Literary Blog Hop: April 6-8

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This monthly blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Here's our question this week:
How do you feel about fictional characters who are obviously closely based on the author? Is this an example of authorial superego? Or just a natural extension of the "write what you know" advice?

Our answer comes from Christina:

For April Fool's Day I wrote a joke review of Tyra Banks' Modelland. Anything involving Tyra Banks is going to be very TYRA TYRA TYRA, and Modelland is no exception. The pathetic protagonist has the extremely high forehead that Ms. Banks continually bemoans on TV, and there is also a supermodel named Ci-L who seems to be a superhuman, supercelebrity version of Tyra herself. A couple of other more minor characters have less obvious Tyra qualities. Of course I don't even need to mention that it's a horrible book with extremely weak everything. But the tendency to write oneself into a novel is not limited to sloppy or novice authors.

More than two hundred years ago, in Emmeline, respected and popular author Charlotte Smith wrote herself into the novel as a sort of sad but noble victim figure. The introduction to my edition explained that Ms. Smith was looking for sympathy and understanding from her readers, so she gave one likeable character all the same real-life struggles she had. It sorta reminds me of reality TV- that urge to tell-all in order to get sympathy from strangers. Charlotte Smith wasn't embarrassed or secretive about her intentions with this character- she freely admitted that the character was a stand-in for herself; she wanted it to be public knowledge.

Last year, before reading The Marriage Plot, I heard a radio interview with Jeffrey Eugenides in which he explained that one of the characters, Mitchell, had had very similar experiences to himself. But Mr. Eugenides stated petty clearly that he doesn't consider Mitchell an autobiographical character. It seems to me that most literary authors nowadays are eager to distance themselves from their novels. The protagonist is NOT based on the author. The story is NOT autobiographical. Why do they dislike these insinuations so much? I don't think there's anything wrong with it when it's done well. I guess I like it in books that I like, and dislike it in books that I don't. I suppose that makes me a rather fickle reader/critic.

What do you think?


3. Add your link to the Linky List below.


Happy Hopping!

Literary Blog Hop: March 8-11

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This monthly blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Here's our question this week:

How do you find time to read, what's your reading style and where do you think reading literature should rank in society's priorities? 

Our answer comes from Christine-Chioma aka C-C:

This question (okay questions) comes because I recently exasperatedly asked how the other girls have time to read so much. I then jokingly offered that it's because they are all married and everyone knows finding a husband is a full-time job. But in all non-sexist seriousness, it's really quite difficult to find the time to read literature. I was also inspired to come up with this by a too-true Onion article.

Typically, I try to sneak in pages while waiting in line for things (thanks to the iPhone kindle app it's pretty easy) and on my breaks and lunches at work. This kind of disjointed reading works well for young-adult books and fluff, but I've found I prefer to read literature in huge chunks usually late at night.

My reading style has definitely been influenced by studying literature. I can't read any book without a pen in my hand to make annotations, cross-references and to mark my favorite lines and themes. This is why it's really hard for me to read library books. I've always said that I read really quickly, but when a book isn't very good it goes pretty slowly (I am hesitant to pick it up). On the other hand, when I really enjoy the book I drag it out because I never want it to end.

I don't just love to read, I have to read. One of my friends put it perfectly the other day: nobody says they love to breath but it's something you have to do in order to survive--that's how I feel about reading. Between working full time, church responsibilities and social obligations there's not very much leisure time. However, I am a firmly believe that if something is important to you than you can make time for it in your life.

I do not count blogs, magazines, or the Washington Post Social Reader as "reading". I strongly believe that people should go out of their way to make sure they are reading things of literary merit at least every so often. There's a lot of media and activities vying for our attention and I think reading for pleasure is often at the bottom of the list of priorities. As a rule I typically pick spending time with live human beings over reading. (Although my favorite is being in a room with other people while reading. I feel like I am being social because there are other people around, but I also get to read!) But when by myself I always try to pick reading over movies and television.

What about you? How do you prefer to read? What are your standards on reading and how do you think society compares?

3. Add your link to the Linky List below.


Happy Hopping!

