Welcome to Free Verse Friday
Friday, September 09 2011 by Valerie the Book Club Lady
Maybe it is the sometimes reluctant reader in me, or maybe it is the artist; maybe it is simply because they are amazing. But, whatever the reason--I love free verse novels! Whether historical, humorous or heart-warming, these quaint, clever novels manage to tell us a deep and full story in a brief amount of words.
How can I be truly engaged in a story that has barely given me a setting? Probably because only the most necessary pieces of that scene were described. How can I root so strongly for a struggling character when I may not even know her hair color or how she dresses? Probably because I have been given one tiny, vital glimpse into her soul through a few well-picked words.
I have always been a slow reader and avoided reading as a child. Is that why I love the story of the slave who escapes during a hurricane at sea told skillfully in verse? Or, would I like it as much in narrative? Maybe--but for me the strong emotional connection is helped along without having lots of extra words to cloud the way.
I am drawn to artists such as Monet who makes us see the beauty of a bridge and lilies without needing the minute detail. Is that why I enjoy the imagery of the constant dust described in a simple scene of setting the table, then lifting your cup to see a circle created by the dust? I might have equally enjoyed a variety of scenarios illustrating the same point. But given only the one succinct description, it is etched in my memory.
So, whether it is being able to digest a whole story in a condensed amount of time, or feeling like each word was chosen with special care, I have yet to find a free verse book that I did not whole-heartedly enjoy. Join us as beginning next Friday as we explore this popular genre--read more about specific free verse novels and possibly get an idea for an activity or two to do with your kids in this new blog series called Free Verse Fridays!
~ Valerie
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