Lemming Condition

Rating:
Summary: Lemming go of your conditioning
Review: As far as non-conformist allegory goes, The Lemming Condition (TLC) is not exactly Jonathan Livingston Seagull. But, what TLC lacks in poetic imagery and moving dialog, it makes up for in simple warm-fuzziness and well-written drama in the plight of the main character, Bubber.

TLC is a warm allegory about a young lemming, Bubber, who starts to question the wisdom of marching into the sea. This is more or less a story about Bubber's finding doubt in the accepted wisdom of his lemming community, and what happens when he challenges this status quo and lets go of his community conditioning.

Although this is a "children's book," some children might feel a bit disturbed (as I did) by the ending of The Lemming Condition. Not that it is gory, just slightly disturbing. Since it is an allegory, our own society can be seen shining through the lemming society. And what could be more disturbing than thinking of your own society ready to rush into the sea to their own, unthinking, uncritical deaths? Maybe I'm alone in feeling this way...

One thing that Alan Arkin does well is mimic the nay-sayers when someone does try to rock the boat. The author accurately shows what are the typical reactions of family, friends, and our community when doubt about a custom is presented to them. In reading this, you will probably see in print what you may have heard in your past. From denial to prejudice to stonewalling to dissociative behavior, Mr. Arkin does a great job portraying the words and actions of those who go along to get along.

On the whole, The Lemming Condition is a good, easy to read story. If the values that parents hope to teach are self-directed, possibly nonconforming thought, this may be a good start for your children; if they can grasp the allegory and aren't upset by cute and fuzzy little lemmings hell-bent on their own mindless deaths.

For a more upbeat, but also more "new-age" and more deeply poetic allegory, go straight to Jonathan Livinston Seagull by Richard Bach.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful
Review: Bubber's family was getting ready. So were all the lemmings families in burrow after burrow, all over the tundra. It was the morning of the great march west and the leap into the sea. Bubber was excited about it, until his crow friend starts asking some pretty pointed questions : Could a lemming even swim? What comes after the leap from the cliff? Bubber found that he couldn't say for sure. He had followed the crowd and taken it for granted like everybody else. The lemmings were doing something; he was a lemming. However, Crow's questions startle and unsettle him, and he starts having questions of his own - ones that had to be answered before the day was over. Short, very short, but wonderfully written, the several levels of storytelling meshing into one throughly enjoyable whole. However, despite it's shortness and cute illustrations, it is not for younger children - a few cuss words and the graphic, disturbing depiction of the mass lemming sucidide might not be apportiate. But everyone else will pick up important messages and meaning from this allegorical furry tale. Though I must add as a side note that lemmings do NOT kill themselves. It's a myth that was perpetuated by a few cameramen shoving them off a cliff for a Disney nature film in the fifties.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful
Review: Bubber's family was getting ready. So were all the lemmings families in burrow after burrow, all over the tundra. It was the morning of the great march west and the leap into the sea. Bubber was excited about it, until his crow friend starts asking some pretty pointed questions : Could a lemming even swim? What comes after the leap from the cliff? Bubber found that he couldn't say for sure. He had followed the crowd and taken it for granted like everybody else. The lemmings were doing something; he was a lemming. However, Crow's questions startle and unsettle him, and he starts having questions of his own - ones that had to be answered before the day was over. Short, very short, but wonderfully written, the several levels of storytelling meshing into one throughly enjoyable whole. However, despite it's shortness and cute illustrations, it is not for younger children - a few cuss words and the graphic, disturbing depiction of the mass lemming sucidide might not be apportiate. But everyone else will pick up important messages and meaning from this allegorical furry tale. Though I must add as a side note that lemmings do NOT kill themselves. It's a myth that was perpetuated by a few cameramen shoving them off a cliff for a Disney nature film in the fifties.

Rating:
Summary: The Lemming Condition
Review: I began using this book in my classroom about 20 years ago.
I have read and discussed it with children 10-18.
Most notably, I read it to students at a continuation high school where I worked for three years. Many of the students were in gangs and had already been to jail. Many of the girls already had their first child and had settled into a pattern that would spiral their lives and those of their children into misery. This book offered them an alegorical exposure to the idea that life need not be preset series of events leading to the leap of no return and the long death.

It remains one of my most stolen books, always a compliment. Mr. Arkin reminds us that it is not only okay, but necessary that we break from the pack to survive.
I am so grateful for his authorship and the effect it has had on so many. I wish he knew.

Rating:
Summary: A good book for enjoyment reading
Review: If you like stories that are simple, yet challenging then the Lemming Condition is for you. Alan Arkin the author of the Lemming Condition wrote this story for kids, but its just as much a novel for adults as it is for children. The children side of the novel reveals the Lemmings as tiny little creatures that are living happily ever after. Until one day when all the Lemmings are talking about heading west and executing the wet walk. Bubber, the main character in the book is confused about the situation, so he goes around and tries to find out information from family, relatives, and finally friends. When none of that seems to satisfy his nagging urges he scouts information on his own. The adult part of this story is the 2nd level that isn't revealed in plain black and white English. What Alan Arkin does is he creates a hidden meaning in the story, which is known to the writers and readers as allegory. With these two parts in the story working together, it makes for a wonderful reading time. This book is highly recommended for enjoyment reading for all ages.

Rating:
Summary: Lemming Condition
Review: The Lemming Condition is a book for many different people. I now know that I am not one of the people it is for. I did find it appealing, and most parts were easy to follow along. I think the reason that I think that it is not a book for me is because it became very redundant with our class doing so much on it. There are a lot of ways to like the story, since there is depth to it with the allegorical level. I may have not liked the book, but I'm sure that others would like it if they weren't exposed to it so much like I was.

Rating:
Summary: Lemming go of your conditioning
Review: The lemming condition was way too short. It had strong potentual, but it fell short with it's lack of words. By the time you get interested, the story is near the end. Now i can see how the story is long enough for little kids, but i am reading this as a class project in High School, and for me this story is too short. It could have been a good story.