Subversive Literature

Rae, thanks for those book titles. I'm really intrigued and will see if my library has them. I'm so glad you enjoy Lulu and my blogs. It's good to have a place to share pictures and news and use as a creative outlet even.

I'll be curious to know what you think of Twilight. I have read all three and look forward to the next installment but it's interesting, I laugh at myself that I've enjoyed them as much as I have. Vampires and teenagers by an LDS author...it sounds so bizarre.

Funny you should mention Sam, Jennica, and Lynness. I just re-sent invitations to them yesterday. Sam should be joining us as soon as she sees the email I sent. She emailed me asking for the info. She has also reminded Jennica & Lynness. Would Annie be interested?

And I've been meaning to say -- I think your deal with Ivan and Bill to read 10 books before you can buy another is a great idea! Cool!

I did some searching on Brer Rabbiti and found a webpage that has the stories in dialect, with illustrations, but they're only for viewing on a computer....no actual books for sale. Alibris has a 1st edition of the book....but it's $195.00! I did some checking on eBay and it looks like if you can find an edition that was printed in or before 1956, it should still have the Black Americana Dialect. Here are a couple to look at:
1921 Edition
1956 Edition
Now I'm really curious and hope to find one myself! Mom, Rae, or Beccy - you didn't own the one Mom read out-loud?

Thots about subversive literature

If you aren't habitual readers of Lulu and Abby's personal blogs, you should be. I love knowing what they are up to! I also enjoy the pictures they post of their little ones. Abby recently posted a very funny taking apart of the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. It made me laugh outloud.

I remember reading a book by Alison Lurie called Don't Tell the Grown-ups: Subversive Children's Literature. It had a chapter specifically on fairy tales and the stories behind the stories. She also has written a book called Boys and Girls Forever: Children's Classics from Cinderella to Harry Potter which I have perused. I also remember learning about the Brothers Grimm and how their so-called fairy tales were really politically motivated social statements. You might want to take a look at these books, Abby. And I'm sure you could find other titles.

Does anybody know where I can find the old Brer Rabbit stories...still written in dialect? I want to share them with Bill. All I have been able to find so far are the rewrites...not near as fun. I remember fondly the times when Miriam would read those stories to us in the dialect. She did each character in a different voice and we loved it. I think she was actually reading to Beccy but Matt and I always listened in! I read somewhere that even those stories have a story...everyone says they are not politically correct [did you catch what Elder Scott had to say about that at conference? Great stuff!]...anyway, what I read said that Brer Rabbit represented the slave and Brer Bear and Brer Fox were the plantation owners or overseers. As you know, Brer Rabbit always wins through his trickery...so even those stories were subversive statements of the day.

Abby, my old book group in Lancaster is reading Twilight for their October read. I picked it up and will give it a try. I don't know that I'm into vampires, though. I think it's an odd subject for an LDS writer to focus on. I told the ladies that I would try to continue to read with them via email. We'll have to see how that works.

I have extended another invite to Samantha (and through her to Jennica). I hope they will join in our little circle. I love you all and enjoy "listening" to what you have to say re your reading lives.

Happy reading!