What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Just curious, why does this topic come up so regularly here? Or why do you think? Are captive narratives standard to read in U.S. schools or something? I never one myself, although I guess Sing Down the Moon has a similar storyline.

Are you referring to Indian/settler ones, or captive narratives in general (teen girl kidnapped by molester held in basement etc.)?

I don't think I ever read an Indian/settler one, either in school or on my own. They do seem really popular though. (As do the contemporary ones with teen girls, children, sex abuse, etc.) My guess would be both genres are a way to process your fears in a safe, sanitized way; the horror/danger/torture/death are either happening to imaginary people, or real people so far removed in time that it has no real bearing on you. It's also a way to be voyeuristic from a safe distance.

I find them interesting because I'm curious to know how a person coped with such a life shattering experience as well as overcome all obstacles and survive.
What makes them tick?

If it's a true story it ratchets up the suspense level to a heart pounding levels.

I read a number of them (historical fiction) about Native Americans and their European settler captives. I found the history of them fascinating, and many people wanted to stay with their Native American families even though there were treaties where the captives had to be sent back. Instead of treating them badly, many people took captives to replace lost loved ones and adopted them into their families. Some of them were based on true stories. I find that fascinating!

Just venturing a few guesses:
1. The big main thing America is known for and constantly struggles with and is still evolving because of is Freedom. Especially personal freedom. Those sorts of books are a means of exploring that.
2. I think everybody gets picked on for something or feels isolated/lonely and unsupported, so those sorts of things are easy for readers to connect with (even if their own experience is a much smaller scale).


I think the other reasons mentioned above make sense too (surmounting all obstacles, thrills/chills, survival, a sort of way to bring history to life and put a human face on vague references for the reader for however many pages, etc.)

June Namias discusses this briefly in her book "White Captives: Gender and Ethnicity on the American Frontier" (an excellent book), and among other things suggests that it gives readers a chance to wonder how would they do in the same situation.

Many of the Indian captivity narratives have been about females-Mary Jemison, Olive Oatman, Cynthia Ann Porter- and there may have been both prurient interest and interest in a book about another female.