Is it just me or is this on anyone else's top ten list of "My Favorite Children's Books EVER?"
I could start a sep. thread on books for kids... hehe but due to the nature of this board I will just stick with this topic for now.
I was driving in my car today ... and being that I have a big day tomorrow, got to thinking. Often, very often in facts, it seems that children's books are more likely to have some sort of a deeper meaning, not nec. a moral, but something akin to than, than an adult book.
Why is that? Do we feel that life has no more lessons once we are older? Are we ignorant enough to think that we have learned all there is to learn? Sure, I read a lot, but do I go off book choosing for spiritual and intellectual enhancement? I vote Nay on that. However, wouldn't it be nice, if perhaps the books had meaning anyway?
Okay Jade get to the POINT. Eh hem!!
Anyway, I began to think back on The Giving Tree... a book I have read often in childhood, and admittedly (*blushes*) even now on occassion.
I wonder... what WAS the meaning in that book? On one hand it seems completely obvious and on the other... it is almost as if there are literally hundreds of possibilities, as if the meaning is left for one's own personal self discovery.
For example the tree could be something akin to a mother... giving and giving all of herself to you until she can give no more... there for you for as much of your life as she can be there for. (Or, a father even right right). Notice how she nourishes the boy with apples and provides for him and yaddah yaddah yaddah you get my point by now.
But then again, perhaps it is about friendship?
Or perhaps it is supposed to be equivalent of a God of some sort? Nature, life everlasting even beyond death sort of a thing?
Hard to understand.
Maybe it was just about compassion, who knows?
Did anyone else read this story, and if so, have you thought about this, or am I just was too overanalytical for my own good?
I could start a sep. thread on books for kids... hehe but due to the nature of this board I will just stick with this topic for now.
I was driving in my car today ... and being that I have a big day tomorrow, got to thinking. Often, very often in facts, it seems that children's books are more likely to have some sort of a deeper meaning, not nec. a moral, but something akin to than, than an adult book.
Why is that? Do we feel that life has no more lessons once we are older? Are we ignorant enough to think that we have learned all there is to learn? Sure, I read a lot, but do I go off book choosing for spiritual and intellectual enhancement? I vote Nay on that. However, wouldn't it be nice, if perhaps the books had meaning anyway?
Okay Jade get to the POINT. Eh hem!!
Anyway, I began to think back on The Giving Tree... a book I have read often in childhood, and admittedly (*blushes*) even now on occassion.
I wonder... what WAS the meaning in that book? On one hand it seems completely obvious and on the other... it is almost as if there are literally hundreds of possibilities, as if the meaning is left for one's own personal self discovery.
For example the tree could be something akin to a mother... giving and giving all of herself to you until she can give no more... there for you for as much of your life as she can be there for. (Or, a father even right right). Notice how she nourishes the boy with apples and provides for him and yaddah yaddah yaddah you get my point by now.
But then again, perhaps it is about friendship?
Or perhaps it is supposed to be equivalent of a God of some sort? Nature, life everlasting even beyond death sort of a thing?
Hard to understand.
Maybe it was just about compassion, who knows?
Did anyone else read this story, and if so, have you thought about this, or am I just was too overanalytical for my own good?
I think i like the ones that make you smile on a very bad no good day!! 
