February Prompt: Books within Books

[Prof. Tarma Amelia Black]

Remember Midsummer's Night Dream, which is a play within a play (within a play)? The whole scenario is with the basis of entertainment for Theseus and Hippolyta upon their marriage. Yet, within that 'entertainment' are stories which are whole within themselves, and somehow, magically by the Bard of Stratford-upon-Avon, woven together into a wonderful whole.

What books have you read where, you think you are reading one story, and then, somehow, another story gets introduced into it? One example is the book The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman, where the grandfather is reading a story to his grandson, and somehow we dive into the story that he's reading. Or what about Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke? This wonderful story tells about a man looking for his wife ... but there are difficulties inherent in his search. One of the difficulties finds him and his daughter and aunt IN the story he is reading.

Or, maybe you can think of a story which you feel could belong in the middle of another story? Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Dorothy met, instead of the Wizard of Oz, someone more like Saruman (of Lord of the Rings fame).

Your write-up needs to be at least 200 words to count towards Beans (and any possible award)! If you post a graphic, please keep it to 600x600 or smaller, and write a brief description underneath what the graphic depicts.

You will receive 20 Beans when you post. Any replies in here, through the school year, will be credited towards a possible award. As always, please keep to HOL appropriate sources for your post.

There is no deadline as such for these prompts but if you’d like it to count towards your chance of earning the award for a specific year, we’ll need it by the end of that school year. If you’re comfortable sharing, then post below. If not, email your story to us via hol.bookclub @ gmail.com (without the spaces).

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