Hey all, just wanted to start with a big WHAT IS GOING ON IM SO ANGRY to begin this little review of this book. I've only gotten to chapter 5 and I'm furious :). I expected more from the book than this. The hollish have officially lost my respect. The worst part? The rest of Janners family have also lost my respect. Why? Because of the contents of chapter 4 are unacceptable. I don't know how I'll even finish the book after reading this chapter. What Janner's family did after all he's been through was not okay.
First of all, who makes a kid eat as much as they made Janner? Also, why is it okay that they literally laced the last muffin? Seriously, what on earth. They didn't even tell him this would happen. Second of all, they dumped him in the wilderness IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. You may argue "it's just the ritual of becoming a man. They gave him supplies"
Read my lips. That wasn't okay. No spin you put on it made their actions okay.
"But, Janna, it's just what they do to every durgan gui-"
Don't start. I don't care. There's nothing you can say that will make me okay with this chapter. The fact Janner is only "slightly annoyed" also infuriates me.
"Hey, let's take Janner, a child that has seen the depths of Hades and experienced what no child should, and shatter whatever trust he has left for others! He's already proven himself but since he's used to being traumatized, let's add to it to prove he belongs in the Guild on the edge of war."
And Nia replied, "Wow, what a great idea. Let's keep the horrible tradition passed down in my family :)"
How out of character.
This better be a dream or something because I don't see how I can finish the book after this and I only just started it.
Just to clarify, the ritual itself of survival was not what bothered me. It was the lack of informing Janner and giving him something that would knock him unconscious. I would hope nothing like that would become of me by my own family. I'd never trust them again after that. You think it would be comforting to eat muffins made by your own mother but to worry if she put something in them every time after this would not be worth the training this event would offer me. Janner could definitely handle this. I just hate how it started and how it was glorified in a book by a Christian author
I totally feel bad for Janner, and do not think it's the most ethical thing to do to a person (definitely not, but the Hollowsfolk are pretty harsh in the way they try to teach things). I think that those who permitted it thought it would be a piece of cake for Janner with the experience he's gained already in survival, and so they don't feel the need to prevent the (questionable) custom. (Nor did they know how close war was drawing). Not to say that I support the element of doing it without any warning to Janner and such! (Just a couple of technical details: I think the zonkpowder was cumulative, and the quantity was to sustain him for the few days he was asleep). Things do make more sense later, I believe that people apologize to him, and the Maker actually uses it for some good (trying to avoid spoilers here). It's been a while since I've read that chapter....and I will need to reread it. However, I don't think it is reason to stop reading. Flawed characters and forgiveness is a major theme in this series.
😬 ..... it's not a dream 😅 When I read it, I was more upset that he was being separated from his family again than the lack of letting him know. All I really thought about was how I'd hate to have it happen to me 😂 I did however think that it was really weird they'd do that considering they were on the brink of war, but I didn't really give it too much thought
You have a point. I'm not sure where I stand on this. I don't remember having any strong feelings when I first read it. (It was quite a while ago though.) I agree with what Azog and Addy said that this is probably a very big cultural thing. I'd also like to add that From Mr. Peterson's perspective as the author, he's probably not "glorifying" it, like "HEY! You should totally do this to your kids!". From an author's perspective it's a way for the plot to carry on, and a world-building tactic. Also, There was an incident with The Chosen a while back where some consumers thought the show was endorsing something (because it briefly appeared in a behind the scenes youtube video.) But in reality the show had nothing to do with it and did not endorse it at all. This is kind of similar, just because an author mentions something does necessarily mean they are saying something is good. Also, from Nia and Podo's perspective, I agree with you when you say they are typically very protective of their kids. BUT, they also consistently push the children (especially Janner since he's the throne warden) to be ready for anything, (even more so now that war is very immenent). And I think this is a consistent factor in Hollish culture, all the children seem very independant (especially the ones in the Durgan guild) but still trusting of their parents. I also agree with Addy when I say I enjoy discussing things like this!😃
Yay! You're reading more of the Wingfeather Saga and writing about it!
Oh wow, this is a very angry rant...
Yeah, my sister was angry at this part, too. Not so much about the family breaking trust with Janner, but with the fact that they drugged him and then acted like it was funny.
(but I thought this chapter was really funny. 😬 don't be mad at me, please! I understand where you're coming from!!!)
I agree that this was extremely foolish of Nia, but it also might have been her trying to feel more at home after all she has been through. I mean, Janner mentions feeling more and more like the Green Hollows is becoming his home. It also was Nia's home, and this could be her trying to go back the some sort of normal and go back to the tradition of her homeland. She also could be trying to stifle the rumors of war because all she wants is peace and safety for her family. But, all in all, I agree that it does feel like it was rather out of Nia's character to do that.
I just realized that this might have been the reason why TWatWK used to be my least favorite book in The Wingfeather Saga.
Wow, oh no, there's gonna be a war soon. What a perfect time to place my son in a random undisclosed location in the wilderness! I'm sure nothing bad will come of that!
I agree with you that it seemed extremely unjust, but I also second what Azog said. To our culture it would seem very cruel and terrible, but in their case this was a regular thing! I believe that if Nia thought it would have been truly harmful both emotionally and physically to Janner, then I do not believe she would have let the Hollowsfolk carry out such a decision. However, she saw the importance in carrying on with the tradition, having grown up in the Hollows and seeing how much it was valued in their culture. In today's eyes, it certainly might seem strange, but it wasn't in their eyes. As for you saying it was strange for Peterson to include it in the book having been written in the 21st century... well, it really is just part of the world building. I think it would have been more strange and less realistic if everything was based on the standards and customs of our current world/culture when it took place in a completely different time (maybe around the 1800s by our measures) and a completely different country/culture.
Of course, it might be different in Janner's case, considering all the things he already went through, but I believe it actually was beneficial for him in this case, in the sense that it prepared him. While he might not have had the same training and preparation throughout his whole life having not grown up in the Green Hollows, his journey to the Ice Praries, for example, kind of helped him and prepared him for this new trial. He knew how to handle and care for himself despite being in the middle of nowhere.
Sorry if my thoughts seem a bit scrambled, this is just what I came up with off the top of my head. I'd love to hear more of your thoughts on the matter too, Janna!
Edit: I understand, Janna, that this part of the story has angered you, but as you read on I hope you see that it actually is extremely important as to other events that happen later on. While the decision made by Nia to let this happen may not have been perfect, it was all part of the Maker's plan and many things that needed to happen later on would not have happened had Janner stayed safe at home on his 13th birthday. 🙃
Yeah, it's a little odd, and not exactly a great tradition.
I just kinda thought that it fitted the time period and culture though. I don't like that they did it, but compared to some other books that I've read, this seems to be a more tame version of initiation, or proving yourself. 😅
It personally didn't bother me too badly, but then again, I've read stuff like this before.
I didint care. I thought it was kinda cool.
BAD NIA! BAD PODO! BAD KALMAR! BAD LEELI! KEEP YOUR DOG, IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE JANNER LIKE YOU ANY MORE!
For a 21st century audience that's definitely understandable. But in ancient cultures, some of their "rites of passage" to manhood were quite shocking, even in comparison to that. The Indians of the Great Plains had a "Sun Dance" that would require them to put hooks in their chest muscles and dance for hours until they collapsed. The hooks would tear out their flesh, and they were required to look at the sun. I could probably list some other barbaric rites of passage if I thought about it a little more.