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Whirligig
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From: lschubert at doe.state.vt.us <lschubert>
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 16:08:01 CDT
I loved Whirligig. I don't think anyone has mentioned yet (but maybe I missed it) the almost-final scene of the contra?nce. Paul Fleischman has used the dance so beautifully as a metaphor: as a dancer, I was moved to tears. At last Brent becomes part of the dance of life, he is invited to join, he understands beauty, belonging, and he even gets to waltz. The transcendent joy of being part of the music is his at last. And the contra dance, of course, is like a whirligig in its patterns and invisible links, its mysterious movements, and its part/whole power. It's a perfect conclusion to the book's complex narrative form.
Leda Schubert Vermont Department of Education lschubert at doe.state.vt.us 802?8842
Received on Wed 14 Oct 1998 04:08:01 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 16:08:01 CDT
I loved Whirligig. I don't think anyone has mentioned yet (but maybe I missed it) the almost-final scene of the contra?nce. Paul Fleischman has used the dance so beautifully as a metaphor: as a dancer, I was moved to tears. At last Brent becomes part of the dance of life, he is invited to join, he understands beauty, belonging, and he even gets to waltz. The transcendent joy of being part of the music is his at last. And the contra dance, of course, is like a whirligig in its patterns and invisible links, its mysterious movements, and its part/whole power. It's a perfect conclusion to the book's complex narrative form.
Leda Schubert Vermont Department of Education lschubert at doe.state.vt.us 802?8842
Received on Wed 14 Oct 1998 04:08:01 PM CDT
