Illustration from Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book by Dave McKean
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"Fantasy is a different approach to reality, an alternative technique for apprehending and coping with existence. It is not antirational, but pararational; not realistic but surrealistic, a heightening of reality. In Freud's terminology, it employs primary, not secondary process thinking. It employs archetypes, which, as Jung warned us, are dangerous things. Fantasy is nearer to poetry, to mysticism, and to insanity than naturalistic fiction is. It is a wilderness, and those who go there should not feel too safe." - Ursula K. Le Guin
The illustration is by Nikolaus Hedeibach
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Neil Gaiman...The Master of Alternate Reality
I first encountered Neil Gaiman in Coraline, the story of a little girl who finds a secret door in her family's new house; the door leads to a passageway that brings her to an eerie parallel reality. At first, she is intrigued and enchanted by this world where she has myriad adventures. In time she becomes frightened and senses that she is in great danger.
In Gaiman's own words in the Introduction to Trigger Warnings, "I'm thinking...about those images or words or ideas that drop like trapdoors beneath us, throwing us out of our sane, safe world into a place much more dark and less welcoming...there are things that wait for us, patiently, in the dark corridors of our lives."
The variety, volume and quality of Gaiman's work is awesome. He is also a terrific speaker as evidenced by numerous YouTube videos for audiences ranging from devoted fans to the Julius Schwartz lecture at MIT. He is actively concerned regarding humanitarian issues like the refugee crisis, at risk children, and the failure of the UK in these matters.
The photo at left was taken when Gaiman visited two refugee camps (2014) in Jordan run by the UN Refugee Agency...In May, 2017, Gaiman "offered to stage a dramatic reading of Dr Seuss’s Fox in Socks, if fans pledge $1m (£769,000) to help refugees. The British author made the offer after accepting a previous challenge to read out the menu of a US dessert chain in exchange for $500,000-worth of pledges to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)."
The photo of Neil Gaiman with refugee children in camp Azrag (Jordan) is by Jordi Matas/UNHCR
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Who Else but Neil Gaiman Would Write this Book?
The Graveyard Book (2008) by Neil Gaiman is the story of a boy whose parents are brutally murdered and who is adopted and raised in a graveyard by dead spirits and other supernatural inhabitants.
Is this a story concept that one would predict would sell over a million copies and win both the Newbery Medal and the Carnegie Medals? I don't think so. And yet, this is what happened. The book was on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year
I was skeptical of its appeal. I have now read the book and been won over. It is truly fascinating. It was inspired by watching his young daughter happily riding her bike in a graveyard. Many years later, he wrote the book.
The Graveyard Book
The illustration from the Graveyard Book is by Dave Mckean.
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"Parents shouldn't assume children are made out of sugar candy and will break and collapse instantly. Kids don't. We do." Maurice Sendak.
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Beyond Versatility... Retelling Stories and Myths from the Past
Neil Gaiman is able to enhance old fairy tales, myths, and stories handed down from the past in remarkable ways. Here are just three examples:
Hansel and Gretel
Gaiman wrote a version of the Grimm's Hansel and Gretel and made it even darker and more compelling. Here is an excerpt from Barking Planet blog when I wrote about this extraordinary book as well as earlier versions of Hansel and Gretel.
"The woodcutter's family was never certain who was fighting whom, nor why they were fighting, nor what they were fighting about. But beyond the forest, fields of crops were burned and barley fields became battlefields, and the farmers were killed, or made into soldiers in their turn and marched away. And soon enough the miller had no grain to mill into flour, the butcher had no animals to kill and hang in the window, and they said you could name your own price for a rabbit."
The illustration from Gaiman's Hansel and Gretel is by Lorenzo Mattotti.
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The Sleeper and the Spindle
Gaiman wrote a fascinating version of Sleeping Beauty entitled The Sleeper and the Spindle , wherein Snow White, now a Queen, with the help of four devoted dwarfs, resists the sleeping spell, and brings life to thousands caught in the timeless paralysis of sleep. I found this story to be a delightful mix of surprises, awakenings, and empowerment. Here is an excerpt...
"She was sitting up in bed. She looked so beautiful, and so very young. The queen looked at the girl, and saw what she was searching for: the same look that she had seen in her stepmother's eyes, and she knew what manner of creature this girl was."
Illustration from The Sleeper and the Spindle by Chris Riddell.
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And recently, Gaiman wrote his version of Norse Mythology...
Norse Mythology” is a playful retelling of ancient northern stories about the creation of the world and other pressing matters featuring Odin; Thor, the not-so-bright god with the hammer; and Loki, the god who makes all the trouble....
