Ahh, it is so wonderful when a serious newspaper validates the importance of leisure reading.
Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal's Cynthia Crossen, otherwise known as, Booklover, wrote this wonderful essay on the importance of "escapist fiction."
I love how she argues that any book can be an escape, even something that most people would deem "serious literature." It simply matters if you are using it as an escape.
She also argues that reading for escape is important for everyone. Read what you want for whatever reason you want.
In my work providing RA service to patrons and training librarians to better their RA service, I am constantly arguing that reading, anything, for any reason, has intrinsic value. We cannot judge anyone's tastes as higher or better than another person's. It simply does not matter.
I just want you to read a book you will enjoy. That is the mission behind my entire professional career.
Everyone should feel free to read whatever book they want from genre fiction to 1,000 page histories without having to explain why they are reading it. No one but you should care why you are reading the book you are reading.
If you come to me, or any well trained RA librarian, you should expect to get help matching your reading tastes with the huge mass of books currently sitting on the shelves at your local public library. I will not tell you what you should read because I honestly believe what you should read is based on what you are currently in the mood for. It is that simple. Really.
So thanks Booklover. Thanks for making my case in the mainstream press. Thanks for all of your wonderful columns (click here to access). And thanks to my husband for passing the article on.
Showing posts with label wsj. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wsj. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Hot Author of the Moment: Ben Marcus
Ben Marcus has been everywhere recently. The other day, I heard him on NPR talking about his intriguing new book The Flame Alphabet. Here is the novel's concept in one sentence from the publisher: "A terrible epidemic has struck the country and the sound of children’s speech has become lethal."
This seemed right up my alley, and Marcus' interview reminded me of one of my 2011 favorites, The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta. So of course I placed a hold immediately. I got Berwyn's copy today. I have to say, as cool as the book sounds, it really has a pretty awful cover. Seriously, how does this lame and bright cover help sell this quirky and dark book.
But that is an aside. You can read my post on the importance of covers in helping readers here.
So, I was already enamored with Marcus when this essay he wrote for The Wall Street Journal caught my eye. Entitled "Strong Emotions, Delivered by Stealth," the writing professor side of Marcus explains how the best authors are able to get us to care so much about a fictional character that we are moved to actual emotions. This is an essay about how to write fiction but it is not written for authors, it is written for us readers.
It made me recall specific books or scenes that have really moved me. For example, I will never forget how the end of Cold Mountain did more than just bring a tear to my eye, it literally had me sobbing, and I am not the sobbing at a book type, more just the teary eyed type. I also recall leading a book discussion of Atonement during which a participant was so physically angry at the main character, Briony Tallis, that she stood up and started pointing and yelling at another group member who was defending the fictional character.
Actually, come to think of it, this behavior was not that unique. I have led many a book discussion like this in which I have had to verbally remind the group to stop getting so worked up about the behavior of a specific character in a novel. Yes, I have had to remind people many times that "these are not real people." But I also then direct the group to the point that the author must be doing a great job if we feel this strongly about a fake person.
So anyone who has ever cried at the end of a book or wanted to sucker punch a character, read Marcus' essay. I'll come back to Marcus the novelist in a few weeks with a review of The Flame Alphabet.
But that is an aside. You can read my post on the importance of covers in helping readers here.
So, I was already enamored with Marcus when this essay he wrote for The Wall Street Journal caught my eye. Entitled "Strong Emotions, Delivered by Stealth," the writing professor side of Marcus explains how the best authors are able to get us to care so much about a fictional character that we are moved to actual emotions. This is an essay about how to write fiction but it is not written for authors, it is written for us readers.
It made me recall specific books or scenes that have really moved me. For example, I will never forget how the end of Cold Mountain did more than just bring a tear to my eye, it literally had me sobbing, and I am not the sobbing at a book type, more just the teary eyed type. I also recall leading a book discussion of Atonement during which a participant was so physically angry at the main character, Briony Tallis, that she stood up and started pointing and yelling at another group member who was defending the fictional character.
Actually, come to think of it, this behavior was not that unique. I have led many a book discussion like this in which I have had to verbally remind the group to stop getting so worked up about the behavior of a specific character in a novel. Yes, I have had to remind people many times that "these are not real people." But I also then direct the group to the point that the author must be doing a great job if we feel this strongly about a fake person.
So anyone who has ever cried at the end of a book or wanted to sucker punch a character, read Marcus' essay. I'll come back to Marcus the novelist in a few weeks with a review of The Flame Alphabet.
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