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Young Adult Lit WebQuests

Interview

 

Blasingame, James. "An Interview with Rodman Philbrick. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 47.6 (March, 2004): 518-519.

 

James Blasingame spoke with Rodman Philbrick by email abut his recent book, The Young Man and the Sea.

 

James                   In The Young Man and the Sea twelve-year-old Skiff Beaman's battle with a gigantic blue fin tuna closely parallels the battle against a huge marlin fought by Santiago in Hemingway's novel of almost the same name. Just as winning the battle of strength with the fish was only the beginning of Santiago's challenge, so it is also for Skiff, who finds himself thirty miles out at sea with no gas for the motor and a 900 pound monster fish dragging behind the boat. Readers will discover, however, that this story is much more than just a retelling of Hemingway's classic; in what ways did you intend Skiff's story to be very different from Santiago's?

 

Rodman               I haven't read the Hemingway story since I was in high school, but obviously it made a big impression. I have a younger brother who was a commercial fisherman and worked on a harpoon boat going after bluefins, and recalled his stories about the giant fish. At the height of the bluefin craze, when one fish could bring ten thousand dollars or more, all sorts of folks went out in ill-equipped small boats, and I thought it would be interesting to see the wild scene through the eyes of a twelve-year old. So I guess the essential difference in the characters of Santiago and Skiff is one of age. A beginning rather than an ending. Santiago must come to terms with his age, his mortality, his declining strength, and the disappointments of life - in essence, he's a philosopher, commenting on the human condition. In contrast, Skiff is a boy who is absolutely determined to save his father and make them a family again, which is why he's so fixated on resurrecting the family boat. He refuses to give up on life, because to do so would be to defile his late mother's memory. I try not to be corny, but the driving force of the narrative is a very old-fashioned notion about overcoming adversity, about not giving up when life overwhelms you. Also, despite the white beard and an avid interest in fishing, I'm not an innovative stylist like Mr. Hemingway, nor do I share his particular interest in the theme of what constitutes physical courage. I'm simply a storyteller.

 

James                   Skiff loves the smell of planed cedar and the magic of Mr. Woodwell's boat shop, where his dad (Big Skiff) also spent time as a young man. The events that surround the raising and repairing of the Mary Rose seem lovingly written to share what boat builders feel for their work. Is there something magical, or at least very special, about wooden boats and their construction (and reconstruction)?

 

Rodman               There is for me! As many of my readers already know, before I was able to write for a living I worked with my hands, and most of the work had to do with boats. It started in repairs on my own boats, which were invariably old, made of wood, and had a tendency to leak. Eventually I learned to build wooden boats, built quite a few in my own shop, and later was a toolmaker - or mold builder - in several fiberglas boat shops. Amos Woodwell was heavily based on a real person. In reality he was a retired teacher of Latin who owned an ancient Friendship sloop, and rebuilt it from the keel up. When I sailed with him he was eighty-something and I was in my early twenties. I took what I remember of his gentle, keenly intelligent personality and put him in the shoes of a local, legendary builder whose shop I was familiar with - and that's where we get that lovely scent of planed cedar!

 

James                  Skiff faces adversity in many ways, including the rotten tricks played upon him by, Tyler Croft, the son of his father's former close friend, Jack Croft. Skiff rises above this by facing challenges more appropriate to a man than a young man, but why do you think young people (as often and accurately portrayed in your books) are so often cruel to their peers? 

 

Rodman               I wish I knew the answer to the mystery of human cruelty. If so, maybe I could do something about it! I vividly recall being bullied when I was a certain age, and to my shame I also recall bullying a few weaker kids myself. That part of childhood has not changed in the intervening forty years, and I fear it will always be part of how kids sort each other out - not that we adults should ever condone or tolerate such cruel behavior. As to Skiff having to behave more like a grown-up, my own father struggled desperately with alcoholism, and as the oldest of four brothers I simply had to grow up fast, and make adult decisions when I was quite young. I think I'm a better person for it, too. It's no coincidence that Skiff's last name is Beaman, as in ' be a man'. By the way, my late father was sober for the last few decades of his life, and devoted himself to helping others beat that terrible disease. So I have witnessed the overcoming of adversity, and know how important it is not to give up hope.

 

James               This book seems to acknowledge a code that exists among the men who make their living at sea. Although it is unspoken and only indirectly described, it is readily apparent in the story when men like Mr. Woodwell and Captain Keelson get together. Does this code still exist in New England, and is it an endangered species? What keeps it alive?

 

Rodman               I'm happy to say this kind of quiet code of honor and obligation still exists here among Maine waterman, who do indeed look out for each other. It stays alive by example, and out of necessity, and I wanted to show how important that kind of thoughtful kindness can be when adults act as mentors to kids.

 

James                   You once indicated that telling a good story may sometimes be more important to a writer success than focusing purely on the literary qualities of a piece. Can you tell us what you mean by that and how it has played out in your own career?

 

Rodman               I started out wanting to be a literary innovator, much more concerned with the style and complexity of the prose than with the story itself. Eventually I discovered that readers of all levels seem to respond to narrative first of all, and that an overly developed style - which calls attention to the author - can actually detract from the power of the narrative, and thereby diminish the story. And I do believe in the general rule that a good story indifferently written will trump a poor story well-written. All of which is not to say that I don't spend many hours rewriting my prose, trying to get it just right. In my case that means taking out all the extra words.

 

 

 

James                   You have sometimes collaborated with your wife on a book project. How do two people go about writing a novel together? It seems like a special relationship would be necessary and/or the relationship might be tested in the process.

 

Rodman               Believe me, a special relationship is necessary, and it certainly does get tested - which may explain why Lynn and I haven't collaborated on a project in several years now. In our case the only reason it worked (and I think it worked rather well) is because Lynn did most of the heavy lifting. I outlined and pontificated and rather grandly criticized the results, while she did most of the grunt work of writing the prose. Good deal if you can get it.

 

James                   You (and your wife) have had great success at novels for adults, as well as novels for adolescents. How are the two efforts different, and how are the payoffs different?

 

Rodman               To my way of thinking, the efforts are identical. For the writer the difficulty level is exactly the same - struggling to make every word count, and every character come vividly to life. The only thing I do differently when writing a story intended for a younger audience is leave out the swear words. But I must say, the payoffs really are quite different, because young readers are so much more enthusiastic than adult readers. Sometimes one of my books is the first book a kid has ever read, and that's never true of adult readers.

 

James                   Do you mind sharing a little about your next book?

 

Rodman               My next book will be called 'The True Adventures of Homer Figg'. It's about a boy from rural Maine who runs away to follow his older brother into the Civil War, and his adventures along the way. I intend it to be a rip-roaring good yarn, and it may or may not be a bit longer than most of my previous books for young readers. But only if the story makes it so!

 

  James                 What advice would you like to give to young writers?

 

Rodman               Write something every day. When it's finished, write it again. And you must read. If you're not intoxicated by books, and by the power of words, it's unlikely you'll ever be a good writer.

 

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updated: February 14, 2007