Literary Blog Hop: February 9-12

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This monthly blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Here's our question this week:

In the epilogue for Fargo Rock City, Chuck Klosterman writes:

Our answer comes from Christina:

When I write a review, I almost always stress out about my overuse of the word "I." I worry that my posts are really more personal responses than intellectual reviews, and that my self-absorption comes through more clearly than the points I'm trying to make about the book. So when I read that quotation from Mr. Klosterman a few days ago, it really stuck out in my mind and made me think.

That same day Ingrid posted Why I Review, a discussion of the purpose of book blog reviewing. There are a bunch of smart comments on that post. One of them is from Ben: "Distance is critical. In reading, in intellectual matters and even if physical work, like boxing for example. Establishing proper distance is vital to not get punched in the face."

What's the ideal balance between autobiography and distance in an informal review? Obviously with academic writing distance is far more important than personal connection. But when I'm reading a blog post, I do like to learn a little about the reviewer while I'm also learning about the book and author. Then again, extremely emotional responses don't usually make great reviews. I don't really have an answer to this prompt, which is why I was so eager to post it. How do you find balance in your own review writing? What kind of autobiography-to-distance ratio do you prefer when you're reading a blog?

3. Add your link to the Linky List below.

Happy Hopping!
*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list.

"It's always been my theory that criticism is really just veiled autobiography; whenever someone writes about a piece of art, they're really just writing about themselves."

Do you agree?

Literary Blog Hop: January 7-10

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This monthly blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

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?

Our answer comes from Ingrid:

I have to say, I'm a little conflicted about this issue. When I was still in school I loved reading critical articles about texts I was reading, but I don't nearly read as much supplementary material now as I read on my own. At the very least, I read over some Goodreads reviews or other bloggers' reviews to see how other people reacted to a specific book, and I usually read the Wikipedia article on the book for general criticisms. Sometimes I'm afraid to go deeper than this, though, because in many cases my view of a book has been tainted or changed in a significant way when I read academic criticisms of it. Because I don't have time to read everything ever written by scholars about each book I read, somehow it doesn't seem fair to just read some of it when I know it might change my opinion of the book.

What about you? How do you supplement your reading, if at all?


3. Add your link to the Linky List below.

Happy Hopping!
*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list.

Literary Blog Hop: Dec 1-4

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This monthly blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Here's our question this week:

What work of literature would you recommend to someone who doesn't like literature?

Our answer comes from Christine-Chioma, who reviewed for The Blue Bookcase in early 2010. Now she's back! Her answer:

Yes, I did make up this question; mainly because whenever I hear people say they don’t like literature I immediately think of about ten different pieces of literature that I’m certain they’d enjoy. There’s obviously a great variety of people and tastes, likewise there is a large variety in works of literature. Depending on the literature-hating person, one of the first book I’d recommend would be The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. However, that would not be a good suggestion for some of my other friends and so in their cases I’d suggest The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. But the creative non-fiction element of that book might annoy some so clearly I would not suggest it to everyone. However, Peace Like A River by Leif Enger is the one book that I universally want to suggest whenever I hear that dreaded “I don’t like to read literature” or worse, “I only read books by Janet Evanovich”.

One of complaints I hear most about literature is that it requires “too much thinking”. Although smart and well-written, Peace Like a River is a book that does not take too much mental energy to read. The plot is captivating enough that despite serious topics and moral dilemmas, it is not overwhelming or heavy. In fact, the book is even funny at times due to its dynamic and multi-faceted characters who are easy to fall in love with (especially Swede!) Peace Like a River is a great introduction to literature because it’s the right balance of plot and character development. It’s a beautifully crafted novel that flows natural through themes that almost all can identify with: family,morals, love, individuality, tragedy, and fear.

What about you? What book would you unequivocally recommend to literature-shy friends? Why?


3. Add your link to the Linky List below.

Happy Hopping!
*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list.

Literary Blog Hop: November 3-6

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This monthly blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Here's our question this week:

To what extent do you analyze literature? Are you more analytical in your reading if you know you're going to review the book? Is analysis useful in helping you understand and appreciate literature, or does it detract from your readerly experience?

