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A review by karenstory
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
5.0
Would you believe that this book is a controversial one?
The author shared that the book came about because he and his wife lost two babies, and so they ended up adopting two that they named, Sam and Gilly.
And…
Because of their experience of losing children, and the beauty of being able to adopt and love two, they always wanted them to know how much they were loved…
And…
That their love would carry on forever.
Thus…
Love you, forever.
However…
Valerie Lewis, co-owner of Hicklebee’s a children’s bookstore in San Jose, CA, shared when interviewed about this book, that…
“It is the most loved and the most hated book I’ve ever seen. More loved than not, people will read this book and burst into tears.”
But…
It doesn’t stop with Ms. Lewis.
Barbara Jenko, coordinator for new book selection for the Brooklyn Public Library, said…
“It’s the most Oedipal book I’ve read since ‘Oedipus.’”
The author actually received a letter sharing…
“Dear Mr. Munsch, how dare you parade the general public your unresolved Oedipal feelings for your mother!”
All these musings I share come from an article by MP Dunleavy, I read in the New York Times.
The story is about a mother rocking her baby son and telling him, “I’ll love you forever.”
Of course, if you look at the visual illustrations you see the mother crawling to his bed every night to hold him and sing this refrain no matter how old he is. Toddlerhood to adulthood.
Now, personally, I did not take this literally, or from an Oedipal place. I happen to have 2 sons.
And…
I do love them dearly, and definitely, forever, too.
And…yes, I will age myself by sharing that my sons are now in their 40’s and they have kids… my grandkids, that I love forever, too.
And…
They each live in separate states. I don’t crawl into their beds.
But…
I do say I love them every chance I get.
And I think that really is the point of the story.
So…
However, you choose to interpret this story, I thought this was an interesting point of view to share.
The author shared that the book came about because he and his wife lost two babies, and so they ended up adopting two that they named, Sam and Gilly.
And…
Because of their experience of losing children, and the beauty of being able to adopt and love two, they always wanted them to know how much they were loved…
And…
That their love would carry on forever.
Thus…
Love you, forever.
However…
Valerie Lewis, co-owner of Hicklebee’s a children’s bookstore in San Jose, CA, shared when interviewed about this book, that…
“It is the most loved and the most hated book I’ve ever seen. More loved than not, people will read this book and burst into tears.”
But…
It doesn’t stop with Ms. Lewis.
Barbara Jenko, coordinator for new book selection for the Brooklyn Public Library, said…
“It’s the most Oedipal book I’ve read since ‘Oedipus.’”
The author actually received a letter sharing…
“Dear Mr. Munsch, how dare you parade the general public your unresolved Oedipal feelings for your mother!”
All these musings I share come from an article by MP Dunleavy, I read in the New York Times.
The story is about a mother rocking her baby son and telling him, “I’ll love you forever.”
Of course, if you look at the visual illustrations you see the mother crawling to his bed every night to hold him and sing this refrain no matter how old he is. Toddlerhood to adulthood.
Now, personally, I did not take this literally, or from an Oedipal place. I happen to have 2 sons.
And…
I do love them dearly, and definitely, forever, too.
And…yes, I will age myself by sharing that my sons are now in their 40’s and they have kids… my grandkids, that I love forever, too.
And…
They each live in separate states. I don’t crawl into their beds.
But…
I do say I love them every chance I get.
And I think that really is the point of the story.
So…
However, you choose to interpret this story, I thought this was an interesting point of view to share.