On Literature, Books

  • On Literature, Books

Affecting Song and W.E.B. Du Bois’ “Souls of Black Folk”

Each chapter of W.E.B. Du Bois' "The Souls of Black Folk" begins with an excerpt of verse and a few…

4 years ago
  • Reading Journal

Harriet Jacobs’ “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl”

Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" tells of her life in and escape from the 'Demon…

4 years ago
  • Reading Journal

“Up From Slavery”: Booker T. Washington’s words

Booker T. Washington's "Up From Slavery" promotes a vocational training for blacks imbued with Christian virtue. Is W.E.B. Du Bois'…

4 years ago
  • Reading Journal

Coming to Booker T. Washington’s “Up From Slavery”

The circumstances of my purchase and knowledge of "Up From Slavery," Booker T. Washington's most famous autobiography

4 years ago
  • Reading Journal

Reading Journal: Assembling Dinosaurs, “War and Peace”

A glorious night when I just wanted to keep reading: first, 25 pages of Lukas Rieppel's "Assembling the Dinosaur"; then…

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

Anna Seghers’ “Transit”: Profound Unknowing

In Anna Seghers' novel "Transit," no one really knows who the other is. The reader is never certain of who…

4 years ago
  • Short Story Month

Julio Cortázar’s “Bestiary”: Man-eating animals

The "Bestiary" narrates pre-adolescent Isabel's summer vacation with her cousin Nino and ... a tiger.

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

“Blind Geronimo and His Brother”: Mistrust Finds its End

Brothers Geronimo and Carlo travel the roads of 19th century Italy, entertaining passers-by with song, but one plants a seed…

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

“Anxiety … Dizziness … Freedom”: Paraself Virtue

Ted Chiang's "Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom" considers the ethical effects of the consulation with a paraself, a self…

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

Gottfried Keller’s “The Little Dance Legend”: Pagans Mix Poorly

G. Keller's "The Little Dance Legend" is a quizzical story about Musa, a dancer among the saints whose dance and…

4 years ago