From: rukhsanakhan <irrualli>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 11:28:20 -0700

What's hope got to do with the creation of

Someone very dear to me was just recently diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and when she went into the oncologists' office the oncologist got very annoyed with her because she had far too 'hopeful' an outcome. The oncologist thought she wasn't taking her condition seriously. When I asked my friend how the appointment had gone she said, "When I left, I felt
'What's the use? I might as well slit my wrists right now."

I am ever so grateful that I never read The Chocolate War as a teen. If I had, my reaction would have been exactly like the friend I just described.
"What's the point? I might as well slit my wrists now."

 I was fortunate to have read the one book of his I did read, as an adult. Yes I'd seen the dismal, bleak and evil aspects of society that Cormier lays out, but I've also experienced the goodness of people. The hope.

The sin that I think that Cormier committed in the Chocolate War is that he portrayed only one side of the equation--and as a writer he never solved the problem (although that was obviously his point).

While I think his books are very powerful literature I don't think they're for everyone. I think they can be dangerous. I really believe that they could push some teens over the edge.

Just my humble opinion.

Rukhsana
Received on Wed 22 Aug 2001 01:28:20 PM CDT