February 5, 2006
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Super Bore XL
Yeah,
yeah. I’m from
right? Perhaps I’ll go in to hang out with the family and watch a few
commercials, but other than that, I’ve got no interest in it. I’m being
very Thoreau-like (who had to read his news as there was no television
then).“If we read of one man robbed, or murdered, or killed by accident, or one
house burned, or one vessel wrecked, or one steamboat blown up, or one cow run
over on the Western Railroad, or one mad dog killed, or one lot of grasshoppers
in the winter [or one Super Bowl]— we never need read of another. One is
enough. If you are acquainted with the principle, what do you care for a myriad
instances and applications?”But, enough on that! I’m a busy beaver working on my AP things. I asked
The Good Doctor J if we could have no TV all week and no one on the computer
from
agreed, so I have to scurry to get a lot of work done today so that I can have
time for games and relaxing with the family next week. I always thought
my kids weren’t television watchers and were more creative and such. But, I’ve
found that some know the plots to most Disney shows and live for playing
computer games. Yikes! So, we hope to have some regular fun-family times next
week!Nathan has his first 4-H shooting match on Thursday. It’s in
married is taking the day off work to go down with Nathan to help him with his
gun and to be moral support. That way, the rest of us don’t have to go.
(Although I would like to see Nathan shoot, dragging four extra kids to
foolish.)I
finished this novel last night, and as I often do, I thought I’d review it for
all you Young Adult fiction lovers or fairy tale novel fans. The book is
an adaptation of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. As
it’s been a long time since I’ve read that tale, I can’t recall if all the
details are covered. The dresses aren’t in walnuts, which is one detail I
remember.The book is told with multiple narrators. Rose (the main character), her
father, her brother Neddy, the white bear, and the Troll Queen all take turns
telling the tale.The story begins with the father recounting Rose’s birth. It seems his highly
superstitious wife believed that one’s personality could be determined by the
direction the mother was facing when the child was born. She wanted a child
born for each point of the compass–except for north. North-born
children were wanderers. Also, she had been given a prophecy that if she did
have a north-born child, the child would die buried under ice and snow.
Guess what accidentally happens? Rose is born facing north.Meanwhile, the teenage (?) Troll Queen has fallen in love with a “softskin”
(human) boy whom she wants to take to her palace. Her father is furious
(because the boy is a prince and she smuggled him home) and turns the boy into
a white bear, placing conditions on him for his disenchantment.Toddler Rose is rescued from drowning by the white bear, and this bear later
reappears in the story to ask her to live with him (somewhat like Beauty and
the Beast) promising to restore her family’s fortunes and her sister’s health
in exchange. Rose’s desire to save her family and her spirit for
adventure lead her to accept the white bear’s offer. The time in his
castle allows Rose to get to know the bear and to weave and sew, two things she
dearly loves.Things go wrong, as things often do in fairy tales, and Rose’s curiosity causes
the Troll Queen to come and claim her prize. Not to be put off by an unknown
destination in the Arctic North, Rose sets off to find her white bear (she
realizes that he is an enchanted man) and rescue him with predictable
consequences.The book didn’t have anything objectionable (swearing, sex). The
“softskins” are enslaved by the trolls and daily drink a mind-numbing
beverage. When ill or old, the slaves are left in the cold to die.
Magic is implied (the Troll Queen mentions her “arts”) and, of
course, changing a person into a bear is an example of magic!This was not the best fairy tale adaptation I’ve read, but this fairy tale
isn’t one of my favorites. I like my princes to be active and adventurous, not
passive and drugged for most of the story. But, I don’t think a fairy
tale fan or someone who enjoys a strong female character would be disappointed
by the story.
Comments (5)
Confession: I didn’t watch the Super Bowl either, although everyone else in the family and our company for five days is watching it together. I called a friend instead. And I grew up in Athens, GA — home of the University of Georgia and the Georgia Bulldogs! It’s Football Country! I grew up going to UGA football games in a town that wears the black and red on every occasion. How could I? I will tell you how — I am weird.
Hi! Thanks for the comment! I think we do have some things in common eventhough I’m not very good at grading my daughters writing papers. I might need some advice on that. I also like to make chocolate chip cookies but I have to make sure it’s not to often because my family and I do not have much will power not to gobble them all up.
Not owning a TV puts a damper on our football watching…as if we would watch it if we owned a TV! Instead I got WOOPED at Boggle and organized my clothes, soooo much more fun!
Your comments about TV viewing reminded me about the Far Side comic that shows a family sitting in their livingroom all staring intently at an empty wall–the caption read “In the days before TV.”
I watched part of it – then I fell asleep. Does that make me a bad Pennsylvanian – cause that’s all I have ever been. I’m so sheltered!