Looking Beyond: The Velveteen Rabbit I never had the opportunity to read “The Velveteen Rabbit” as a child, but from what I was informed, it was a classic work of children’s literature by Margery Williams. Over the weekend, I finally leafed through the pages of this wonderful magical tale and I must acknowledge that it has subtle messages for adults and children alike. The wisdom of the fable gives emphasis on being real – which is an indispensable virtue in our life – but can only, be achieved through genuine unconditional love. I read this story to my not so little children, and it took them back to the memories of their toy or blanket that had a profound impact on their lives. In retrospect, they had amazing recollections of the toys that
served as their best friend and confidant. The story was a little timely; there was this plush toy that had been with the kids since birth. I had Barker since college – it was really unique plush toy dog to me since it served as my companion as was starting off in a new place away from my family and was extremely longing for home. I have since kept the toy. It was just recently that I handed it over to my beautiful niece who has had shown her interest with dogs. Upon receiving this gift over a year ago, she was so delighted and since then Barker was her constant companion everywhere she goes. She holds it dearly to her like it was so. I often find her talking to Barker and it reminded me of the time when my little children had their fair share of phenomenal memories with Barker. However, just last Saturday, after welcoming Santa’s arrival at Millennia Mall, she has somehow dropped the toy in the growing crowd. We tried hard looking for Barker to no avail. She was inconsolable. The kids were really disheartened when they learned that it was missing since it had been part of our lives for an extensive period time. We loved Barker despite seeing loose thread on its paw, several mismatched stitches on the side, and has since lost its fluffiness over the years. For all of us, Barker was real. The story allowed me to determine reality within myself, though my hopes, my desires and how I show affection to people around me. Through The Velveteen Rabbit, I learned that it is essential to remember what makes us unique and worthy of love. It made me look beyond what meets the eye – which is the inner beauty as opposed to the superficial. Becoming real is allowing ourselves to endure the process of loving, but along the way, it would sometimes get intimidating and painful. Nonetheless, after all the bumps in the road, one will soon find and see things far more rewarding than one could ever have imagined. The story actually mirrors the things I went through in life, more than ever when I was married. After fourteen years, I have come to terms that married life was not all a fairytale story – there were several things that I have gone through while showing love and concern to the people I most hold dear. However, with these bumps and scratches, I became more involved in a life well lived and has embraced emotional sensitivity. Hence, I find greater meaning in life by recognizing what is real within myself and others. Furthermore, to mold my life based on my values, talents and characters. With that, love and happiness will follow suit. The book will serve as a positive reminder that I am far from perfect, but I am willing to let go of my inhibitions and allow myself to grow and learn through the experience. This will become my greatest reward of living. It is what makes me real.
Joy Williams, the author of “The Farm” was born and raised in Portland, Maine. She attended and graduated from Marietta College and from there went on to earn a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Iowa. In recognition of her writing, she was the recipient of the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story in 2016. Growing up, she was the daughter of a minister and as such, she often incorporated a religious theme in her novels, essays, and short stories. Similar to Jesus, Williams’ style was to present her stories in the form of parables in the hope of getting an important message across to her readers.
Of Nightingales That Weep Chapter 1 This chapter is about Takiko and her first family home. It tells a lot about her family. They talk about the war in this chapter also. Takiko’s mother decides that she will remarry after her father dies.
Ann Rinaldi has written many books for young teenagers, she is an Award winning author who writes stories of American history and makes them become real to the readers. She has written many other books such as A Break with Charity, A Ride into Morning, and Cast two Shadows, etc. She was born in New York City on August 27, 1934. In 1979, at the age of 45, she finished her first book.
“The Queen Bee in the Corner Office” by Olga Khazan is an article many working women can relate to. From various jobs I have had, it is safe to say every working woman has at least encountered a “Queen Bee”. From high school we know a queen bee usually consists of being the prettiest girl in school; wearing the trendiest clothes; knowing all the hot gossip; and having the hottest boyfriend. According to Khazan (2017), in a work setting, the queen bee consists of three characteristics; the aggressive bitch, passive-aggressive bitch, and the tuned out, indifferent bitch. The aggressive bitch is a high ranking woman at a firm who usually verbally assaults anyone. A passive-aggressive bitch tends to be two-faced and has her “subtle,semi-rude emails”
Inside Toyland, written by Christine L. Williams, is a look into toy stores and the race, class, and gender issues. Williams worked about six weeks at two toy stores, Diamond Toys and Toy Warehouse, long enough to be able to detect patterns in store operations and the interactions between the workers and the costumers. She wanted to attempt to describe and analyze the rules that govern giant toy stores. Her main goal was to understand how shopping was socially organized and how it might be transformed to enhance the lives of workers. During the twentieth century, toy stores became bigger and helped suburbanization and deregulation. Specialty toy stores existed but sold mainly to adults, not to children. Men used to be the workers at toy stores until it changed and became feminized, racially mixed, part time, and temporary. As box stores came and conquered the land, toy stores started catering to children and offering larger selections at low prices. The box stores became powerful in the flip-flop of the power going from manufacturers to the retailers. Now, the retail giants determine what they will sell and at what price they will sell it.
