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From: Steven
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 08:59:41 PST
I thought the form of "Whirligig" does detract from the book's success as a novel. The sentence that the young man is totally baffling, except that it makes a thought provoking premise for a novel. The characters he meet seem created for the sole purpose of helping him evolve. It all works out beautifully, and the ideas are interesting, but it's hard not to be aware of the author's hand at every moment, which in my case lessened my ability to fully care and believe in the characters development. The "Hercules" parallel went right past me (
my constant awareness of the author's hand lessened my ability to fully care and believe in the character's development.
I was put off by the sentencing... I could think of no possible reason why a person would sentence the murderer of her daughter to this particular "punishment"... except that it makes a thought provoking premise in a novel. The characters the young man met seemed similarly created for the sole purpose of helping him evolve towards self forgiveness. The notion that the form is part of the content makes for interesting discussion, but still doesn't do anything to get me more involved in the book or its world. The "Hercules" thing went right past me (Are readers supposed to "get" that parallel? Does it change the reading experience if you do? Does this mean I have to read it again?) The opening chapter is so much like a "ya problem novel," that I never suspected we were dealing with a mythological spiritual journey...instead it seemed like a contrived spiritual journey. An interesting one, and beautifully written at times, but my constant awareness of the author's hand lessened my ability to fully care and believe in the character's development. Maybe readers like me are not open minded or sophisticated enough to appreciate this approach? And are not the intended audience? I wonder how kids/teens are responding to it?
On the other hand, I just finished Louis Sachar's "Holes," which has equally unlikely events also told in more than one narrative (but I spotted no references to classical mythology), and was completely enthralled. One reason for this is that the characters and events have life and fullness beyond the plot twists and narrative tricks. I would have cared about Stanley and Zero even if their lives hadn't intersected in such wonderfully coincidental ways.
Looking back, I think that form and structure are as important in
"Holes" as it is in "Whirligig." The difference is we're not hit over the head with it from the beginning.
-------------------------------------------------------Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library 1595 Burns Streeet West Linn, OR 97068 ph: 503e6x57 fax: 503e6'46 e-mail: steven at westlinn.lib.or.us
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Received on Tue 13 Oct 1998 11:59:41 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 08:59:41 PST
I thought the form of "Whirligig" does detract from the book's success as a novel. The sentence that the young man is totally baffling, except that it makes a thought provoking premise for a novel. The characters he meet seem created for the sole purpose of helping him evolve. It all works out beautifully, and the ideas are interesting, but it's hard not to be aware of the author's hand at every moment, which in my case lessened my ability to fully care and believe in the characters development. The "Hercules" parallel went right past me (
my constant awareness of the author's hand lessened my ability to fully care and believe in the character's development.
I was put off by the sentencing... I could think of no possible reason why a person would sentence the murderer of her daughter to this particular "punishment"... except that it makes a thought provoking premise in a novel. The characters the young man met seemed similarly created for the sole purpose of helping him evolve towards self forgiveness. The notion that the form is part of the content makes for interesting discussion, but still doesn't do anything to get me more involved in the book or its world. The "Hercules" thing went right past me (Are readers supposed to "get" that parallel? Does it change the reading experience if you do? Does this mean I have to read it again?) The opening chapter is so much like a "ya problem novel," that I never suspected we were dealing with a mythological spiritual journey...instead it seemed like a contrived spiritual journey. An interesting one, and beautifully written at times, but my constant awareness of the author's hand lessened my ability to fully care and believe in the character's development. Maybe readers like me are not open minded or sophisticated enough to appreciate this approach? And are not the intended audience? I wonder how kids/teens are responding to it?
On the other hand, I just finished Louis Sachar's "Holes," which has equally unlikely events also told in more than one narrative (but I spotted no references to classical mythology), and was completely enthralled. One reason for this is that the characters and events have life and fullness beyond the plot twists and narrative tricks. I would have cared about Stanley and Zero even if their lives hadn't intersected in such wonderfully coincidental ways.
Looking back, I think that form and structure are as important in
"Holes" as it is in "Whirligig." The difference is we're not hit over the head with it from the beginning.
-------------------------------------------------------Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library 1595 Burns Streeet West Linn, OR 97068 ph: 503e6x57 fax: 503e6'46 e-mail: steven at westlinn.lib.or.us
-------------------------------------------------------
Received on Tue 13 Oct 1998 11:59:41 AM CDT
