We’re about to have two weeks off!!  I know it’s a busy two weeks, but still you should have some time to catch up on some reading or TV watching. So here are a few suggestions from me. And we will welcome more this Friday when we have our final Zoom with the Dawg meeting. 

MOVIE THAT POSITIVELY PORTRAYS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER: That would be “CODA” which is on Apple TV. CODA, I learned, stands for Children of Deaf Adults. This is a terrific story, well told, with a warm heart and a lot of laughs about a family of deaf people supporting themselves with a commercial fishing boat.  There is one person in the family who is not deaf, and this is her story.  It’s inspiring, largely due to the commitment of the public school music teacher who saw the potential this girl had.  If vulgar language is a deal breaker for you, then this is not your movie. But seeing as the U.S. Supreme Court declared F-bombs to be constitutionally protected (see Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.) I have no hesitation in recommending it.

BOOK THAT REMINDED ME OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN: That would be The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles.  The story of four boys traveling across the country in 1953, encountering a variety of colorful characters. 

BOOK THAT IMPROVED MY VOCABULARY: That would be The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams.  It’s loosely based on the development of the Oxford English Dictionary. 

TV SHOW THAT POSITIVELY PORTRAYS A COACH: Ted Lasso.  Of course. 

BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES: I nominate Muhammad Ali.  I thought I knew the story pretty well, but oh my. 

DAWG BONE: GET YOUR SUGGESTIONS READY FOR FRIDAY!

Got a question or comment for the Dawg?  Let me hear from you at jwalsh@wabsa.com. 

Tomorrow: the Sheesh-O-Meter.