tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post5472116216901449467..comments2024-03-09T05:53:59.542-05:00Comments on Oz and Ends: The Fantasy Element in Diamond WillowUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-58611676342142217172009-02-11T18:20:00.000-05:002009-02-11T18:20:00.000-05:00I feel comfortable saying that Frost seems to have...I feel comfortable saying that Frost seems to have been <I>inspired</I> by this particular belief of some Northern Athabascan because seeing that belief reflected in a story set in such a community can’t be a coincidence. <BR/><BR/>But Frost isn’t claiming that her portrayal of the reincarnated spirits reflects that belief exactly. And I don’t know enough about it to judge. (It’s not clear to me even how many groups of people speaking Northern Athabascan languages share that belief.)<BR/><BR/>It raises interesting questions about our ideas of fantasy, spirituality, and fictionalizing. But indeed that’s only one aspect of the book.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-13946597199213726382009-02-11T12:39:00.000-05:002009-02-11T12:39:00.000-05:00I'm confused about how the aspect of people reinca...I'm confused about how the aspect of people reincarnated as animals can be based on Athabascan religious beliefs but also "not represent anyone's spiritual or religious beliefs". I'm probably more comfortable with the idea of this book as a fantasy, which I hadn't considered (and I'm not sure why--other books with talking/thinking animals are fantasies, right?--but you're the first person I've seen suggest this), but it still troubles me. Oh, well, my issues with the plot were bigger. Thanks for writing about this new angle on the book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com