here's an article about the phenomenon of lurid sadness in children's
books. i've often joked with catherine about the "newbery death
books," but she doesn't seem to agree -- this article, though,
mentions newbery's notoriety in that area.

interestingly, one of the authors decrying that phenomenon is lemony
snicket, the impish author of the "series of unfortunate events" books
-- a series which dwells unrelentingly on the horrid events in the
baudelaire orphans' lives. can't quite put my finger on how to
reconcile this, though i have inchoate suspicions.

any thoughts?

<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/22/books/review/22MILLERL.html?8bu>

--

barry
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