tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post8591558682395304180..comments2024-03-25T09:56:16.164+00:00Comments on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure: We need more writers who can make us cry – David ThorpeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-29486431893610624072015-12-05T12:25:33.283+00:002015-12-05T12:25:33.283+00:00Simple solution: divide the Carnegie into categori...Simple solution: divide the Carnegie into categories, like the Oscars. Best book for older children. Best book for mid-age children. Etc. Ce n'est pas le science de rockets.Nick Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08191176209084540085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-42603318107683316232015-12-04T17:38:05.551+00:002015-12-04T17:38:05.551+00:00Yeah Tempest's poem is like a modern day Howl ...Yeah Tempest's poem is like a modern day Howl (Ginsberg). She read it with such passion, Dianne follow the link you can watch her. There's also a Youtube video someone took last Sunday. Passion that breaks beyond the selfie-obsessed hall of reflecting mirrors.DavidKThorpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04215770376688861114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-62305793571294685142015-12-04T13:05:05.891+00:002015-12-04T13:05:05.891+00:00Thanks for the post - especially for sending me to...Thanks for the post - especially for sending me to Tempest's poem/single. It's jaw-droppingly good. Like Emma, I think fantasy (often unjustly labelled 'escapism') allows children to experience and process many of the same emotions, worries, and senses of helplessness that the realist fiction does, while offering similarly ways to think about the contemporary world through engagement in another. Science fiction has always been about commentary on/reflection of our own mores and social/political tendencies.C.J.Busbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12288574235370421625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-37263943056384559072015-12-04T12:44:30.053+00:002015-12-04T12:44:30.053+00:00David thank you for following up on my post on Par...David thank you for following up on my post on Paris.You touch on so much in yours. I'm sorry I didn't hear Kate Tempest reading 'Europe is Lost'. And like you I found myself incredibly moved by Ai Weiwei's work and have a similar photograph of those iron rods where they look like waves (or the crumpling of the earth as they were intended) and the viewers next to them like strollers on a beach with the names disappearing into mist behind them. So many names that I found myself frozen in that room. <br />Dianne Hofmeyrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18222157214605257030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-28987903363658297782015-12-04T11:16:56.708+00:002015-12-04T11:16:56.708+00:00@Ms Yingling: But they're crying for a differe...@Ms Yingling: But they're crying for a different reason. IF you read the news it is for the suffering. If you read/watch a 'weepie' drama it's because you are sharing the emotions. DavidKThorpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04215770376688861114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-870072801030747882015-12-04T10:22:22.237+00:002015-12-04T10:22:22.237+00:00This post might explain why my students ask much m...This post might explain why my students ask much more frequently for happy books. If it is that hard to be a child these days, no wonder my readers almost never ask for the sorts of books that come across my desk all the time-- depression, dysfunction and death. It has become difficult to find pleasantly diverting books for middle grade. I know that publishers exist to sell books, but I will not be financially supporting their efforts to produce books that make me cry. I only have to read the news if that's what I want. Ms. Yinglinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805324364289597178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-21839256543426954542015-12-04T10:15:55.831+00:002015-12-04T10:15:55.831+00:00Often it's easier to relate to characters in f...<i>Often it's easier to relate to characters in fantasy novels or films, because they are removed from close-by reality.</i><br /><br />I think that's very true. I also think that in a fantasy setting young protagonists can have the power and autonomy to make a difference, whereas in the contemporary world that's not likely. Harry Potter, Katniss, Frodo et al are liberating to read about, whereas real world problems can feel overwhelming (and not just for children and young people).<br /><br />I would say, though, re the Carnegie and Guardian prize disputes, that I doubt anyone is saying writers shouldn't address challenging and painful issues. I think it's often more about whether "children's" prizes are increasingly being awarded to novels for older teenagers, rather than younger age-groups. And also, that children do need entertaining, funny books too, and that there is just as much craft and talent that goes into those books.Emma Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718171070716804800noreply@blogger.com