Childhood and its literary relationships!

   In the stories that we have read, childhood has been depicted differently.  "For Esme" was told from an adults perspective, and was placed in the era of war; therefore, it shows childhood by describing a very mature 13-year-old and a very fun loving three-year-old!  Salinger definitely gets what it is like to be a child during time of war, and expresses that very well.  "Sutton Pie Safe" was told, like the next two as well, through a child's eyes.  This one showed that even though a child may think they understand something, or want something, they are not always ready for the harsh reality that goes along with it.  It really got at what it  means to be a child, see your parents fight, and innocently try to make sense of it to yourself.  "Bottle Caps" was strange.  Also being told from a child's perspective, this story talked about how a child can put so much energy, time, and effort into collecting something they find to be precious, and hit it right on the head.  The fourth and final short story, "Every Little Hurricane" captured even more how complex issues can be seen through a child's eyes.  This author did a fantastic job of taking something that the child had seen before on television, and showing how he used that memory to explain the fighting and arguments that were happening around him at his parent's party.  This author also expresses quite well how, when scared, a child almost always wants his/her parents for comfort.


   A book that I have read, that relates to childhood, is called "Never have your dog stuffed" by Alan Alda.  This book takes the reader through all the ups and downs of Alda's childhood and early adulthood.  This kind of wraps all of the short stories we have read together.  It talks about how when he was little, he tried to make sense of events that he would later discover were nothing like he thought they were.  He also says that being a child means to have fun and little to no cares in the world.  Alda's story about his childhood enables the reader to make connections from the book to their own life.  If you ever get a chance, I definitely recommend that you read the book!