The Bee's Bookshelf discussion

This is where we'll discuss our thoughts, feelings, questions, and reactions to Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman. If you have any comments to share with our group, please feel free to jump right in!

So this is what we're reading next? I'll have to look it up. That's an interesting title.

Olivia wrote: "So this is what we're reading next? I'll have to look it up. That's an interesting title."

It is what we're reading next! If you're signed up for our monthly emails, you'll get one on Friday with lots of fun stuff to do with the book!

Okay. Cool.

Splod, the volcano god in the novel, actually has some interesting etymology.
Splod is a portmanteau of splash and rod.
Splash as in the lava splashes.
Rod comes from the Latin rodus, meaning stick.
Rodus comes from Greek rodicius, meaning tendril.
Rodicius is also the root of the work rodicum, or the interior chamber of a volcano.
Neat!

I think it's going to be funny. I just got my copy from the library and I like the illustration on the front cover.

Siddhu wrote: "Splod, the volcano god in the novel, actually has some interesting etymology.
Splod is a portmanteau of splash and rod.
Splash as in the lava splashes.
Rod comes from the Latin rodus, meaning stick..."

This is so interesting, Siddhu. Thank you for sharing your etymological research with us. I really appreciate when authors take the time to give characters and places names that are meaningful to the story.

Because you gave us some of the history behind "rod," I wanted to elaborate on your description of "Splod" as a portmanteau word. For those that don't know, a pormanteau word is a blended word. In the case of "Splod," we get that name by blending "splash" and "rod," as Siddhu explained above. Interestingly, the word "portmanteau" is a portmanteau itself, being a blend of the French words "porter" and "manteau."

My dad and I make up weird portmanteaus sometimes, like "flimp" or "limsy" (both combinations of the words limp and flimsy). They're much more fun to say!

Emilio wrote: "I think it's going to be funny. I just got my copy from the library and I like the illustration on the front cover."

The illustrations are one of the best things about the story, in my opinion. The illustrator is Skottie Young, and he is a super-awesome cartoonist who has illustrated characters including Spider Man, the Avengers, Deadpool, and the Guardians of the Galaxy for Marvel over the last 15 years. His work is amazing!

Olivia wrote: "My dad and I make up weird portmanteaus sometimes, like "flimp" or "limsy" (both combinations of the words limp and flimsy). They're much more fun to say!"

You're right, those are both much more fun to say! Does anyone else have examples of portmanteaus that they use in their lives? One of the most frequently used ones that I can think of is "brunch."

Yeah, that's fun to say. My dad and I do ""lupper" and "sunch"!

Spork!

Marianne wrote: "Spork!"

Olivia wrote: "My dad and I do ""lupper" and "sunch"! "

I was thinking of "spork" as another example, but I've never heard of "lupper" and "sunch." Those are fun!

Oh, yeah, spork is cool.

I liked it. It was funny and I liked how the dad told the story because he used all the things from around the room.

Molly wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Spork!"

Olivia wrote: "My dad and I do ""lupper" and "sunch"! "

I was thinking of "spork" as another example, but I've never heard of "lupper" and "sunch." Those are fun!"

I like to do segg which is sausage and eggs combined and I'll eat it any time of the day.

I made lupper and sunch up. Ha, ha! I like that.

Emilio wrote: "I liked it. It was funny and I liked how the dad told the story because he used all the things from around the room."

I really liked the ending of the story, too. As someone who likes to write, it makes me excited about the possibility of creating a story just by looking around me for inspiration!

Emilio wrote: "I like to do segg which is sausage and eggs combined and I'll eat it any time of the day."

That sounds delicious!

If someone invents segg,I'm probably going to buy it first.

Arnav wrote: "If someone invents segg,I'm probably going to buy it first."

I'll tell my dad he has his first customer!

Molly wrote: "Siddhu wrote: "Splod, the volcano god in the novel, actually has some interesting etymology.
Splod is a portmanteau of splash and rod.
Splash as in the lava splashes.
Rod comes from the Latin rodus..."
That's so interesting! I just thought he made up a word that just sounded funny! But hey, learn something new every day.

Molly wrote: "Olivia wrote: "My dad and I make up weird portmanteaus sometimes, like "flimp" or "limsy" (both combinations of the words limp and flimsy). They're much more fun to say!"

You're right, those are b..."
My mom sometimes mixes up my brothers' names but I don't know if that counts :)

Grace Maxson wrote: "That's so interesting! I just thought he made up a word that just sounded funny! But hey, learn something new every day."

I thought the exact same thing, Grace! It goes to show just how much thought authors put into their characters and stories.

Grace Maxson wrote: "My mom sometimes mixes up my brothers' names but I don't know if that counts :)"

Haha! I think it counts, for sure. I do that with my dogs' names all the time.

I can't believe we're more than halfway through September already! I hope you all are enjoying Fortunately, the Milk and that it's inspired you to create your own wacky adventure stories. Here's something I've been thinking about lately...

The sister in the story wished that ponies could be a part of the dad's tale. What thing/place/detail do you wish could have been added to the story? Is there anything that you would add that would have made it even more exciting for you?

I can't wait to read what you guys come up with!

I would have loved a penguin in the story. I always feel that a penguin character adds a great deal to the general "feel-good atmosphere" of a story. Not to mention they more adorable than magical ponies.

Michele wrote: "I would have loved a penguin in the story. I always feel that a penguin character adds a great deal to the general "feel-good atmosphere" of a story. Not to mention they more adorable than magical ..."

I completely agree—penguins would have made the story so much more fun! You can't help but be enchanted when a penguin pops up in a story.

Molly wrote: "I can't believe we're more than halfway through September already! I hope you all are enjoying Fortunately, the Milk and that it's inspired you to create your own wacky adventure stories. Here's so..."
Hmmmmmmmmmmm........... it would be really great if some random thing like a cow just popped up for a second and then vanished, and Professor Steg just said something along the lines of "Oh, that was just some dimensional interference. It happens all the time." I just really like when things like that happen. Not that it's not already random enough!

Molly wrote: "Michele wrote: "I would have loved a penguin in the story. I always feel that a penguin character adds a great deal to the general "feel-good atmosphere" of a story. Not to mention they more adorab..."
I LOVE PENGUINS!!!!!

Grace Maxson wrote: "Molly wrote: "I can't believe we're more than halfway through September already! I hope you all are enjoying Fortunately, the Milk and that it's inspired you to create your own wacky adventure stor..."

(Sorry if that sounded a little weird, I was just putting my ideas onto figurative paper.)

Grace Maxson wrote: "Hmmmmmmmmmmm........... it would be really great if some random thing like a cow just popped up for a second and then vanished, and Professor Steg just said something along the lines of "Oh, that was just some dimensional interference. It happens all the time." I just really like when things like that happen. Not that it's not already random enough!"

That would be pretty funny! I'd like to see the father's reaction to something else pretty wacky/unbelievable popping up, like a mermaid, for example. Especially if it was something that wasn't in the kitchen, but that the father had to imagine on his own.

That would be fun!

Grace Maxson wrote: "My mom sometimes mixes up my brothers' names, but I don't know if that counts :)"

Ha, ha! I am the oldest of five siblings, so, yeah, that happens all the time in my family. My mom even calls one of us by one of our cats' names sometimes!

Ha ha! I am a middle child out of six, so it happens every day. :D

Wow.

Yeah, it's a little crazy sometimes!