His new book starts with the beginning of the world and ends with its destruction by ice and fire and darkness before hope is restored, gingerly and tentatively, with the beginnings of a new earth from the ruins of the old one. Its message seems relevant just now." (excerpted from Sarah Lyall, New York Times ). Norse Mythology is another Gaimen best seller.
Here is a link to Gaiman discussing Norse Mythology, refugees, and writing.
Gaiman is currently writing a sequel to Neverwhere, entitled, The Seven Sisters. The book was partially inspired by his vist to UN refugee camps as well as "the shape London is in now.".
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Beyond Frontiers
"Theories about world literature, of which fairy tale is a fundamental part, emphasize the porousness of borders, geographical and linguistic: no frontier can keep a good story from roaming. It will travel, and travel far, and travel back again in a different guise, a changed mood, and, above all, a new meaning."
Marina Warner (by way of Terri Windling)
Illustration by Charles Vess.
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Oxfam
"Oxfam is an international confederation of 20 ngos working with partners in over 90 countries to end the injustices that cause poverty...
We are in the middle of the most serious refugee crisis since the Second World War, with millions of people risking everything to flee terrifying conflict, disaster and poverty. More than 65 million people worldwide have been forced to flee their homes. The majority – more than 38 million people – are displaced within their own countries. Others shelter in neighbouring countries or are still on the move, putting their lives in danger on treacherous journeys to seek refuge further from home...
And yet, having escaped the unthinkable, many vulnerable families are met by closed borders, hostility, discrimination, abuse and worse. Pushed into poverty by circumstances beyond their control, terrified of what their future might hold, these desperate families need safety and protection – and have a right to be treated with dignity."
Here is a link to this wonderful organization: Oxfam
Photo by Marco Djurica/Reuters
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Planet Of The Dogs...An Alternate Reality Series
"Planet of the Dogs is an adorable children’s book–especially for kids who love dogs. On a deeper level, this work teaches lessons relevant to today’s world; namely that loving one another unconditionally is better than greed and war...The author is able to impart these principles in a way suitable for children to understand. As well, the original illustrations add an extra dimension to the Planet of the Dogs.
My children and I look forward to reading more books from the Planet of the Dogs series. I give it five stars."
Charyl Miller Pingleton, The Uncommon Review
Here is a link to read sample chapters of the Planet Of The Dogs Series.
The illustration is by Stella Mustanoja-McCarty
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The New Sorcerers Apprentice Book
Jack Zipes has edited a new book, "A diverse new anthology that traces the meaning and magic of the sorcerer's apprentice tale throughout history." Here is an excerpt from the publisher's (Princeton) announcement.
"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" might conjure up images of Mickey Mouse from the Disney film Fantasia, or of Harry Potter. As this anthology reveals, however, "sorcerer's apprentice" tales—in which a young person rebels against, or complies with, an authority who holds the keys to magical powers—have been told through the centuries, in many languages and cultures, from classical times to today...
In an extensive introduction, esteemed fairy-tale scholar Jack Zipes discusses the significance and meaning of the apprentice stories, the contradictions in popular retellings, and the importance of magic as a tool of resistance against figures who abuse their authority. Twenty specially commissioned black-and-white illustrations by noted artist Natalie Frank bring the stories to visual life."
Here is a link with more information about the Sorcerer's Apprentice
I will review The Sorcerer's Apprentice next month in this blog.
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Stories from the Oral Tradition
“For most of human history, 'literature,' both fiction and poetry, has been narrated, not written — heard, not read. So fairy tales, folk tales, stories from the oral tradition, are all of them the most vital connection we have with the imaginations of the ordinary men and women whose labor created our world.” -- Angela Carter
Illustration by Francois Millet.
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Movies
Marvelous Miyazaki...the Master of Alternate Worlds in Cinema
Visit Hayao Miyazaki at this link, Alternate Reality, for a marvelous visual video journey of 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
Miyazaki's films are extraordinary and this is a lovely montage of wondrous moments.
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Disney...The Early Days
Disney has received much criticism for failing to give credit to original sources, and for compromising fairy tales by reducing/compromizing the stories and substituting excessive sugar coating for content. I agree with this criticism. Like virtually all film producers, Disney is focused on profit. They now use market research to guide the "creative process". This leads to compromises, sugar coating, and disregard for the original sources.
However, in my experience, in the early days, they produced some films that were wonderful experiences, very imaginative, and a wonderful introduction to the world of fantasy. To illustrate my early Disney experiences, I present three excerpts :
The transformation of Snow White's stepmother, the Queen, into a witch... Transformation
The death of Bambi's mother.
Pinocchio becomes a jackass.