Our answer comes from Christina:

Okay. So. A few weeks ago I listened to this interview with Jeffrey Eugenides in which he discusses his new book, The Marriage Plot. I could write a post and a half just about this interview because I adore Mr. Eugenides, but for our purposes one topic he mentions is especially relevant: Semiotics. I had never heard this term before, but the way he explains it makes it sound like it's the process of deconstructing all literature to the point where every word becomes a meaningless cliché. I am really happy that I never learned Semiotics; I feel certain that it would take all the joy and empathy out of reading. (OR maybe I'm totally misunderstanding this whole business. I kinda hope so. Please enlighten me.)

So anyway, that part of the interview got me thinking about literary analysis and literary theory, especially as they pertain to book blogging. Hence this LBH prompt!

I don't have a strong English Literature background; I didn't have any lit classes in college. Everything I know about analysis comes from my 12th-grade English teacher, Mrs. Riley. Remember those analytical essays we all (or many of us) wrote in preparation for the AP English exam? Good times. Of course I thought those essays were nonsense at the time, but I really am indebted to Mrs. Riley for teaching me to read carefully and critically. She taught me to keep a pen and paper handy and to keep my mind switched on rather than letting the story wash over me. I love reading this way now, and it's the only way I know how to prepare for a review. I definitely read more carefully and critically when I know I'm going to be writing about a book. Maybe this is why nonliterary fiction tends to be so disappointing. I have trouble turning off that critical part of my brain, and so I get frustrated with the wasted effort I put into searching for literary devices in an empty story.

But then, how does one apply literary analysis to nonfiction? I have no idea. I think that's why I like a good bit of nonfic from time to time. I can just open up my mind and let the ideas in, and I think I read more quickly- I'm not looking for things in the text. It's freeing.

Can't wait to hear all y'all's ideas on this topic! Thanks for hopping!

3. Add your link to the Linky List below.Happy Hopping!
*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list.

Literary Blog Hop: Oct 6-9

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This monthly blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Our question this week comes from Mel u over at The Reading Life:

When I was in my early teens I read a book called Van Loon's Lives by Hendrick Willlem Van Loon. It was written in 1942 (Van Loon was a Newberry Winner for another work). I was maybe ten or so when I first read it and I was totally fascinated. The story line is that Von Loon and his good friend found a magic way to invite three famous literary figures from different eras for a Sunday Dinner. The book gives mini bios of the guests, explains the food the would have wanted and shows their dinner conversations. If you could invite any three literary figures from different eras to a Sunday Dinner who would they be? Magic takes care of the language issues.

Our answer comes from Meagan:

Wow, can I first just say why have I not read this book? It sounds amazing! I read Van Loon's The Story of Mankind a few years back when I made a goal to read all the Newbery Award-winning books and remember really, really liking it so I'm really excited to hunt this one down!

Secondly, asking me to narrow down a dinner party to only three authors is like asking me what my favorite book is. Unlike Highlander, there can't be only one (or in this case three). I spent the last couple days imagining various guest lists and came up with so many I almost gave up and picked another topic! I had lists of guests for talking about philosophy, politics, religion, various periods in history, various literary movements, various genres, etc., etc. I even had a few lists that merely served to satisfy my curiosity about the real identity of some oft-debated authors (Shakespeare, the authors of the Bible, Anonymous :) So suffice it to say I can't WAIT to hear about all your choices!

In the end, I decided to make my choices around the type of dinner party I most enjoy: the perfect mix of clever conversation and raucous laughter. With that in mind, I decided to invite Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, and Theodor Geisel. Now let me tell you why.

Oscar Wilde - Master of Aphorisms and Epigrams (I'm still not entirely sure what the difference is). Everything he wrote had such polish and panache I can just imagine him tying any thread of conversation off in a thoroughly humorous yet sharply insightful bow. His major talent was tackling big, serious issues in such a flamboyant and seemingly superficial way so that the butt of his jokes was certain to be so offended by his manner that the meat of his criticisms would sail right past to the intended audience. I've always imagined Lord Goring from An Ideal Husband to be as close to an autobiography as Wilde ever got and can think of nothing better than having him sitting across the table passing the scones and cucumber sandwiches.

