Oh you didn't rain on it at all. Not one bit. These are the kinds of conversations I love to see show up. I felt that so strongly with the giving tree. Less so with Velveteen Rabbit because the rabbit gets rewarded and become a real bunny who can run and hop. But even still, there's an underlying message about sacrifice for reward.
And if we were to dig even deeper, it makes me wonder if humans resonate with stories of sacrifice because we are taught that it's noble somehow. Jesus dying for the people's sins. Mothers giving up everything for their children. Men sacrificing to provide. We are so very attached to the concept of sacrifice. Why is that? Those are the conversations I love to have.
Wouldn't it be nice? Too many people are too attached to being right. A closed mind gathers no new thoughts. Can't imagine thinking what I know is all there is to know. Lord, the world would be in such trouble if all I know was all there is. lmao
I think sacrifice is ennobled because we are not only a social creature, but one with less than fearsome natural tools. I can envision an aging member of a tribe of Homo sapiens putting himself between a giant beast and a helpless tribe member a hundred thousand years ago, setting precedent for his descendants. We are storytellers, and his fearlessness and sacrifice lifted him into the pantheon of gods. Sitting around the fire at night, his deeds were told again and again by the tribe.
Our lives are short, unless we can find a way to be remembered.
That's a very good thought. It begs a question, for me. At the point when the giant beast is there, what motivates the man to put himself between the beast and the tribe? Is it because he wants to be remembered? Or because of his love for the people he is standing in front of? I have put myself between danger and a loved one and it wasn't because I want to be remembered.
Agreed. It very could have been for love. If it was a male, there is a huge drive to prove yourself courageous or worthy. I don’t think that it was necessarily a thought out action. It could have just have been foolishness. ‘Hell, that bear doesn’t look so tough. Let me go have a word with him.’
Of those choices, my favorite is love. Soldiers perform great acts of courage not for patriotism or the chance for glory, but out of love for their fellow soldiers. Just spitballing, but it’s a worthy topic for speculation.
I'm always thankful when publishers stick with writers through 4 books that don't sell well to give them a chance at writing something that endures. I don't think we have a system like that anymore. Perhaps writers are just people who don't succumb to the pressure to quit.
No, I didn't know that about McMurtry, but I was aware that publishers did used to support writers for longer. I bet there are a lot of examples. So much of the modern writing sphere is entrepreneurial stuff about how to make a quick buck.
I'm now thinking it was Cormac McCarthy, but can't find the NYT story that expanded on it. So I'll leave it with what you said -- a lot of really good authors don't hit their stride until they've published a few books, and modern publishing doesn't put up with that. So we're missing out on masterpieces that writers who were dropped would have written, had they not had to take jobs selling insurance or something.
There are a lot of books and stories that move me like that.
The "Rainbow Bridge" where dead pets go to play to await their owners is another.
My wife says that when she gets there, at least nine dogs will be charging her in joy.
I told her that her favorite, Monster the Mighty Moose, will win. He was 150 lbs. of Humane Society love. 50 percent Rottie (bulk and looks), 25 percent Retriever (sweetness), and 25 percent Terrier (smartness). Greatest dog we ever had.
Noted- hadn’t thought of that point! Linda- you are always in the corners - the directional center of two-way discourse. You do it with style, too! Admirable
Oh you didn't rain on it at all. Not one bit. These are the kinds of conversations I love to see show up. I felt that so strongly with the giving tree. Less so with Velveteen Rabbit because the rabbit gets rewarded and become a real bunny who can run and hop. But even still, there's an underlying message about sacrifice for reward.
And if we were to dig even deeper, it makes me wonder if humans resonate with stories of sacrifice because we are taught that it's noble somehow. Jesus dying for the people's sins. Mothers giving up everything for their children. Men sacrificing to provide. We are so very attached to the concept of sacrifice. Why is that? Those are the conversations I love to have.
