uses language as a medium of
expression- the written word. By thus using it, literature polishes language.
Literature perfects a language- makes it precise, moulding it to
various shades and nuances of meaning and self-expression.
Book Review Circle gossip
In this issue
I shall continue to share
the results of my research on ‘how to read literature’.
shall talk of 4 more
understanding a literary text better. They are:
matter how fanciful the literary work is, it always draws from societal
patterns and has a message for it. The message may be didactic, or
But the novel will always refer to social customs, behaviors and
reader may try to analyze these patterns in the novel. For example, in
popular children’s classic the ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ the
juxtaposes social norms of propriety against the rebelling nature of
protagonist, Huckleberry Finn. Huck
prefers to live in the wilderness, instead of townships. In spite of
white boy, Huck befriends Jim who is a runaway slave. Huck’s values go
societal norms. And yet he is not evil. The author, Mark Twain forces
us to examine
the value and efficacy of such social norms through his novel.
How has the
author organized the novel?
From what sources has he used information for the novel? Are the
adequate? What kind of questions does the author raise in the book?
author give sufficient points to justify his question? For example in the
Booker Prize winning novel Disgrace, J M Coetzee questions
the nature of social
disgrace and in order to illustrate his point, he narrates the story of
individuals in various forms of social disgrace.
the author articulate enough? Does he attempt to answer the questions
the book? Are their passages of eloquence in the novel? Is the author
indicative and succinct? Or does he provide meticulous details? In the Booker
Prize winning novel Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha, the author’s
writing style resembles
the thought patterns of a 10 year old Irish boy. This technique is
of consciousness’. The reader is challenged to look beyond the simple
statements of Paddy Clark in order to discover significant story developments.
is not a passive process. The reader interacts constantly with words
the author. These words conjure up images, thoughts and emotions in the
After finishing a novel, therefore, the reader’s very personal response
novel is an important component of the pleasure of reading- and also a
important determinant of the commercial success of the literary work.
Book Review Circle suggested read:
Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey. This
book has been longlisted for The Booker Prize,2010. If Carey wins this
year, he shall be the only novelist to have won The Booker thrice!
Book Review Circle Quiz:
See if you know answers to the following
- Who are the 2 authors
to have received The Booker Prize twice?
- Which novels by Peter Carey were awarded The Booker?
- Which novels by J M
Coetzee were awarded The Booker?
- Peter Carey and J M
- True History of the Kelly
Gang, and Oscar and Lucinda
- Life & Times of Michael K and Disgrace
Do write in to me at firstname.lastname@example.org with your comments, updates and suggestions. I look forward to hearing from you.
Ok. I will leave you to munch on that.
Happy reading till we meet again.