Week 2, April 8-14, Chapter 7-13

[Francesca]

This was a nice, short read. We're going to take a few weeks off before starting our next book. I'll let you all know what the next book is a soon as RA picks it!!

[DiggerAdelgren]

I have major concerns about where Leslie is getting her ideas of pleasing the spirits of the grove. Are her parents into New Age or something? There is a marked difference in worshipping spirits and worshipping the Spirit of God. And groves sound a lot like in the Bible with Asherah poles right beside them-God tells us to cut them down.

It was sad to see Jess' family, though trying to be moral, only went to church on Easter. It hurts to know that a major problem in the church is pride. We are always comparing ourselves with ourselves in which the Bible says is not wise. Our standard should be Christ and we should love others as He has loved us not based on our clothes or our financial status. I know we have been excluded from a lot based on the financial issues as well as being without children and health issues. What is the church for?? Another social club? Some churches are becoming that way. I know I've often wanted to exclude people based on character. (bad company corrupts good character) But if you are strong in the Lord, your good character should be affecting them not the other way around. If their character causes you to stumble, it's not a good idea to be around them. But we are to be witnesses to the lost. Jesus was our example of this.

I know I get off sometimes on these things, but what a statement May Belle makes to Leslie about what happens if you don't believe the Bible. A little drastic for her to say, but she must have been listening somewhere. Though, as Leslie is right(though not knowing why) it's not God's desire to send us to hell, we choose it by not believing Him or His Word. And Jess saying he's read most of it and it's about the only book they've got around thier house.( As opposed to Leslie's house of lots of books and her parents being writers.) And May Belle's honest loving concern for Leslie, "But Leslie, what if you die? What's going to happen to you if you die?" (sounds a little prophetic in the warning) It's funny this is in the book with nothing more said about it. And she seemed to be searching. What a tragedy for her to die and not know Christ. And sad to think that all the bad spiritual influence Leslie taught Jess, he is about to pass on to his two younger sisters. That's a problem mixing of truth and lies=one becomes confused.


I was stunned that parents would let their children play around a river when it was raining. And I again question the rope swinging with the river, I tend to picture a fallen tree like in the movie.

I'm shocked that a teacher would be so bold to take one student for a field trip without written permission from a parent. Yes, she was a liberated woman. Too liberal for me.

Good to see Leslie's soft heart towards Janice and Jess' concern too. Often good to see why people act the way they do before making a total judgement of them. It is often tempting to do something cruel to some one else who is cruel to us or be happy when they are hurt, but where's the love in that?

That's all for now-at least that was the main things that stuck out to me.

Happy Resurrection Day to you all!!!~Digger

[beccalou]

Well, I did finish this book, and without damaging it.

It was very sad but I love the softening of the hearts in the end. Even Jess' towards his sisters. Funny thing was when the bridge was built, I could actaully see Terabithia.

Isn't it comforting to know that when someone dies( or something for that matter) the memories that we have shared or built can still go on. With Jess I think that was his way of dealing with the loss of his true love...at least he still had Terabithia.

I thought he also gave a very worthy memorial for Leslie. I too think she would have been pleased.

[Francesca]

OK, when this book is re-written according to Susanna Francesca (my pen name, of course!) P.T. will be staying with Jess and his family. Yeah, Leslie's Dad needed him for comfort, but the dog stays with the boy and with Terabithia... got it??!!

Concerning the rope... I imagine it as one of those long ropes that actually drags into the water and has several knots tied into it for a hand/foot hold area. Therefore the swinger just keeps hold of it and ties in onto the side of the river they are on.

I had mentioned to a girl at work that we were going to be reading this book in our club. Without thinking she blurted out how sad it was when the little girl dies... so, I knew Leslie was going to die and yet I was STILL surprised. Looking back Ms. Paterson led up to the event by creating Jess's fear of how wild the water would be and how much he didn't want to go to Terabithia that day. It just seemed so sudden. I was excited about Jess sharing the day's events with Leslie and, boom, she wasn't there. I didn't expect her to die without the reader observing it.

One confession... I finished this book last Monday night. Just could not handle it. This book was a bit of a mile-stone for me. (The following may shock and fill some of you with horror...) It's the first book that I read word for word without looking ahead. Yup, no back page reading for me... and honestly, I think this is the first time I've ever done that. I just finished another book today and didn't read ahead in it either.... baby steps, people!!! Just shows we can all give up our carnal ways!!!

One final thing, RA wants to wait to read her pick until the next time around. (She won't even tell me her pick so I can't over-ride this decision... it's killing me!!!) Anyway, we'll start The Hidden Hand April 29.

[Kellieara]

First of all, I apologize for the emotional stress I have caused anyone with this book (REBECCA!!!) by suggesting it to Annaleigh. It's not based on a true story or anything, if that makes you feel better.

I thought the Easter chapter was most interesting. You have two families, both seemingly non-Christian (although Jess's mother would probably disagree with me)....at least they are non-church-goers, and yet you still have the influence of the Bible and annual holiday services playing a part and influencing the conversation. It makes me wonder what Ms. Paterson's religious bent is. I know she wrote Jacob, Have I Loved, which is basically an allegory of sorts for the rift between Jacob and Esau (another good read, by the way). She thrust that chapter in right before Leslie's death, and it was no accident that the whole after-life and forgiveness of sins came up when it did. The foreshadowing was not subtle. If she'd been given more time, I'm sure Leslie would have explored that "beautiful story" a bit more.

