From: rukhsanakhan <irrualli>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 11:50:57 -0700

I have yet to have it adequately explained to me how books as bleak and dark as Cormier's could have at their root 'hope'.

I only ever read The Chocolate War and I've never been so angry and depressed at the end of a book as I was with that one. I found the main character completely unlikeable, unsympathetic and unredeeming. His only reason for defying the maniacal head master or whoever it was, a priest or something, was stubborness.

I think in terms of artistic quality, his book was art in that it really made me think. And years later I still often think about some of the things he said, although I vehemently disagree with his premise, that you cannot flout authority. And yet, perhaps that was his intention in writing it all along. I guess I just like my main characters more noble. To have at least some qualities that make me want to root for him/her.

I found nothing of the sort in Chocolate War. The only character I cared about, died.

Rukhsana
Received on Fri 03 Aug 2001 01:50:57 PM CDT