These are the first few lines from an old piece I had started for my sons and laid aside. I'm interested in any opinions you might have, but mostly if the setting and voice are right for a children's story. About 770 words in all.
Llanquihue is pronounced yan-KEE-whay. It is a beautiful lake just a few miles from where I adopted my boys, in southern Chile.
Otter Sons
On the western shore of Lake Llanquihue the sun rising over the Andes brought warmth to the den. Father’s broad back relaxed in the warmth and after a time he stretched, snorted and fluffed his tail. He was Otter, Father was, and proud of it. He was big even for an Otter, and as wide sideways as he was tall. Others sometimes said that he was Otter Half-bear and not a pure-bred Otter at all. This made Father laugh when he heard it. “So much the better,” he said, “for I have two sons who surely are three-quarters bear, so furious they are, and angry besides!” Everyone who heard him laughed also, and agreed, except for Mother, who just shook her whiskers at Father’s foolishness and smiled.
[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited October 22, 2004).]
Posted by GZ (Member # 1374) on :
It might be a bit of a slow start for a children's story, but I like the imagry you're playing with here, and the voice sounds good. There is a folky quality to it, although my one question would be if that is the right variety of folky for a story set in Chile (small story sample/reader has not been to Chile).
Anyway, I'd be willing to read 770 words about Otters.
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
Thanks, GZ.
Yep, it is a slow start. And as for folk stories from Chile, well, that's a good point. But I was writing for my sons, and not as a teller of Chilean folk tales, although I am a Chilean/American.
I do have a book of Chilean folk tales, and it's full of quirky stories about witches at stream crossings, one person getting the upper hand over another, and so on.
Posted by shadowynd (Member # 2077) on :
I like it very much, and the kid inside of me wants to read it! I always did like animal stories like this. Jungle Book was one of my favourites as a kid.
Question for anyone: Is there a particular name for this type of story, where animals are treated as though they were human? I've heard the phrase "interpretive lives of animals" before, but wasn't sure if this is what it referred to.
I have several such stories inside me but have no idea what to call them!
Susan
Posted by Magic Beans (Member # 2183) on :
Fables were stories with a moral where the characters seemed to usually be talking animals. Along similar lines, many old folk tales have them, too, like the story of Briar Rabbit, etc.
[This message has been edited by Magic Beans (edited October 22, 2004).]
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Some people make a further distinction and call them "beast fables."
Posted by shadowynd (Member # 2077) on :
The type of tale of which I am speaking is not a fable, having no moral per se. It is a story for sheer enjoyment, but with characters that are animals. Like this one of Mike's, presumably.
Susan
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
anthropomorphism
Attribution of human motivation, characteristics, or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena.
When it is applied to animals in the religious sense, it is "animism", and was the basis for most world religions prior to the rise of human centrism. (my opinion only, folks)
When it is applied to politicians or lawyers, it is simply a mistake.
[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited October 24, 2004).]
Posted by RFLong (Member # 1923) on :
Hi
I'll take a look if you like (but I may be slow to respond)
R
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
R
Well, it's slow reading, so that's all right!
I'll send it.
Thanks!
Mike
Posted by Michaelpfs (Member # 2209) on :
I enjoyed what I see so far. If you still need a reader and don't mind a newbie, I would love to take a peek.
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
I'd like to read it.
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
Thanks, guys! I appreciate it. It's on the way.
Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :
