Lesley Kagen: Land of a Hundred Wonders
Book Club Books
March 2, 2009. Queenie C chats with Lesley Kagen, author of
Land of a Hundred Wonders, about the deeper meanings behind her character's relationships.
Book Club Books: Interview with Lesley Kagen
This
book was filled with so many interesting characters.
Gibby's friendship with Ms. Lydia was painful for Grampa Charlie. Why couldn't he have told Gibby the truth as to why?
More
than anything, Charlie wanted to protect Gibby. He knew how much she loved Lydia. If he had told her why he was so angry with Lydia, it would
have ended Gib's and Lydia's relationship. Like all revelations, one must be careful to tread lightly. How important is it to tell the truth vs.
protecting those we love?
Book Club Books: Interview with Lesley Kagen
Gibby
and Grampa had such a strong bond. With whom in your life do you have or have had that same type of bond?
My
children. I'm deeply bonded with both of them. I use my love for them in many of my character portrayals.
Book Club Books: Interview with Lesley Kagen
Janice
Lever and Clever had a very tumultuous relationship. In the end, Janice almost redeems herself. Why was this done? It was so out of character
for her.
I
believe that we are all capable of redemption. Yes, Janice was just about worthless as a mother, but in the end, her love for Clever saves not
only her daughter, but I think, her soul.
Book Club Books: Interview with Lesley Kagen
You
included a variety of serious topics in this book; accidents, disabilities, racism, murder, physical and sexual abuse, rape, and PTSD, how did
you make the choice to bring all these themes together or did each story evolve on its own?
Each
of us is so complicated. Think of your own family and friends. I bet you can come up with a variety of problems that they must deal with each
and every day. I like my characters to be real and authentic. But also, the times and the setting dictated many of the problems they had to
try and overcome.
Book Club Books: Interview with Lesley Kagen
A
quote that I remember thinking about is, "But I also learned that when it comes to people, we're pretty much all the same. No matter what the color
of our skin or the slantiness of our eyes." This is an interesting thought and although we are all humans, do you really believe we are all
pretty much the same? Were Gibby and Clever the same as Sneaky Tim Ray Holloway and Buster?
The
rest of that line is: "We were all scared over there the same way." Billy was explaining to Gibby the fear he felt during the Vietnam War. It
was a sort of bond that he had with the other soldiers even if they were fighting on opposite sides.
Gibby goes on to say: "What difference does it make what somebody looks like on the outside? The same things make life worth living for all of
us, don't they?" Yes, I believe that's mostly true. No matter if you're Gibby and Clever or Sneaky Tim Ray and Buster. Just because those two
men were guilty of the crimes they committed, that doesn't make them any less human.
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