Outside Reading Blog #2

The kiss went on, small moaning sounds coming from them and his hand slipped inside her robe. I closed my eyes against the sight. But, astonished, still saw them clutching each other, having forgotten that my eyelids, too, were in the fade, and could not prevent me from seeing.

This passage not only shows a great example of the voice of the author, it also gives the reader a sense of the style, diction, and narration of the story itself. It is a reflection of the overall plot, and the author's depiction of the ordeals that happen regularly in society. Written in first person, reading Fade let's you experience the feelings and emotions of the main character, Paul, and you are able to understand the trauma that he feels when he sees things that are never meant to be seen. The voice of the author in this case is extremely similar to the voice of the character due to the fact that it is written in first person. Robert Cormier's tone of voice is very serious in matter, containing little to no humor, and reflects strictly on many issues in society. The passage above describes the love-making scene of two twin siblings, under the watch of Paul, under the effects of the fade (invisibility), while witnessing this unforgettable moment. The author wants to bring to our attention the many hidden problems that escape our notice, just to let us know that somewhere out there, something like this could be happening.

Cormier's diction of Fade also seems matter of factly, straightforward, and material-like. Unlike some writers who fill their stories with flowery words and phrases that most people can't understand (not unlike Thoreau), Cormier has the ability to tell a compelling story that makes you feel emotional and deep by using simple english. His diction is simple, but it still gives you a lot to think about when you read it. His voice and style of writing gives people a realistic and true sense of the world and shows how many things which are not revealed to the public still happen privately and behind closed doors. Cormier gives people a sense of awareness, and implies to the world that we need to stop turning a blind eye to reality. This one author is truly a genius, able to enlighten us to the things that we tend to ignore in our community.

Outside Reading #1- Fade by Robert Cormier

Oprah: Welcome to the show Robert Cormier. Today we will be talking about your books and your writing.

Robert Cormier: Glad to be here.

Oprah: So, Robert, your book "Fade" has a very intriguing plot on the subjects of incest, sexual harrasment, and crime. What inspired you to write a book like this?

Robert Cormier: Well, that's a very good question. I viewed this commonwealth as a nation filled with unmoral and unethical cases, things that are happening all over the world . I wanted to create a character that is able to witness the situations in our society unmolested, sort of like a fly on the wall. This gave me the idea for the character Paul, a child who can become invisible, where he can, in lack of a better word, spy on normal people who are intent on doing sinful things. It shows how his life changes after he views these occasions, and he questions himself and society on how these things can be happening.

Oprah: That certainly is very interesting. So what kind of books do you usually write and what type of audience do your books attract?

Robert Cormier: Usually, the books that I write have something to do with problems in society. A lot of people think my books are pessimistic and dark, and that the protaganist in the stories never have a happy ending, but I try to express my own thoughts and opinions on the topic. As for the audiences? The readers are mostly teens who are concerned with the subjects I write about [abuse, mental illness, violence], although I am slowly getting adult audiences as well. The majority of my readers are still young men and women, but these books are reasonable for people of all ages.

Oprah: Yes, I thought it was a great book myself. It is a bit on the fairy tale side, but in a way it is also a reflection of modern day society. So what made you write it in the first person?

Robert Cormier: Writing in the first person and having the main character being the narrator makes the story more realistic in my opinion. It gives the readers a closer relationship with the character, since everything is in their opinion and point of view.

Oprah: I quite agree with that. It seemed like Paul was right next to me while I was reading. Anyways, what is the voice of the narrator, Paul, throughout the book?

Robert Cormier: Paul has always been a charming and innocent boy, and despises crime intensely. I would say that his voice is somewhat shy and reserved, and afraid to speak out against people. When he falls in love with his aunt Rosanne, his narration shows his true feelings towards her, although he is deathly afraid of telling her the truth, feeling it to be wrong and afraid of her showing contempt towards him. Paul's voice, the narration, is always passionate and
caring, showing his amorous emotions towards love, while showing disgust at unmoral actions.

Oprah: That is an extremely deep narration for the book. By the way, I believe there has been a lot of controversy on your books. Can you tell us a little about that?

Robert Cormier: Yes, there definitely has been a lot of debate on the legality of my books. The Chocolate War has been challenged in many areas because of its sexual content and depiction of secret societies, and I believe has been banned by countless schools and libraries. I wanted to mainly show people the truth of the society in this modern world, and how we are not living in the ideal place that everyone believes we are living in. I know that this issue will always be debated, but I am merely just voicing an opinion.

Oprah: Thank you very much Robert for coming to our show. Robert Cormier Everyone!!!

Robert Cormier: Thank you for having me.

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