tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7246125888029719683.post4937619308305810610..comments2023-06-22T09:16:23.906-04:00Comments on Walk the Walk: YA Book Review: nothing by Janne TellerBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01742836697284105094noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7246125888029719683.post-90377439564353964632011-06-07T08:30:34.245-04:002011-06-07T08:30:34.245-04:00A fair question--I think if we were in a book grou...A fair question--I think if we were in a book group or posed your question to a class of students that there would be some differences of opinion.<br /><br />Ultimately, there may not be an answer and my gut response to your question I'm not so sure that I want a definition of "meaning" from this book.<br /><br />Personally, art and literature is most appealing when it asks great questions or forces us to ask great questions. I don't want answers per se from my art or reading experiences.<br /><br />The definition of "Meaning" as it relates to the statement "nothing matters" completely baffles the young people of the story, and it is this wrestling for "meaning"...their struggle with finding tangible and then intangible things...which appeals to me.<br /><br />I think the core of your question which has to be addressed is who is to say what has meaning in one's life? Perhaps that is best left to the readers to think for themselves. Remember, the kids set up their experiment with the idea that someone else selected what has meaning...so, of course, from the perspective of some young people that might something which is lasting or popular as you explain it.<br /><br />Most YA books leave the young people to sort through their problems and keep the adults on the sidelines. I think if we were to have other aspects of meaning in the book then it would have to be from a really mature YA character or an adult. Pierre Anthon's existential eccentricity weighed so heavily on the young characters (and readers) that I think the book might not have worked if there was also an additional grown-up perspective.<br /><br />I hope I left you with something to think about--I liked your question as it made me think about a specific element of the book which I hadn't considered.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01742836697284105094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7246125888029719683.post-25409452541304531502011-06-07T01:23:04.827-04:002011-06-07T01:23:04.827-04:00What do you think about the definition of "me...What do you think about the definition of "meaning" in this book? It seemed that the book was defining it only as something that is lasting or popular among people. That's what I found frustrating about this story, is that there was no other aspects of "meaning" that were explored, both by the message and the characters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com