bit dark ( )

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )

Being reminded of this short story is a recollection of my childhood, or at least of the day when I was a 14 year old plowing through an Oscar Wilde complete anthology book. I remember thinking that it was so much better than the pithy and pathetic morals found in the Smurfs and for some really odd reason, I wanted a really great moral story with lots of protein when I at this one. I smacked my lips and felt full afterwards.
Of course, like many compulsive word-overeaters, I ignored my appetite and continued the anthology until I wasn't even digesting the moral verbiage anymore. I suppose I ought to have stopped at this story, at least for a day or two. Too much of a good thing can still give you a stomach-ache.

I know, I know! I'm speaking of Oscar Wilde, Mr. Wit and convicted homosexual, and I'm propping him up as a moral giant! And yet, his writing shows us his depth and I appreciated it. The Selfish-Giant was one of my favorite short stories of his. I only gave it 4 stars because it kinda felt too preachy. :) ( )

While a giant is away, children come and play in his wonderful garden. When the giant returns, however, he is selfish, and blocks off the garden from all the children. The flowers and trees miss the children, and fall into an eternal winter. When the children sneak in to play in the garden again, the giant sees how Spring comes again, and changes his mind. He allows all the children to play in his garden, and even helps one little boy climb a tree. However, the little boy never comes again and the children do not know who he is. One day, the giant sees the little boy and rushes out to greet him. Upon seeing that the boy is wounded, he is enraged, but the boy tells him that the wounds were made from love. The giant is in awe of the boy and asks who he is, and the boy tells him that as the selfish giant allowed him to play in the giant's paradise, the boy will allow the giant to play in his. The other children come to the garden to find that the giant - no longer selfish - has passed away and is covered in white blossoms.

Oscar Wilde flirted with Christianity, particularly Catholicism, off and on throughout his life, and many of his fairy tales for children reflect his interest. The Selfish Giant in particular is explicit with the connection: the little boy has wounds on the palms of his hands (stigmata), and even the language changes to reflect the more Biblical leanings, as when the giant asks, "Who art thou?". The overtly Christian message may turn off many people, but the story is well told in a distinctly fairy tale rhythm and language.

Most impressive are the paintings. Ritva Voutila chose to render the scenes on every page in oils, which is unusual for a children's book. However, the results are astounding. The style is classical, with a distinct feel of Hieronymus Bosch. Each painting is lavishly attentive: tiny people, meticulous in their detailing, lurk above stone arches and in the corners of rooftops. The scenes of the flowers blossoming in the garden are a sensation of color painted in rich blues and vibrant purples. Watercolors or acrylics could have never captured the lushness of hue that Voutila achieves on every page. Not surprisingly, the paintings took over a year to complete, but the talent shines on every page. At times, the paintings can feel dark; there is a distinct gloomy pall over them. However, for a child or adult who loves poring over paintings to capture the most tiny detail, Voutila's work is bound to amaze and capture their attention. ( )

I read this book because Jacqueline Woodson referred to it in "Black Girl Dreaming" as the book that so inspired her, that she read it again and again until she memorized it. Of course I had to see how hard it might be to memorize...as well as how engaging the story might be. It reads like a fairy tale, which must have helped make it memorizable. However, I am baffled with the Christian references coming from Oscar Wilde. I have a hard time separating the witty playwright from the...moralizing? sentimental? storyteller. I'm curious to know more about what inspired him to write this story. As for what about it excited Jacqueline Woodson, I wonder if connected with her childhood experiences as a Jehovah's Witness.