BABBLING BOOKS

heathera · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:52 pm Post subject:

I agree with you again Sparkymarky. I always suspend my disbelief when I'm reading a work of fiction that totally absorbs me. That's why I was horrified for several minutes after finishing the book and why it remains so clearly in my memory. I haven't felt like this since reading Thousand Splendid Suns last year. The historical facts and figures about the holocaust are obviously important, but fictional works set in the same era can have a far more reaching effect - because you've come to know and believe in the characters. Therefore you feel their pain / joys etc. I also think that powerful and thought-provoking fictional novels can lead the reader onto reading non-fictional works. Therefore expanding their knowledge more fully into events of the past. I think this is also reflected in how involved we've become with Wild Swans and the additional reading some of us have been looking into regarding that subject matter.

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1001 Book Challenge:
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sparkymarky · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:13 am Post subject:

i am so glad that i read the kite runner as this was the book that lead me onto a thousand splendid suns which also moved me and from there onto such novels as the book thief, sarah's key and striped pjamas and then of course wild swans and mao amongst others. I feel as though by limiting myself in the past to familiar genres that i have missed out a little but hope to make up for that now. Reading these sort of novels and non-fiction such as mao and w/s has given me fresh insight into historical events and a much more satisfying and enlightened outlook on the greater world around me. I also think that reading these books is very important to give us a greater understanding of the cruelty of man and could help to bring different cultures and societies closer together. Because one thing books like these seem to reiterate to me is that no matter how cruel we are to each other, we are all one race and should look out for each other not try to destroy each other. Reading books like this also makes me sad that humanity cannot see this for itself- that as a race surely we should unite not divide and conquer.

blueflower · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:30 pm Post subject:

I didn’t really like this book and sadly it didn’t live up to my expectations. After hearing so much about the book, I did expect more from it. I know it is a children’s book to help today’s children understand the true horror of the holocaust, but I think it would have to be read at school as part of a wider picture. I can’t really see a teenager who doesn’t have some knowledge of the holocaust before reading it really getting much out of it unless there is chance to discuss the events. But it is a long time since my children were teenagers so I may be way off the mark.

I just couldn’t get ‘involved’ with the story and felt there was far too many inaccuracies, which have already been mentioned, for me to enjoy the book – if enjoy is the right word for such a grim subject – and far from the ending coming as a shock, I realised by the middle of book where it was heading, there wasn’t really anywhere else the book could go. I know it is a novel and novels take liberties with the facts to help the story, but I still like to be able to believe in the book, and Stripped Pyjamas just didn’t do it for me. There are loads of books on the Holocaust and the Nazis that do a better job. The Book Thief, another book aimed at the younger reader but maybe not as young as the teenagers the Stripped Pyjamas, was for me a much better book and one I will read again.

I have Auschwitz: The Nazis & The 'Final Solution’ by Laurence Rees but haven’t plucked up the courage to read it yet as it is real life and not a work of fiction. I will have had a quick look at Times Arrow on Amazon and is looks interesting.

heathera · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:31 am Post subject:

That's a shame, Blueflower, that you didn't rate Striped Pyjamas very highly. Isn't it interesting how we all have such differing views on the same book?!
_________________
Currently Reading:

The Moonlit Cage - Linda Holeman

1001 Book Challenge:
2009 - 4
2008 - 14
Books Available for Swapping on RISI

blueflower · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:56 pm Post subject:

I gave the book to my 11 year old grandson at the weekend. I asked him if he had learnt about the holocaust at school but he hadn't heard of it so I will be interested to get his opinion.

jobar · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:01 am Post subject:

Although it's now several months since I read this book, the story will stay with me for forever. I know that it is primarily age ranged at children but it carries a powerful message that even most adults find emotional and thought provoking.
I gave this book to a nine year old friend of mine, having told her mother the content of the book she was happy to let her daughter read it. It caused much discussion, so much so ,that I got my copy back and they purchased a keeper copy.
My 24 year old daughter is now reading it for the second time....this is a story that will be passed person to person.

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