CCBC-Net Archives
Holes and other past medalists...
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Lindsay <linds_na>
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 20:36:39 -0800 (PST)
Carrie Schadle mentioned that she had the same "just too darn seamless" problem with "Holes" as she had with "View from Saturday"; while others have commended (Sharyn's words here) that "wonderful puzzle of a plot" quality that it shares with "Westing Game." These comparisons, one negative, one positive, are pointing to one shared characteristic of these three books: an 'unbelievable' story made believable in a believable world. This is the "fantasy" that some have mentioned -- for they are fantastic stories, if not the "fantasy" genre that we usually think of. This was always my favorite kind of fantasy as a child (and still is-- maybe it's why I've never taken a breather from this literature between childhood and adulthood) --events just on the edge of the fantastic made palpable -- successfully stretching my credulity and pushing my threshold of doubt about people, and the universe at large. Of course, I used to think that everyone felt this way, but I know many colleagues who simply don't like these books --I guess, who don't like their reality messed with. Moreover (just to pick on these dear friends), they tell me that they didn't even like these kinds of books when they were kids! Can't say I understand it... Though I do recall those few fifth-grade classmates who were precocious skeptics (in the best sense of both words), even 'cynics', and had --as I see now-- an early adult sensibility about "destiny" and coincidence. Was this any of you?
So... this has been a long-winded way of saying that I'm sure that there are readers for "Holes" who will swallow its coincidences whole and pleasureably, as they will/have for "View from Saturday" and "The Westing Game." Perhaps one of these titles has done a better job than the others of hiding its "seams"? Or, are readers always --at some level-- conscious of the seams, and are happy as long as they're "finished"?
Nina
Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Public Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us
Received on Wed 17 Feb 1999 10:36:39 PM CST
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 20:36:39 -0800 (PST)
Carrie Schadle mentioned that she had the same "just too darn seamless" problem with "Holes" as she had with "View from Saturday"; while others have commended (Sharyn's words here) that "wonderful puzzle of a plot" quality that it shares with "Westing Game." These comparisons, one negative, one positive, are pointing to one shared characteristic of these three books: an 'unbelievable' story made believable in a believable world. This is the "fantasy" that some have mentioned -- for they are fantastic stories, if not the "fantasy" genre that we usually think of. This was always my favorite kind of fantasy as a child (and still is-- maybe it's why I've never taken a breather from this literature between childhood and adulthood) --events just on the edge of the fantastic made palpable -- successfully stretching my credulity and pushing my threshold of doubt about people, and the universe at large. Of course, I used to think that everyone felt this way, but I know many colleagues who simply don't like these books --I guess, who don't like their reality messed with. Moreover (just to pick on these dear friends), they tell me that they didn't even like these kinds of books when they were kids! Can't say I understand it... Though I do recall those few fifth-grade classmates who were precocious skeptics (in the best sense of both words), even 'cynics', and had --as I see now-- an early adult sensibility about "destiny" and coincidence. Was this any of you?
So... this has been a long-winded way of saying that I'm sure that there are readers for "Holes" who will swallow its coincidences whole and pleasureably, as they will/have for "View from Saturday" and "The Westing Game." Perhaps one of these titles has done a better job than the others of hiding its "seams"? Or, are readers always --at some level-- conscious of the seams, and are happy as long as they're "finished"?
Nina
Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Public Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us
Received on Wed 17 Feb 1999 10:36:39 PM CST
