Post by Christmas Chief on Nov 14, 2010 17:58:55 GMT -5
www.su-spectator.com/entertainment/snicket-charms-children-with-death-and-despair-1.1768966
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Lemony Snicket (in person) is exactly how you might imagine him. The author of the bestselling children's book series "A Series of Unfortunate Events" stood at Benaroya Hall Tuesday night as part of the Seattle Arts and Lecture program, discussing death, mothers who fall down 14 flights of stairs and more death.
"I recently had to confront my son about death," said Snicket, who's real name is Daniel Handler. "I came up with three ways I could explain it. Death happens 1.) when you get old. 2.) when you're not careful and 3.) it's a mystery."
To some it might be surprising that a man so concerned with death could charm so many children, but in reality, nothing makes more sense.
"When I was 10, I wanted nothing more than to read about terrible things happening over and over again," said Handler. "I hated stories about plucky heroines who overcame tragedy, bullies and hard drugs by being exceptionally plucky," said Handler in his trademark monotone voice. "After my first book got rejected 37 times I realized pluck doesn't always work."
Children's literature tends to assume children need a moral, or that a story even has to have a reason for existing. Handler spent much of his talk answering the question many angry parents have posed to him at readings, "What can a story teach us if it has no real lesson or moral?"
A young girl named Brandi's memorable fan letter to Handler served as the jumping point for the dreary author's answer.
The letter read:
"Mr. Snicket, I read all of your books and liked them very much. I'm always curious when something happens-Brandi."
This became the crucial point of the night.
"Brandi is right: that's why good literature is good," Handler said. "We are always curious when something happens. That, and no other reason is a good reason for engaging with literature. Nobody reads ‘Lolita' to learn that kidnapping a 14-year-old girl isn't worth the trouble. We read it because something interesting happens."
The night continued with a Q&A session lead by Sherman Alexie, who is arguably one of the Northwest's most revered authors, who laughed as hard as the audience at Handler's dry wit.
"You know, I wrote a kids' book recently and I'm surprised at how much it's been banned. How has that been for you?" asked Alexie.
"I'm not banned as much as I would like," Handler said.
Alexie chatted with Handler on parenthood, childhood and the futility of majoring in English.
"It seems that doing well in English and success never go hand in hand," Handler said. "If you'd like to meet some of my friends who did well in English also, I can take you to the nearest overpass and you can talk to them before they jump."
Alexie asked Handler about the reaction parents had to his books, which led to the best anecdote of the night.
"Once a mother confronted me about a segment in my fifth book where I discuss how lying is sometimes necessary," Handler said. "She challenged me to name one situation where lying is necessary. I said, ‘nice sweater.'"
While the room was largely full of adults, I couldn't help but wonder how the children were taking all this talk about death, and how references to obscure authors and poets were flying over their heads. Then I remembered, "it's always curious when something happens," and even as a kid, though I wouldn't know half the things Handler was talking about, I'd still be enthralled. The line of kids that appeared out of nowhere in front of Handler during the reception afterwards was proof enough.
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Lemony Snicket (in person) is exactly how you might imagine him. The author of the bestselling children's book series "A Series of Unfortunate Events" stood at Benaroya Hall Tuesday night as part of the Seattle Arts and Lecture program, discussing death, mothers who fall down 14 flights of stairs and more death.
"I recently had to confront my son about death," said Snicket, who's real name is Daniel Handler. "I came up with three ways I could explain it. Death happens 1.) when you get old. 2.) when you're not careful and 3.) it's a mystery."
To some it might be surprising that a man so concerned with death could charm so many children, but in reality, nothing makes more sense.
"When I was 10, I wanted nothing more than to read about terrible things happening over and over again," said Handler. "I hated stories about plucky heroines who overcame tragedy, bullies and hard drugs by being exceptionally plucky," said Handler in his trademark monotone voice. "After my first book got rejected 37 times I realized pluck doesn't always work."
Children's literature tends to assume children need a moral, or that a story even has to have a reason for existing. Handler spent much of his talk answering the question many angry parents have posed to him at readings, "What can a story teach us if it has no real lesson or moral?"
A young girl named Brandi's memorable fan letter to Handler served as the jumping point for the dreary author's answer.
The letter read:
"Mr. Snicket, I read all of your books and liked them very much. I'm always curious when something happens-Brandi."
This became the crucial point of the night.
"Brandi is right: that's why good literature is good," Handler said. "We are always curious when something happens. That, and no other reason is a good reason for engaging with literature. Nobody reads ‘Lolita' to learn that kidnapping a 14-year-old girl isn't worth the trouble. We read it because something interesting happens."
The night continued with a Q&A session lead by Sherman Alexie, who is arguably one of the Northwest's most revered authors, who laughed as hard as the audience at Handler's dry wit.
"You know, I wrote a kids' book recently and I'm surprised at how much it's been banned. How has that been for you?" asked Alexie.
"I'm not banned as much as I would like," Handler said.
Alexie chatted with Handler on parenthood, childhood and the futility of majoring in English.
"It seems that doing well in English and success never go hand in hand," Handler said. "If you'd like to meet some of my friends who did well in English also, I can take you to the nearest overpass and you can talk to them before they jump."
Alexie asked Handler about the reaction parents had to his books, which led to the best anecdote of the night.
"Once a mother confronted me about a segment in my fifth book where I discuss how lying is sometimes necessary," Handler said. "She challenged me to name one situation where lying is necessary. I said, ‘nice sweater.'"
While the room was largely full of adults, I couldn't help but wonder how the children were taking all this talk about death, and how references to obscure authors and poets were flying over their heads. Then I remembered, "it's always curious when something happens," and even as a kid, though I wouldn't know half the things Handler was talking about, I'd still be enthralled. The line of kids that appeared out of nowhere in front of Handler during the reception afterwards was proof enough.
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And how exciting for Brandi that Daniel Handler read and commented on her letter like that. 
