Reading "Jane Eyre" for the second time revealed a quite different— quite Christian and not postcolonial—one from what inhabited my memory (and imagination).

2022-12-26
On Literature, Books Reading Journal

Pleasures in Reading: Edgar Lee Master’s “Spoon River Anthology”

From the "Spoon River Anthology" by Edgar Lee Masters, excerpts and commentary on the experience of its reading

2022-11-10
On Literature, Books Idle Reflections Reading Journal

Tyrannical Imagination: Henry James’ “An International Episode”

A passage from Henry James’ novel "An International Episode" displays the tyranny of the imagination

2022-10-29
On Literature, Books Reading Journal

Reading Ulysses’ “Oxen of the Sun” (to oneself, aloud, and just in general)

On the experience, specifically pain, of reading as instanced with reference to the modernist masterpiece "Ulysses" by Irish writer James Joyce.

2022-05-23
On Literature, Books Reading Journal

Fragrant Excerpt from Joyce’s “Ulysses”: 5, Lotus Eaters

One of several forthcoming asides on the book "Ulysses" by James Joyce. Lead us not into temptation.

2022-02-27
On Literature, Books Reading Journal

“The Silence” by Don DeLillo: Electromagnetic Pulses and Voiceless Narration

Don DeLillo’s "The Silence," is a strange novel featuring an electromagnetic pulse and empty narration

2022-01-29
On Literature, Books Reading Journal

Cynthia Ozick’s novel “Trust”: a 1400-word Summary

A summary of Cynthia Ozick’s "Trust", being the story of a peculiar, nameless narrator seeking the reasons for her lack of name and lack of a father.

2021-12-29
On Literature, Books Reading Journal

Reading well an excerpt from Cynthia Ozick’s novel “Trust”

An excerpted passage from the 1966 novel "Trust" by Cynthia Ozick, dripping with the poetry and squalor of Rimbaud.

2021-12-19
Reading Journal

Cynthia Ozick’s “Trust”: Exegesis | Tom Hanks on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Ruminations on Cynthia Ozick’s knotty, profound prose counterposed to some armchair commentary on Tom Hanks’ eminently forgettable appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Live.

2021-11-07
Reading Journal Viewing Journal

Satire or Misanthropy? “Solar,” by Ian McEwan

Ian McEwan’s 2010 novel “Solar” is a misanthropic retelling of ten years in the life of erstwhile Nobel Prize recipient Michael Beard

2021-05-23
On Literature, Books Reading Journal

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 bars of music, begging the question why this song?

2021-03-31
On Literature, Books 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 Slavery,’ and its nonpareil powers of corruption.

2021-02-28
Reading Journal On Literature, Books

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Reading Journal

Reading Aloud: Ben Lerner’s “The Rescue”

“An Ideal Craftsman”: Psychological Horror from Walter de la Mare

Discovering Robert Southwell’s Metaphysical Poetry

Jane Eyre: Post-Colonial Christian Zealotry?

Pleasures in Reading: Edgar Lee Master’s “Spoon River Anthology”

Tyrannical Imagination: Henry James’ “An International Episode”

Reading Ulysses’ “Oxen of the Sun” (to oneself, aloud, and just in general)

Fragrant Excerpt from Joyce’s “Ulysses”: 5, Lotus Eaters

“The Silence” by Don DeLillo: Electromagnetic Pulses and Voiceless Narration

Cynthia Ozick’s novel “Trust”: a 1400-word Summary

Reading well an excerpt from Cynthia Ozick’s novel “Trust”

Cynthia Ozick’s “Trust”: Exegesis | Tom Hanks on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Satire or Misanthropy? “Solar,” by Ian McEwan

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

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