Book 83- Tale of Despereaux
Book 83 - The Take of Despereaux
Attendees:
Jami Walsh
Nick Conti
Amy Marr
Carol Conti
Sarah Jay
Kids:
Theo Conti
Ainsley Marr
Giana Conti
Thomas Jay
Enjoyment:
Nick: --Fun read
Jami: -- Enjoyed it
Carol -- Liked it
Amy -- Really enjoyed it
Sarah --
When Despereaux fell into the darkness of the dungeon, (page 74) he panics until he remembers the words of the threadmaster. Describe how Despereaux demonstrated honor, courtesy, devotion, and bravery by the end of the story.
A - very devoted to the princess
N - very courteous to the King
A - very courteous to everyone really.
J - going to the dark in the end.
N - brave by standing in front of the people
C - a little naïve. He was doing brave things, but didn’t realize he was being brave.
Discuss the author’s style of commenting directly to the reader. What effect did this style have on your enjoyment of the story?
N - in general doesn’t like it and finds it obnoxious, but in a children’s book of this type it worked well to engage the child reader and relieve tension. Good break point. Effectively used in a story of this type with the attended audience.
A - agreed with what nick said. Knowing the author doesn’t use this device in all of her works.
C - not opposed to an author using that concept, if it done correctly. As an adult wonder what a kid would think. Would they think they were being talked down to.
A - read first chapter to Ainsley and she really liked the flow.
N - liked that at times the author suggested you look a word up.
J - kind of teaches them to read astory.
A - encourages reading with a child and discussion of things.
The Tale of Despereaux has been called a fairy tale. In what ways is it a fairy tale? In what ways is it not a fairy tale?
C - you have a talking mouse
N -Anthropomorphic mouse
S - there’s a princess
A - the death of the queen is very fairy tale
J - has a sad beginning and a happy ending.
A - there’s a lot of death
N - fairytales have death
A - for a modern book written for children there is a lot of death.
A - the whole Miggery Sow thing was terrifying.
Symbolism of the soup and the ban of the soup.
N - it was as if it was the soup’s fault
A - very common theme. The soup represents.
J - soup is very comforting and a family experience. You take away comfort and memories
A - affects the poor more because you cannot make the food stretch.
N - akin to closing off a kids room after a death.
A - it’s like punishing the people
N - for something they’re not responsible for. Like it when the cook just says we’re making soup. Banning anything a dangerous thing.
S - it’s like a bunch of religions who find something they find objectionable and ban it. It’s funny to look at different things that different religions ban.
A - sometimes soup is just soup and it just is.
The color red was a common theme throughout the story. How was the color used. Did you find this effective various emotions.
A - the thread was red
C - I took it as blood
A - The thread was symbolic of him being dead to the mice society. When you uses the thread to get there it’s like the blood of life.
N - the color is a symbol of life.
N - the thread is death when it is given to him, but it becomes life.
Other Discussion:
What do people think of the story being told not in sequence?
J - basically you are getting several character sketches that are slightly interwoven. And you get the story that way
N - Vignettes if you will.
A - good intro to children that stories aren’t always told in order. She does a good job explaining things to her.
Do you really think that the author really intended the child to get the symbolism of the red?
J - more for the adult reading to the child, but a child may get it.
N - some children may be able to pick up on it.
C - kind of like HP with regard to being for the adult.
J - things like foreshadowing are present in this book. And it’s a good opportunity to teach a child about foreshadowing.
Next Meeting: October 8th
Upcoming Books:
September Book to be discussed at the October Meeting: Jack Maggs/Cleaning Nobokov’s House
October Book to be discussed in November Meeting: Nick’s Choice
Attendees:
Jami Walsh
Nick Conti
Amy Marr
Carol Conti
Sarah Jay
Kids:
Theo Conti
Ainsley Marr
Giana Conti
Thomas Jay
Enjoyment:
Nick: --Fun read
Jami: -- Enjoyed it
Carol -- Liked it
Amy -- Really enjoyed it
Sarah --
When Despereaux fell into the darkness of the dungeon, (page 74) he panics until he remembers the words of the threadmaster. Describe how Despereaux demonstrated honor, courtesy, devotion, and bravery by the end of the story.
A - very devoted to the princess
N - very courteous to the King
A - very courteous to everyone really.
J - going to the dark in the end.
N - brave by standing in front of the people
C - a little naïve. He was doing brave things, but didn’t realize he was being brave.
Discuss the author’s style of commenting directly to the reader. What effect did this style have on your enjoyment of the story?
N - in general doesn’t like it and finds it obnoxious, but in a children’s book of this type it worked well to engage the child reader and relieve tension. Good break point. Effectively used in a story of this type with the attended audience.
A - agreed with what nick said. Knowing the author doesn’t use this device in all of her works.
C - not opposed to an author using that concept, if it done correctly. As an adult wonder what a kid would think. Would they think they were being talked down to.
A - read first chapter to Ainsley and she really liked the flow.
N - liked that at times the author suggested you look a word up.
J - kind of teaches them to read astory.
A - encourages reading with a child and discussion of things.
The Tale of Despereaux has been called a fairy tale. In what ways is it a fairy tale? In what ways is it not a fairy tale?
C - you have a talking mouse
N -Anthropomorphic mouse
S - there’s a princess
A - the death of the queen is very fairy tale
J - has a sad beginning and a happy ending.
A - there’s a lot of death
N - fairytales have death
A - for a modern book written for children there is a lot of death.
A - the whole Miggery Sow thing was terrifying.
Symbolism of the soup and the ban of the soup.
N - it was as if it was the soup’s fault
A - very common theme. The soup represents.
J - soup is very comforting and a family experience. You take away comfort and memories
A - affects the poor more because you cannot make the food stretch.
N - akin to closing off a kids room after a death.
A - it’s like punishing the people
N - for something they’re not responsible for. Like it when the cook just says we’re making soup. Banning anything a dangerous thing.
S - it’s like a bunch of religions who find something they find objectionable and ban it. It’s funny to look at different things that different religions ban.
A - sometimes soup is just soup and it just is.
The color red was a common theme throughout the story. How was the color used. Did you find this effective various emotions.
A - the thread was red
C - I took it as blood
A - The thread was symbolic of him being dead to the mice society. When you uses the thread to get there it’s like the blood of life.
N - the color is a symbol of life.
N - the thread is death when it is given to him, but it becomes life.
Other Discussion:
What do people think of the story being told not in sequence?
J - basically you are getting several character sketches that are slightly interwoven. And you get the story that way
N - Vignettes if you will.
A - good intro to children that stories aren’t always told in order. She does a good job explaining things to her.
Do you really think that the author really intended the child to get the symbolism of the red?
J - more for the adult reading to the child, but a child may get it.
N - some children may be able to pick up on it.
C - kind of like HP with regard to being for the adult.
J - things like foreshadowing are present in this book. And it’s a good opportunity to teach a child about foreshadowing.
Next Meeting: October 8th
Upcoming Books:
September Book to be discussed at the October Meeting: Jack Maggs/Cleaning Nobokov’s House
October Book to be discussed in November Meeting: Nick’s Choice