tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5856476455649410565.post6132025291654204742..comments2023-09-01T10:00:10.674-05:00Comments on Imagination Investigation: The Charlatan’s BoyChawna Schroederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000233082405487558noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5856476455649410565.post-84496667981024199502010-12-07T18:27:03.172-06:002010-12-07T18:27:03.172-06:00Thanks for the compliment, Becky. And you're r...Thanks for the compliment, Becky. And you're right, this would make a great read-aloud, both for its voice as well as its episodic nature. <br /><br />And thank you, Mr. Rogers, for stopping by. <br /><br />You asked what I believe such a rebuke as I desired would look like. There's no clear cut answer, as we are dealing with story. Every story is unique. So the answer to the question will be equally unique. <br /><br />In general terms, I look for a couple things. One, is evil shown as evil and good protrayed as good? Do each of these things reap appropriate consequence (punishment for evil, reward for good)? Does the protrayal push us away from evil and toward good? <br /><br />How clear cut each of these are also depends on the target reader of the book. The younger the child, the less ability to discern, and the more clear cut the issue needs to presented. <br /><br />What would that look like for this story specifically? I'm not completely sure. The repercussions were there; evil was called evil and good good for the most part. A clearer punishment for wrong could help. But for this story, I was probably looking more for a clear connection between the wrong and the hurt it inflicts on others, not just punishment on self (e.g. more of the stuff like Floyd's betrayal). This pushes the reader not to duplicate the action. <br /><br />But I'm not sure that's totally the answer either. I guess I would say ultimately, since we're seeing the story through Grady's eyes, I would like to see some acknowledgement on his part of the wrongness of his deeds, especially after him justifying it, and remorse for the evil. I say "ultimately" because Grady was obviously not ready for such a move in this book, and that's why I wait in anticipation to see what occurs in the next one. <br /><br />I hope that makes sense and answers your questions.Chawna Schroederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05000233082405487558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5856476455649410565.post-44190888010871360832010-12-07T16:04:10.047-06:002010-12-07T16:04:10.047-06:00Hey, Chawna--
Thanks for your thoughtful review. A...Hey, Chawna--<br />Thanks for your thoughtful review. As you say in the subtitle of your blog, there's friction between faith and fiction. I'm glad you paid attention to the friction in The Charlatan's Boy. It's a key to making sense of the story. And an easy resolution of the friction would make for poor fiction.<br /><br />You say that the characters' bad behavior wasn't rebuked as much as you would like. What do you imagine such rebuke would look like? Are you specifically talking about punishment for bad or wrong actions?Jonathan Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16689699935990361614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5856476455649410565.post-52711827607869983602010-12-07T15:15:03.494-06:002010-12-07T15:15:03.494-06:00Excellent review, Chawna. Besides being a good dis...Excellent review, Chawna. Besides being a good discussion book, I think it's excellent as a read-aloud, too. Definitely worth buying. I hope lots of folks consider it for Christmas. I think it's a keeper, right up there with some of the other classics.<br /><br />BeckyRebecca LuElla Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06823550402103559922noreply@blogger.com