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The Giving Tree - 4/24/2008 3:02:17 PM

lusciouslips19

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The giving tree by Shel Silverstein.

So this book that many have read or bought for children, is about a beautiful tree that the boy plays in and eats its fruit. but as he gets older he wants more and more from this tree that is happy to oblige him. Finally as a busy adult, he cuts down the tree to build a house. Then there is nothing left of the tree but a stump. He sits on the stump.

Did yoyu find this book to be a heart warming story of submission and the gift of giving? Or like me did you find it to be a horrible message to children about using up resources til they are all gone? I thought of the tree as the Martyred jewish mother tree. "Use me, take everything I have to give and then when there is nothing left of me, you may sit on me, I'm nothing but a stump."

So what is your opinion of this book? Heart warming or evil? Is Shel Silverstein a gifted writer of profound giving or a twisted mammas boy?

Can I hate this book and still be a sub???

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RE: The Giving Tree - 4/24/2008 3:08:02 PM

colouredin

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quote:

ORIGINAL: lusciouslips19
Can I hate this book and still be a sub???

Nope, leave your membership card by the door :P lol sorry ive never heard of the book, but I do know that going abck and reading childrens books always make me a bit sad and weirded out by the message (not now bernard anyone?)

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RE: The Giving Tree - 4/24/2008 3:10:23 PM

windchymes

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I remember that book from when my kids were young, and I bawled my eyes out every time I read it, lol. I never thought of it as a book of submission, but think it does send a message (hopefully) to kids about giving and taking. I found it heart-warming in a sad and thoughtful way.

Rather than the Jewish-mother analogy (although that idea is funny!), I see it more as a little bit of an eye-opener for the kids, that you can't just take and take and take from others. You have to consider what effect your taking has on who you're taking from, and how much nicer it would have been if you gave something back, too.

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RE: The Giving Tree - 4/24/2008 3:15:37 PM

JohnWarren

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Have you read some of Shel's other work like Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book: A Primer for Tender Young Minds ("BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN GOOD, AND BECAUSE YOUR UNCLE SHELBY LOVES YOU TOMORROW YOU CAN STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL." )?

He is NOT sweetness and light!!!!

I like him..."broiled, roasted or in a stew"

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RE: The Giving Tree - 4/24/2008 3:19:21 PM

lusciouslips19

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnWarren

Have you read some of Shel's other work like Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book: A Primer for Tender Young Minds ("BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN GOOD, AND BECAUSE YOUR UNCLE SHELBY LOVES YOU TOMORROW YOU CAN STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL." )?

He is NOT sweetness and light!!!!

I like him..."broiled, roasted or in a stew"

I have seen his picture on the jacket of the book and well all I can say is....creepy.

< Message edited by lusciouslips19 -- 4/24/2008 3:21:42 PM >

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RE: The Giving Tree - 4/24/2008 3:32:10 PM

servantheart

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I found The Giving Tree to be extremely depressing, not only because the boy used up his available resources, but because he was completely indifferent to the needs of his childhood best friend. I find people, whether fictional or real, who can use up something or someone without feeling to be very disturbing. Just as disturbing to me is the concept of allowing oneself to be so completely used by someone so self-absorbed. Does this make me a bad slave? I don't think so, and Sir is happy with the service I give.

Just my opinion

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RE: The Giving Tree - 4/24/2008 4:11:11 PM

angelikaJ

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Re: Shel Silverstein

He died in '99...was a playwright in addition to a poet and wrote songs such as: The Unicorn (The Irish Rovers), The Cover of the Rolling Stone and of course, A Boy Named Sue.

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RE: The Giving Tree - 4/24/2008 4:19:01 PM

lusciouslips19

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I just read Wikpedia....he wrote Freakers Ball. Ha, well I'll be. Wouldn't ya know?

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