prog: (Default)
prog ([personal profile] prog) wrote2006-12-03 10:15 am
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The Giving Tree

Via [livejournal.com profile] jadelennox, I learn that The Giving Tree, one of my beloved books from childhood, has a great deal of controversy around it and is actually reviled by some children's literature scholars, herself included.

I find the controversy both surprising and interesting, but I think this is the first time I've seen a book I hold so dear (there are very few) get attacked like this. I put up a little defense for it in that thread, but seeing all the other commenters pour righteous scorn on it makes me feel queasy, as if all these people were rushing in to talk about how my Aunt Jan was actually a pirate who molested them as children or something. Bad news.

[identity profile] rserocki.livejournal.com 2006-12-03 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't think I ever read the whole book (I know it's not long) and I saw just part of the cartoon version, but I remember thinking it was sad to me.