Jane Austen - Before you go off rolling your eyes at one girl's obsession with Jane Austen, let me just say one thing: Yes, I am a devout Austenite, but, BUT, I would be happy to have her as a dinner guest even if not one word were spoken about any of her novels. I do think she has a spectacular knack for social commentary and subtle humor, but the reason she earns a seat at the table is for her -- and I use this term in the loosest sense -- nonfiction. Never am I so delighted by Jane Austen as when I'm reading things in her voice. The few letters to her family that survive, her childhood notebooks, all are fascinating. But my favorite of all is her History of England which she wrote around the age of 15 as a 'partial, prejudiced and ignorant Historian' and had her sister illustrate (the link shows the actual manuscript). The work is a perfect parody of the dry accounting of English history common in primary schools, and as I was a victim, er, student of the system, I can appreciate anything that spiced up dullness of the English monarchy. Her barbs and jabs at highly regarded historical figures and political situations would serve as the cream of the meal.

Theodor Geisel - And to round out the party, it's always good to have a doctor in the house, and Dr. Seuss is one of the best. No author I know takes himself less seriously (I mean, cats in ridiculous hats? wockets in pockets? utter chaos on Mulberry Street? Need I go on?) and the ability to laugh at oneself is just as important as the ability to laugh at one's situation. He also has the ability to couch his commentary in a friendlier guise and If ever the conversation grew too serious, he could immediately get us back on track by inventing a new creature as a topic of conversation. I think he would serve as a good foil to the more "literary" reputation of my other guests, but there is also an element of his humor that rings true to the Brits'. And he would not put a strain on my culinary skills by of course being perfectly happy with green eggs and ham!

So, would you want to come to my dinner party? Would I want to come to yours?

3. Add your link to the Linky List below.Happy Hopping!
*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list.

Literary Blog Hop: Sep 8-11

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This monthly blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Must all literary writing be difficult? Can you think of examples of literary writing that were not difficult?

Our answer comes from Lucia:

I think the response to this question really depends on how the word 'difficult' is interpreted. Assuming it refers to the language itself which is difficult, then I think its degree of difficulty is to be determined by the individual reader. In this respect, the first time I read anything by Jane Austen, it took me 3 months because I was so unused to the style of writing. Although now (6 years on) I find Austen's language fairly easy to read, I still struggle with some classics. A Christmas Carol was gruelling, as was Mrs Dalloway. However, I find the writing styles of authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle very straight forward to read, as well as many contemporary authors of literary fiction. The pace of a novel, for me, also affects the how difficult it is to read.

On the other hand, if the word 'difficult' refers to the subject matter or content of the novel which is challenging or confronting, I think the answer to the question is a little more objective. I think an author who deals with an issue skillfully and thoughtfully so as to engage the reader and put forth their point of view, may be easier to read as opposed to an author whose handling of a subject is tacky and superficial. That being said I don't mean to suggest that Dickens or Woolf are either of these things, as the difficulty of their writing for me lies solely in the language. Examples of works I believe are not difficult to read for these reasons include Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee and The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver.

3. Add your link to the Linky List below.Happy Hopping!
*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list.

Literary Blog Hop: July 21-24

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Discuss Bibliotherapy. Do you believe literature can be a viable form of therapy? Is literary writing more or less therapeutic than pop lit or nonfiction?

Our answer comes from Christina:

Reading has always made me feel better. But until this last week, when a friend pointed me toward the Bibliotherapy wikipedia article, I didn't know books were used purposefully in therapy. Since then, I've been thinking a lot about how the right book at the right time can make a difference in a person's life.

With that first question, my immediate instinct is to answer that yes, of course, literature is absolutely a viable form of therapy. As a depressed teenager, Reviving Ophelia and Prozac Nation improved my outlook on life more than I ever could have expected. Other girls and women had experienced what I was experiencing, and reading their stories helped me realize that I didn't have to feel alienated or embarrassed or ashamed about what I was going through. In a lot of ways, those books were my first steps toward healing. I can imagine that there are a lot of other situations where a book might provide that first improvement: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety surrounding major life changes, maybe some mood and personality disorders.

