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Episode 98: Children’s Classics & Finding The Books That Go Under The Radar (A #ReadersRevolution)
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Really interesting to hear your thoughts about children’s lit. I feel like there were hundreds of books I missed out on as an adolescent because I was too stuck into my Super Nintendo. Some I did love (which I guess aren’t considered classic) were the Choose Your Own Adventure series. But one children’s book I haven’t read that I feel like I really should is Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. It’s one of those books I really wish I had read as a child as I think now I’ll probably find it a totally different reading experience, but I still really want to read it nonetheless. I used to be a great fan of Peter Cameron’s fiction. Thomas, if you enjoyed Andorra you should read his book of stories The Half You Don’t Know. Really excellent short fiction.
Since Thomas mentioned Carol Shields I have to say that I haven’t read The Stone Diaries, but I love her final novel Unless. It involves quirky librarians and a runaway girl.
When it came out I did love the beautiful cover of McFarlane’s novel The Night Guest and now that Simon says how brilliant is I feel like I must read it.
Also I will dutifully head to my local indie bookshop soon to take up the Under the Radar challenge soon.
According to my mother, she was a little worried that I wasn’t going to become a “reader” because I wasn’t really interested in books when I was very small. However, allegedly when I discovered the Little House on the Prairie series at around age 8 or so, I became a voracious reader. I certainly remember reading and enjoying those books. I never owned my own copies, but I am fairly certain I read them all multiple times. I haven’t read them since childhood, but I have a work colleague and goodreads friend who discovered them for the first time when he read them to his daughter and he thought they were fantastic, so I think they would hold up for an adult reader. They are not twee or saccharine at all. In fact, as an adult, I imagine you can read between the lines and grasp just how poor the Ingalls were.Other books that I recall reading as a child are Encyclopedia Brown mysteries, Nancy Drew mysteries, Hardy Boy mysteries, Caddie Woodland, Paddington the Bear, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Saturdays, The Four Story Mistake, A Wrinkle in Time, Anne of Green Gables and anything I could find in the library by Judy Blume, Enid Blyton or Beverly Cleary.
Since you mentioned Watership Down, I thought I would add that I read it as an adult and thought it was very good (I know Elizabeth will back me up here). I know that the book had its genesis as bedtime stories for Richard Adam’s children, but the novel is pretty intense and not about cute, fluffy bunnies at all, but rather a gripping, often violent and tragic story. And I didn’t pick up anything that was remotely religious about it.
Yes, Ruthiella, I second the endorsement for Watership Down. Absolutely love that book. I became completely immersed in that warren of rabbits. Give it a try Simon. Books I enjoyed from my childhood (and that are currently still on my bookshelf) include: The Cricket in Times Square, Blubber (but any Judy Blume really), Charlotte's Web, The Secret of Nimh, A Wrinkle in Time and Ramona the Pest.
I need to be more aware of finding books by lesser known authors. We do have a great indie bookstore here in Houston, so I am going to take a peek at the recommendations of their booksellers.
I remember loving Treasure Island and The Hobbit, mostly because my parents read them to us. Great stories, but even better memories.The book I will always remember is one that traumatized me. I still get misty-eyed and wobbly-lipped when I think about Where the Read Fern Grows.
Agreed, Where the Red Fern Grows was very difficult, but I remember being so inside that book while I was reading it. I had that feeling a lot more when I was younger - I guess I have too many distractions now to get completely lost. The Yearling was hard, as well. There really is a lot of sadness in childhood literature what with all the dead and dying parents and animals. Annie wrote: "I remember loving Treasure Island and The Hobbit, mostly because my parents read them to us. Great stories, but even better memories.
The book I will always remember is one that traumatized me. I ..."
Sue wrote: "Agreed, Where the Red Fern Grows was very difficult, but I remember being so inside that book while I was reading it..."I think that's what killed me about the book. No one warned me about the ending. I had no idea what was coming.
Oh Eric, I loved the "choose your own adventure" books! They got me into role playing games (and that's how I met my husband :-D )I re-read Susan Coopers The Dark is Rising series as an adult - and I loved it just as much as when I was a kid :-)
I've found a few great "under the radar" (for me anyway) authors recently Antal Szerb, Ismail Kadaré and Charles Dudley Warner - older stuff some of it - but I really enjoyed reading their books!
Also I've fallen in love with the Fables comics - they're brilliant! Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
Simon, Thomas,I love your podcast and really look forward to every single one. You guys make me laugh a lot.
I did want to pick you up about something, Simon. You said you were afraid that Laura Ingalls Wilder's books might be twee. But you didn't feel the same about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. They are two authors from the same time period and the same frontier in America. But one is by a woman with a central heroine, the other is a by a man with a central hero. Think about why you'd think her is twee while his is not.
I recommend you start with Farmer Boy - which is number 3 in the order of books, but it can stand alone as it is about Almanzo Wilder and his family. So it has a male central character which can ease you into the style of writing.
I, too, sobbed my eyes out at the end of Where the Red Fern Grows. I also loved Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series. The other early young adult author I'm still in love with is Tamora Pierce - who sadly is not found here in the UK very much at all. Her work has more heroines so it may not appeal to boys. Though if I had sons I'd be close to force-reading them!
Funnily enough, it's easier for me to list books I hated and should never have been forced to read (all of Steinbeck, 100 Years of Solitude, Thousand Cranes) and agree that studying to death a lot of literature nearly killed my love of reading.
Thanks for expanding my reading horizons. I bought Song of Archilles on your recommendation, as well as S by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst, both are in my TBR.
