From: Steven
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 12:58:21 PST

I'm not sure what will qualify "Holes" for "non-linear" status, but the structure is somehow more sophisticated than a mystery with missing information revealed at the end. The different stories are all told chronologically and do fill in the "holes." What makes it unusual is we don't really realize there are holes to fill in. We have no reason to believe the real shoe thief will ever be caught or that the curse on Stanley's family can ever be lifted. The stories about Stanley's ancestors and Kissing Kate seem to be just background information about Stanley's predicament at the detention center. But we gradually find out that the curse is the real heart of the story after all, and Stanley's hole-digging time is just the last part of it. Sachar doesn't play around with point of view or time as much as other authors discussed...but the way he connects so many seemingly vaguely related threads into one powerful story is very original and unusual. I can't think of another book like it...if it's not non-linear it's gotta be non-something.
-------------------------------------------------------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 Wed 28 Oct 1998 02:58:21 PM CST