Editor’s 6 Core Questions

Like Water For Chocolate (Laura Esquivel)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

1. What is the genre? Global—Society > Domestic Secondary—Worldview > Disillusionment 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions One Central Character: Tita is the central character. Nacha represents the part of Tita that is loyal and deferential. Mama Elena’s mother sent Nacha’s fiancé away, just as Mama Elena denied Pedro’s… Read more »

Faust Part Two (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

1. What is the genre? Global—Morality > Redemptive Secondary—Worldview > Disillusionment 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions Despicable protagonist begins at his/her worst: Faust seems to have no memory of his past that could be changing his moral sensibility. He starts the story by living a lie as he… Read more »

Code Name Verity (Elizabeth Wein)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

1. What is the genre? Global—War > Brotherhood Secondary—Worldview > Maturation 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions One Central Character with Offshoots That Embody Their Traits: The first half of the book is the written record of a POW in Nazi occupied France, Julie/Queenie, who has apparently bargained to… Read more »

The Body in the Library (Agatha Christie)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

1. What is the genre? Global—Crime > Cozy Murder Mystery > Master Detective 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions A MacGuffin: Mark Gaskell and Josephine Turner are secretly married and want their half of the £50,000.00 inheritance that Conway Jefferson was going to leave for both Mark (his son-in-law)… Read more »

Throne of Glass (Sarah J. Maas)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

1. What is the genre? Global — Action > Savior Secondary — Worldview > Education 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions Hero, Victim, Villain: Celaena Sardothien is the hero, the other competitors who die throughout the competition are the victims, and everyone on “Team Cain” (The King, Duke Perrington,… Read more »

The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

1. What is the genre? Global—Worldview > Maturation Secondary—n/a 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions Strong Mentor Figure. August Boatwright mentors Lily through her relationship with her dead mother and her coming-of-age during the turmoil of the Civil Rights Act. Big Social Problem as subtext. Racism; The passing of… Read more »

The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

1. What is the genre? Global — Thriller > Psychological Secondary — Worldview > Revelation 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions The atmosphere is portrayed in considerable detail, becoming alive and immediately threatening: The story opens up with in unknown narrator talking about “her” who is buried by the… Read more »

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Becky Albertalli)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

1. What is the genre? Global—Love Story Secondary—Worldview > Revelation 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions Triangle: When Martin finds Simon’s emails to “Blue,” mysterious guy, he blackmails him to get to Abby. Martin-Simon-Blue and Martin-Simon-Abby. Leah loves Nick but Nick loves Abby. Leah is jealous of Simon’s friendship… Read more »

The Little Stranger (Sarah Waters)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

1. What is the genre? Global—Horror > Supernatural Secondary—Status > Tragic 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions The monster can’t be reasoned with. It is possessed by the spirit of Evil and is present to devour and annihilate: The monster is an evil force that we’re led to believe… Read more »

Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)

Editor's 6 Core Questions

1. What is the genre? Global—Status > Admiration Secondary—Love > Courtship 2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for the genre? Conventions Strong Mentor Figure: Marmee (the mother of the March Girls): Marmee councils her daughters. She teaches her daughters the importance of self-sacrifice, kindness, and charitable giving. She encourages Jo to embrace her… Read more »

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