CCBC-Net Archives
Out of the Dust
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Karen Wendt <bewendt>
Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 22:55:29 -0600
I didn't get -Out of the Dust- until a short time ago.
I liked the look of it, I liked holding it in my hands, the size and feel of it. Then I read it.
Rather than reading it straight through in a night, as I often will do ( to get more books read in a week), I needed to take several nights to read it, to savor it. I too was struck with tears when reading the hot oil scene. The flap said Billie Jo had to forgive her father for causing the accident that killed her mother. I interpreted it differently. I did not expect, until too late, the way of it.
I was touched by the relationship Ma & Pa had with one another. It wasn't romantic, hot love but rather a deep regard, respect for one another. Touching kind of love "He always smelled a little like her first thing in the morning" and "she made herself over to fit my father." Then, "Daddy gets soft eyes, standing behind her while she plays." and, "He takes that red face of his out to the barn, to keep from feuding wit h my pregnant ma." They took their leave rather than feuding and the anger "boils itself down doing chores."
I felt glad of the beautiful language used to express Billy Jo's feelings about things.
"I'm wondering what kind of friend I am, wanting my feet on that road to another place, instead of Livie's." and then, soon, we have the feeling that Billie Jo is growing up, as she begins to wonder what will develop between the
"singing plowboy" Mad Dog Craddock with his blue eyes, and herself.
The language Karen Hesse used to make us feel the dust..."sneezed dust" and
"rules for setting the table" and "waves and waves of dust" and , "lightning danced down on its spindly legs." but there was no rain with this lightning, just more dust, did not make me wonder at the reality of it. I have not experienced dust but have felt the effects of other types of weather and weather as we all know can be a powerful thing.
I enjoyed the poetry in the book, especially the sections on APPLE BLOSSOMS and FIRST RAIN. Off the top of my head, If I were to read aloud from the book I think I might choose to read Apple Blossoms, then discuss without details, the accident. Then I wo uld follow up with a reading from pages 111, 112 Outlined by Dust. This is where her father sings sometimes under his breath...his voice stops and starts, "like a car short of gas, like an engine choked with dust..." I would like to hear suggestions for booktalking any of the Newbery Award books.
Billie Jo's music and her memories of the music, seems to be therapy for her, even though she goes through a time thinking she could not play anymore. She makes music again. There is hope for all pain to be worked through, however difficult.
Karen
====================== Karen M. Wendt, Madison, WI
bewendt at facstaff.wisc.edu
======================
Monona Public Library web page
Received on Wed 04 Feb 1998 10:55:29 PM CST
Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 22:55:29 -0600
I didn't get -Out of the Dust- until a short time ago.
I liked the look of it, I liked holding it in my hands, the size and feel of it. Then I read it.
Rather than reading it straight through in a night, as I often will do ( to get more books read in a week), I needed to take several nights to read it, to savor it. I too was struck with tears when reading the hot oil scene. The flap said Billie Jo had to forgive her father for causing the accident that killed her mother. I interpreted it differently. I did not expect, until too late, the way of it.
I was touched by the relationship Ma & Pa had with one another. It wasn't romantic, hot love but rather a deep regard, respect for one another. Touching kind of love "He always smelled a little like her first thing in the morning" and "she made herself over to fit my father." Then, "Daddy gets soft eyes, standing behind her while she plays." and, "He takes that red face of his out to the barn, to keep from feuding wit h my pregnant ma." They took their leave rather than feuding and the anger "boils itself down doing chores."
I felt glad of the beautiful language used to express Billy Jo's feelings about things.
"I'm wondering what kind of friend I am, wanting my feet on that road to another place, instead of Livie's." and then, soon, we have the feeling that Billie Jo is growing up, as she begins to wonder what will develop between the
"singing plowboy" Mad Dog Craddock with his blue eyes, and herself.
The language Karen Hesse used to make us feel the dust..."sneezed dust" and
"rules for setting the table" and "waves and waves of dust" and , "lightning danced down on its spindly legs." but there was no rain with this lightning, just more dust, did not make me wonder at the reality of it. I have not experienced dust but have felt the effects of other types of weather and weather as we all know can be a powerful thing.
I enjoyed the poetry in the book, especially the sections on APPLE BLOSSOMS and FIRST RAIN. Off the top of my head, If I were to read aloud from the book I think I might choose to read Apple Blossoms, then discuss without details, the accident. Then I wo uld follow up with a reading from pages 111, 112 Outlined by Dust. This is where her father sings sometimes under his breath...his voice stops and starts, "like a car short of gas, like an engine choked with dust..." I would like to hear suggestions for booktalking any of the Newbery Award books.
Billie Jo's music and her memories of the music, seems to be therapy for her, even though she goes through a time thinking she could not play anymore. She makes music again. There is hope for all pain to be worked through, however difficult.
Karen
====================== Karen M. Wendt, Madison, WI
bewendt at facstaff.wisc.edu
======================
Monona Public Library web page
Received on Wed 04 Feb 1998 10:55:29 PM CST
