I am always glad to see the Literary Book Blog Hop-sometimes I admit I feel out of place in a world of YA books, vampire romances and ARC reviews. It is good to meet other people with interests beyond these.
I will be glad to follow back all who follow me. If you visit leave a comment so I can return the visit.
Mel u
Here's our question this week:
Here's our question this week:
Do you like to supplement your reading with outside sources, like Sparknotes, academic articles, or other bloggers' reviews? Why or why not?
I just finished reading, for example. Kenzaburo Oe's latest book, The Changeling. After I finished it I did a book blog search for other posts. There were very few posts and none I was familiar with so I did not read any of them but I would have if they were known to me bloggers.
I confess I not familiar with Sparknotes but if it is some form of "homework" helper I would not at all really be interested. I do not have access to read academic articles so I also do not much read them. If I could I would probably not want to read a lot of academic articles as those I have read seem to be devoted to arguing with other academics and possibly published with the idea of using these articles to advance the career of the writer rather than from a real love of literature.
Here's our question this week:
Do you like to supplement your reading with outside sources, like Sparknotes, academic articles, or other bloggers' reviews? Why or why not?
I just finished reading, for example. Kenzaburo Oe's latest book, The Changeling. After I finished it I did a book blog search for other posts. There were very few posts and none I was familiar with so I did not read any of them but I would have if they were known to me bloggers.
I confess I not familiar with Sparknotes but if it is some form of "homework" helper I would not at all really be interested. I do not have access to read academic articles so I also do not much read them. If I could I would probably not want to read a lot of academic articles as those I have read seem to be devoted to arguing with other academics and possibly published with the idea of using these articles to advance the career of the writer rather than from a real love of literature.
Mel u
I think Virginia Woolf is a good choice, and Flush is a good example - I often use this book to try and get people into VW. I think if I wanted to get someone into literature in general, I may be tempted to suggest Mrs. Dalloway because it's length might be quite appealing to someone who isn't keen on reading, and also because it is well-known and inspired The Hours (thinking more of the film, here) one might feel more of a sense of achievement having read it. But then, maybe Flush would open the door not only to more Virginia Woolf, but also Elizabeth Barrett Browning! :)
ReplyDelete**Blushes** To Kill a Mocking Bird is still in my TBR list. Thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteHowever, recommendation are never ever easy to me, as I wrote in my post for this hop :-/
I would never have thought of Flush but now that you mention it, it's afantastic book to familiarize others with the work of one of the most literary writers.
ReplyDeleteThe others seem good choices too.
O-when I read your suggestion of Mrs Dalloway I agree reading it will give a sense of accomplishment but I wanted a literary book that was not a challenge to follow the action-and you have a good point that it might well lead to the reading of the poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning-thanks very much for visiting my blog-
ReplyDeleteMaria Garcia-To Kill a Mocking Bird was on my TBR list for many years-I liked it a lot
Caroline-thanks first of all for hosting the Literary Book Blog Hop-I am very glad you like the choice of Flush-at first I worried people will think my idea is just crazy but Flush is a fun book that might change some minds
"a literary book that was not a challenge to follow the action" - Very true. I think perhaps Mrs Dalloway might be throwing someone in the deep end, perhaps :)
ReplyDeleteFollowing via Weekly Book Blog Hop.
ReplyDeleteAlready a GFC follower, Patricia.
Have a Blessed Day,
Patricia aka Mamaw
Your so right about "To Kill a Mockingbird". It's one that males and females like and it's a pretty quick read.
ReplyDeleteMel, I still haven't read Flush--thanks for the reminder to do so! I think I'd truly enjoy it, being a fan of both Virginia Woolf and dogs.
ReplyDeletekeep meaning to read Woolf, but haven't yet managed it, might have to be next year now.
ReplyDeleteo-Mrs Dalloway might be to "hard" a book for our purpose-of the big for VW books I like in order-no rational reason-The Waves, Orlando, Mrs Dalloway and Lighthouse-I also really like a number of her shorter works of fiction which I saw you are also getting into
ReplyDeletePatricia-thanks very much for your visits and comments
Christine Chioma-another possible advantage of Mockingbird is that many people have seen the movie
Suko-I predict you will really like Flush a lot-
Parrish Lantern-perhaps 2012 will be the year of the Woolf for you!
