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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
E. L. Konigsburg is one of my all-time favorites, and though I have read a great deal and for many years, the list of all-time favorites is surprisingly circumscribed. Konigsburg wrote four of my favorite novels for young people: Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, The View from Saturday, and Silent to the Bone . Two of these received Newberry medals. She earned other nominations. It is my sorrow that I never wrote her the fan letter she deserved before her death a few years ago. I would think about it, but my words could never convey how deeply I appreciated her wonderful books. They all shared one quality that I especially love: When you are coming to the end, you feel so melancholy, because you know you don’t get to spend time with these characters anymore, yet at the same time, the ending of the story is so satisfying that you are happy to let the characters go.
As with many of her books, The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World is a story of contemporary young people who have had experiences before the story begins that set them a little apart from other kids their age. Their pasts are seldom dwelt upon, but usually play a part in the narrative. They usually find kindred spirits along the way, even when those spirits are seemingly very different from them. And those kindred spirits usually usher one another into a new phase of self.
As a very lonely, oddball child, reading about other lonely, out-of-place children like Elizabeth and Jennifer or the restless, adventurous oldest-sister Claudia, or about the mysterious and kind adults who live as recluses or hide in plain sight made me feel as though I were part of a far-flung society, one of the kindred spirits who would connect with another a some point.
Another aspect common to many of Konigsburg’s books is Jewishness. Her New York, post-WWII perspective shows up in small ways in many stories. In this one, it is the crux of the story: war crimes of the past, denouncements of artistic style by Hitler, the Holocaust, art looting, Viennese social life, all have their consequences in Florida and Wisconsin a half-century later. This is perhaps her most explicit story about the tragedy of Naziism, and it is greatly to her credit that the story at the center is about two modern boys’ friendship rather than about this horrific era, because the sad personal story that emerges would probably have been overblown if it were the center of everything. It invites a young reader to find out more, and to understand the human toll on families and on souls. Gently but persistently, Konigsburg makes the case for remembering and not forgiving, but also moving forward.
I like this book very much, and will recommend it to many other readers, especially young ones, and it says something author that I will do this even though this book doesn’t crack my top four favorites of hers.
As with many of her books, The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World is a story of contemporary young people who have had experiences before the story begins that set them a little apart from other kids their age. Their pasts are seldom dwelt upon, but usually play a part in the narrative. They usually find kindred spirits along the way, even when those spirits are seemingly very different from them. And those kindred spirits usually usher one another into a new phase of self.
As a very lonely, oddball child, reading about other lonely, out-of-place children like Elizabeth and Jennifer or the restless, adventurous oldest-sister Claudia, or about the mysterious and kind adults who live as recluses or hide in plain sight made me feel as though I were part of a far-flung society, one of the kindred spirits who would connect with another a some point.
Another aspect common to many of Konigsburg’s books is Jewishness. Her New York, post-WWII perspective shows up in small ways in many stories. In this one, it is the crux of the story: war crimes of the past, denouncements of artistic style by Hitler, the Holocaust, art looting, Viennese social life, all have their consequences in Florida and Wisconsin a half-century later. This is perhaps her most explicit story about the tragedy of Naziism, and it is greatly to her credit that the story at the center is about two modern boys’ friendship rather than about this horrific era, because the sad personal story that emerges would probably have been overblown if it were the center of everything. It invites a young reader to find out more, and to understand the human toll on families and on souls. Gently but persistently, Konigsburg makes the case for remembering and not forgiving, but also moving forward.
I like this book very much, and will recommend it to many other readers, especially young ones, and it says something author that I will do this even though this book doesn’t crack my top four favorites of hers.
Like E.L. Konigsberg's classic [b:From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler|3980|From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler|E.L. Konigsburg|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165371325s/3980.jpg|1384549], there's an art mystery at the heart of this story of two pre-teen boys and their growing friendship with a wealthy and eccentric old lady. However, with Mixed-Up Files, I was enchanted and drawn in by the very opening words. Mysterious Edge takes some faith and some reading to get into the plot. Once in, though, it's a satisfying story, though not nearly as light-hearted as Mixed-up Files was. There's a heart-breaking and sinister Holocaust connection. Also some great verses from one of my favourite poets, Phyllis McGinley.
