"Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White (BR)

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Buddy read for 2024 Forum on Formative Spec-Fic.

Paired with Inkheart - discussion (March)

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[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I just finished this. Delightful! Although...some of the themes were a bit different than I remembered from childhood.

[Michelle]

Allison wrote: "I just finished this. Delightful! Although...some of the themes were a bit different than I remembered from childhood."

I just bought that book for one of my grandsons a couple of weeks ago. It really is a good one!

[Margaret]

One of the formative books of my childhood! My mother used to read it to us (doing all the voices), so I tend to "hear" it in her voice.

I've been known to say that growing up with Charlotte's Web is one reason I am not an arachnophobe!

[Michelle]

Whoops! I just deleted this post because I put it in the wrong thread!

[Cheryl]

I always get stuck on the fact that Fern eats bacon....

[DivaDiane]

I have lost count how many times I have read Charlotte’s Web. Several times over the course of childhood and then I read it to my son at least twice. I get choked up every time. And yes, it’s possible this book is why I’m not afraid of spiders. Not that I love them, but you know.

I never thought about the fact that Fern eats bacon. I think back then (small) farmers ate what they produced, whatever it was. If EB White was writing this book today, Feen would probably become a vegetarian.

I think this is a lovely testament to the power of nurturing (nurture vs. nature).

[DivaDiane]

Allison, what was different from what you remember?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

In my memory this was a story of friendship, acceptance and possibly spider propaganda haha

In this read it still felt like a concerted effort to help kids not be afraid of (what must be said are truly enormous barn spiders) spiders, but it also felt a bit less like a "love animals" type manifesto and more about it being okay to love something and acknowledge that it will also change and/or die. Wilbur felt more like the car keys you jangle for kids while the doctor gives them vaccines--the focus, but not the point.

For example, even if Fern pledged vegetarian, by the end I think she would have been eating bacon again.

[Cheryl]

You all make good points. Which inspire me to say that... it could be argued that this is a 'found family' story.

[Cynda]

When Mrs Arable expresses her concern for Fern's expressed ability to hear animals speak, Mr Arable says, " Maybe our ears aren't as sharp as Fern's."

Today we call this fiction speculative. But on another day we may find out just how well animals communicate. Maybe someone will write a book about household pets--or barnyard animals-- in the tradition of The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben.

[Cheryl]

Good catch! Now, there is the wonderful The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs Are Smarter than You Think. And of course lab rats have a lot in common with Templeton....

[Cynda]

Thank you Cheryl. The Genius of Dogs will have to go on my May list. I will come back here to tell you a quick response next month :-)

[Cynda]

Here are some quotes by Dr Dorian that I particularly liked.

I don't understand everything, and I don't need to let it worry me.

It is quite possible that an animal has spoken civilly to me and that I didn't catch the remark because I wasn't paying attention.

Children pay better attention than grownups.

(All who have worked with, cared for, or raised children know this well.)

[Margaret]

Dr. Dorian is wonderful!

[Cheryl]

Who is Dr. Dorian?

I hope you like Genius of Dogs!

[Margaret]

Dr. Dorian is a character in Charlotte's Web: the family doctor that Mrs. Arable consults about Fern.

[Cynda]

Thanks Margaret . . . .Sorry Cheryl.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I did really like Dr. Dorian! It was nice how much all the grown ups cared about the kids in this.

I also liked that Fern's brother started to find the (view spoiler)[ magic of animals just as Fern was moving on, which was another thing that felt very true to children to me. Sort of like phases or rites of passage that we all go through when we're ready (hide spoiler)]

[Kaa]

I am listening to an audiobook read by Meryl Streep, with other voice actors reading dialogue for all of the characters, which has been really enjoyable. I haven't read this for many years, so I was surprised to find how many of the scenes I remembered clearly, especially the opening scene and many of Avery's appearances.

[DivaDiane]

That audio book sounds wonderful!

[Cynda]

Cheryl, I finished GENIUS OF DOGS:By Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods:The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs Are Smarter than You Think by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods this weekend. What a good book! Having houses at at different houses with different dogs, I have seem the forms of communication described, particularly the play signals. What a delight
Thanks for the recommendation :)

[Cheryl]

You're welcome!