New Year for Books--January Reading
carolyn_ky
9 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (79)
frances_md
9 years agoannpan
9 years agoRelated Discussions
New Year, Fresh Start -- What Are You Reading?
Comments (98)jwttrans, I think our two readings may be compatible--the ambiguously misread situation having to do with misread racial stereotypes, the captain's fixation on skin color blinding him to unrevealed dark designs. And with time the hidden darkness or "evil" is revealed--the desperate escaped slaves are truly murderous and do practically wipe out TWO ships--the one they are in at the beginning of the story and that captain's ship they attack near the end of the story. My only hesitation about our combined reading is that Benito Cereno, read by itself, would tend to solicit an allegorical reading associating innocence with whites and evil with blacks. However, that would be to overlook the blame Melville heaps on the "innocent" white captain whose self-willed "innocence" is not true "innocence," but rather a wilful refusal to see and acknowledge the evil lurking in the depths. He nearly makes himself an accessory to murder, as a result--equally culpable, in other words. That would not be white "innocence," but white culpability. And if anyone has read Melville's other sea fictions, they would know he often depicts the blackness/evil in all men's hearts. (I'm not sure if he includes women or not. Anyone remember any portraits of women in his works? Certainly, a half century later, Conrad writing on racial themes in Heart of Darkness exempted the lovely fiancee--the "intended" -- from the darkness in human hearts, for instance.) But you have a good point on ambiguity--probably works on anything Melville and Hawthorne wrote. That was the way they often set up their allegories as the reader moves from the literal to the figurative/spiritual. Just as Melville explores the ambiguity of whiteness in Moby Dick, so he does by depicting an "innocent" white captain whose innocence is just as ambiguous since he becomes the reason why they are all nearly murdered. That good and evil are NOT black and white, but quite ambiguous in nature, would seem to be Melville's point? Kate...See MoreWhat will you book group be reading this year?
Comments (28)I just joined the book club about three years ago, and for the first two years I did not go on the trips due to conflicts with my own schedule. However, this year I will be going to Portland with the group - in fact I believe we are all going this year. I'm not yet sure which the associated book will be. Once we have found the book and the trip, we make a space in the reading schedule for it. I do know that we (they) have traveled all over the US. The first trip was to Savannah to meet the author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. There have been trips to Niagara Falls, Wyoming, Nashville, Key West, and Washington DC. Authors live everywhere! Rosefolly...See MoreA New Year; Some New Books!
Comments (150)I'm not frieda, but IMHO I would have ended it when they finished the exhibit and went home. No scandal, no DaVinci code/Mission Impossilbe ending. The only thing I might have included - and was surprised that she didn't - was the visit Lola's real life person made with David, the son of the family who took her in. That takes place in the NYer excerpt and was very surprised she left it out. I can well imagine an editor insisting on some thrilling ending, which is too bad because in a book like this its the last thing you need. >This sort of novel will lead me on to other readings, hopefully, about the history of Bosnia, the former Yugoslavia, the Ottoman Empire, and the "Convivencia" time period of Spain's history Ones I've read: The Fracture Zone by Simon Winchester (non fiction), Birds without Wings (fiction). I also have read lots of history of the areas because I read travel narratives. I would recommend the classic Black Lamb Gray Falcon by Rebecca West - however its dated, and you'll get lots of gripes from all sides of the story of her different take on situations. But its worth reading just for the travel sections. I don't know any from the Convivencia period, tho I've read bits and pieces about it in other books. I'd love to know some of those as well - pass them on when you find them....See MoreJanuary...a new year...what are you reading?
Comments (75)Thanks to my book clubs - yes, plural - I read two excellent books I would never have chosen on my own. For my regular book club we read The Good Lord Bird, a novel about John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry told through the eyes of a young slave boy disguised as a girl. It dragged from time to time, mostly when John Brown was at his oddest, but there were paragraphs and pages of sheer illumination as Onion made discoveries about the nature of the world he inhabited. I also belong to a garden book club. We just read The Garden of Evening Mists. Martin would know this book because it was short listed for the Man Booker prize. This haunting and surprising novel was centered on a number of people each damaged by World War II, their point of intersection being a Japanese garden in the mountains of Malaya (now Malaysia). It's not a book I would have expected to enjoy, despite the garden theme, but it knocked my socks off. I'll be thinking about it for a long time. I recommend both books heartily....See Morewoodnymph2_gw
9 years agocarolyn_ky
9 years agolemonhead101
9 years agowoodnymph2_gw
9 years agorouan
9 years agoladyrose65
9 years agoveer
9 years agoannpan
9 years agorouan
9 years agomerryworld
9 years agoveer
9 years agoannpan
9 years agosheriz6
9 years agoreader_in_transit
9 years agolemonhead101
9 years agocarolyn_ky
9 years agosheriz6
9 years agocarolyn_ky
9 years agotwobigdogs
9 years agotimallan
9 years agoyoyobon_gw
9 years agosocks
9 years agoveer
9 years agoannpan
9 years agoveer
9 years agocarolyn_ky
9 years agoannpan
9 years agoveer
9 years agoannpan
9 years agowoodnymph2_gw
9 years agofriedag
9 years agocarolyn_ky
9 years agoveer
9 years agoyoyobon_gw
9 years agowoodnymph2_gw
9 years agolemonhead101
9 years agofriedag
9 years agoannpan
9 years agorouan
9 years agoyoyobon_gw
9 years agocarolyn_ky
9 years agowoodnymph2_gw
9 years agofriedag
9 years agosheriz6
9 years agowoodnymph2_gw
9 years agorouan
9 years agoannpan
9 years agomerryworld
9 years ago
Related Stories
MOST POPULARTo-Dos: Your January Home Checklist
Make your home (and yourself) healthier while you nestle in and get inspired for the coming year
Full StoryMONTHLY HOME CHECKLISTSTo-Dos: Your January Home Checklist
It’s time to lighten up, cozy up and get organized as we head into a new year
Full StoryNORTHEAST GARDENINGNortheast Gardener's January Checklist
Feed the bees, support local garden clubs and have fun with natives to get your garden looking its best in 2013
Full StoryHOMES AROUND THE WORLDWorld of Design: 11 Book Lovers and Where They Like to Read
Bibliophiles across the globe reveal their top books and favorite reading spots, from a 2-story library to an artfully curated book nook
Full StoryWINTER GARDENINGCalifornia Gardener's January Checklist
Winter-defying blooms and pruning saws earn a cheer, while California-focused gardening design books get a well-deserved shout-out
Full StoryMONTHLY HOME CHECKLISTSJanuary Checklist for a Smooth-Running Home
Need help beating the postholiday blues? Launch the new year with some tidying, safety steps and maybe birdseed, too
Full StoryFEEL-GOOD HOMEHow to Treat Your Home to a January Health Kick
Your house is an extension of you, so give it a reboot this month to ensure that it’s fit, happy and ready for the year ahead
Full StoryEVENTS12 Must-See Art and Design Events This January
Get out and get inspired! See what’s on the Houzz creative calendar in the new year
Full StoryNORTHWEST GARDENINGPacific Northwest Gardener's January Checklist
Planning, pruning and planting now will help your garden flourish in the coming year
Full Story
annpan