Essays From The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg

Essays From The Stranger by Chris Van AllsburgThe Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg is an essay book that is loaded with essays about topics in his novels. While the original Stranger was written after the fact to address the damages done by his attempted murder, this book is more about the pre-murder and post-murder events of its characters. Each essay addresses a topic that is relevant to the plot or to the story.My essay topics for The Stranger are reflections on the nature of violence, the degree to which the 'knock out' game is a modern fad, and the secret behind the mind of the killer. To give you an idea, I also include my thoughts on the genre, how the modern age has changed crime and violence, and what it is to be a good father. You can tell from these essays that I am as passionate about them as Chris Van Allsburg himself, and if you like his novels, you will enjoy reading his essays.I think there are many things that you could read into the structure of these essay topics. I guess it just depends on your view of violence. Some people see the efforts to diminish violence in society as cruel, while others might see it as a positive thing. I am probably in the middle somewhere, and that's what makes The Stranger such a gripping read.The first essay in this volume, 'Not a Punch Line,' is an interesting one because it is Chris Van Allsburg reflecting on his own thoughts on violence as a whole. Chris quotes friends and fellow authors who express their opinion on violence in our society. This essay challenges Chris to examine what he thinks are the most violent films he has ever seen. It is an interesting exercise and gets into the nitty gritty of violence, and is often witty at the same time.'DeadMan's Body' is another short essay in The Stranger. Chris dissects a character in one of his novels, only to realize that he is no longer in the novel and to reflect on why he ended up with the character in the first place. This essay makes you think about why your f avorite characters behave the way they do in a novel, but it is not necessarily a deep examination of violence in literature. This essay is interesting, but to me, not necessarily very enlightening. In fact, I don't even think this essay even needed to be in this volume.The last essay topics are quite intriguing. 'Another View of the Same Picture' talks about the way certain images change depending on the angle you view them from. In this case, Chris explores the way in which a photograph is printed for a news story. It is an interesting, witty, and provocative essay.Overall, The Stranger contains some of the best essays Chris Van Allsburg has ever written. These essays address topics such as violence in fiction, filmmaking, celebrity culture, and the social critique that lie at the heart of each work. All in all, this collection is a great read for anyone interested in the writing and the themes that are discussed throughout the volume.Chris Van Allsburg has been a major voice in A merica's literary world for over two decades. Through these essays, it is easy to see why. This is a must-have addition to any serious reading list.