ENGL 4310

When I was little, I loved a movie with a name I had to look up on imdb.com just now. It was called "Heart and Souls," and it was about four people who died when the bus they were on crashed. The plot's not really important or anything; the point is that I loved it. We didn't own it or anything, but I know my mom must have rented it for me over and over again. I clearly remember a time in the video rental section at Smith's with my dad, who had no patience for such repetition, and he wouldn't let me rent it because I'd seen it already.

We talked a week or two ago about the love of repetition when it comes to stories. A few movies, including "Heart and Souls," came to mind for me during that discussion, and I wrote down in my notes, "As adults, we like repetition of structure but difference in detail." (I don't know at all if that was a comment someone else made or if it was a conclusion I came to myself, so sorry if I just stole that.) I think it's pretty true. I adore unique characters and distinctive voice in stories - that 'difference in detail' thing - but repetition of form or structure or theme is something I think many readers can recognize, if asked to, in the stories they like. That's the draw of romantic comedies, right? And slasher films? And romance novels? And Marvel comics? The pictures and words change, but there's safety in the story. It kind of feels like the grown-up version of four-year-old Sara would love to have four or five copies of "Heart and Souls" that all feature a different lead actor or soundtrack, maybe one shot in black and white, but with the four ghosts all getting to heaven in each version, just like they did in the original, and with the romantic subplot I really liked.

The repeated story for O'Connor is loose, but I think it hinges on two ideas:
1) The stranger comes to town.
2) The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.