Blog 31: Ideas for Further Research

I loved this class, and almost all of the books we read. I just wish we could have read some fairytales. They fit into the fantasy theme of the class and can be linked to and analyzed with many modern fantasy books. Fairytales are a huge influence in children's literature and storytelling. I understand that they may not have flowed well with the other books chosen, but I think it would make a great addition to the class discussions.

Blog 30: Coraline Analysis

  Overall, this book was very dark for the age 8 and up audience. The story was wonderful and very well thought out, but it did make me, a 22 year old, a bit scared of my closet at night. The most interesting thing in this book was the other mother's name, Beldam. Literally translated form french, it means beautiful woman. However, according to Dictionary.com, Beldam means ugly old hag. What I also found interesting was that while I was reading the book, I said Bedlam, not Beldam. When we discussed the book in class, I realized my error. But Bedlam also fits the other mother's character. 'Bedlam' is usually associated with the mental institution or a mad house. Very fitting to the other parent's house.
  Even thought I did enjoy the book and wanted to read to the end to make sure Coraline got home safe, I would not recommend this book to any 8, 9 or 10 year olds I know. My younger cousin, Johannah, is nine. But I think this book would keep her up at night. Even thought we know it is not possible for monsters to come out of closed doors, children have a hard time rationalizing the fear away when the house is dark and quiet.

Blog 29: Coraline Rhetorical Reflection & Notable Moment

- The writing in this book definitely conveys the Dark Fantasy theme. I also think that the illustrations add so much to the fear factor. They add to the story because they give the reader a push in the imagination department. The story is scary and dark on its own. But often, when reading a scary book, we imagine nicer images to make it less frightening. The illustrations in this book do not allow that.
- My notable moment is from early in the book when the other parents are trying to convince Coraline to stay with them.
  "If you want to stay," said the other father, "there's only one little thing we'll have to do, so you can stay here for ever and always"
  They went into the kitchen. On a china plate on the kitchen table was a spool of black cotton, and a long silver needle, and, beside them, two large black buttons.
  "I don't think so," said Coraline.
  "Oh, but we want you to," said the other mother. "We want you to stay. And it's just a little thing."
  "It won't hurt," said her other father.
  Coraline knew that when grown-ups told you something wouldn't hurt it almost always did. She shook her head. (Page 45)
It is often said that the eyes are the window to the soul. (Although the origin of this saying is very hard to pinpoint). The other mother, Beldam, tries to capture souls of the people she 'loves'. It is interesting that she would choose to cover the eyes, instead of maybe remove them. If you cover the window to the sould, wouldn't it be trapped inside? I just thought it was a very interesting concept to sew buttons onto the eyes of a person as a means of trapping them.

Blog 28: Lemony Snicket Analysis

I actually liked this "Dark Fantasy/Grotesque" book much more than James and the Giant Peach and Coraline. But I feel like it doesn't fit into the category. Even though the situation is bad, it is a real life situation that is not uncommon. (not necessarily the tricked-into-marriage bit) But everyday children become orphans and experience horrible and life altering situations.
I think that James and the Giant Peach fit very well with the "Grotesque" element. The squishing of the aunts gave me that 'Yuck!' reaction. And Coraline was definitely "Dark Fiction" - I had to close my closet door to fall asleep after reading it. But I do not feel like Bad Beginings fits well. It has some scary elements, but no more than the Harry Potter books.

Blog 27: Lemony Snicket Rhetorical Relfection and Notable Moment

Before I read the book, I read the section on the back where Snicket warns the reader about the book. I found the warning very humorous. I especially thought it amusing when itchy clothing and cold porridge were considered equally horrible as a disastrous fire, theft and the villain in the story. So now we are ready to read the book, but wait! Another warning. I thought the point of writing was get people to buy and read your book? This guy seems to be working against himself. But even with all the warnings, I did complete the book.
My notable moment is actually spread out throughout the whole book. This book could very easily double as a dictionary. Some of the defined words like ‘rickety’, ‘perished’, ‘blanched’, and ‘briskly’, and expressions like ‘fallen by the wayside’ are familiar to adults like us reading the book. However, to children, many of these words or phrases are probably not common in their everyday life. The book is recommended for ages 9 to 12 according to BarnesandNoble.com, and I think that the definitions would be very helpful to them. For me, they were a bit annoying. But since I was writing down every definition I saw until I gave up around page 50, that is not surprising.  

Blog 26: Analysis of James and the Giant Peach

After reading Mark West's article on Dahl's writing, I see that I am not alone in not appreciating the book. I do understand that children would find many of the situations in the book humorous, and they would not take them as literal advice on life. However, I am still hesitant to teach children to take justice into their own hands. The fact that James is being abused by his aunts is clearly understood. So James wanting them gone is natural. The arguement in class was that James did no wrong because he did not kill the aunts, the peach did. But when we argue the case in a hit-and-run car accident, we do not blame the car, we blame the person inside. Also, throughout the book James seems to turn himself into the victim when he is not. He and his friends taunt the cloud men, but then as why they are being mean. The whole book just confuses me. I can see that children might like it, but I don't think I will offer up any Dahl book to my kids unless it is required by their school.

Blog 25: Notable Moment from James and the Giant Peach

This book falls under the category of Grotesque/Dark Fantasy, but even knowing that I do not like the way death is discussed in the book. As I said in my Anticipating post, I did not like the way Dahl talked so casually about death in the begining of the novel. I understand that the Aunts were cruel to James, but that does not excuse killing them and feeling good about it.

   "But is it not very unlucky to kill a spider?" James inquired, looking around at the others.
   "Of course it's unlucky to kill a spider!" shouted the Centipede. "It's about the unluckiest thing anyone can do. Look what happened to Aunt Sponge after she's done that! Bump! We all felt it, didn't we, as the peach went over her? oh, what a lovely bump that must have been for you, Miss Spider!"
   "It was very satisfactory," Miss Spider answered. "Will you sing a song about it, please?"
   So the Centipede did.   page92

'A lovely bump' really did not seem appropriate to me. The group in/on the peach is rejoicing in the fact that the aunts were smushed and that they did it. What does this teach our children?? And at the end of the book, James supposedly writes the book we are reading and publishes it for everyone to read about his adventures. Does no one notice that this child they are treating like a celebrity killed someone?
I know you are thinking...He didn't do it on purpose. Its not like he pulled a weapon on her or anything... It's not if he intended to do it or not, but his actions and reactions to it happening. In today's violent society, where kids are brought up on video games that teach them to kill, giving them literature that says its ok to do it on top of all that does not seem very smart to me. I know I am probably taking this to literally, but I can't help thinking that somewhere out there, a troubled tween justified hurting his mom with fruit after reading this story.