I had an interesting context for this book. I was reading this, the latest of E.L. Konigsberg's novels, at the same time that I was reading the earliest of Madeleine L'Engle's books [b:The Joys of Love|1880231|The Joys of Love|Madeleine L'Engle|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266917565s/1880231.jpg|2285512]. Both L'engle and Konigsberg were among my very favourite authors when growing up; I have read pretty well everything they have written, and own most of their works. The L'engle book was an example of a young author not quite hitting her stride; The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World is something like Konigberg's twenty-first published work. It's one of her better ones.
I had an interesting context for this book. I was reading this, the latest of E.L. Konigsberg's novels, at the same time that I was reading the earliest of Madeleine L'Engle's books [b:The Joys of Love|1880231|The Joys of Love|Madeleine L'Engle|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266917565s/1880231.jpg|2285512]. Both L'engle and Konigsberg were among my very favourite authors when growing up; I have read pretty well everything they have written, and own most of their works. The L'engle book was an example of a young author not quite hitting her stride; The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World is something like Konigberg's twenty-first published work. It's one of her better ones.
Konigsburg does not disappoint a reader who enjoys her mulit-layered storytelling style. While I would not have said a rich kid, an estate salesperson, and a retired opera singer would make an interesting cast but that is just what makes this writer so interesting to read. She weaves lives together. I also learned about a Nazi art show entitled, "entartete Kunst" which means "Degenerate Art". Google it. Finally, I learned that Hitler persecuted and killed gay people. The audio book is great.
Deo (Amedeo) moves to a new town with his divorced mother, and soon he's making awkward acquaintance William Wilcox, a kid everyone knows but no one is friends with. William's mother is working on a house sale for Deo's neighbour, the dramatic eccentric Mrs Zender, and while trawling through the treasures and trash of Mrs Zender's exciting life they discover a long-forgotten story of war, art, and brotherly love.
I really liked this - there's something so human and touching about this, and it delves into some really deep, serious topics through two unusual but relatable boys. And the character of Mrs Zender is fascinating, and I wanted so much to be able to go through her house as well like Deo and William.
I really liked this - there's something so human and touching about this, and it delves into some really deep, serious topics through two unusual but relatable boys. And the character of Mrs Zender is fascinating, and I wanted so much to be able to go through her house as well like Deo and William.
I very much enjoyed this book. The art mystery is clever and beautifully written. I disagree that the subject matter is a little old for middle grades. As the boys in the book, kids these days understand more than we give them credit for. The audio I listened to was done by Edward Hermann, which made this even more of a thrill.
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Konigsburg never fails to amaze me...spinning storylines and characters aimed at the spohisticated child readers and creating stories that touch and entertain kids and adults.
Her books are works of art you can either spend time picking the levels and relationships of events and people apart...or just enjoy the gestalt.
Maybe I just had a weird childhood, but no matter whether her books are set in the modern world or before my birth (her one-of-a-kind win and honor in the same year of the Newbery award happened the year I was born--maybe there's our connection) but reading Konigsburg puts me in mind of my own childhood.
Her books are works of art you can either spend time picking the levels and relationships of events and people apart...or just enjoy the gestalt.
Maybe I just had a weird childhood, but no matter whether her books are set in the modern world or before my birth (her one-of-a-kind win and honor in the same year of the Newbery award happened the year I was born--maybe there's our connection) but reading Konigsburg puts me in mind of my own childhood.
A question was posed recently on the Horn Book blog run by Roger Sutton about what it would be like if reviewers never knew the names of the authors of the books they read and critique. It's an interesting idea. No human being is a blank slate, after all. You can't help but acquire little prejudices and preconceptions as you become more and more familiar with a writer's work. Sometimes you, the reviewer, are going to have to face facts about one author or another; You're just not that big a fan of their work. Take me, for example. If you asked me what I thought of E.L. Konigsburg I would yelp a quick, "I liked [b:The View from Saturday|4538|The View from Saturday|E.L. Konigsburg|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165445984s/4538.jpg|4242]," and hope to high heaven that you'd leave it at that. Fact of the matter is, I read "A View from Saturday" a long time ago. Maybe I'd feel the same about it now as I did the first time I perused it. Maybe not. You see as of right now I'm just not that into Konigsburg. I recognize her importance in the field of children's literature. I appreciate her stories and her characters and her plots. I'm just not that big a fan of her writing or her dialogue, and this makes it difficult for me to read her books. So when I found myself in possession of "The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World" I decided (yet again) to put aside my assumptions and just enjoy the ride. I failed in this. So basically I'm telling you right off the bat that if you want an unbiased review, look elsewhere. I can only write what I myself perceive, and what I perceive before me is a book that isn't quite sure who its audience is.
