This week, for the 2019 Reading Challenge, we promise to review two works that are not, in any way shape or form, Frankenstein.
This week we're looking at the society side of the "Family and Society" theme, using a couple of interesting lenses. Shannon reviews a book in which an entire society has to get together to prove it exists, while Sharon reads a story in which civilised society falls in a heap when there's a deserted island involved (no, it's not Lord of the Flies - although that book would definitely fit this month's theme).
Shannon Harmon read Horton Hears a Who, by Dr Seuss.
Dr Seuss' books are great for kids and adults alike. Kids for reading and speech development and the stories themselves, and for adults when rereading these books to discover and appreciate the story and message contained within. I personally hated Dr Seuss as a child, but reading them now to my son, I love them with the wacky language and simple storytelling of the world (yes I do trip up on some of those wacky words and tongue twisters as I read aloud). Horton Hears a Who is one of my favourites from Dr Seuss and fits nicely into both Family and Society categories for this month's challenge.
It is the tale of Horton the elephant and the town of Whoville, which balances on a tiny speck floating through the air which then lands on a dandelion. Horton's elephant size ears lets him hear the Who when nobody else can, this of course creates problems for Horton. The Mayor of Whoville, with 96 daughters and 1 son, converses with Horton. As the residents of each community cannot hear either Horton or the Mayor chaos ensues.
To prove to the animals of the Jungle of Nool that they are on that tiny speck, all of Whoville bands together to make so much noise with "we are here, we are here" that they can be heard. The society came together as a whole, and changed the perspective of the community of the Jungle of Nool. Horton Hears a Who exemplifies how society can be led by the loudest voice (Kangaroo) but also how they can band together for the benefit of all. Horton's power statement "a person's a person no matter how small" resonates deeply.
Now, if I said the name "J.M. Barrie" to you, you'd probably immediately think of Peter Pan, which is another story that explores family and society, so if you wanted to read that book (or the original play) this month you would be totally on trend. But I'm reviewing one of Barrie's other plays today: a story about what happens to people who's lives are bound by their social status when they find themselves in a place where social status is irrelevant.
This week we're looking at the society side of the "Family and Society" theme, using a couple of interesting lenses. Shannon reviews a book in which an entire society has to get together to prove it exists, while Sharon reads a story in which civilised society falls in a heap when there's a deserted island involved (no, it's not Lord of the Flies - although that book would definitely fit this month's theme).
Shannon Harmon read Horton Hears a Who, by Dr Seuss.
It is the tale of Horton the elephant and the town of Whoville, which balances on a tiny speck floating through the air which then lands on a dandelion. Horton's elephant size ears lets him hear the Who when nobody else can, this of course creates problems for Horton. The Mayor of Whoville, with 96 daughters and 1 son, converses with Horton. As the residents of each community cannot hear either Horton or the Mayor chaos ensues.
To prove to the animals of the Jungle of Nool that they are on that tiny speck, all of Whoville bands together to make so much noise with "we are here, we are here" that they can be heard. The society came together as a whole, and changed the perspective of the community of the Jungle of Nool. Horton Hears a Who exemplifies how society can be led by the loudest voice (Kangaroo) but also how they can band together for the benefit of all. Horton's power statement "a person's a person no matter how small" resonates deeply.
Sharon Bryan read The Admirable Crichton, by J.M. Barrie.
Now, if I said the name "J.M. Barrie" to you, you'd probably immediately think of Peter Pan, which is another story that explores family and society, so if you wanted to read that book (or the original play) this month you would be totally on trend. But I'm reviewing one of Barrie's other plays today: a story about what happens to people who's lives are bound by their social status when they find themselves in a place where social status is irrelevant.
Crichton is a butler to the aristocratic Loam family. Lord Loam likes to show how magnanimous he is by inviting the staff to take tea in the parlour occasionally - something Crichton absolutely cannot stand as it is against the natural order of things. Some people are aristocrats, and others are hired servants. That's just the way it is. Then the family and a couple of the servants (including Crichton) find themselves shipwrecked for a few years on a deserted island.
When the manner of your birth means nothing, but your ability to find and cook food means everything, suddenly the social balance is overturned. After an initial show down between the highborn but useless and the lowborn but skilled, a new society forms with Crichton as the natural leader. A romance blossoms between Crichton and Mary, Lord Loam's daughter (who happens to have a highborn fiance back home), and they are very nearly married by a clergy man who was conveniently shipwrecked along with the family - until they are rescued. Crichton himself did the decent thing and signalled the boat when he saw it.
But when they get back to the "real world" what will happen? Will Crichton go back to being a butler? Will Mary marry her aristocratic suitor now that the man she loves is beneath her station? Read the play to find out.
Fiction, eBook (and also in the collected plays at 820 BARR 1B PLA), Romance (in the bonus challenge)
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