Books for Boys...
I saw this on Galley Cat, but the sound didn't work, so rather than linking to it, I've included the video below (because I just figured out how to do that).
Here's Glenn Beck on CNN "laying all the politically incorrect cards on the table" discussing books for boys with Nick of Time author Ted Bell. Oh boy (with the emphasis on oy)!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
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7 comments:
Everywhere we go, I pick up Nick of Time and show it to the kids just so they can say, "Hey, isn't that one of your projects?" and I can respond, "Well, yep!"
Last night during dinner, we had a nice lengthy discussion about the Glenn Beck interview. Gotta love kids!
I'm so grateful I stopped by your blog this morning and listened to the Ted Bell interview! I'm always on the lookout for good books for my son who would still rather have me read out loud to him than read a book himself. This book sounds like it just might do it!
"When was the last time the heroine did not save the brother?...It doesn't happen anymore."
What point was he really trying to make there? I mean, I think I get it...but do people actually listen to this guy to help form their opinions? And how many recent children's books do you think he actually read in order to form an opinion on what happens anymore.
Ugh.
- Jay
I'm with you, Jay! I'm all for boys having good adventure books to read, but all that boys-being-constantly- emasculated-by-literatures-stuff? I'm certain Glenn Beck doesn't read mid-grades and YA for pleasure. And I think he's a tool.
It sounds like Glenn is a bit threatened by today's literary heroines. And hello? Hasn't he ever heard of Gary Paulsen or Will Hobbs? And really, how many children's and YA novels do you think this guy has read? Like his other broadcasts, this one seems to be based on emotions and poor research.
It's kind of scary too that Beck sees the literature where the boy is not the clear hero and strongest character as having no values or virtue. I wonder what Bell thought of those comments. It looks like a good book, and it's fine that the hero is a boy, but Beck seems to think "oh, finally, a book the way it should be written! With the boy doing all the big important stuff!"
Guess he slept through all the Harry Potter stuff...
I really think Glenn was just trying to say that it was great to have an old-fashioned epic saga featuring a
brave boy as the hero. In fact, his 7 year old sister is equally if not more heroic in the book. The controversy surrounding this interview can be easily put to rest by reading the book. Fiction authors have a very difficult time getting exposure on national TV. I was not about to spend my time arguing with the host. I suppose I could have said, "Well, the girl's heroic, too, Glenn," but I wasn't thinking that fast and my job was to get the book's quallties out on the table, not clear up any confusion on the part of the host. The truth is, Glenn loves the book for all the right reasons. I knew that and so I let it go.
Ted Bell
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