Of The Meaning of Life, Miracles, and Jake Gyllenhaal

Wouldn't it be just my luck that the last Book Discussion Friday of the term would be the best Book Discussion Friday of the term? After SEVEN Fridays, I finally found the formula that worked! We watched a clip of Paulo Coehlo talking about the meaning of life, and debated about 1) if Santiago found the meaning of his life, and 2) what that meaning was. There was serious conversation happening in the groups this morning. We didn't have a formal questionnaire, didn't have to write out our ideas. We just had open, creative time to talk and think together. All four discussion groups had different answers to the questions and, better yet, had evidence to back up their decisions. It gives a whole new meaning to, "Give 'em an inch..."

Also, one of my students suggested today that "the guy from Prince of Persia" would be perfect to play Santiago in a film version of The Alchemist. "That guy" just happens to be...Jake Gyllenhaal. Le sigh.
 


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