Comments on: On Razor-Blade Millionaires; the Moon on a Chain and Being Content with What you Have

By: prochaskas

prochaskas — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 22:55:35 +0000

Being a writer doesn't mean you like flowery and poetic language all the time or even at all. In certain moods or situations I much prefer straightforward, plain speaking.

It would take a special kind of counselor to make a pointed didactic story-telling not rub me the wrong way.

By: Anita Mathias

Anita Mathias — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 22:00:49 +0000

Marcy, exactly. So the razor-blade was for me, and the moon for Roy.

Interestingly, for a writer, I am quite plain-spoken, and this counsellors way of telling stories drove me nuts. But he is very well-known here, and i have a friend who was rapidly changed and delivered from guilt by a story he told her. Interesting way of counselling!!

By: prochaskas

prochaskas — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 00:16:33 +0000

You found and read it already?!!

The point? I think it's listening -- and going with instead of against. The jester is the hero.

It still has some aspects of frothy preciousness (surfeit of raspberry tarts? give her whatever she asks for and she will be well?!) common to some older children's books -- Peter Pan, Oz, even Pooh.

But I love the jester.

By: Anita Mathias

Anita Mathias — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 23:28:43 +0000

Ah, thank you, Marcy. What a beautiful story and so well written. I love his luscious, evocative detail, his quiet humour, the incantatory, magical quality to the story. Fab.

Still don't get the point though. I think I missed the point of half the counsellor's stories. That was his main method of counselling--telling stories!

By: prochaskas

prochaskas — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 22:59:19 +0000

The original moon story is Many Moons by James Thurber, Caldecott winner, rather more nuanced than this retelling (even if the original has some suspect illustrations), and worth a read.

By: Miss Mollie

Miss Mollie — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:39:27 +0000

Ah, yes, content in all things is the secret to life. My mother had that in her last four years when she was down to one room. She enjoyed her TV, winning us gifts from bingo, and the visitors that graced her door. That was a true blessing.