Wouldn't it be nice? Too many people are too attached to being right. A closed mind gathers no new thoughts. Can't imagine thinking what I know is all there is to know. Lord, the world would be in such trouble if all I know was all there is. lmao
I think sacrifice is ennobled because we are not only a social creature, but one with less than fearsome natural tools. I can envision an aging member of a tribe of Homo sapiens putting himself between a giant beast and a helpless tribe member a hundred thousand years ago, setting precedent for his descendants. We are storytellers, and his fearlessness and sacrifice lifted him into the pantheon of gods. Sitting around the fire at night, his deeds were told again and again by the tribe.
Our lives are short, unless we can find a way to be remembered.
That's a very good thought. It begs a question, for me. At the point when the giant beast is there, what motivates the man to put himself between the beast and the tribe? Is it because he wants to be remembered? Or because of his love for the people he is standing in front of? I have put myself between danger and a loved one and it wasn't because I want to be remembered.
Agreed. It very could have been for love. If it was a male, there is a huge drive to prove yourself courageous or worthy. I don’t think that it was necessarily a thought out action. It could have just have been foolishness. ‘Hell, that bear doesn’t look so tough. Let me go have a word with him.’
Of those choices, my favorite is love. Soldiers perform great acts of courage not for patriotism or the chance for glory, but out of love for their fellow soldiers. Just spitballing, but it’s a worthy topic for speculation.
Billionaires don't sacrifice.
Corporations don't sacrifice.
Greed don't sacrifice.
We are TRAINED to sacrifice to bolster collapsing societies in the face of government incompetence, negligence, and corruption.
The existence of Charities is a failure of government.
This is even better than outstanding.
I'm always thankful when publishers stick with writers through 4 books that don't sell well to give them a chance at writing something that endures. I don't think we have a system like that anymore. Perhaps writers are just people who don't succumb to the pressure to quit.
Did you ever read how long Larry McMurtry’s publisher kept him before he hit it big? We would not have Lonesome Dove today.
No, I didn't know that about McMurtry, but I was aware that publishers did used to support writers for longer. I bet there are a lot of examples. So much of the modern writing sphere is entrepreneurial stuff about how to make a quick buck.
I'm now thinking it was Cormac McCarthy, but can't find the NYT story that expanded on it. So I'll leave it with what you said -- a lot of really good authors don't hit their stride until they've published a few books, and modern publishing doesn't put up with that. So we're missing out on masterpieces that writers who were dropped would have written, had they not had to take jobs selling insurance or something.
One of my favorite epic westerns.
I normally don't like westerns, but this one is special.
I love that book. Guaranteed tears with every reading.
I'm 61 years old.
Every time I think of this book, I start crying.
Me too.
There are a lot of books and stories that move me like that.
The "Rainbow Bridge" where dead pets go to play to await their owners is another.
My wife says that when she gets there, at least nine dogs will be charging her in joy.
I told her that her favorite, Monster the Mighty Moose, will win. He was 150 lbs. of Humane Society love. 50 percent Rottie (bulk and looks), 25 percent Retriever (sweetness), and 25 percent Terrier (smartness). Greatest dog we ever had.
Me too
Yep.
Trying to figure out what is real and what is not has been the story of my life since I was that boy's age.
Can you see the tears rolling down my cheeks?
I'm even older than Kiwiwriter47 - 68! And I cry thinking of the book, too. That, and The Little Prince
it’s wonderful, how reading, music, nature, and art can create strong emotions, thank you for writing this.
The Velveteen Rabbit is perhaps the deepest story I've ever read.
Beautiful. Another one for the list. 😊
How a book for children can totally decimate an adult. The simplicity is the proof of power in writing cleanly. Simply. Truthfully.
That's it exactly. Funny how often the books that decimate adults are the ones written for children. The power of clean simple honest words.
Noted- hadn’t thought of that point! Linda- you are always in the corners - the directional center of two-way discourse. You do it with style, too! Admirable
Poignant and true, but what a comforting ending for those of us dealing currently with anticipatory grief. Appreciated.