One of my favorite themes in movies or literature is the idea of regular people doing amazing things. It's a very popular theme, but I'm always left a bit disappointed about how it is handled. Take these current movies (yes, I only watch kids' movies, so they are the only examples I have to work with):
Tinkerbell: a small tinker fairy, one of the most "unflashy" of all fairy assignments, ends up saving spring by inventing a whole slew of amazing tools and machines.
KungFu Panda: a fat and flabby panda, who dreams of being a kungfu master, gets the chance to train and become the Dragon Warrior, but fails miserably. But when the ultimate crisis arises, he is able to defeat his much more powerful opponent by simply believing in himself (and pulling off the awesome Wuxi Finger Hold).
Narnia: the four average Pevensie children find themselves fighting an epic battle against terrible beasts and the evil White Witch. They win, thanks in large part to the amazing sword skill of Peter Pevensie.
So here is what always bugs me about these sorts of movies . . . the message is supposed to be "everyone is valuable, even the most average individual can accomplish amazing things, you just have to believe in yourself and anything can happen . . ."
But honestly, no matter how much I believe in myself, I could never invent the miraculous tools needed to save spring, or fight off Tai Lung, or wield a sword against a cyclops. The "average" people that they use in these stories to prove their point may seem average on the surface. But the truth is, they have amazing underlying skills.
I, on the other hand, am really and truly just average. Can't there be a story about a legitimately AVERAGE person - no special skill, no rare hidden talent - who accomplishes something amazing? I've laid in bed many a night, writing just such a story in my head. But in addition to not having awesome kungfu skills, I also don't have remarkable writing skills. So the stories have never developed beyond my nighttime musings.
Then (at long last, we get to the real purpose of this post), I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Finally, the story that I have been waiting for, longing for. Here is a real average girl who does one of the most AMAZING things I have ever read about. And it didn't require super skills or extraordinary abilities. It was something that even I, average me, could have done. (I think. I hope.)
So Thank You Erin for recommending this book. I can't wait to read it again and again. And if you decide to read it, tell me what you think of the chapter entitled "Way of the Words." It's towards the end of the book. It's what makes this book perfect. It's what finally satiated my longing.
7 comments:
It's on my to-read list, and I'm moving it to the top!
Oh, and I just read this post to Brad. He said to tell you, and I quote, "My wife is an aspiring author and I think your writing skills are better than hers." So go for it, write that story! Brad and I both think you underestimate yourself!
I think there is a movie like that. "It's a Wonderful Life!" George Bailey is a truly average man who does great things in the lives of others without even knowing it.
OK, just put a hold on this one.
We just read that for book club and I liked it. It's a good one. I'm finally finishing the last Twilight book. I resisted reading it, then once I started them over Christmas break I decided to finish them. I liked the first one a lot and then each one a little less after that. But I continue to read them. . . January is my favorite month for reading! Good luck in your quest for reading and beyone. :)
Well thanks for giving away the end of tinker bell!
"The Book Thief" was my favorite book of 2008. Meaning, it was the best book I read. I actually stayed up all night to finish it. It is such a joy to read a well-written book.
I wish I could read it to the boys, but I think they would be traumatized by it.
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