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Final Thoughts?
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From: Megan Schliesman <Schliesman>
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 15:38:44 -0500
Of course we'll be thinking about Make Lemonade and True Believer long after our CCBC-Net discussion ends, and no doubt talking about them in
conversations we have with colleagues, but now is the time to bring our CCBC-Net discussion to a close. Do you have any final thoughts about these tremendous, provacative novels?
I have many thoughts whirling around my mind about these books, and so many thoughts provoked by this month's CCBC-Net discussion.
I'm still digesting and pondering the many thoughtful and important responses to Brenda Bowen's oh-not-so-simple question, "Does race matter?" I'm still considering my own conflicted thoughts on this topic, at once admiring of Virginia Wolff's decision to leave it out--to let these characters be who readers need them to be--and also adamant that it does matter--of course it does! Certain in my heart that the author never intended to imply race doesn't matter, and also realizing that the omission of race does not work for all readers, and, indeed, is hurtful to some. Admiring of the books' focus on the humanity that binds us, and the issues of class that so often keep us locked in place.
I'm still thinking about what it means to be a True Believer.
I'm still thinking about Dr. Rose, and Patrick, and Jody, and, of course, LaVaughn, these flesh-and-blood characters who I pass every day on the street, at once singular and the so many kids.
Thank you all for the wonderful discussion that will keep my mind spinning long after today.
Your final thoughts?
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education UW-Madison 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Tue 31 Jul 2001 03:38:44 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 15:38:44 -0500
Of course we'll be thinking about Make Lemonade and True Believer long after our CCBC-Net discussion ends, and no doubt talking about them in
conversations we have with colleagues, but now is the time to bring our CCBC-Net discussion to a close. Do you have any final thoughts about these tremendous, provacative novels?
I have many thoughts whirling around my mind about these books, and so many thoughts provoked by this month's CCBC-Net discussion.
I'm still digesting and pondering the many thoughtful and important responses to Brenda Bowen's oh-not-so-simple question, "Does race matter?" I'm still considering my own conflicted thoughts on this topic, at once admiring of Virginia Wolff's decision to leave it out--to let these characters be who readers need them to be--and also adamant that it does matter--of course it does! Certain in my heart that the author never intended to imply race doesn't matter, and also realizing that the omission of race does not work for all readers, and, indeed, is hurtful to some. Admiring of the books' focus on the humanity that binds us, and the issues of class that so often keep us locked in place.
I'm still thinking about what it means to be a True Believer.
I'm still thinking about Dr. Rose, and Patrick, and Jody, and, of course, LaVaughn, these flesh-and-blood characters who I pass every day on the street, at once singular and the so many kids.
Thank you all for the wonderful discussion that will keep my mind spinning long after today.
Your final thoughts?
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education UW-Madison 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Tue 31 Jul 2001 03:38:44 PM CDT