I'm with you on the teacher, Digger. That is tomorrow's headline waiting to happen. You can majorly tell there that this book was written in the late 70s, when that sort of a "thing" was not as commonplace. I know as a teacher of adolescents, we were very specifically told to be extremely careful about even touching a student when you're leaning over their desk, etc. Taking them out for a solo field trip would have been grounds for dismissal. It's sad in a way, because you can tell that she was just truly interested in Jess as a gifted student.

I know that it is so, so sad that Leslie died, yet we must remember that this is Jess's coming-of-age story, and really Leslie is the author's catalyst for that happening. In a lot of ways (and forgive me here for over analyzing, but remember...I'm an English major...it's what we do!) but Leslie is Jess's bridge to Terabithia, becoming who he really is. Without the arrival of Leslie, Jess would have grown up to be probably someone like his dad...a nice guy, but someone who is not reaching his full potential. Even though Leslie's influence was brief, we can see a different Jess at the end of the book. OK...I'm coming out from behind my podium now...

OK, so how about our first book club field trip to go see the movie? Anyone game?

[Francesca]

Actually, I really do want to see the movie now. From what I gathered from the previews, Terabithia is really imagined to life more than in the book. The girl at work said it is great.

[beccalou]

I just thought I'ld let everyone know that my emotional status on this book is ok. I really did enjoy it and I too must confess, I think I finished it Easter Sunday...

Francesca, I hate to break it to you but I personally think the rope was like the one you and I swung on with Jason and Joel.(Just a log rope hanging from a tree.) Remember when I fell in the water and Joel tried to fish me out with his fishing pole??? I remeber it was scary, cause the current was strong and I wasn't quite strong wnough to fight it. I was lucky cause I was saved. Oh, the good times back then.

I too would love to see the movie now.

[pjreads]

Annie, thanks for leading us to Teribitha; it's a book I would have passed by otherwise! I enjoyed it thoroughly (so did Pa; he finished it several days before I did).

There were many unresolved thoughts for me in this book. I think I need to just take it on the level it is given or else I'm going to have to rewrite a few chapters

Miss Edmunds reminded me of my 7th grade music teacher. She was beautiful, fun, a little "outside the box", was passionate about music, teaching, and was a real champion for her students. She was probably in her early 30's, was engaged and was dearly loved by all of us. I never saw her relating to any other staff and think she was probably a loner. At any rate her love for us all translated into an award winning Jr. High choir! I wonder if there are many like her out there today!

Miss Edmunds also reminded me of Homer's teacher in October Sky!

Last thought re/Miss Edmunds: I thought her to be representative of the young lady that Leslie would have become.

Hard questions:
1) What did our author want us to glean from Easter Sunday?

2) Why did Jesse slug MayBelle( it's a good thing Brenda or Ellie didn't ask him the question; he'd have probably flattened them!) and how many pancakes did he actually eat (I was so concerned that he might literally choke on his grief!)

3) I'm grateful for the tenderness and compassion displayed by Jesse's mother, dad, and teacher, but did they return to their "keep my humanity to myself" and "take the boy for granted" selves?

4) What about Jesse's "Father, into thy hands I commend her spirit"? (where did Ms. Paterson want us to go with that? )

4) Will Jesse really enjoy being the fastest runner in the fifth grade now?



Ah well...a good read , and I'm sure we wish MayBelle well as the new Queen of Teribithia!

p.s.
I can see all of you as queens of your own fantasy kingdoms at Leslie's age...believe it or not, I was once there myself


Love and hugs to all

[Annie]

I am for sure NOT an emotional person. But I found myself crying, not when Jess finds out that Leslie died, but when he through the paper and paints into the river.

I also found that when I just finished the book and was thinking about it, that I really was mad at the teacher that Jess is "IN love with."

Well... I really think, that is from the commecials, that the movie ruins the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[praisegirl]

See what happens when I finish a book ahead of schedule - I forget to post on the end of the book! Hmmm... where to begin?

I'll start with something I didn't see anyone else address. I really enjoyed the Golden Room chapter. I was glad we got to know Leslie's parents better and Bill's praise for Jess' handiness around the house was something I had been craving for Jess. When they were done it made me want to take my book and go read in the Golden Room.

I have to agree about Miss Edmunds in all respects. I think she was the grown up version of Leslie, which is the only reason I can see why Ms. Paterson brought her back into the story. If you think about it, what teacher would take a student alone (without a malicious or disgusting intent) without getting permission from the parent directly. In my story Jess would have gone job hunting with his dad in Washington and had a great day of bonding and understanding one another.

There are other things one could analyze such as the Easter chapter, but they have mightily discussed already. I think we have to keep in mind that this book is written for young minds that probably miss 80 percent of the things we discuss. This book, though an extremely enjoyable read, was intended for a book club comprised of 10 years olds - not their mothers.

One last thought - Susan, you are perfectly right, Jess gets the dog. What other outcome could there have been? I literally yelled at the book when I read that. I have decided though she is a great author, Ms. Paterson should be committed to some sort of literary prison for that atrocity.

Let me know when we are watching the movie. Are we all renting on the same night?

Love ya ~

Amy

[praisegirl]

Oh, and Annie, the other time I yelled at the book was when Jess threw his paints in the river. That was also when the tears in my eyes finally slipped down my cheek.

People respond to pain differently and I found it interesting that Ms. Paterson so ably depicted pain and the struggle of expressing pain/grief "appropriately".

[Kellieara]

Earlier this week, the movie was still in theaters here. I had decided I would try to take Annie to a matinee this weekend. On Friday, I looked in the paper to check the times, and it was gone! Shucks... Maybe we could all rent it the same night....