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Despicable Me 3
I saw the trailer for Despicable Me 3 and enjoyed this imaginative animated alternate reality. It was new to me, but has proved very popular with audiences in two earlier versions. And so, I share with you a review excerpt from a man who has seen all the films in the Despicable Me series:
The Despicable Me series has shown there is life outside Pixar and Disney, both commercially and artistically,... While all the elements that brought the first two Despicable Mes inordinate popularity are present and correct, it might perhaps be churlish to suggest that the charm is beginning to wear off – just a tiny bit... Despicable Me 3 will certainly keep the younger elements of its audience happy, with its dose of aspartame-rush hyperactivity. But for everyone else it may prove decent rather than captivating.
To read more... Here is Andrew Pulver's Review in the Guardian:
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Dr. Seuss Museum has Arrived
The Dr Suess museum has opened in Springfield, MA., the hometown of Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991) whose books sold over 600 million copies and were translated into over 20 languages by the time of his death.
"Through the front door of the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield, Mass., the mind of the beloved children’s book author Theodor Seuss Geisel springs to life. The new three-floor museum is lush with murals, including one with a proo, a nerkle, a nerd and a seersucker, too. Around one corner, visitors will find an immense sculpture of Horton the Elephant from “Horton Hears a Who!”
Excerpted from an article by Sopan Deb in the NYTimes.
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Susan Purser and Her Therapy Dog, Rose
I have been in touch for many years with Susan Purser, a retired school teacher. I recently received a warm, thoughtful, message -- and photographs -- regarding the hands that reach out for Rose. Here is an excerpt..."aged hands, searching for memories and then sharing them with whispers in Rose's ear or while hugging her neck...Rose has been therapy dog for Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care for fifteen years...she doesn't understand future nor how long or short time is. She does devote her total attention to these lovely people in their time of need. She gives comfort that I can only observe and opens those ever so special memory doors that only she can enter...I am a facilitator and I do believe, if she could drive, she would not need me! Pet therapy is such a special part of the people's lives and I am truly blessed to have entered this treasured space for just a little while and then I think, where have fifteen years gone? "
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Circling The Waggins...How 5 Misfit Dogs Saved Me from Bewilderness
This book, by dog advocate and author C.A. Wulff, is a terrific memoir of life in a cabin in the forest where rescued dogs and other critters are an integral part of human life filled with surprises and love.
"The author brings alive the small pleasures and also the pain of those who live with a pack. Rescue people have some of the most extraordinary stories to tell and this book tells them well. The pain of loss and the unexpected beauties of life are shared in this book and I'm the richer for the reading. I have a pack myself and I could empathize with the author and feel as though I'd recognize the dogs and cats if I saw them! The author has spent a lifetime in exploration of the terrain where human and non human lives intersect and left us this treasure map. Read it, you'll be glad you did." - Kindle customer
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The Frog Prince and the Middle Age Woman
"There is a joke about a middle-aged woman who happens upon a frog in the woods. 'Kiss me, kiss me.' says the frog,' and I'll turn into a handsome prince!' The woman stares, entranced, but doesn't move.
'What's the matter'? asks the frog, growing impatient. 'Don't you want a handsome prince?'
'I'm sorry,' says the woman, 'but at this stage in my life I'm actually more interested in a talking frog.'"
Excerpted from a short story, Paris, by Lorrie Moore.
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Trump Becomes First President to Fall Down the Rabbit Hole
The president fell down the rabbit hole and lives there in an alternate reality where he is never wrong. A fact takes new form whenever it's brillig. Humpty Dumpty is in line to replace the Attorney General and Tweedledum has negotiated fantastic new tax exemptions for billionaires. Golf has replaced tea parties and the Mad Hatter has resigned as Trump's hair dresser. It's fantastic and another promise of new jobs fulfilled.
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Guns In America
National Geographic produced a thoughtful and disturbing documentary on Guns In America. In 50 minutes, this video delivers a comprehensive portrait of people in many walks of life and the impact of guns that affects all of our lives.
Here is a link to National Geographic's Guns in America
The photo was taken in Sandy Hook following the murders
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The NRA is Rewriting Fairy Tales
The illustration of Little Red Riding Hood is by Laura Zombie
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The Yelodoggie Book Search is On
We are now actively searching for a publisher who will love the book, Why Am I, embrace its potential, and launch it into the world.
Why Am I ? is a joyous Yelodoggie book that helps children recognize and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us. Why Am I teaches tolerance.
We believe that Why Am I ?, C.A. Wulff's wonderful new Yelodoggie book should have a big marketing push and wide distribution. Kids 4-8 love it and we are hoping it will be the beginning of a series.
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The Planet Of The Dogs Series
To read sample chapters of any book in the series, visit PlanetOfTheDogs
The Planet Of The Dogs series (including Castle In The Mist and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale) is available on the Internet through independent book stores, as well as : Barnes&Noble, Amazon, Powell's, Walmart, Kobo, Inktera, Scribd, and Tolino.
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