A while back I was trying to determine what distinguishes children’s books—specifically for older children, say age 10 on average—from young adult, and young adult from adult novels. I think it may consist partly in the following. The protagonists in children’s books are generally not on a path of self-discovery, but rather have a practicalContinue reading “Clay & Steel: Differences between Children’s Stories, Young Adult, & Adult”
Tag Archives: Literature
Lloyd Alexander’s Gypsy Rizka: A Delightful Read!
I nearly missed this book! I was at The Dusty Bookshelf looking for The Prydain Chronicles, and almost walked away without seeing that Lloyd Alexander’s books occupied another shelf! I had previously seen Gypsy Rizka listed among his works on Audible and it sounded interesting. I had no idea it would be so good! ItsContinue reading “Lloyd Alexander’s Gypsy Rizka: A Delightful Read!”
Book Review & Analysis of Children’s Stories: The Mysterious Benedict Society
A delightful read, which exemplifies two or three characteristics especially important in children’s books. The first of these is a catalyst right at the start (or nearly so). If we look at some other well-done (or at least popular) children’s stories, all or nearly all of the following have the inciting incident occurring within theContinue reading “Book Review & Analysis of Children’s Stories: The Mysterious Benedict Society”
Homicidal Passivity: An Analysis of Hemingway’s “The Killers”
In The Killers, Hemingway displays how passivity, rather than reducing one’s agency, can make one an agent, even an agent of evil, through cowardice and irresoluteness. He displays this in each character, either by example or by an ironic contrast. The first person named is neither of the apparent killers, Al or Max, but George.Continue reading “Homicidal Passivity: An Analysis of Hemingway’s “The Killers””
Humility, Charity, and True Honor: A Book Review of Black Cauldron (Prydain Chronicles #2)
In Lloyd Alexander’s Black Cauldron, second of The Prydain Chronicles, both Taran and Prince Ellidyr show in wonderful character arc’s different paths to the the same virtues of humility and charity.1 While we may like Taran and dislike Ellidyr from the beginning, their arcs begin in similar places. Both possess great pride and shame inContinue reading “Humility, Charity, and True Honor: A Book Review of Black Cauldron (Prydain Chronicles #2)”
At Home in Oneself: A Book Review of Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander
In Taran Wanderer, fourth in The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander, Taran begins his quest to learn his parentage with a great deal of pride. His pride has always manifested itself in the series as quickness to judge others, accumulated shame regarding his own mistakes, and a high value on birth, nobility, andContinue reading “At Home in Oneself: A Book Review of Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander”
The Glory of Repentance: Learning Courage and Hope from The Lord of the Rings
The following contains spoilers for those who have neither read nor seen The Lord of the Rings (specifically The Two Towers book, chapter one, or the film version of The Fellowship of the Ring). Several weeks ago, some friends and I were talking about our favourite books, and the topic turned (as it often doesContinue reading “The Glory of Repentance: Learning Courage and Hope from The Lord of the Rings”
Sharing Sorrow: Why We Read Sad Literature
The other night some friends and I were discussing sorrowful literature—why we read it and so often cherish it. Even if a book is mostly not sad, the parts of it that inspired sorrow in us remain in our minds, provoking a continued and deep reflexion in us, and very often they hold a specialContinue reading “Sharing Sorrow: Why We Read Sad Literature”
Abuse of Language—Abuse of Power: An Essay in Review
I’ve recently had the great delight of reading Abuse of Language—Abuse of Power, an essay by Catholic philosopher Joseph Pieper, and I want to share a few of my thoughts to entice you to pick it up. You would buy it in book form, but it really is an essay, 54 pages in a pamphlet-sizedContinue reading “Abuse of Language—Abuse of Power: An Essay in Review”
Apologetic Book Review ~ On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society
In writing this review of the book On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society, by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, I found myself writing a preemptive defence against any attacks that might arise against this book when I recommended it. But given the title (the subtitle is key, but likelyContinue reading “Apologetic Book Review ~ On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society”
The Curious Critic 