The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
Book Thread
Front-Ranger:
Whenever I find a really good book, I usually try to read it on more than one level. First of all, I enjoy the story for what it is: a romance, an action yarn, a coming-of-age piece, or whatever. Secondly, I make note of the historical and geographic aspects of the book and what it tells me about time and place. Next, I pay attention to the symbols introduced by the author and what they mean. Finally, I read the story for its theme or meaning, and try to understand what the story and those similar to it are saying about the human condition. This last is called the "mythical" or "archtypical" aspect of the story.
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on December 16, 2006, 06:23:04 pm ---Whenever I find a really good book, I usually try to read it on more than one level. First of all, I enjoy the story for what it is: a romance, an action yarn, a coming-of-age piece, or whatever. Secondly, I make note of the historical and geographic aspects of the book and what it tells me about time and place. Next, I pay attention to the symbols introduced by the author and what they mean. Finally, I read the story for its theme or meaning, and try to understand what the story and those similar to it are saying about the human condition. This last is called the "mythical" or "archtypical" aspect of the story.
--- End quote ---
That sounds like a lot of work. ;) I just look at the subject material and see if I like anything about it.
Front-Ranger:
Yes, I do that too, della. For instance, today I read a little of The Last of the Mohicans, and decided I didn't want to read it. Ditto with The Book of Ruth. But then I picked up The Red Badge of Courage, and enjoyed it. And then, I started reading Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, and that was best of all. It's special books like this one, that I start reading on multiple levels.
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on December 16, 2006, 10:51:28 pm ---Yes, I do that too, della. For instance, today I read a little of The Last of the Mohicans, and decided I didn't want to read it. Ditto with The Book of Ruth. But then I picked up The Red Badge of Courage, and enjoyed it. And then, I started reading Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, and that was best of all. It's special books like this one, that I start reading on multiple levels.
--- End quote ---
I'm a pretty big fan of modern writers who really get into depth about people and motivations, their thoughts, etc. That's why it took me so long to get through 'Lord of the Rings'. It was written in a mythological action adventure style that did nothing for the characterization that I look for. I'm not sure, because I haven't read it, but I was thinking a book like 'Last of the Mohicans' would be the same.
Front-Ranger:
Here's a Link to The Last of the Mohicans online:
http://www.americanliterature.com/LM/LMINDX.HTML
by James Fenimore Cooper
Let me know what you think of it. I had slow going with it. As for contemporary novels that delve into feelings, this is a somewhat difficult area because it is rather out of fashion to expound on feelings and motivations these days. But I would recommend Memoirs of a Geisha, Like Water for Chocolate, The Corrections and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
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