leg lamps or bullies like Scut, who inhabit not only schoolyards but companies, churches, and even government. Ralphie and Randy teach us about caring for family.

Some of the lessons go deeper. The tension with the unseen next door neighbors, the Bumpuses, and their hounds leads to an exploration of who the Bumpuses our in our lives, and perhaps whether we are Bumpus-like. When Randy hides under the sink after Ralphie beats up Scut for fear of “the Old Man,” mom’s response reflects the reality that we all have times of needing refuge. Perhaps the most appreciated was Schultze discussion of heroes, and the everyday sensibility of mom that makes her the hero in the story.

Of course, there are the lighter moments that remind us of the playful. Singing ‘Jingle Bells” in the car, Ralphie’s disquisition on different soaps, and the wax fang episode in which Mrs. Shields adds them to a draw of gags, including still-chattering teeth, all reveal Shepherd’s playful outlook. The fact that we love the trivia from this movie suggests how successful Shepherd was.

There’s still probably time to get and read a copy before watching the movie again. Schultze helps us understand why we love this film. He helped me appreciate the storytelling genius of Jean Shepherd. And if you haven’t seen the movie in a while, it will remind you of all your favorite scenes, and some you may have forgotten.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for review.

Cover image of "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse" by Charles Mackesy

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse, Charlie Mackesy. HarperOne (ISBN: 9781529105100), 2019.

Summary: A graphic novel of the friendship of these four creatures who affirm the basic values of friendship, kindness, self-worth, and the love of cake!

I was in a group recently talking about books when someone asked if I had read The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse and I had to admit that I had not heard of it and joked that it sounded like one of those cognitive tests our docs like to give the over-65 crowd to test our short-term memory. Several others in the circle nodded and raved about how good this was for anyone from 8 to 80. I could stop my review right here and say, “what they said.” But I won’t.

What is it that makes so wonderful this roughly sketched (and occasionally painted) book with hand-written text supposedly smudged where the dog placed its paws and a tea cup stain left its mark? The boy and the three animals remind us of Christopher Robin and his ensemble.

The story traces the gathering of the four as the boy first meets mole, who lives in search of cake. Then they encounter a fox, caught in a trap, threatening to eat mole if he gets loose. Realizing the plight of the fox, mole gnaws the wire holding the fox. Later, they encounter a wise horse is winged.

But I think there are two things that captivate. One is the simple but profound responses of the creatures to each other, often to questions.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

” ‘Kind,’ said the boy”

” ‘What do you think success is?‘ asked the boy.”

” ‘To love,’ said the mole.”

We learn not to compare oneself to others, of the unique worth of each one, and to listen to dreams more than fears. We learn of the kindness of being kind to and forgiving oneself. The horse tells us the bravest thing he ever said is ‘Help” and that he was strongest in his weakness. He tells the boy he knows all about him and loves him still.

The other thing is that each is on a quest, the boy for home, the mole for cake, the fox in search of prey and the horse to fly without making others jealous. In each other they find what they seek, and yet that which is more–unconditional love.

Perhaps I’ve already said more than enough about a book you may read in 15 minutes but may savor for a lifetime, a contemporary Little Prince. This is a wonderful book to give those who aren’t readers. The author describes himself as such a person and yet has spun a captivating tale that in its simplicity, its quiet, reflective voice reminds us of what matters most, what endures, and is most true of each of us.