Now that we have completed the book, assessed your understanding and interpretation of it, and watched (the quite different) movie based on the book, we have one big question left: Why is this the first book that we read this year? Obvious answers would be that reading helps us to learn and brilliant authors like Kate DiCamillo keep us entertained while teaching us and making us think. But there is more to it than that. Why do YOU think we read this book and why is it the first of our six novels for the year? Feel free to comment below with suggestions.
While you're thinking about that, watch the video below. You will be quite surprised to find that the actor who plays the part of the very shy Otis in the movie is actually a very famous, confident, and brilliant musician named Dave Matthews. I first saw his band perform this rendition of a famous song written by Bob Dylan and originally recorded by Jimi Hendrix (we will speak more about him in April) in 1999. Shortly after that, I was quite excited to learn that Mr. Matthews had spent a part of his childhood living very close (less than an hour by car) to where I grew up.
Otis is very shy but becomes more confident around people if he is allowed to play his guitar. What do you think about the video below though, where Dave Matthews performs at New York's Central Park in from of close to, if not more than, 100 000 people? Some articles on the internet estimate or claim that there were about 85 000 people at the show, others claim there were about 120 000. Regardless of what the real number was, that's A LOT of people, all there to dance and sing along like the characters did at Gloria Dump's house at the end of the book. Imagine how many pickles Otis would have had to bring to share with a crowd like that.
If you aren't too fond of bass noodling (playing around with a melody before actually starting the song) skip ahead to about 4 minutes, 45 seconds when the song actually starts. Pay attention to the crowd. Not once do you see anyone who is bored or talking to the person next to them. They are all transfixed (enjoying the experience) in such a way that it reminds me of the scene from the pet shop in the book and the movie when Otis lets the animals out of the cage and later calms them down by playing his guitar again.
Don't forget to comment if you have a good suggestion for why we read the book right as the year began. Hint: There is more than one answer, and maybe I haven't even thought of some of the ones that you might suggest below.
Winn Dixie could be the first novel of the year because it shows that if you are kind and friendly you can have a good time. If you show kindness it will benefit you.
ReplyDelete--Bronte
Yes! This is a very good reason for why we read it right at the start of the year! Let's see what else you and the others will come up with!
Delete