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From: Judith O'Malley <jomalley>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 08:44:57 -0600
Perhaps one aspect of nonlinearity in a book is the absense of sequential order in building the reader's information about and understanding of characters and events. While this nonsequential order is present in Whirligig, I didn't find it a fundamental beam in the structure Fleischmann built. I think another aspect of nonlinearity can be the shift of viewpoints and perspectives. This is obvious in Seed Folks, Bat 6, and Bull Run. I think it's more subtle in Whirligig, as we adjust to each new site and cast of characters to be effected by Brent's actions past and present.
I disagree that Holes is just a traditional novel format. While many novels weave stories of past and current happenings. I think the strength of holes is that the various generations of characters and events seem independent or tangentially related, and only as Stanley's story progresses do we realize the other strands are tunnelling under to support it and have gradually woven through it, filling the
'holes'.
Perhaps we do need a new term or terms to describe some of the innovative formats we're seeing. In the Oct. 1, 1998 issue of Booklist, Nancy Werlin discussed some of these books as "Experimental YA Fiction" in the YA Talk column. That takes in many kinds of departure from the standard linear format, including those that don't involve nonchronological sequencing. Interestingly, Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury in on Nancy's list and seems right at home there.
Judy O'Malley Book Links
Received on Thu 29 Oct 1998 08:44:57 AM CST
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 08:44:57 -0600
Perhaps one aspect of nonlinearity in a book is the absense of sequential order in building the reader's information about and understanding of characters and events. While this nonsequential order is present in Whirligig, I didn't find it a fundamental beam in the structure Fleischmann built. I think another aspect of nonlinearity can be the shift of viewpoints and perspectives. This is obvious in Seed Folks, Bat 6, and Bull Run. I think it's more subtle in Whirligig, as we adjust to each new site and cast of characters to be effected by Brent's actions past and present.
I disagree that Holes is just a traditional novel format. While many novels weave stories of past and current happenings. I think the strength of holes is that the various generations of characters and events seem independent or tangentially related, and only as Stanley's story progresses do we realize the other strands are tunnelling under to support it and have gradually woven through it, filling the
'holes'.
Perhaps we do need a new term or terms to describe some of the innovative formats we're seeing. In the Oct. 1, 1998 issue of Booklist, Nancy Werlin discussed some of these books as "Experimental YA Fiction" in the YA Talk column. That takes in many kinds of departure from the standard linear format, including those that don't involve nonchronological sequencing. Interestingly, Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury in on Nancy's list and seems right at home there.
Judy O'Malley Book Links
Received on Thu 29 Oct 1998 08:44:57 AM CST
