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From: Leda Schubert <bobr>
Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 10:37:05 -0400
I love The Dark is Rising series and have read it many times. Most recently, when I was planning to teach a course on fantasy for young adults, I opened Over Sea, Under Stone on a wintry day and re-entered the world of the Old Ones and "the matter of Britain" for several immensely satisfying weeks. What I look for in my favorite fantasies is the complexity of the created world; the deep humanity of the characters (whether they're mythological, invented, or otherworldly); truths, originality, revelations, and depth; and good writing. There aren't many that I can say I absolutely love, but Cooper's are among them, and for me, they hold up.
More recently, I agree with the accolades for The Bartimaeus Trilogy. Witty, inventive, intelligent, and honest. On the other hand, I've been disappointed in some of the more popular titles mentioned in the last few days. When I find myself reaching for a red pen, I'm in trouble as a reader.
As for HP, I have nothing to say that hasn't been said, except that I think the phenomenal success of the books has been the reason they provoke so many people. I've enjoyed them tremendously ever since the first one, which I had in pre-pub edition (unfortunately given away to a 13-year-old who shredded it during re-readings) and recommended highly then. Don't you think that if Rowling didn't have to carry so much cultural detritus along with each book (expectations, comparisons, big business, etc.), most of us would be able to take the books for what they are--delightful, inventive, funny/sad books that millions of kids and adults love?
leda BALLET OF THE ELEPHANTS (Roaring Brook) HERE COMES DARRELL (Houghton) www.ledaschubert.com
At 06:52 PM 5/9/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>My own inner ten-year-old says that the difficulty with novels like The
>Dark Is Rising is not that they are deep but that they are sort of
>boring. One of the great joys of children's literature, for me, is the
>much greater pressure on the author to get in, tell a story, and get out
>again. (And the more I read aloud to kids, the more I appreciate
>narrative economy; I hate knowing that I could easily skip the next
>couple paragraphs.)
>
>Ms. Lelac Almagor
>Grade Five English
>Writing Center
>National Cathedral School for Girls
>www.ncsforgirls.org/lalmagor/
>lalmagor at cathedral.org
>202-537-2312
Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 10:37:05 -0400
I love The Dark is Rising series and have read it many times. Most recently, when I was planning to teach a course on fantasy for young adults, I opened Over Sea, Under Stone on a wintry day and re-entered the world of the Old Ones and "the matter of Britain" for several immensely satisfying weeks. What I look for in my favorite fantasies is the complexity of the created world; the deep humanity of the characters (whether they're mythological, invented, or otherworldly); truths, originality, revelations, and depth; and good writing. There aren't many that I can say I absolutely love, but Cooper's are among them, and for me, they hold up.
More recently, I agree with the accolades for The Bartimaeus Trilogy. Witty, inventive, intelligent, and honest. On the other hand, I've been disappointed in some of the more popular titles mentioned in the last few days. When I find myself reaching for a red pen, I'm in trouble as a reader.
As for HP, I have nothing to say that hasn't been said, except that I think the phenomenal success of the books has been the reason they provoke so many people. I've enjoyed them tremendously ever since the first one, which I had in pre-pub edition (unfortunately given away to a 13-year-old who shredded it during re-readings) and recommended highly then. Don't you think that if Rowling didn't have to carry so much cultural detritus along with each book (expectations, comparisons, big business, etc.), most of us would be able to take the books for what they are--delightful, inventive, funny/sad books that millions of kids and adults love?
leda BALLET OF THE ELEPHANTS (Roaring Brook) HERE COMES DARRELL (Houghton) www.ledaschubert.com
At 06:52 PM 5/9/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>My own inner ten-year-old says that the difficulty with novels like The
>Dark Is Rising is not that they are deep but that they are sort of
>boring. One of the great joys of children's literature, for me, is the
>much greater pressure on the author to get in, tell a story, and get out
>again. (And the more I read aloud to kids, the more I appreciate
>narrative economy; I hate knowing that I could easily skip the next
>couple paragraphs.)
>
>Ms. Lelac Almagor
>Grade Five English
>Writing Center
>National Cathedral School for Girls
>www.ncsforgirls.org/lalmagor/
>lalmagor at cathedral.org
>202-537-2312
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