Novel Review for Module 1-Classics

Novel Review of The Pigman-Classics/ Module 1 Bibliographic Citation: Zindel, P. (1968). The Pigman. New York: Harper & Row. 182 pages. Summary: The Pigman by Paul Zindel is the story of two high school friends, John and Lorraine, each with their own distinct personality quirks. Their friendship is unusual because their unique character traits work to balance each other. Their friendship and love of playing practical jokes and pranks leads them in the strange, yet fun-filled world of Mr. Pignati, who is known as the Pigman. Adventures with the Pigman help the characters discover areas of their own lives in which they feel unsatisfied and lacking emotion. Analysis: The overwhelming theme throughout this novel is loneliness. John and Lorraine seem to be searching for their own level of happiness, instead of the meaningless and depressing existence of the parents in each home. Mr. Pignati suffers from extreme sadness due to the loss of his wife. Regardless of the unusual manner in which their friendship develops, the threesome find solace, happiness and even joy with each other. The author does an excellent job of telling the story from both the perspective of John and Lorraine, allowing the reader to understand the family dynamics of each character. The story of the threesome is continued on in The Pigman’s Legacy. The evidence of the author’s own dysfunctional childhood is shared through the difficult relationships between John, Lorraine and their parents. I think it would be interesting to know more about the relationship between the author and his morning, in order to fully appreciate the feelings of John and Lorraine. Each young adult had distinct struggles within their own family and may relate to these characters more if they understand the point of view from which the author is writing. Mr. Pignati represents an attempt at discovering true happiness and their own identity apart from the family. Time with him is an escape from their own dismal homelife. After reading The Pigman, I feel compelled to read the sequel.