There is a growing debate in the book world about representation. Strictly speaking, representation means that all voices are heard and that the portrayals are fair and accurate. Reading is often about character identification, and everyone — regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability status — should easily find voices they canContinue reading “Representation”
Tag Archives: Reading
The Trans Canon
Americans have been slow to acknowledge trans identities. It may reflect our lack of education, as gender nonconformity is nothing new and exists in nature and in other cultures. The male seahorse carries the babies and yet we blanch at the image of a pregnant trans man. Americans debate the mental health of trans peopleContinue reading “The Trans Canon”
I Dissent
Sometimes books and I just don’t click. Like a dud first date, it usually isn’t personal. There are different wavelengths and sometimes I am not on the same one with others. It gets worse when you slog through a tedious book only to log on to your favorite review site to find enraptured praise fromContinue reading “I Dissent”
No Two People
No two people read the same book, or so they say. Our lenses, preferences, and schedules mean that books can be received very differently. What is fresh to one may seem trite to another. While some might enjoy the devilish antics of the protagonist, others may find nothing to root for. And, yet, there isContinue reading “No Two People”
Hook Me
A good opening to a novel should give you a visceral feel for everything that is to come. It is a first impression, and like the human counterpart of first impressions, it’s difficult to erase its impact. Hooking the reader immediately is a literary imperative. There are many ways to do it. You can startContinue reading “Hook Me”
Make It Stop
Every once in a while, I hate a book. Sometimes the bad reaction says more about me than the book. (I once rated Me Without You, a perfectly fine novel, one star because I was in a lousy mood.) Other times the story just isn’t for me. If I figure this out in the firstContinue reading “Make It Stop”
How To Be A Best-selling Author
Writers seem to fall into two camps: those that aspire to best-seller status and those that don’t. The latter snort derisively at the lowbrow efforts that top the lists, perpetuating the stereotype that quality is an aquired taste. Others write intentionally towards sales, shuttling serious topics in favor of murder mysteries and epics. As someoneContinue reading “How To Be A Best-selling Author”
Getting to G-d
I was raised Catholic in a small town. There were half a dozen Catholic churches and as many Protestant ones. Most people I knew belonged to a church, with a few Jews and atheists who didn’t. I remember two things about my faith from these years – a kindly priest who comforted me after IContinue reading “Getting to G-d”
15 at 50
I have a tendency to like but not love most books, the critics’ equivalent of an easy B. The competitive nature of the publishing industry ensures that most books have something going for them. As a writer myself I try to look for the good in others’ efforts. The odds are solid that I willContinue reading “15 at 50”
Stranger Things
I have read some peculiar things in books. It’s nothing I ever seek out. I am not a fan of horror or the macabre, where one might expect excesses. Instead everyday books – fiction, memoir, even theology – occasionally offer up some moments for pause. Here are five that have stuck with me: 1. AmyContinue reading “Stranger Things”
Books Smitten 