CCBC-Net Archives
Markus Zusak
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Levine, Arthur <ALevine>
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 17:16:41 -0400
I'm delighted to hear from fans of the talented Markus Zusak. We were thrilled with the reception for FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE and are looking forward to bringing out the third book this coming spring. (Incidentally Markus and I have decided to use the title GETTING THE GIRL rather than WHEN DOGS CRY not because of any issue of "Americanization" per se, but rather because everyone here was distracted by the associations with the artist formerly known as Prince brought up by the Australian title. And because we wanted to indicate for readers a bit more of what the book is about -- it's Cameron Wolfe's struggle to understand women, his longing for romance, and his conflict with his brother Ruben over a woman they both love.)
I was also pleased to hear from fans of FEELING SORRY FOR CELIA. Next summer I'll also be publishing Jaclyn Moriarty's LYDIA'S NOTEBOOK. She's an exciting writer, with that rare ability to tell stories that have both humor and depth.
On the picture book front: just a question for RED TREE readers. Shaun Tan is a lovely guy, and a very talented artist, indeed. And I'm a great supporter of picture books that push the envelope, that stretch readers. I too believe that it's a grave mistake to underestimate the abilities of children, and the depth and range of their feelings. Unfortunately, where I felt the RED TREE fell a few steps short of brilliant was in its construction. The ending speaks of a certainty that has been nowhere in evidence throughout the book (I paraphrase when I say that the narrator tells us that the day gets better just as she/he knew it would all along.) In fact the book to that point has been about just the sort of depression that blocks such certainty; it's about feelings of hopelessness and despair.
I also found some of the language sloppy. The world feels like "a deaf machine." A deaf machine? I thought. Is that a metaphor that speaks for itself? It didn't speak to me.
I also felt that Shaun could have maintained the same depth, richness and complexity of imagery and still focused more on the feelings and specific point of view of a child. I don't question that some children, when shown the book, will get the general gist of it. I just believe that if the author had looked more to his own feelings and memories (and perspective) AS A CHILD he would have produced a book that was even more effective in exploring a child's experience of sadness. Instead, I was left with a wistful sense of "if only...!"
On a more different note: has anyone yet read THE SLIGHTLY TRUE STORY OF CEDAR B. HARTLEY by Martine Murray? What an amazing book!! I haven't been so taken with a first novel in years, and I'm tremendously excited about introducing it -- and its gifted author! -- to the U.S. next summer.
Cheers, Arthur
Received on Mon 22 Jul 2002 04:16:41 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 17:16:41 -0400
I'm delighted to hear from fans of the talented Markus Zusak. We were thrilled with the reception for FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE and are looking forward to bringing out the third book this coming spring. (Incidentally Markus and I have decided to use the title GETTING THE GIRL rather than WHEN DOGS CRY not because of any issue of "Americanization" per se, but rather because everyone here was distracted by the associations with the artist formerly known as Prince brought up by the Australian title. And because we wanted to indicate for readers a bit more of what the book is about -- it's Cameron Wolfe's struggle to understand women, his longing for romance, and his conflict with his brother Ruben over a woman they both love.)
I was also pleased to hear from fans of FEELING SORRY FOR CELIA. Next summer I'll also be publishing Jaclyn Moriarty's LYDIA'S NOTEBOOK. She's an exciting writer, with that rare ability to tell stories that have both humor and depth.
On the picture book front: just a question for RED TREE readers. Shaun Tan is a lovely guy, and a very talented artist, indeed. And I'm a great supporter of picture books that push the envelope, that stretch readers. I too believe that it's a grave mistake to underestimate the abilities of children, and the depth and range of their feelings. Unfortunately, where I felt the RED TREE fell a few steps short of brilliant was in its construction. The ending speaks of a certainty that has been nowhere in evidence throughout the book (I paraphrase when I say that the narrator tells us that the day gets better just as she/he knew it would all along.) In fact the book to that point has been about just the sort of depression that blocks such certainty; it's about feelings of hopelessness and despair.
I also found some of the language sloppy. The world feels like "a deaf machine." A deaf machine? I thought. Is that a metaphor that speaks for itself? It didn't speak to me.
I also felt that Shaun could have maintained the same depth, richness and complexity of imagery and still focused more on the feelings and specific point of view of a child. I don't question that some children, when shown the book, will get the general gist of it. I just believe that if the author had looked more to his own feelings and memories (and perspective) AS A CHILD he would have produced a book that was even more effective in exploring a child's experience of sadness. Instead, I was left with a wistful sense of "if only...!"
On a more different note: has anyone yet read THE SLIGHTLY TRUE STORY OF CEDAR B. HARTLEY by Martine Murray? What an amazing book!! I haven't been so taken with a first novel in years, and I'm tremendously excited about introducing it -- and its gifted author! -- to the U.S. next summer.
Cheers, Arthur
Received on Mon 22 Jul 2002 04:16:41 PM CDT
