Classics You Don't Have to Read

Classics you don't have to read?! Is there such a category?! Didn't I just tell you not to skip the real Winnie-the-Pooh for the Disney version?!

Well, yes...but I am also all about efficiency and guilt-free parenting. I do occasionally come across a few books about which I hear people say "you just have to read this," and I politely agree to disagree. (In fact, you are welcome to politely agree to disagree with anything I post! I even encourage debate and dialogue. I like to know people are thinking for themselves.)

If, however, you don't have enough time to think for yourself, please take my opinions as gospel-truth.

I read a couple of classics with my 8 year-old daughter this year that I don't plan to read with my 5 year-old. I find a lot of it depends on personality and my 8 year-old is compliant and patient enough to sit through almost any book. Also, she likes to finish what she starts, like her mom. The 5 year-old has none of these personality flaws.

The first book was Swiss Family Robinson, unabridged. I found this book to be outdated, redundantly lengthy, scientifically preposterous and unrealistic in general. But it also had it's entertaining moments, like the giant snake that threatened to engulf the family. Also, it piqued our imaginations. We enjoyed talking about what we might do to survive such a situation, as well as the pros and cons of the situation. Finally, I did appreciate the religious and moral values of the family. They frequently thank God for his provisions and instate a regular worship and sabbath in their new civilization.

The second book was The Secret Garden. And I confess, I had great expectations for this book. I had heard fantastic endorsements of the book. It had been a huge part of some people's childhoods and is on most "must-read" lists. I tried to love the book. I managed to tolerate it and sometimes even liked it. But it was an extremely slow read. I was amazed my daughter was as charmed with it as she was. I could tell it was a struggle at times. Again, could probably have 5-10 chapters shortened or trimmed. I was disappointed that the spiritual aspect of the book centered around magic and postitive thinking, altho alternatively that "magic" could be God doing his work in the world. The importance of the book centered around spring-time, coming-to-life, friendship and the maturing of spoiled, self-centered children. Those are certainly worthy themes, but if your audience includes a slightly spoiled child (i.e., an American child) I would rather recommend George MacDonald's fairy tale The Wise Woman/The Lost Princess.

One of my soap-box issues is that we all have only so much time to spend with our kids and our hobbies, so we must use that time wisely and discern how to best influence our families. For this reason it can be acceptable to read abridged versions of classics, children's versions, even comic book versions! And I have occasionally (albeit, rarely) found a movie to be a better conduit of story than a lengthy classic. Walt Disney's Swiss Family Robinson is a rousing adventure that will still hold kids' attention with live-action animal and nature sequences. Okay, so they eliminated a brother. The story works as well with 3 sons as with 4. Likewise, the 1993 production of The Secret Garden achieved film success by wisely trimming the detritus of the story while leaving the necessary character development, language and plot intact. In fact, a quality movie enhances a story such as Secret Garden by bringing stunning visual imagery to life.

Sometimes the best way to handle such classics is to pair an abridged version with the movie version. I think it's especially important to offer Secret Garden to our kids because it is frequently performed at school and community theaters-another wonderful way to introduce our families to the arts.

In my next post I'll cover a few classics that my family has found to be "must-reads." I hope to spur some of you on to challenging reads with your kids or perhaps an ongoing debate as to what constitutes "good" literature. Looking forward to some feedback...!

Darkness Is My Only Companion

In addition to raising kids and cats, helping at school, pharmacizing, and turning the lights off around my home, I also volunteer a couple hours a week to organizing and maintaining our church's library. So, when not reviewing good children's books in this space, I will occasionally put in a plug for something I come across while dusting shelves over at the church.

I just finished Darkness Is My Only Companion (subtitled "A Christian Response to Mental Illness") by Kathryn Greene-McCreight. This slim volume takes its title from the final line of Psalm 88. In it, Greene-McCreight shares her personal experience with manic-depressive (bipolar) illness. A theologian, her book is full of quotes from the Psalms, Job, the New Testament and the Book of Common Prayer, as well as Spurgeon, Christina Rossetti, John Donne and William Cowper. She importantly reminds us of the contributions made by those with depression and other mental illnesses including Van Gogh, Emily Dickinson, John Bunyan, Charles Dickens and Handel.

Given that 1 in 4 of us will experience some level of mental illness at some point in our lives (www.nami.org) it is crucial that the Christian church begins to learn a better response in dealing with these issues. As life becomes more chaotic, difficult and even dysfunctional, depression and anxiety are on the rise. This is to be expected biblically as we exist in a fallen world and our society moves farther from its Creator. (Christianity Today magazine also gives a review of the depression epidemic in their March 2009 issue, www.christianitytoday.com.)

Greene-McCreight also gives wise counsel for those seeking helpful therapy. Having worked with both secular and Christian therapists she suggests a careful interview process to find a professional with a compatible world view. She makes an interesting argument that seeing a quality secular therapist could be the modern equivalent of Moses and his Israelites spoiling the Egyptians of their gold. A sort of "take the good and leave the bad" philosophy, or a twist on Augustine's "all truth is God's truth." Again, she cautions this is only true as long as the counselor respects your religion and world view.

Greene-McCreight's book is helpful for those who want an intimate picture of what mental illness looks and feels like, as well as a scriptural review of the anguish many Bible characters poured out to God. We are still a long way from defining the fine line one must walk in terms of therapy and medication, but this book can help Christians begin to overcome some judgmental attitudes towards the agony many suffer and the therapies they choose.

Lord Jesus Christ, you are for me medicine when I am sick;
you are my strength when I need help;
you are life itself when I fear death;
you are the way when I long for heaven;
you are light when all is dark;
you are my food when I need nourishment. (Ambrose of Milan, 340-397)

Winnie-the-Pooh and Beatrix Potter, too

Let's start our reviews of children's literature with some of the best known British classics: "Winnie-the-Pooh" by A.A. Milne, Beatrix Potter's complete animal tales, and "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame.

There may be two groups of readers out there in my blogosphere. Those who say "we know they're classics; we've already heard about them." Secondly, those who say "we know they're classics; our kids prefer the Disney version." I'll try to take an approach that interests both audiences.

We all know reading is fundamental, and in fact, makes you smarter in nearly every other academic area. But we don't read because we want smart kids. Or, at least solely for that reason! We read because we want them to have a love of language; a broad-based foundation for understanding their world; warm memories of family times together; quiet, focused activity; creativity and imagination; even a step-up in learning a variety of communication skills.