From: Almagor, Lelac <LAlmagor>
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 13:14:30 -0500

MILD SPOILERS

I also thought that 47 was deeply original and a worthy experiment, but in the end it didn't work for me. For those who don't know, the book is a cross between a sentimental slavery narrative and a science fiction story about aliens from outer space who are searching for green powder buried at the center of the earth. (!)

I've said this in a few other forums already, so forgive me if you've heard this before. I think Mosely's political agenda fails, in that the misguided self-hatred of the protagonist ends up dominating the narrative, and also in that I am troubled by a mythology in which the slaves need an alien from outer space to come explain to them that they are oppressed. I also think that the novel's not a very good read; the alien's antiracist speeches are tedious and badly written, and I suspect they will confuse or bore most child readers.

However, I haven't tried giving it to any actual children, so opinions to the contrary would be welcome.

Ms. Lelac Almagor Grade Five English Writing Center National Cathedral School for Girls www.ncsforgirls.org/lalmagor/ lalmagor at cathedral.org 202-537-2312
Received on Mon 30 Jan 2006 12:14:30 PM CST