Sixth grader Amedeo Kaplan has just moved to St. Malo, Florida from New York and he's in a bit of a rut. He has no friends, Florida is really humid, there are lovebugs mating all over his arms, and he has yet to discover something. Amedeo would kill to discover something ANYTHING, but so far he's been plumb out of luck. Enter William Wilcox. A loner and the son of a woman who runs estate sales, William has recently been seen entering the home of the amazing Mrs. Zender and Amedeo wants to know why. After all, Mrs. Zender is a former opera star with a home full of antiques, treasures, and mysteries galore. It doesn't take long for Amedeo to insinuate himself into the home as well and soon he's helping William pack up Mrs. Zender's things. She'll be entering a home before too long, but before she does Amedeo is certain that this is the place to discover the one thing no one else could find except for him. Turns out, he's absolutely right.
One librarian I spoke to about this book noted that she liked it but that, "it wasn't a children's book." She may have a point there. The whole enterprise has a mature sensibility. Heck the conversations about how Mrs. Zender would always play a "boy or a bitch" and how her fans "all wanted to sleep with me", up the ante right there. It comes down to this; in the world Konigsburg has created here, the adults are far more interesting than the children. Reading through this book I got the distinct feeling that this would have made a far better stage play than title for the 10-14 set. The awkward sentences and too long pauses would fit better if read aloud by adults in front of an audience. Here they simply stand on the page looking awkward and out of place. The writing is fine but it doesn't always fit. The result is a frustrating title that doesn't quite know who it wants to speak to. Whenever a librarian faces a children's book that seems tailor made for only a particular kind of child we call it a "special book". I cannot say for certain, though, whether any child would enjoy "The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World". It seems not to have been written for them at all.
Sixth grader Amedeo Kaplan has just moved to St. Malo, Florida from New York and he's in a bit of a rut. He has no friends, Florida is really humid, there are lovebugs mating all over his arms, and he has yet to discover something. Amedeo would kill to discover something ANYTHING, but so far he's been plumb out of luck. Enter William Wilcox. A loner and the son of a woman who runs estate sales, William has recently been seen entering the home of the amazing Mrs. Zender and Amedeo wants to know why. After all, Mrs. Zender is a former opera star with a home full of antiques, treasures, and mysteries galore. It doesn't take long for Amedeo to insinuate himself into the home as well and soon he's helping William pack up Mrs. Zender's things. She'll be entering a home before too long, but before she does Amedeo is certain that this is the place to discover the one thing no one else could find except for him. Turns out, he's absolutely right.
One librarian I spoke to about this book noted that she liked it but that, "it wasn't a children's book." She may have a point there. The whole enterprise has a mature sensibility. Heck the conversations about how Mrs. Zender would always play a "boy or a bitch" and how her fans "all wanted to sleep with me", up the ante right there. It comes down to this; in the world Konigsburg has created here, the adults are far more interesting than the children. Reading through this book I got the distinct feeling that this would have made a far better stage play than title for the 10-14 set. The awkward sentences and too long pauses would fit better if read aloud by adults in front of an audience. Here they simply stand on the page looking awkward and out of place. The writing is fine but it doesn't always fit. The result is a frustrating title that doesn't quite know who it wants to speak to. Whenever a librarian faces a children's book that seems tailor made for only a particular kind of child we call it a "special book". I cannot say for certain, though, whether any child would enjoy "The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World". It seems not to have been written for them at all.
I think if this book had been by someone else, I would have been more impressed. But it reminded me too much of the author's incomparable From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Same idea of a cranky, eccentric, cool old lady with a lot of stuff who sets up an art-related mystery for two children to solve on their own. But here the main character is an exile from NY to Florida instead of a suburban runaway to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sorry, just doesn't match up.
I loved this book! I love the way Konigsburg writes; it is truly art. That being said, I don't think this book will win her any fans, and I am hesitant to say many children/young adults would enjoy the book. It's more a book for adults about children. If you are a fan of Konigsburg's, you will appreciate her artistry once again!