Becoming Peculiar

What an interesting book. I haven't quite finished it yet, but I wanted to give a few of my thoughts. I am not sure if this is a negative or not but it seems that Ralph does an awful lot for being a young boy. He is 8 when the book opens. Maybe that just goes to show what young people can do if given the chance. I was thinking that he was only 6 but he was 8. I was very impressed with the way the Father disciplined Ralph. He never seemed to be cruel in anyway. In someways he almost seemed like the soft one but he was firm. Father had a way of explaining things to Ralph so that he understood what Father was saying without Father talking down to him. I really liked the fact that we can be a part of the arguements Ralph has with himself as he tries to make decisions. Wanting to make the right choice yet wanting to do something else at the same time. It is good to know that he is basically a good boy that sometimes makes wrong decisions. I really like the way that his parents explain the effects that his decisions have upon his character. How making wrong choices is like taking his character a part one piece at a time. I also like the way that Father taught Ralph to take responsibility for his own actions. In the middle of page 143 Father says, "It isn't a case of 'if the sheriff finds out about it.' It's a case of your breaking the law without intending to. If you tried to cover it up, you would be running away from the law. Our prisons are full of men whose first real crime was running away because they didn't have courage enough to face punishment for a small offense. Tomorrow you must go see the sheriff. I'll explain to Mother about your coat." Father wouldn't go with him. Ralph had to go alone.