SANCTUARY : A Tale of Life in the Woods

Rating:
Summary: The writing is interesting but the plot ...
Review: Sanctuary is a political/social/sexual fable that almost succeeds. However, the author doesn't quite have the fable form down - the setting of the scene is too large a portion of the tale and the resolution inserts a new character into the table - a character that is out of place in the otherwise pastoral (more accurately arboreal) setting.

Why do I still give it a 3 stars? Because the text is well written and the kernel of the plot is interesting.

Rating:
Summary: The writing is interesting but the plot ...
Review: Sanctuary: A Tale of Life in the Woods, is a touching fable about a rabbit and a fox who fall in love at the wrong time. Not only does the woodland creatures think a fox and rabbit should not love each other, they also are repulsed by the fact the two animals are both female.

The sory itself was created from scraps of the author's works, since he died before it's completion. The selling point to this book lies in the gorgeous illustrations. I personally would like to have the cover blown up and framed to hang in my living room. The second selling point of this books is that it teaches children about matters of love that most of the population of North America have deemed as taboo. Overall this is a very decent and useful book in teaching children.

Rating:
Summary: Illustrations bring Sanctuary to Life
Review: Sanctuary: A Tale of Life in the Woods, is a touching fable about a rabbit and a fox who fall in love at the wrong time. Not only does the woodland creatures think a fox and rabbit should not love each other, they also are repulsed by the fact the two animals are both female.

The sory itself was created from scraps of the author's works, since he died before it's completion. The selling point to this book lies in the gorgeous illustrations. I personally would like to have the cover blown up and framed to hang in my living room. The second selling point of this books is that it teaches children about matters of love that most of the population of North America have deemed as taboo. Overall this is a very decent and useful book in teaching children.

Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly enjoyable fable ...
Review: Such a cute little tail ... er ... tale! I think it would be great if someone would solicit fairytale stories from current best-selling authors, and compile them. Certainly this one deserves to be the frontispiece. In the forward the editor mentions that this is a fable about the gay and lesbian experience, and it is. Yet it can be read and understood by adult and child alike without hitting the reader over the head. First and foremost it is a love story. It also tells of the abuse of power, and how a people can fall so easily under the spell of a strong personality, and follow that person's hatred down the path that leads to persecution of those around them who are in some way different.

Rating:
Summary: teaching compassion to children
Review: the most important aspect of a tale is its moral lesson: the point here is acceptance. as a gay author monette was interested in helping people in general to understand and accept those of alternative gender/sexuality/health status. he was excrutiatingly honest and allowed the world to know him deeply in his autobiographical texts. in this "lighter" work he brings his lessons of love to the young in the hopes that they might grow up to know compassion and empathy. the lessons are subtle but powerful, and the metaphors and analogies are intelligent: monette does not patronize. i would say the story is appropriate for children and adults, and that its inentions are courageous and focused.

Rating:
Summary: teaching compassion to children
Review: the most important aspect of a tale is its moral lesson: the point here is acceptance. as a gay author monette was interested in helping people in general to understand and accept those of alternative gender/sexuality/health status. he was excrutiatingly honest and allowed the world to know him deeply in his autobiographical texts. in this "lighter" work he brings his lessons of love to the young in the hopes that they might grow up to know compassion and empathy. the lessons are subtle but powerful, and the metaphors and analogies are intelligent: monette does not patronize. i would say the story is appropriate for children and adults, and that its inentions are courageous and focused.