WOW!! I truly enjoyed this novel. I have never read a book written in this way. When I first opened the book and discovered how the text was organized I thought it would be too choppy feeling for me. I was afraid that since each chapter was written by a different character I would have a hard time feeling connected to the story. Granted The Van Gogh Cafe was about a different event in each chapter but the main characters were constant throughout. After I finished reading the book I came to an important conclusion. The community garden was the main character in this story. The garden was the common ground and the people who came to the garden were connected to each other in new and wonderful ways because of this garden.
I liked seeing how new people coming into the garden affected and were affected by the others in the garden. I loved the sense of community that was created in a city that hadn't had that feeling in a long time. This book would be an excellent vehicle for talking to kids about the things that make a community strong.
The thing I liked most about the book however, was the last section. I don't believe it is included in all editions of the book but it was in mine. The last section was Paul Fleishman talking about the process he went through in writing the book. He gives us insight into how he, a Newberry Award Winning author, comes up with ideas for stories and how they "grow" from an idea into a book. It was wonderful to get that glimpse.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Seed Folks By: Paul Fleishman
WOW!! I truly enjoyed this novel. I have never read a book written in this way. When I first opened the book and discovered how the text was organized I thought it would be too choppy feeling for me. I was afraid that since each chapter was written by a different character I would have a hard time feeling connected to the story. Granted The Van Gogh Cafe was about a different event in each chapter but the main characters were constant throughout. After I finished reading the book I came to an important conclusion. The community garden was the main character in this story. The garden was the common ground and the people who came to the garden were connected to each other in new and wonderful ways because of this garden.
I liked seeing how new people coming into the garden affected and were affected by the others in the garden. I loved the sense of community that was created in a city that hadn't had that feeling in a long time. This book would be an excellent vehicle for talking to kids about the things that make a community strong.
The thing I liked most about the book however, was the last section. I don't believe it is included in all editions of the book but it was in mine. The last section was Paul Fleishman talking about the process he went through in writing the book. He gives us insight into how he, a Newberry Award Winning author, comes up with ideas for stories and how they "grow" from an idea into a book. It was wonderful to get that glimpse.
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6 comments:
I would agree. This book is now among some of my favorites. I think the young girl Kim is the underlying main character, because without her that fine silk thread that weaves through the chapters would not exist. That thread ties the characters and events into common desires and dreams w with the focus on the garden. I can picture some of my former students playing the parts of these characters in a drama form of the novel.
I agree with you about the garden being the main character. Though I've read this book twice, that idea never was one I thought of. It really does make sense that the garden could be the main character because it was the main focus throughout the story. When I originally read this, I thought as you did about keeping up with all of the different characters, but I didn't find it to be too difficult. This would be a great read for talking about what it takes to build a community.
I also enjoyed the author's note at the end that provided insight into the evolution of the story. I also believe that the garden served as a focal point that connected each character together. The idea of a "healing garden" was used to show how a common interest could tie disparate characters together. I, too, was initially skeptical about how Fleischman would be able to proivide accounts of each character without losing the fluidity of the plot. He was able to do this by revealing the connection each character had to the garden. Although the characters represented different cultural backgrounds, the author eloquently conveyed their similiar needs and desires. I was impressed by how well these characters' personal accounts were tied together throughout the story.
I enjoyed this book because it was a quicker read than I thought it would when I previewed the text. The various points of view did not detract from the flow of the book, and the interconnectness between the stories of the wide array of people in the community added a unique flavor to the entire book. The stories were snapshots of people's points of view and were brief, but not so short that you didn't leave the chapter with a good introduction to that character and how they connected to others via the garden.
My book didn't have that ending with Paul Fleischman! I'm so glad you mentioned it, I had no idea what I was missing. I'm setting out to find it.
I love your thinking on the main character!! You are absolutely right! All this new imagery comes up now - the garden as a breathing, independent entity and all the other characters as its parts. They all come as one piece of a greater whole with their individual experiences and roles. Without all of them, the garden would not have worked. Age, nationality, language, and race are all irrelevant. I loved the book, but somehow, it is even more powerful now. Thanks!
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