From: Jonathan Hunt <jhunt24>
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 15:45:41

I referred to A YEAR DOWN YONDER as short stories just out of carelessness, and would probably need to reread the book again, but I think they do go beyond episodic. When I think of episodic plots, I think of MANIAC MAGEE or HARRIS AND ME or something, and I just didn't get that feeling here. Most of the chapters in A YEAR DOWN YONDER happen around a holiday or special event with little or no mention of time or events that pass between each, whereas in A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO the stories were limited to events that happened during their stay with Grandma. I think the chapters in A YEAR DOWN YONDER could stand alone, if perhaps not as well as those in A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO. Is there something between an episodic plot and "a novel in stories"? This comes awful close.

Jonathan





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Received on Fri 19 Jan 2001 03:45:41 PM CST