#literary-analysis
#literary-analysis

2 weeks ago

Rachel Kushner's Advice to Writers

Rachel Kushner teaches students to incorporate diverse cultural inspirations in their fiction writing.

fromThe Nation

2 weeks ago

Cristina Rivera Garza's Crimes of Reading

Literary analysis becomes an essential tool for solving crimes involving a murderer inspired by poetry.

3 weeks ago

A Quietly Subversive Novel About Renewal on the Italian Riviera

True self-recognition versus social appearances is the main theme of Elizabeth von Arnim's work.

fromOpen Culture

3 weeks ago

Paradise Lost Explained: How John Milton Wrote His Epic Religious Poem from Satan's Perspective

"Paradise Lost is one of the books which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again. None ever wished it longer than it is."

Books

"Super Gay Poems"

Harvard's course on Taylor Swift is linked to the release of an anthology of LGBTQ poetry by Stephanie Burt.

fromwww.npr.org

Looking for summertime suspense? Turn up the heat with these 4 mystery novels

This month's mystery and suspense novels showcase the creative expertise of established authors, with themes of female empowerment and gothic suspense.

The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine review a polyphonic portrait of class and trauma in Belfast

Erskine's stories display a capaciousness, a willingness to wander beyond the single epiphanic moment that is the traditional preserve of the short story.

Writing

Do Androids Dream of Anything at All?

The genre's exploration of automatism began with Karel Čapek's 'R.U.R.', which set the agenda for understanding robots as metaphors for labor and freedom.

Women in technology

Katherine Rundell's Fantastic Four

Katherine Rundell's new book positions her alongside literary giants in children's fantasy.

fromMedievalists.net

New Medieval Books: The Sagas of Icelanders - Medievalists.net

This book offers an introduction to the Icelandic sagas, detailing various aspects of the genre. It then provides mini-descriptions of 40 sagas, explaining their content, dating, and transmission.

History

2 months ago

What we're reading: writers and readers on the books they enjoyed in May

Woolf's characters invoke a deep emotional resonance, reflecting on the evolution of writers throughout their careers.

fromTheartnewspaper

2 months ago

New book explores how Rome's ruins have resonated in art and literature over centuries

Ruins of Rome serve as a mirror reflecting collective hopes and fears, revealing layered interpretations across centuries.

fromVulture

'I'm Looking for Someone to Fight, Not Someone to Run Over With My Car'

Criticism has always faced challenges, yet it serves a politically charged role in society.

The Impossible Contradictions of Mark Twain

Mark Twain's characters reflect the complexities and tensions of American identity.

fromThe Washington Post

Shakespeare may not have been a remote husband, new study finds

William Shakespeare may not have been distant from his wife Anne Hathaway, suggesting a more involved relationship during his time in London.

fromwww.npr.org

This new story collection is marvelous if a bit meandering

Millet's 'Atavists' presents interrelated stories that explore complex themes among a recurring cast, showcasing her sharp prose and storytelling ability.

History

fromMedievalists.net

New Medieval Books: Historians on Robin Hood - Medievalists.net

The book analyzes Robin Hood's legend, its origins, societal context, and impact on medieval culture through 16 scholarly essays.

fromSlate Magazine

How This NYT Writer Accidentally Became America's Most Prominent Poetry Critic

A.O. Scott brings a fresh critical eye to poetry, making it accessible and exciting for broader audiences.

Chicago

fromOpen Culture

Dante's Inferno: A Visitor's Guide to Hell

Dante's depiction of Hell significantly shaped cultural perceptions of sin and punishment over the centuries.

Margaret Atwood on Mavis Gallant's "Orphans' Progress"

The story 'Orphans' Progress' by Mavis Gallant illustrates the profound emotional impact of removing children from their chaotic yet loving home environment.

New York Yankees

fromenglish.elpais.com

The American cultural boom a century on: Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Dos Passos and Louis Armstrong

George Steiner discusses 19th-century literary saturation and the emergence of American literature as a new universal force after Poe's death.

Food & drink

Gatsby by Jane Crowther; The Gatsby Gambit by Claire Anderson-Wheeler Jay's eternal hold

The Great Gatsby was initially regarded as a failure but has become a significant cultural work highlighting themes of wealth and social class.

fromWorld History Encyclopedia

Writing

Letters from Our Readers

Hemingway valued creative integrity, respecting the author's right to write freely without edits while acknowledging risks of friendship versus enmity.

History

8 Sonnets and Songs by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's poetry, particularly his sonnets, gained prominence after he became a successful playwright, despite their initial decline in popularity.

An All-Female Society, Pushed to Extremes

Agustina Bazterrica's "The Unworthy" presents a complex view of women's communities, illustrating themes of hierarchies, survival, and the nuanced relationships among women.

fromThe Walrus

7 months ago

Writing

Are Millennials Ruining Divorce, Too? | The Walrus

Mary Wollstonecraft's life embodies the conflict between personal choices and feminist principles, particularly illustrated by her marriage to William Godwin.

Women in technology

fromThe Atlantic

An All-Female Society, Pushed to Extremes

Agustina Bazterrica's "The Unworthy" presents a complex view of women's communities, illustrating themes of hierarchies, survival, and the nuanced relationships among women.

fromThe Walrus

7 months ago

Writing

Are Millennials Ruining Divorce, Too? | The Walrus

Octavia E. Butler's 'Parable Of The Sower' Confronts What Comes After The End | Defector

Parable of the Sower is a deeply unsettling yet prescient exploration of societal decline, resonating strongly with contemporary realities.

fromThe Nation

Djuna Barnes's Playthings

Djuna Barnes's short stories offer a stark contrast to her celebrated novels, showcasing a different, more mechanical narrative style.

Michael Cunningham on Annie Proulx's "Brokeback Mountain"

The deep emotional connection to 'Brokeback Mountain' transcends the story, evoking a desire for permanence through a tattoo.

SF music

fromThe Atlantic

Santa Filomena

Longfellow's poetry emphasizes sacrifice and civic values, establishing him as a pivotal figure in American literature and moral guidance.

fromThe Atlantic

When Robert Frost Was Bad

Even renowned poets like Robert Frost wrote poor poetry early in their careers.

Bad poetry can persist and be significant in the literary landscape, even if initially dismissed.

6 months ago

Garth Risk Hallberg's Essential Joyce Carol Oates

Garth Risk Hallberg expresses admiration for Joyce Carol Oates's diverse literary contributions, revealing his profound engagement with her storytelling.

fromtime.com

8 months ago

Slaveroad

John Edgar Wideman's 'Slaveroad' blends autobiography with history to explore the lasting impact of slavery on African American identity.

10 months ago

Each of the six Booker novels does something unique

In the longlisting stage, the judges found delight in selecting spotlight books, but at the shortlist meeting, the loss of titles became harder as unanimity developed over unique stories.

Writing

fromRoger Ebert

10 months ago

Book Excerpt: LOST: Back to the Island: The Complete Critical Companion to The Classic TV Series by Emily St. James & Noel Murray | Features | Roger Ebert

Bad Twin, by Gary Troup, greatly impacted the Lost fandom by exploring themes of duality relevant to the show's central conflicts.

fromVulture

10 months ago

My Brilliant Friend Season-Premiere Recap: Sacrifices

The Neapolitan Quartet examines female friendship and identity through the lens of societal expectations and personal liberation.