An excellent counterargument to The Giving Tree

[pegkerr]

Wow. What a storm of comments I have provoked with my last entry, all v. interesting.

I suggest that an excellent counterargument (or counterexample) to Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree might perhaps be J.R.R. Tolkien's "Leaf, by Niggle."

Discuss.

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Yes!

I noticed, btw, that that list, which I consider mind-bogglingly weird, has that disgusting Love You Forever on it. Ick, ick, ick.

[demarazare.livejournal.com]

Do you know, possibly, if there is a version of "Leaf, by Niggle" online anywhere, or if not, what collection of stories it is from? I remember reading it in school a long time ago and I forgot the correct title and could never find it. (If you don't know, at least I know how to look for it now!)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

"Leaf by Niggle" is sometimes grouped with the associated lecture "On Fairy Stories" under another title for the both of them together: "Tree and Leaf." It's in The Tolkien Reader. Hope that helps.

[pixelfish.livejournal.com]

I never minded The Giving Tree, although I can see how you would get that subtext from it, and if that was what I had got out of it as a child, I would agree with you. But I mostly just found it depressing.

I TOTALLY HEART "Leaf, by Niggle," though. And not just because I'm an artist.

[pixelfish.livejournal.com]

I read the thread in question. Now the Giving Tree is coming back to me in spades.....and blech.

[ksp24.livejournal.com]

Oh yes.

I found Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree one of the most depressing and (to me) unfair things ever when I was a child.

I am so pleased to have read your last post. YES and THANK YOU.

And I do agree in terms of counterexample concerning J.R.R. Tolkien's "Leaf, by Niggle."

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

Good point.

I'll have to dig out my copy of _The_Tolkien_Reader_, and let you know.