Comments on: Reading Every Book

By: Imani

Imani — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 18:48:00 +0000

Poop, I pressed “enter” prematurely. I forgot to thank you for the subtle promos and slaps on the back. :p

By: Imani

Imani — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 18:47:00 +0000

Well, you know, normal, if I’m examined from the right angle.

By: Ian

Ian — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 01:48:00 +0000

Imani, don’t worry, I won’t write anything about your excellent book reviewing style. Consider it a favor from one blogger to another. In fact, I won’t even remind new readers that they can find your reviews, of whose excellence I will not tell anyone about, at imani.wordpress.com. And, you know, for all my whining about edification I too have no problem throwing in the trashy with the classic.Speaking of classics, Elliot, as always you have good advice. I always shoot for the classics. And my old art teacher would recommend we put down a painting, like you do with books, if we didn’t think we were ready to finish it. Also good advice. I’ve sort of been doing that with Aristotle. A new fan! Wow. Welcome to Upper Fort Stewart, Heather.

By: Orange Blossom Goddess (aka Heather)

Orange Blossom Goddess (aka Heather) — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 01:08:00 +0000

Elliot and I are on the same wavelength. I also wanted to say that I am a new fan of your blog which I found through Imani, who is, I’m fairly certain, perfectly normal. Heatherwww.thelibraryladder.blogspot.com

By: Elliot

Elliot — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 18:36:00 +0000

Wait… Imani’s completely normal?! In my experience, if you’re not learned or old enough to appreciate a book, you’ll realize it and put it aside. Then years later you’ll encounter it again and appreciate it. Which is a sign that you’ve grown.I think another solution to some of these worries is ignoring the new hype and being prejudiced in favour of reading old books that have become classics. Time enacts a kind of natural selection on books – if it’s still in print and much loved after 50 or 100 years, then that’s a clue that it’s worth your time.

By: Imani

Imani — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:28:00 +0000

Those questions about whether one is intelligent enough to even enter into conversation into author aren’t outrageous because I make them all the time and I am completely normal. I worry about it all the time which is why I feel slightly ashamed of most of my “reviews”. (I think they’re mostly tripe but I have to write them, so I do, in the hope that over a long period of time they’ll rise beyond mediocre. It doesn’t help that I think they should read as effortlessly as journal reviews which is rather ludicrous because those are written by 50 year old PhD university professor. But wtf man, I can’t help it, we all have to be a little stupid about something, right? Don’t answer that. Oh, and I’m not fishing, so no need to bolster me with some heartening words about the review writing either, it’s cool.)I don’t stress about selecting a new book at all. It may take a few minutes for me to figure out what I need but that’s it.I only felt guilty about my reading if it was hogging school work’s space. I am unshakeably confident about the value of reading literature which is art which is needed for one to be completely human. And I include the “trashy” with the edifying because all of it is necessary.I often feel overwhelmed at all the books in the world that I know I want to read; and that’s only “know”–think of all the strangers! I avoid any paths that take me down the traditional family path because then I’ll have diapers and errands.

By: Ted

Ted — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:12:00 +0000

I love the new design!

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:25:00 +0000

Thanks, Ted! It’s kind of fun trying to tweak the site. Oh, and welcome to Upper Fort Stewart.