The therapeutic setting is one of only a handful of situations where I don't think Literature Proper really has much on Pop Lit and informational nonfiction. I mean, if you're a book snob (like so many of us here at the Literary Blog Hop) obviously good writing is going to speak to you more than poor writing. But taking a more general view of the literate population of the world, it's the message and the story that will make a difference to someone who is hurting, not necessarily the literary devices or style of prose. If I were a counseling psychologist would I only recommend Literature to my clients? Nope, I'd recommend whatever they were likely to read and appreciate.

Is literature really going to solve everyone's problems? Probably not. And is it the only or best solution in most cases? Probably not. Is it going to cure psychosis? No. And the last thing I want to suggest is that depressed people just need to read more good books. It took years of antidepressants and counseling before I really came out of the dark (to use one of many horrible clichés about depression) and every person's situation is different. But I love the idea of books as a part of therapy, and I wish I were better at recommending the right books to the friends who really need them. I wish I could change people's lives by recommending the right book. That's a beautiful thing.


3. Add your link to the Linky List below.Happy Hopping!
*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list.

Literary Blog Hop: July 7-10

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

What is one of your favorite literary devices? Why do you like it? Provide a definition and an awesome example.

Our answer comes from Ingrid:

I love the word palimpsest. According to my trusty Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, the word "palimpsest" comes from the Greek word meaning "again rubbed away." It refers to "a surface, usually vellum or parchment, which has been used more than once for writing on, the previous writing having been rubbed out or somehow removed. Medieval parchment, being expensive, was often used two or three times."

The first time I came upon this term was in one of my first French Literature classes ... but I can't for the life of me remember in what context this term came up. I think the teacher was explaining to us the writing of a certain French author, but I can't remember who. To tell you the truth, I was pretty lost in that class ... I probably understood about a third of what the teacher was saying.

The second time I came upon this term was in an English class I took my very last semester. We were discussing the poetry of Natasha Tretheway and her collection of poems called "Native Guard." Tretheway has explained in interviews that her intent was, in her own personal way, to rewrite history. She imagined a journal with the words crossed out and her own words written over the top. Much of this collection was focused on her relationship with her mother and events that ocurred in her mother's life. Though I didn't love the collection as a whole, I loved how Tretheway used this concept of palimpsest to tie multiple narratives and points of view together.

What about you? What is one of your favorite literary concepts or devices? How did you learn about it? Why do you like it?

3. Add your link to the Linky List below.Happy Hopping! 
 *PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list.

Literary Blog Hop: June 22-25

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com) 


Should literature have a social, political, or any other type of agenda? Does having a clear agenda enhance or detract from its literary value?


This week's answer comes from Connie:


I chose this question, because I ask it of myself quite frequently. My initial instinct is to answer (a little self-righteously), No, literature is an observation and interpretation of life, and any conscious attempt to incite social or political change taints it.


Examples that immediately come to mind are Charlotte Brontë's hunk of a novel, Jane Eyre. We discussed this in the comments of Meagan's review of A Room of One's Own, but I happen to agree with Virginia Woolf when she says that Brontë's talent was made less by her digressions from the story to bemoan the female cause, like so:

Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags.

These not-so-subtle diatribes have no place in a novel, in my opinion. It interrupts and detracts from the story. So, thinking of Jane Eyre and Brontë's method of executing her agenda (whether I agree with the agenda or not, and I happen to), I am inclined to reassert that literature should NOT have an agenda.


BUT, it is not so simple, my friends. Did you really think it could be? If you remember when I listed my top ten favorite books of all time, I listed George Orwell's 1984 at the top of the list, and Orwell is one of my favorite authors. However, Orwell, a converted communist, openly acknowledges his political agenda in writing both Animal Farm and 1984:

I wanted to kill the "Russian myth:" the myth that the Soviet Union was a working model of what a socialist state would be like. That was nothing but a lie. I wrote a history of the Russian Revolution and called it Animal Farm... 

I also wanted to write a book about a totalitarian future in the real world. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, I tried to dramatize how totalitarianism could take over, even in countries like England which have a long democratic tradition.

These two books contain some unarguably pronounced agendas, and yet, 1984 in particular is one of the most profound and truly frightening commentaries on human nature ever written, not to even speak of the incomparable writing style. 


