Category Archives: reading

Odysseus into the 21st century


This post, gentle readers, will wrap up my theoretical anti-theory discussion about how books continue each other. In this previous post, I looked at how in the 1st century BC Roman poet Virgil continued the stories that Homer told in … Continue reading

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Dante takes Homer’s torch to the Inferno


Don’t think me unaware, dear readers. I know that literary history is not quite as interesting as a tale of being a foreigner or of dropping the f-bomb on my mother. But I just can’t seem to help myself. I’ve … Continue reading

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Homer’s torch


A litero-historical tale of books continuing each other As you may remember, gentle readers, I’ve been working my way through some thoughts on how books continue each other. I use the word “books” in the loosest possible sense, because my … Continue reading

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I, Too, Sing America


In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a poem by Langston Hughes I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And … Continue reading

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Books continue each other, part 2


Continuation distinguished from thematic contents and adaptation To begin, I must confess that I likely overstated my case in the previous post, when I claimed the idea that books continue each other is somehow an “anti-theory.” Though I think the … Continue reading

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The poet lights the light and fades away. But the light goes on and on. — Emily Dickinson, quoted in The Sun

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Books continue each other


A charming explanation of literary theory before I propose my anti-theory One thing I love about not being in graduate school is that now I can enjoy the things I read. Being in graduate school is like being an ambitious … Continue reading

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I wake up hungry


I wake up hungry and head for the big green chair, with my hot coffee and something delicious to read. Something small and light – a croissant for the mind. My desire is more for the taste than the sustenance, … Continue reading

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