I laughed so much over this book. Neil Gaiman did a great job capturing a child's imagination and running with it. I laughed so much over this book. Neil Gaiman did a great job capturing a child's imagination and running with it. ...more
This is probably one of the most beautiful children's books I've ever seen. I LOVE the black and white illustrations. both my girls are mesmerized by This is probably one of the most beautiful children's books I've ever seen. I LOVE the black and white illustrations. both my girls are mesmerized by Mary Howitt's cautionary tale of the Spider and the Fly....more
Gregor waking up one morning as a bug was a hilarious analogy of the effects an illness can have on someone, as well as on those who are close to him.Gregor waking up one morning as a bug was a hilarious analogy of the effects an illness can have on someone, as well as on those who are close to him. Though the underlying story behind the hilarity of the analogy was anything but funny. I took it as more of a warning of what NOT to do when a loved-one is afflicted by some unfortunate disease or circumstance. I found his resistance of acknowledging to himself that he had become a bug in the beginning of the story to be very interesting. When he couldn't ignore his state any longer, he looked to others' reactions as to how he would look at his own condition. As he was trying to unlock his bedroom door to let his parents and supervisor in, he thought,
"If they took fright, then Gregor would have no further responsibility and could rest in peace. But if they took it all calmly, then he had no reason to get excited either and he could, if he hurried, actually be at the station by eight."
The reaction of those around him, and most importantly, those of his closest loved-ones, is what influenced his own attitude towards himself and his own state. He became completely ashamed of himself, striving to completely hide himself from view, though it took great effort and pain on his part to do so. His imprisonment, or rather, his confinement from the company of others, had a devastating affect upon his mental well-being and in turn, affected his physical well-being. Such a sad story and the fact that his family didn't feel remorse for their actions, but relief for themselves at his death... I don't believe Kafka was trying to say this is how humans are indubitably, even though most of them try to put on a show of galantry and higher morals. But that humans certainly can become some of the most self-serving, self-centered creatures on Earth. It serves as a warning to us all that while it is good to allow others to serve us from time to time, it is far better to always serve others. Gregor's family had all become accustomed to being taken care of by him. They didn't even mind that he was held in servitude to pay off their debts. This was made evident when the fact was made known that Gregor's father had been saving up extra money earned by Gregor, when it could have been used to pay for his freedom much sooner. Gregor, on the other hand, had been serving his family and loved them purely because of it. His first thought was not of himself, but of the hardship his condition would cause his family.
So lest we fall into such an ugly state of existence, let us guard ourselves by serving those we love, thus loving more those we serve....more
Once you get past the shocking events that repeatedly take place in Poe's tales, you can't help but be taken in by the beautiful writing and story-telOnce you get past the shocking events that repeatedly take place in Poe's tales, you can't help but be taken in by the beautiful writing and story-telling, and from there, find humor in the horrid events. For you Poe fans out there, this book illustrated by Gris Grimly (don't you love that name?) is a REAL treat. I had to read "The Black Cat" three times, once to my cornered husband because I thought he might find humor in the owner/cat relationship and the hilarious illustrations.
One of my favorite quotes from "The Black Cat":
"I had enough of my old heart left as to be at first grieved by this evident dislike on the part of a creature which had once so loved me. But this feeling soon gave place to irritation. And then came the spirit if PERVERSENESS. Who has not, a hundred times, found himself committing a vile or stupid action, for no other reason than because he knows he should not? The spirit of perverseness, I say, came to be my final overthrow. It was this unfathomable longing of the soul to vex itself-- to do wrong for the wrong's sake only-- that urged me to continue and finally consummate the injury I had inflicted upon the unoffending brute.
