SuitabookOld glory and the real-time freaks
Ralph Blum
- Reading
- Try reading a section together, then invite your child to identify what Quintus wants remembered and which parts of his life or times they would ask him to explain further.
- Themes
- Personal freedom and the draft: Quintus is nearing draft eligibility, dislikes the duty, and does not contemplate dodging it. The premise sets up tension between his opposition and his stated unwillingness to evade the draft; the story’s judgement of that tension is unclear.
- Writing for a future reader: Quintus plans a letter for a grandson he presumes may read it in 100 years, selecting what he considers relevant about himself and his times. The setup foregrounds deliberate self-presentation, but it does not show whether the narrative questions or endorses Quintus’s account.
- Worth knowing
- The premise includes grass-smoking and impending draft eligibility. These may be useful points to check against your family’s preferences about drug references and military service.