Sep. 2nd, 2006

callmemadam: (books)
I've read it, of course. Couldn't resist and then grudged every second not spent reading it, at the same time wanting to slow down so I wouldn't finish what is probably the last ever Casson book. I can't praise these books too highly; they go way beyond people's idea of children's fiction in their humour and humanity. Don't be put off by the chicklet lit covers! I especially enjoyed the school scenes in this one.

That said, the books are in a long tradition of children's literature in being agreeable fantasy. Let's face it. Eve, however loving, is a barely adequate mother who fails to feed her children properly and leaves them alone in the house at night while she sleeps in the shed. The fact that this comes over as delightful and somehow just another way to live is a tribute to McKay's skill. In fact, life would be a lot more frightening for the Casson children if it were not for safe, capable Sarah's Mother just down the road.

The ending leaves plenty of scope for yet more fluctuations in these ramshackle lives.

Profile

callmemadam: (Default)
callmemadam

August 2024

S M T W T F S
    123
456789 10
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526 2728293031

Most Popular Tags

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 19th, 2025 12:29 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios