Monday, January 18, 2010

Fablehaven 2

Week's Reading: Chapters 4-6 by January 24th.

17 comments:

  1. When grandpa got on to Seth and Kendra for going out to the woods, I was amazed at how apprehensive he was to punish them with the consequences he warned them about. He played tough, but then kept coaxing Kendra to make a good argument. I knew he wanted them to find out, but why not just tell them? When we found out that he didn’t feel right about telling them, but was hoping that they would want to find out for themselves made perfect sense. Though I think there is still a lot that he isn’t telling the kids, like where grandma is. Maddox also had some information or something that Grandpa didn’t want the kids to know about. I wonder if it is connected to grandma.
    It made me laugh that there was no way that Kendra was going to try the milk after what Dale told her, but she didn’t mind having Seth try it. I wonder what the milk is coming from. Whey haven't they checked the barn out yet!?!
    I knew that Lena was something other than human, but I never would have guessed a naiad. It would make me sick to think I was that close to the pond and that something awful could have easily happened. I can’t believe that Seth was trying to go out in the woods again. He is crazy. It was a good thing that Kendra saw him and stopped him. For a second I was afraid that Seth was going to convince Kendra to go with him.

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  2. It caught me by surprise how grandpa brought up the fact that he knew they were in the woods. I felt like i was in trouble, too! I think they definitly got off pretty easy.

    I knew there was something more to the milk. However, I didn't expect to find out what it was so soon. There is no way i would have tried it. I'm curious like Lana, what do they have in the barn?? Cows with big fairy wings?? Unicorns with utters???

    Maddox seems to be an interesting fellow. For some reason i picture Hagrid from the Harry Potter series. I also like his final comment before the kids go to bed, "No matter what you might think you hear...we aren't having fun." Yeah right! They don't have me fooled for a second! It reminds me of when i was a kid..."I hear something...!"

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  3. I agree with both of you! I would do exactly what Kendra would do, I would send my brother to test the milk first! I would also be hesitant to see if he was really pulling my leg or if he was really seeing fairies. Oh how amazing it would be to see the fairies!

    Kendra was very good at her thoughts when talking to her grandfather about how to get out of trouble. I loved the way he made them think about it! The way that the secret had to be found out was amazing! I would have loved to have done that puzzle. The chocolates were especially my favorite.

    I agree with Janae, I was just getting ready for bed when I read that last part. "No matter what you might think you hear..." I was laughing at the thought! I can't wait to continue! Especially to find out more about the grandmother...

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  4. I enjoyed everyone's comments. I find that there is a lot to think about in these chapters and hope I can express myself well enough. I liked the statements on punishemnt and truth. First I liked Grandpa's comment that unless the punishments are enforced, rules lose all their power. Then when Seth tries to get out of the punishment he said that he locked himself up by disregarding the rules. If we only had to suffer the consequences of our actions some of the time I don't think anyone would keep the rules. Then when people are held accountable they often whine that it is unfair and make excuses and yet they knew what the consequences would be when they acted. Parents who are consistant in their disciple teach their children early to understand this importance of keeping rules whether they are family rules of laws.
    Later Grandpa says that As long as mortals remain within their boundaries, they are protected by the found covenants of that preserve. That soundly like spiritual guidance of staying on the straight and narrow path. As long as we stay withing the boundaries we are protected.
    Now on to less serious topics. I am wondering if the way Grandpa is handly their education of the place the same as how he was taught. Is it his way of determining who will be the next caretaker. One who will love and truely protect it and yet have the courage it will take? Is he trying to stimulate their curiosity and see where they will go with it? Was he like Seth when he was young?
    As for Maddox, I see him as one of those rough guys in Weippe after they have been out logging all day. Instead of missing earlobes though they are missing fingers. I was really curious to see what went on when they were negotiating. I think there was something to what they said that even if they sounded like they were have fun they weren't. It would have taken a Lena outside my door keep me from going down to peek and listen. Unlike you all I am a BIG coward and would be afraid of the barn but this would have been too hard for me to resist. I don't think it was the usual negotiating since nothing in Fablehaven is as usual.
    I liked the testing of the milk part. I once got Verna to try some hair conditioner first when I saw a Lucy program where they made some that ended up making your hair fall out. I'm no better than Kendra. Better Verna bald than me - right?

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  5. Nae - I liked your last comment. I remember it well! Dad got a big laugh out of it too. One of our great memories.

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  6. Like Rosena, I think there are some underlying principles that were brought up in these three chapters. (Lies can't protect, living by the law, keeping covenants, etc.)I think they are foreshadowing what is to come. I think they will be principles that perhaps they will need to use later in the story.

    Like Rosena, I also think that Grandpa has been testing his grandchildren out to see who will be the next care taker(s).

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  7. Good comments! I think the whole milk thing is hilarious! It seems like something Janae and I would pull on Lana. Here Lana, try this this, it is yummy.... He he he. I thought Kendra was pretty smart!
    The pond was a pretty cool discovery. I remember as a kids hiking at Grandpa's cabin and looking for things to discover, if only! It was a bit freaky learning about the naiads after their visit to the pond. I was thinking this whole time Lena might be a fairy, but am excited to learn she is a naiad. Her story was pretty cool. I find her fascinating.
    It is exciting to start learning the secrets of fablehaven. I can't wait to learn more. And like Lana and Janae I want to know what kind of milk they are drinking. I am also glad to learn Grandma isn't dead, but where is she! Enquiring minds want to know! I also want to know what Grandpa and Maddox are discussing in secret! So not fair!

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  8. I have finally caught-up to you all this morning. Yea!

    The book reminds me of my own childhood...going out into the woods, imagining a world of mythical creatures; only in this case, it is real.

    I thought it was funny that Seth was wanting to go out into the woods after he was told about the real danger out there, but that sounded like what a twelve year old boy would do; not completely comprehending the danger that is out there depite his encanter with the creepy witch.

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  9. Okay, I know where grandma is...or I have a speculation of what she is. She is the hen in the attic that grandpa told them to take care of. At the beginning, I thought there was something special about her and when the kids tasted the milk, I thought they were going to discover that she really wasn't a hen but some kind of creature. However, the "hen" would fit the idea of a "mother hen" such as a mother or grandma. Did someone or something turn grandma into a mother hen? Is this partly why grandpa feeds the hen milk?

    In regards to the milk, why didn't the kids just taste the hen's milk? I rather do that instead of tasting some milk that a bunch of bugs were drinking (YUCK!). Maybe that is just because I am more fond of chickens than bugs.

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  10. I noticed that everyone, in the exception of myself, finished the week's reading quickly, posting on either Monday or Tuesday. Do you feel you could read four chapters a week instead of three? If so, let me know. If I don't have everyone's "yes" for four chapters a week, we will stick with three so no one will get behind.

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  11. Em, I really like your Hen theory. Curious to find out if you are right. I'm totally down with reading 4 chapters a week!

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  12. I'm for 4 chapters also. I like your hen theory. I haven't paid as much attention to the hen. I guess so much else going on.

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  13. I would LOVE to read four chapters a week.

    Emily, I think it is funny that you would rather share milk with a chicken than a bug--I figure a bug would have less backwash because they are smaller and many even use their own built-in straws!

    I am curious about the hen now too. Now that Emily has brought her to our attention, I do think that there has to be something more to the hen or the author wouldn't have bothered writing about her. I don't know if it is grandma or not, but I certainly wouldn’t be surprised.

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  14. Yuck! I am sorry, Lana...just the mention of built-in straws makes me gag.

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  15. Personally I would want my own glass - I wouldn't be sharing with any creature of any sort - weirdos!

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