I still think you both need to be looking at Greyladies reprinted books for some lovely, gentle novels - particularly ones set in Scotland.
Fenella
Simon, you forgot about malteaster bunnies as chocolate only available at easier along with cadburys cream eggs! I gorge on those bad boys at this time of the year, like a crocodile when wildebeest are crossing its river. As for children's books I always used to love folk tales told for kids with illustrations and I capture the castle will never get old for me.
Fenella wrote: "Simon, Thomas,I love your podcast and really look forward to every single one. You guys make me laugh a lot.
I did want to pick you up about something, Simon. You said you were afraid that Laura ..."
I would second the recommendation to start with Farmer Boy. It was my favorite as a kid. Almanzo's comparatively luxurious childhood really stands out compared to that of Laura's.
Fenella wrote: "Simon, Thomas,Thanks for expanding my reading horizons. I bought Song of Archilles on your recommendation, as well as S by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst, both are in my TBR."
Oh I got "S" too it's sooo pretty (AND The Night Guest - so Simon you're responsible for me blowing my book budget this month! :-)
So I followed through and went to my local bookshop - Kennington Books - and saw a copy of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's 1939 memoir "Wind, Sand and Stars" I was aware of this book because it was quoted in a big famous book last year and reading the back intrigued me. It's about how the author crashed his plane into the Sahara desert and his struggle for survival. But, moreover, it's about his philosohical enquiry into how life should be lived. It's a great read - one of those books that acts like a slap in the face to make you re-evaluate your life. I don't know if it can be considered a lost classic since it's published as a Penguin Modern Classic so it's not really lost. But I'm sure lots of people still haven't come across it before.
For books that go under the radar I just read a piece in The Guardian about the Jerwood Fiction UncoveredPrize. Eight awards for UK non-debut authors who deserve more notice.
Can you link to the article here Thomas?
I was just checking out one of my favorite and, to my mind, most interesting sources of book recs and it occurred to me that many of the books there are 'under the radar.' It's the Book Notes series at Largehearted Boy. He chooses authors to create music playlists for their books and discuss how the songs they choose inspired or affected their writing process. Each entry includes a synopsis of the book and then a list of songs with descriptions / explanations in the author's own words about the relationship between the music and his or her book. It makes for a unique and unusual insight into the both the books and the authors.
In addition to great book recs, you get great music recs, too!
http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/a...
Talk about flying under the radar, I just found out that Moby Dick was a huge flop when first published and it wasn't re-discovered until over 50 years later by a graduate student in the early 20th century. And now it is the perennial American classic (that many claim to have read, but haven't).
Ruthiella wrote: "Talk about flying under the radar, I just found out that Moby Dick was a huge flop when first published and it wasn't re-discovered until over 50 years later by a graduate student in the early 20th..."You should read In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex Ruth. It is an account of the events that inspired Melville. And in the historical notes, the author discusses how Moby Dick wasn't a success at all when first published.
Elizabeth wrote: You should read In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex Ruth. It is an account of the events that inspired Melville. Thanks, Elizabeth. I'm actually more interested in the historical incident rather than the fictional account.
On Children's books - when I was at primary school (elementary school) I read lots of Just William, Billy Bunter, Jennings and Darbishire, The Secret Seven, The Famous Five, Narnia, The Lone Pine series and Biggles. Just thinking about them brings back many happy memories!
Two fascinating discussions in this episode. Re under-the-radar books I have two comments. Yes there is a tendency for book blogs to cover the same books BUT bear in mind that there are thousands of book blogs out there and there will be a handful that match your taste and don't only cover brand new books. And secondly, any decent bookshop will help you out, either in person or with a staff recommends shelf. I tend to pick up a lot of books from those staff picks shelves and it's a great way to find less well known or non-current authors.But I also second a lot of what Simon and Thomas said: small presses, browsing, word of mouth - all good methods!
The Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex (other topics)Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile (other topics)
The Mouse and His Child (other topics)
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ismail Kadare (other topics)Antal Szerb (other topics)
Charles Dudley Warner (other topics)
Daniel Pinkwater (other topics)
What a thrill to hear my name coming out the car speakers on my evening commute today. Thank you, Thomas and Simon, for your wonderful suggestions about finding under the radar books. I am enlisting in the Revolutionary army and, armed with a tote bag and dressed for battle in yoga pants and comfy shoes, I will trek to libraries and indie bookstores near and far to unearth the hidden gems of yore.
Excelsior!
But, before I head into battle, some thoughts on children's literature. The idea of re-reading any children's / YA books has only appealed to me recently, as I've begun to read longer, more serious books to my 11 year-old twin girls. In addition to what I've read to them and enjoyed, I've been reminded of books I really cherished when I was their age. A recent one that I'd actually never read as a child, but found particularly intriguing (sorry Simon - it's all talking animals and - gasp - talking toys!) was The Mouse and His Child. I couldn't believe it when I found out that Russell Hoban also wrote all the Frances books (talking badgers should have been a clue). I loved those books as well, but there was something so compelling about The Mouse and His Child. The language is sophisticated and lovely and there's so much existential angst among the characters, going through hell just to find a place where they belong.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was also a favorite, as well as all the Roald Dahl books, which my kids love, too.
One more author I never read as a child but fell in love with when my son found him a few years ago is Daniel Pinkwater. He writes about these wacky, free-range, 1970's kids and their crazy, adult-free, camp-free summer adventures; he is hilarious.