I’m sitting here on my bed reading the first few inspiring pages of Jon Acuff’s new book, DO OVER. It’s so inspiring, in fact, that I just set it down mid-reading page seven so I could type this out.
Some things have to change around here. I’m not just talking about this website. I’m talking about this country. Heck, this entire world.
Going through my library this weekend, I came across an old copy of Harold Bloom’s classic, The Western Canon.
When it was published, Bloom’s book was (and remains today) controversial among educators and academics for its unshrinking advocacy of intellectual elitism and its defense of Western canonical literature. That is, the European literature that most people who went to American public high schools encountered at some point, such as Shakespeare.
lthough there is a sufficient number of titles to grant “fantasy” a section separate from science fiction in most bookstores, they are still grouped together. The irony is, in most cases, a fantasy novel has to incorporate many features of science fiction to create a new world or environment.
Okay, I’ll admit it: I don’t like Jane Austen. I know that is some kind of blasphemy. I’m ready for the flaming and requests to hand in my chick card. I just cannot stand to read 90% of her writing. I know that she is considered one of the great writers in history.
More and more often it seems that my book selections are recommendations from friends. I guess I don’t spend enough time skulking around the shelves at Half Price Books or Barnes & Noble anymore.
Summer is quickly approaching, which means that many of us will be perusing the bookstands for some beach reading. Instead of numbing your brain with the latest grocery store checkout throwaway, why not reach for a romantic classic?