culture is made of people
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 […]
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 […]
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?
I have never thought of myself, by any means, as a fashionista. However, I do like to keep up with what the latest styles, trends and “it” whatevers are. I never identified with one style icon, but rather took aspects from different women in the fashion and entertainment world that […]
One of the most influential books of the late ’50s and ’60s was a book called The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution by British scientist and novelist C. P. Snow.
A Multitude of Sins (2002), by Richard Ford Some writers have been an acquired taste for me. When I first read them it took me a while to slash my way through their impenetrable styles and enter the fragrant garden on the other side. Faulkner is one. Raymond Carver is another. […]
When my friend recommended the Outlander to me through email, I thought, “Cool, maybe I’ll get around to looking for it the next time I don’t have anything to read.” Then when I saw her over the holidays, I asked her to refresh my memory on the book that she […]
Tarmon Gaidon is the name chosen for the last battle between mankind and the Dark One. It is the Armageddon of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. A solid year of catch up reading has brought me to Tarmon Gaidon’s doorstep, only to be bitterly disappointed.