And then I think of Jane Austen, who used her writing career to subtly express her desire for social change, particularly in regards to women and marriage. 


It seems that many of the canonized works of literature have been written with an agenda, so my original inclination proves false. I must conclude, then, that though literature shouldn't necessarily be written with an agenda, it can still prove excellent literature if and only if it is executed with great skill, enhancing the story rather than detracting from it.


This post is already quite lengthy, which is a shame, because I also wanted to bring up books like Uncle Tom's Cabin or The Jungle, books that, like 1984, have a clear political agenda, but which are of a much lower quality than Orwell's work (Stowe is unbearably sentimental, and Sinclair is painfully verbose). However, they did spark such great societal and political changes, so do the effects of their publication negate their lower quality? A discussion for another day, perhaps :)


All right, it's your turn to weigh in. What do YOU think?
3. Add your link to the Linky List below.Happy Hopping!

*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list.

Literary Blog Hop: June 9-11

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

What other outside influences affect your reading experience? Do you think these influences enhance or detract from the experience?.

Our answer comes from Meagan:
First off let me confess that I made this question up because I wanted to answer it. I don't know if that counts as cheating or what but my last Blog Hop post focused on how the "status" of a book (e.g. Is it a bestseller? Is it a classic? etc.) affected my opinion of it and I really liked that discussion so it was on my mind when I had an experience that made we want to continue it, but in a slightly different direction.

So we all know that no man is an island, and I think the same idea applies to books--they just don't exist in a vacuum. Each reader has experiences, prejudices, and beliefs to bring to the table. (Wow, how many mixed metaphors can I include in one sentence?) Like we discussed earlier this year, a book's status can affect our reading, and recommendations, cultural phenomena, social issues, and previous works by the author are just a few of the other influences I find often playing a part in my reading experience.

Sometimes these influences detract--like if a book is talked up so much by a friend that by the time I read it its reputation overshadows it in actuality and I finish it feeling disappointed in a way that I might not have had I stumbled across it on my own with no other references. Sometimes these influences enhance. I know I've mentioned many times before how much I enjoy reading about WWI, and both the knowledge I have of the War from previous reading, and the personal experiences I've had walking many of the battle fields and visiting countless memorials make my experience with each new read that much richer.

Obviously the outside influences on a book are rarely cut and dried, and sometimes the variety of influences that both enhance and detract color the reading experience in strange and unexpected ways.

For example:

My family has a mother-daughter book group where we each take a turn choosing a book to read and plan a relevant activity to discuss it. Last month my little sister chose The Secret Garden, a book I hadn't read in years and years. We had to have our meeting early in the month so I hadn't finished the book (or honestly even started it) and for the activity we watched the 1987 Hallmark Hall of Fame version of the film (mostly because it has a delicious cameo from a very young Colin Firth). It was a passable adaptation and followed the story line fairly well except for perhaps five minutes of film depicting the children when they've grown up (enter Colin Firth as Colin). It's a nice gesture to round out the story in the way the book does not, but I found it unexpectedly and profoundly affected my experience when I actually read the book later in the month.

The scene shows Mary driving back to Misselthwaite Manor. She's dressed in a WWI uniform with a field nurse band encircling her arm. The makes her way to the Secret Garden where she meets a delighted Ben Weatherstaff who has been tending the garden during the war. He laments the loss of Dickon who was killed in action in the Argonne Forest and Mary replies, "If Dickon had to die, he would have chosen a place where there were green and growing things." They are then joined by a grown Colin dressed in an officer's uniform and walking with a cane and limp from a shrapnel wound. He proposes, she accepts, and the movie ends with a sun-drenched panorama of the garden.

Sounds lovely, right? It's nice to know what happens after a "Happily Ever After", right? I'm not so sure.

On a completely superficial note, I always wanted Mary to end up with Dickon (though Colin didn't age half-bad), so that was a little disappointing. However, the WWI elements were nothing less than heartbreaking to me. As I read about these happy, innocent children, I couldn't help but mourn the future before them. And having walked through the still-scarred Argonne and seeing photographs of the wasteland it was during the war Mary's naive comment adds another layer of pain to Dickon's last moments. But on the other hand, imagining the experiences they would have later in life made their pure joy in tending the garden that much sweeter and the garden became in my mind even more of a blessing than it is depicted in the novel.

