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The Works of Katherine Paterson
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From: Bokelman, Todd and Maggie <toddandmaggie>
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 09:32:36 -0400
Message----From: Christine Hill To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Date: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 7:36 PM Subject: Re: The Works of Katherine Paterson
Christine Hill writes:
When I was a young adult, there was a book that spoke to me this way, and, like your daughter, I found myself unable to bring myself to read any other books by the same author. Odd, isn't it? I think maybe I was afraid there would be something in them that I wouldn't like, and that that might somehow diminish the magic of *my* special book.
In any case, I'm a big fan of Katherine Paterson in general, and Jacob Have I Loved in particular. I think what's fascinating about this book is that the reader, at first, is completely sympathetic with Louise's point of view. It does seem as though time and again she draws the short straw, and her suffering is absolutely heart-wrenching. But as the book progresses, both Louise and the reader begin to be able to see things through the points-of-view of other characters. Suddenly, Louise's world doesn't look as black-and-white as it once did. This book is about so much more than sibling rivalry. It's about the necessary but extremely painful self?sorption that all young people experience, and the journey into adulthood that follows.
Maggie Bokelman toddandmaggie at msn.com
Received on Wed 18 Aug 1999 08:32:36 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 09:32:36 -0400
Message----From: Christine Hill To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Date: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 7:36 PM Subject: Re: The Works of Katherine Paterson
Christine Hill writes:
When I was a young adult, there was a book that spoke to me this way, and, like your daughter, I found myself unable to bring myself to read any other books by the same author. Odd, isn't it? I think maybe I was afraid there would be something in them that I wouldn't like, and that that might somehow diminish the magic of *my* special book.
In any case, I'm a big fan of Katherine Paterson in general, and Jacob Have I Loved in particular. I think what's fascinating about this book is that the reader, at first, is completely sympathetic with Louise's point of view. It does seem as though time and again she draws the short straw, and her suffering is absolutely heart-wrenching. But as the book progresses, both Louise and the reader begin to be able to see things through the points-of-view of other characters. Suddenly, Louise's world doesn't look as black-and-white as it once did. This book is about so much more than sibling rivalry. It's about the necessary but extremely painful self?sorption that all young people experience, and the journey into adulthood that follows.
Maggie Bokelman toddandmaggie at msn.com
Received on Wed 18 Aug 1999 08:32:36 AM CDT
