More Thoughts from Children's Literature

We recently finished reading aloud "The Second Mrs. Giaconda" by E. L. Konigsburg. I love to read good literature with my children, especially the books I wasn't exposed to as a child myself. This book is based on the author's musings over the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's painting, 'the Mona Lisa'. It is based on facts, yet has lots of 'creative license' with the storyline. It was a fun readaloud because the young boy (Salai) taken in as an apprentice by Leonardo has a witty, irreverent personality that made us all laugh. There are several nuggets hidden within these pages that really make a person think.

• "Salai had learned. . .Leonardo was something in between God and the devil. Well, so was he. (17)" Isn't this good? Why do we tend to want to compare ourselves to others? This young boy had the right attitude, it seems to me. That person you know who is so talented? Well, you are on the same level--they are just the same as you--not God, and not the devil.
• Salai speaking: "Reading books does make people very opinionated. As a matter of fact, it seems to me that to be very learned in books means only to have an opinion on other people's opinions.(19)" I don't think I'm going to comment on this one--it hits far too close to home!
• "Leonardo whose father had never married his mother, Leonardo who had gone late as an apprentice to Verrochio, Leonardo who had no fortune of his own, Leonardo who had to count on the gifts of his hand and his head--this Leonardo had never felt certain that he had a place. . .This Leonardo was not willing to allow his seeds to fall on fertile ground where they might grow, for this Leonardo was not willing to cultivate his own replacement. (32)" What a comment on insecurity in spite of incredible talent and blessings; what a statement on lack of generosity because of fear; what an observation of the impact of our childhood on our adult choices.
• Salai's thoughts on the men flattering Leonardo: "They were not worth Leonardo's attention. But there he was, repeating the same answers to the same compliments. There he was accepting praise from this unrefined, uneducated bunch of men, no more grown up--except for height--than Salai himself. They were deaf men praising a concert. No. They were worse, for they could hear, but they would not. They were overgrown puppies standing between a saucer of meat and a mother's teat: knowing that the saucer is full of nourishment but too lazy to chew, content to be told what is in the saucer as they continue suckling and telling each other how close they came to tasting solid food." Wow! Haven't you seen these same men? Talking about God, but not knowing Him. Trusting in the experience others have had with God instead of seeking Him themselves. Reading books about God instead of the Book by God. TASTE and see that I am God!!
  
• Salai's thoughts on meeting a self-centered duchess: "It was not a happy smile, though; her eyes were not a part of it. . .She wore the smile of one who lived in a private bubble of good thoughts about herself. (46)" I think we've all known someone like this, someone so consumed with herself that there is no room for her to get to know you, and no depth to her that allows you to get to know her.
  
• "If my past had been unhappy," Salai replied, "I would have been able to smother it with anise cookies alone." "Some, even many, would consider that your past was unhappy," responded Leonardo. "Not me. I wouldn't say that. I just say, 'What was, was; what is, is; what will be, will be.' Why can't Beatrice do that?" Leonardo shook his head. "Some of us simply cannot. Some of us have to strain all of our present actions through past pain. Others of us merely learn to coat bad thoughts with silence and good manners. Not everyone can be a Salai. (87) A lesson on acceptance and contentment.
  
• Salai stole sketches by Leonardo for inferior artists to copy so "All over Milan there began to appear works in the manner of Leonardo da Vinci, pale imitations that had the characteristics but not the character of the master's work. (89)" What have you seen that has the characteristics but not the character of the Master's work?
  
• "This was a woman who knew that she was not pretty and who had learned to live with that knowledge. This was a woman whose acceptance of herself had made her beautiful in a deep and hidden way. A woman whose look told you that you were being sized by a measuring rod in her head; a measuring rod on which she alone had etched the units. A woman who knew how to give pleasure and how to give pain. A woman who knew how to endure. A woman of layers. (137)" This was Salai's description upon meeting the subject of Leonardo's famous painting.

Books with rich language, deep characters, thought-provoking messages, and a believable storyline--these are the kinds of books I want to fill my children's minds with. Living books, twaddle-free books, those that stay with you after the last page is turned.