Book Review: Where the Red Fern Grows and When you are Engulfed in Flames

During the fall, I read both Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls and When you are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris.

Where the Red Fern Grows is a scenic and action based novel, demonstrating a relationship between a boy and his two dogs. This book details the importance of emotions, interpersonal relationships, and uses dialog to carry the story. When you are Engulfed in Flames is a novel that is a compilation of creative nonfiction essays told in first person that encompasses the witty, seriousness, and introspection of David Sedaris's life. While both books provide a mirror for a reader to see a different way of life, they are vastly different in their composition, writing styles, and overall purpose, therefore leading to similarities and differences.

Where the Red Fern Grows includes the beauty of the Ozarks coupled with the progression of Billy and his friendship with his dogs named Old Dan and Little Anne. Throughout the book we see the themes of bravery, courage, and childlike wonder as the three tackle growing up together. The book also encompasses Billy's emotions as the dogs successful accomplish challenges and his feelings as they become best friends. The ending of the story is tragic with both of the dogs dying and Billy's parents comforting him. In the final pages of the book, Billy describes his homeland as his family moves away and the reader sees the significance of the title book as the family realizes dogs' death is symbolic.

On page 246 it describes the legend of the red fern, "I had heard the old Indian legend about the red fern. How a little Indian boy and girl were lost in a blizzard and had frozen to death. In the spring, when they were found, a beautiful red fern had grown up between their bodies. The story went on to say that only an angel could plant the seeds of a red fern, and that they never died; where one grew, that spot was sacred." This legend helps the reader understand the context of the rest of the plot, and helps prepare the reader to see the implied importance of friendships between humans and pets, and the importance of caring for others.

On the same page we see that there was a red fern that grew where both Little Ann and Old Dan were buried, "Staring wide- eyed, Mama gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. I heard her say, almost in a whisper, 'Oh-h-h-h, it's a red fern- a sacred red fern.'" The red fern symbolizes the life of Billy's two dogs and the meaningful friendships and memories formed. On a psychological level it also helps Billy feel safe about moving forward into his adult life.

Finally, the reader sees that the book is a circular plot when they reread the beginning chapters. Billy is an adult and he is describing a coon hound that had gotten into a fight in Snake River Valley in Idaho. There is foreshadowing and an allusion towards life on page 5.

It says, "To him it made no difference how long the road, or how rough or rocky. His old red feet would keep jogging along, on and on, mile after mile. There would be no crying or giving up. When his feet grew tired and weary, he would curl up in the weeds and rest. Water from a rain puddle or mountain stream would quench his thirst and cool his hot dry throat. Food found along the highway, or the offerings from a friendly hand would ease the pangs of hunger. Through the rains, the snows, or the desert heat, he would jog along, never looking back." It's important to differentiate reading the beginning of the novel the first time, and reading it through a second time after reading the entire book because as a reader there are paragraphs, words, and sentences that have a stronger implied meaning.

When You are Engulfed in Flames is a collection of essays that provides a realistic look on romantic relationships. travelling, and an introspective reflection on everyday life. Sedaris documents stories including loud, obnoxious old neighbors, self righteous plane passengers, and naming spiders in his apartment. He also tells stories of relationships with his partner, his sister, and his relationship with cigarettes. David Sedaris's writing style is not only descriptive of his surroundings, but he also illustrates how small details influence the emotional appeal of a story.

He uses one liners to add humor and a sense of shared reality with his readers. On page 51 he writes, " Ordinarily I avoid things that have been distressed, but this sweater had been taken a step further and ruined. Having been destroyed, it was now indestructible, meaning I can wear it without worry. For half the price, I could have bought an intact sweater, thrown it to a tiger, and wrenched it back myself, but after a certain age, who has that kind of time?" Sedaris's use of language is playful, sarcastic, and creates intrigue in the story. He also incorporates multiple perspectives on a situation to provide full commentary on a situation.

On page 164 he states, " I considered these things as I looked at the wildflowers he'd collected the day before the water was shut off. some were the color I associate with yield signs, and others a sort of muted lavender, their stems as thin as wire. I pictured Hugh stooping, or maybe even kneeling, as he went about picking them, and then I grabbed the entire bunch and tossed it out the window. That done, I carried the vase into the kitchen and emptied the yellow water into a pan. I then boiled it and used it to make coffee. There'd be hell to pay when my man got home, but at least by then I would be awake and able to argue, perhaps convincingly, that I am all the beauty he will ever need." This is the ending of the essay in which he describes the questions he receives as a homosexual man from heterosexual couples. The quotation demonstrates his ability to take a colloquial dialect and use it to make a punch line at the end of his story.

Overall Sedaris uses multiple different techniques to create a writing style that is engaging and appealing to readers, with every sentence and word adding value to his essays. The collection as a whole has enough diversity in their themes to create a complex novel.

Between the two books, When you are Engulfed in Flames was my favorite because it was an easier and more appealing read. Where the Red Fern Grows audience is aimed at middle school students, while David Sedaris's audience is primarily adults. Where the Red Fern Grows would be a good choice for reading circles in a future classroom, while When you are Engulfed in Flames is a great book for personal reading or for an adult book club.