Phoenix’s journey is a little long just by walking alone in the middle of the
In Fourth grade, my class read one of the most compelling books of my life, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. This book is a heart warming story about a china rabbit doll who makes an astounding journey through the arms of many caretakers. A book written by Kate Dicamillo gives a breathtaking theme of how strong love can be, but also how it can be taken for granted and dragged through the dirt. It demonstrates to young readers that love is not only a romantic item but also a strong connection between two people who care for eachother. The overall theme of the book can be summarized by a single quote: "If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless." Edward reminds older readers that love can still be coming for them. An overall message from the book emphasizes how bitterness can change your life. Words of praise chants such as: "This charming book is destined to be read aloud, shared, and savored by young and old alike. It has an old-fashioned
Innocence is something always expected to be lost sooner or later in life, an inevitable event that comes of growing up and realizing the world for what it truly is. Alice Walker’s “The Flowers” portrays an event in which a ten year old girl’s loss of innocence after unveiling a relatively shocking towards the end of the story. Set in post-Civil War America, the literary piece holds very particular fragments of imagery and symbolism that describe the ultimate maturing of Myop, the young female protagonist of the story. In “The Flowers” by Alice Walker, the literary elements of imagery, symbolism, and setting “The Flowers” help to set up a reasonably surprising unveiling of the gruesome ending, as well as to convey the theme of how innocence disappears as a result of facing the harsh reality of this world.
Yinka Shonibare’s five-part image narration Diary of a Victorian Dandy exhibited in the London Underground invites public transit users to partake in the daily lifestyle of a black Victorian dandy. The irony inherent in the presence of a black dandy as the work’s centerpiece dismisses the functionality of British restrictions set in the Victorian Era by delving into the notions of race and social class. Specifically, by emphasizing the black dandy’s superiority over his white counterparts and introducing a harmonic interplay between lower and upper-tier social classes, Shonibare makes evident to public viewers that Victorian norms favouring upper-class society were not static and could have been transcended in both a racial and social context.
The Flowers By Alice Walker Written in the 1970's The Flowers is set in the deep south of America and is about Myop, a small 10-year old African American girl who explores the grounds in which she lives. Walker explores how Myop reacts in different situations. She writes from a third person perspective of Myop's exploration. In the first two paragraph Walker clearly emphasises Myop's purity and young innocence.
Nine patriarchs found a town. Four women flee a life. Only one paradise is attained. Toni Morrison's novel Paradise revolves around the concept of "paradise," and those who believe they have it and those who actually do. Morrison uses a town and a former convent, each with its own religious center, to tell her tale about finding solace in an oppressive world. Whether fleeing inter- and intra-racial conflict or emotional hurt, the characters travel a path of self-isolation and eventual redemption. In her novel Paradise, Toni Morrison uses the town of Ruby and four broken women to demonstrate how "paradise" can not be achieved through isolation, but rather only through understanding and acceptance.
Although The Tale of Peter Rabbit is not a ‘modern’ picturebook, and was written to a different concept of childhood than Voices in the Park, it certainly falls within Bader’s description. Susan Hill has described the events of the book as reflecting ‘the world of the Victorian nursery… Naughtiness may be understood...
The Real Valley of the Dolls, by Tom Robbin is a humerous story that actually raises interesting questions of the past and present sexuality of man. Robbins and two of his friends, Alexa and Jon, take the reader on a trip to a place called North canyon, somewhere between Winnemucca and Las Vegas, which to reach you have to travel down the loneliest highway in the world, Highway 50. It is a short story that mixes both humour and the sexuality of past and present civilizations.
The Dollmaker by Harriette Arnow is the story of one woman whose genius is undermined by those surrounding her. Gertie Nevels, a tall, big-boned woman raised in the Appalacian region of Kentucky is creative, self-sufficient, strong, and resourceful. In her native home, Gertie creates for herself an atmosphere where she is able to survive any situation and has everything under control. As Wilton Eckley states in “From Kentucky to Detroit“, a chapter in his novel, Harriette Arnow, “Certainly while the family is living in Kentucky, she [Gertie] is self-sufficient and has no fear that she will be unable to get along if Clovis is called to join all the other younger men of the community in the service” (87). In fact, she is able to make her dream of moving into a larger farm and expand her comforts and resources, along with providing better for her family without the help of her husband; however, when she is forced to move to Detroit, she is out of her element. Throughout her life, she has molded herself to be able to do any task that is stereotypical of males or females. Even though initially she finds it hard to live the “city life” that is typical of Detroit, she is able to adapt her mind to be able to tolerate- and eventually accept- her new surroundings. Although Gertie Nevels shows obvious genius, because of her geographic disposition and gender, she is unable to use her abilities to the fullest extent.
John Updike's novel, Rabbit, Run, is about a man named Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom. Rabbit is a brainless guy whose career as a high school basketball star peaked at age 18. In his wife's view, he was, before their early, hasty marriage, already drifting downhill.