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Chasing the Bear, by Robert B. Parker
Sep. 30th, 2009 01:16 amThis was advertised as a "Young Spenser" book, and I had pretty low expectations. Would it have a Lil' Hawk I wondered? A Susie-Cutie?
It's actually a very authentic-feeling look at Spenser's childhood, centering around some of the same issues of morality as the typical Spenser book. The whole is laid out as a series of vignettes and short stories about Spenser's youth, from 10-18 or so, interwoven with a continuing conversation of Spenser and Susan in the modern day.
Though the modern-day conversation was interesting at times, I felt like it ran out of useful stuff to say about halfway in, and in any case, it interrupted the backstory narratives too much. Conversely, I found the backstory narratives very compelling, both in the spirit of Parker's regular narrative and (at least sometimes) as boy's adventure story.
I'd definitely read others in this series, though I'd like to see more of the past and less of the present. However, I'm not convinced that this book is a very good YA. There are just too many adult themes and too many philosophical discussions, particularly in the modern-day frame.
In honor of banned book week, I expect to give Farenheit 451 a read next. Go read something that close-minded jerks and bobble-headed parents in America try to outlaw!
It's actually a very authentic-feeling look at Spenser's childhood, centering around some of the same issues of morality as the typical Spenser book. The whole is laid out as a series of vignettes and short stories about Spenser's youth, from 10-18 or so, interwoven with a continuing conversation of Spenser and Susan in the modern day.
Though the modern-day conversation was interesting at times, I felt like it ran out of useful stuff to say about halfway in, and in any case, it interrupted the backstory narratives too much. Conversely, I found the backstory narratives very compelling, both in the spirit of Parker's regular narrative and (at least sometimes) as boy's adventure story.
I'd definitely read others in this series, though I'd like to see more of the past and less of the present. However, I'm not convinced that this book is a very good YA. There are just too many adult themes and too many philosophical discussions, particularly in the modern-day frame.
In honor of banned book week, I expect to give Farenheit 451 a read next. Go read something that close-minded jerks and bobble-headed parents in America try to outlaw!