Once again, evidence of Charles Dickens' Genius is displayed in A Christmas Carol. The story follows Scrooge, a man who believes Christmas is foolish and serving others pointless as he is visited by ghostly visions that teach him the true meaning of Christmas and even our life on earth.
This story is one of the most widely known Christmas stories. More movie variations of it have been made than I can count. Every year thousands of theaters across America show off local and professional talent portraying Scrooge and Tiny Tim. It is a classic by definition.
This year I read it with my husband just before Christmas, finishing with the last chapter on Christmas Eve. I was amazed again by Dickens' greatness. He masterfully had me laughing and then close to tears in a single page. Without the need of a question mark he asked poignant questions about the meaning of life, our interpretation of God's will, and the consequences of our choices.
I've read it before and watched at least 4 of the movie versions, but never have I been so moved as I was this time! Maybe it was reading it just before Christmas or my own loss of a family member in the last couple years or a sign that I'm finally maturing, but this book held meaning for me that I will cherish.
And as Tiny Tim says, "God Bless us, Everyone!"
Thursday, January 5, 2012
BBC # 52, Of Mice and Men
One of the most challenged books of the 20th century is Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. The story is about 2 bindlestiffs (migrant workers) named George and Lennie. George is smaller but with brains to spare. Lennie is big but has the mind of a child. Together they travel the country side trying to find work and dreaming of a piece of land for themselves.
The book goes in detail about the difficulties a mentally handicapped adult would face in the early 1900's. No one understood what was really going on with Lennie. The society they lived in had no rules for caring for handicapped adults, no acceptance of their problems, and no sympathy for their lack of compliance to social norms.
It also talks about a wealthy woman's role during that time period. She was expected to stay home, visit with other female friends, and spend her time on domestic tasks. Curly's wife (that's all she's ever called in the book) does not like the role she's been given. She's vain and self serving, but pitiful at the same time. She gave up dreams hoping for a better future and instead ends up being a rich man's plaything. Not getting the attention from him she wants, she attempts to get it from the hired hands. By refusing to comply to social norms, she instigates the main dilemma of the book.
It's a very quick read, I did it one afternoon, but is profoundly thought provoking. I understand why many people have a hard time with the book but I see it as a way to address the underlying social currents of the great depression.
Frankly, the book depressed me and I have no desires to read it again any time soon, but I would recommend others read it to gain a bigger understanding of the country we used to be and the profound power of dreams lost.
The book goes in detail about the difficulties a mentally handicapped adult would face in the early 1900's. No one understood what was really going on with Lennie. The society they lived in had no rules for caring for handicapped adults, no acceptance of their problems, and no sympathy for their lack of compliance to social norms.
It also talks about a wealthy woman's role during that time period. She was expected to stay home, visit with other female friends, and spend her time on domestic tasks. Curly's wife (that's all she's ever called in the book) does not like the role she's been given. She's vain and self serving, but pitiful at the same time. She gave up dreams hoping for a better future and instead ends up being a rich man's plaything. Not getting the attention from him she wants, she attempts to get it from the hired hands. By refusing to comply to social norms, she instigates the main dilemma of the book.
It's a very quick read, I did it one afternoon, but is profoundly thought provoking. I understand why many people have a hard time with the book but I see it as a way to address the underlying social currents of the great depression.
Frankly, the book depressed me and I have no desires to read it again any time soon, but I would recommend others read it to gain a bigger understanding of the country we used to be and the profound power of dreams lost.
BBC # 51, The Secret Garden
I've read this book at least 3 times so it won't surprise you that I highly recommend it to anyone!! Especially girls. For some reason girls seem to like it more--Probably because the main character is a girl.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a classic that I plan on reading to my children. The main character is Mary, a sour, spoiled little girl who cannot understand when everything doesn't go her way. After her parents deaths in India, she is sent to live with her uncle in England. England is nothing like India and she has to adjust to a different culture and climate as well as learning the world is larger than herself.
Mary becomes friends with sour old gardener Ben Weatherstaff, the robin redbreast, Dickon--the boy who can talk to animals, and eventually even with a child more spoiled and sour than even she was.
The book is one of wonder, of mystery, of taking life as it is and making it better. I loved it even more this read through than I did as a little girl.
This book belongs on every little girl's bookshelf (and pretty much everyone else's too!)
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a classic that I plan on reading to my children. The main character is Mary, a sour, spoiled little girl who cannot understand when everything doesn't go her way. After her parents deaths in India, she is sent to live with her uncle in England. England is nothing like India and she has to adjust to a different culture and climate as well as learning the world is larger than herself.
Mary becomes friends with sour old gardener Ben Weatherstaff, the robin redbreast, Dickon--the boy who can talk to animals, and eventually even with a child more spoiled and sour than even she was.
The book is one of wonder, of mystery, of taking life as it is and making it better. I loved it even more this read through than I did as a little girl.
This book belongs on every little girl's bookshelf (and pretty much everyone else's too!)
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