Caroline-I really enjoyed Flush-I endorse it as a first Woolf-I enjoyed German Lit month and hope you will be able to do it again in Nov 2012
What interesting suggestions. I have vague memories of knowing that Flush existed, but I've never read it. I love Mrs. Dalloway, but I am a lover of literary fiction. Everyone does seem to love TKAM though. Good suggestion.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same Mel u. My boyfriend had almost never read a book in his life so I tried to get him to read the Harry Potter series and it was a disaster. Sometimes it's best just accepting everyone has different interests and that's cool - the world would be boring if it were any other way.
ReplyDeleteIf it were literary fiction they avoided, I might think of some recommendations for them, but they would have straightforward prose, I wouldn't want to scare them off even more!
To Kill A Mockingbird and Man-eater of Malgudi are both great choices. I'm sure Flush is too but I haven't read it yet.
ReplyDeleteNarayan is a brilliant choice for the questionable someone who does not like literature. How could anyone visit Malgudi with Narayan as his guide and come away not loving literature and life? My favorite is the story collection, Malgudi Days.
ReplyDeleteI still need to read To Kill a Mockingbird!
ReplyDeleteTKAM is still on my tbr ..and adding the other two!! I got to get my literary reading on ..I've gotten too caught up with the other genres you mentioned. --Grateful this question came up. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I absolutely agree; I wouldn't bother a die-hard non-reader with any recommendations at all. It would just annoy them.
ReplyDeleteJNCL
The Beauty of Eclecticism
To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favorite books of all time, excellent choice!
ReplyDeleteYou know I never heard of Flush. It will be on my TBR list for 2012. It sounds like a fun.
ReplyDeleteI see we have the same penchant for Japanese literature, which I rediscovered this summer (My 19Q4 is patiently waiting to be read next year) but I see neither of us would recommend it to someone who's not into literature at all, maybe because Japanese lit. is not for everybody? :)
ReplyDeleteI don't get the whole vampire/paranormal thing either.
ReplyDeleteAnn
To Kill a Mockingbird would be a great recommendation. I can't believe anyone would hate it. :)
ReplyDeleteIt never even occurred to me to go the nonfiction route, but your choice of the Woolf is a good one. LOoks like Harper Lee is the popular answer this week!
ReplyDeleteI didn't think of Flush. It's a great story, but I think if you're recommending it to someone non-literary, any Woolf might be too scary.
ReplyDeleteLBC-thanks very much for your visit and comment
ReplyDeleteBecky Page Turners-you are very right-all sort of people
Che-I am glad you like my choices-thanks so much for your comment and visit
Jillian-I hope you will like TKMB when you do read it
Jinky-I am very glad you like the books I suggested and I appreciate your visit and comments very much
JNCL-yes I do not make any effort to "convert" nonreaders-
ReplyDeleteAnja Kasap-lots of people are endorsing To Kill a Mocking Bird-
Ally-glad we share a passion for Japanese Literature-the more I read the more I am into it
Cozy in Texas- sometimes it seems that at least 2/3rds of book blogs are devoted to the paranormal!
Darlyn (Your Move Dickens)-I guess it is hard to go wrong with To Kill a Mocking Bird!
As The Crowe Flies and Reads-Flush is a fictiojal biography from the point of view of Elizabeth Barrett Brownings dog!
Loni-you have a good point about Virginia Woolf scaring a lot of people-I picked Flush just because it is a very easy to follow fun quirky book but for sure I see your point-thanks very much for your comment and visit
James-it is great to meet a fellow lover of the work of Narayan-I mean how could anyone read The Man Eater of Malguidi with all the crazy things that happen and not want to read more of his work
ReplyDeleteHi Mel,
ReplyDeleteYou read my mind. Even though I didn't end up putting To Kill A Mockingbird in my post it immediately came to mind when I saw the question. It is both easy to read and engaging
Jenna
Hmmm...These comments seem to apply to previous Literary Blog Hops.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought I didn't use many secondary sources, but then I realizd that whenever I read nonfiction or historical nonfiction that I do spend time online reading more about anything in the book that caught my interest.
How do you survive with no public libraries near you!!!???
ReplyDeleteScribeswindow. Sadly there are no public libraries in much of the third amd second world. Readers inmany cases have never sen a real public library. i personally rely on the interent but itrealy is a huge felt loss fpr me. i feel so sad when i see that in california the governor no longer wants to fund libraries
ReplyDeleteAs the Crowe Flies and Reads. Good observations! My only real resource avaiable is the net
ReplyDelete