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[CCBC-Net] Cormier and Hope
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From: Jeffrey Canton <jeffrey_canton>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 13:39:20 -0700 (PDT)
Ruksana,
You have commented more than once on the fact that Cormier's books are not for you -- how do you know having only read The Chocolate War? That would be like reading one of Lois Lowry's Anastasia novels and dismissing novels like The Giver or Gathering Blue. Cormier's range as an author is simply unbelieveable
-- from the hard punches of books like The Chocolate War and I am the Cheese to the subtle poetry of a book like Frenchtown Summer and everything in between.
Your experience as a reader is of the essence when you condemn a writer for not living up to your needs as a reader. You have described The Chocolate War as a book without hope -- who says? Having read half a dozen Cormier books in the last couple of weeks, I'd totally disagree but that's based on having a sense of what else he wrote. And where in the "readers' contract" on opening a book does it say that it has to be hopeful?
You made a statement in an earlier post suggesting that had you read Cormier as a teenager, you'd probably have cut your wrists but should we dismiss Cormier because you might have been pushed over the edge? If you don't like a writer after sampling several titles, fine but to judge a writer on the basis of one book is just not on if you want your criticism to be taken seriously.
Jeffrey Canton Toronto
====Jeffrey Canton 54 Fenwick Avenue Toronto, ON M4K 3H3 416F1717
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
Received on Thu 23 Aug 2001 03:39:20 PM CDT
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 13:39:20 -0700 (PDT)
Ruksana,
You have commented more than once on the fact that Cormier's books are not for you -- how do you know having only read The Chocolate War? That would be like reading one of Lois Lowry's Anastasia novels and dismissing novels like The Giver or Gathering Blue. Cormier's range as an author is simply unbelieveable
-- from the hard punches of books like The Chocolate War and I am the Cheese to the subtle poetry of a book like Frenchtown Summer and everything in between.
Your experience as a reader is of the essence when you condemn a writer for not living up to your needs as a reader. You have described The Chocolate War as a book without hope -- who says? Having read half a dozen Cormier books in the last couple of weeks, I'd totally disagree but that's based on having a sense of what else he wrote. And where in the "readers' contract" on opening a book does it say that it has to be hopeful?
You made a statement in an earlier post suggesting that had you read Cormier as a teenager, you'd probably have cut your wrists but should we dismiss Cormier because you might have been pushed over the edge? If you don't like a writer after sampling several titles, fine but to judge a writer on the basis of one book is just not on if you want your criticism to be taken seriously.
Jeffrey Canton Toronto
====Jeffrey Canton 54 Fenwick Avenue Toronto, ON M4K 3H3 416F1717
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
Received on Thu 23 Aug 2001 03:39:20 PM CDT