The Secret Garden was published serially in 1910 and in novel form the next year, so Burnett wouldn't have had any notion of what was shortly to happen to the world, yet the influence of one film adaptation, my own interest in and experience with early 20th century history dramatically changed my experience reading it. I'm still not sure if I liked these influences, but they are definitely something to think about.

So what do you think about these outside influences?

3. Add your link to the Linky List below.Happy Hopping!

*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list.

Literary Blog Hop: May 26-29

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.



<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>


2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.
(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Talk about one author that you love and why his or her writing is unique. Please be specific.

Our answer comes from Christina:

I'm guessing most of us are going to have a difficult time talking about just ONE author for this prompt. And rather than agonizing over which favorite to choose, I'm just going to go with the one that is most present in my mind right now: Adam Levin. For about a week, I've been reading The Instructions. I haven't even finished it yet but I am already totally smitten and I'm a little afraid to say this, but... I think I love him. This is the first I've read of Mr. Levin, and I know we haven't been together that long, but guys? I feel like this might be the real thing!

But first, I just want to get all pedantic up in here for a second. It's about the word "unique," and the fact that it is an absolute. Absolutes, like "equal" and "perfect," technically cannot be used with modifiers like "more," "very," and"less." Something is either unique (totally one-of-a-kind, unlike any other) or it isn't. And yeah, I know that language evolves and nowadays everybody uses absolutes just like any other adjective and blah, blah, but just humor me for a minute. Let's assume that in order for an author's writing to be unique, it has to truly be UNIQUE. The trouble with that assumption is that I would have to have read everything anyone has ever written in order to know whether the elements I consider to be unique are actually unique. Get it? Obviously I'm not going to be able to make that kind of a judgement. So I'm just going to mention a few things that I think are unique about The Instructions, and you all can tell me if I'm wrong. Real uniqueness is a pretty tall order.

(Oh, and since I haven't read anything else by Adam Levin, I can't know for sure whether these things are unique to him or to this particular book.)

The Instructions, page 167

Word Diagrams (see right)
There are several of these in The Instructions, and I don't think I've ever seen them in another book. The narrator/protagonist, Gurion Maccabee, uses a sort of word map rather than (or sometimes in addition to) a wordy description of a place's physical layout. I really like this; it makes it so easy for the reader to imagine the space in which action occurs.

TONS of Yiddish, Hebrew, and References to Scripture

I mean TONS. I actually downloaded a Yiddish-English dictionary. Every couple of pages there's a new word or person or concept for me to look up in the dictionary or google or wikipedia, and some are very obscure. I know Adam Levin isn't the first author to refer to Judaism (duh) but I think the frequency of the references is extreme and, in that way, unique. It has to do with point number three:

The Fictional Audience is different from the Actual Audience
Gurion intends The Instructions to be a book of scripture, and his intended audience is exclusively Jewish. Obviously Adam Levin doesn't intend his book to be read only by Jews. But he's so true to Gurion's voice and idiosyncratic nature that he resists the urge to explain everything for the gentiles.

So what do you think? Is The Instructions (and, by extension, Adam Levin) unique? Can't wait to read all of your responses to this prompt!

3. Add your link to the Linky List below.Happy Hopping!

*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list.

Literary Blog Hop: May 12-15

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.


<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>

2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.

(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

What books have you read that have been hyped as literary and, in your opinion, were not?

Our answer comes from Lucia:

Lovesong by Alex Miller

I heard amazing reviews praising both the book and it's Australian author. It won/ was shortlisted for a handful of literary prizes. However did I not like the story's plot, and was bored by the author's style and descriptions. Before I go further I will say that this is just one girl's opinion and that others may have perfectly legitimate reasons why this book is literary. Miller's language is simple in a way that I did not find captivating or reflective of the proposed mood of the text. The primary theme which I obtained from Lovesong was how even very ordinary lives can be both beautiful and ripe with aching sadness. I felt that the descriptions were meant to be intimate portrayals of the characters and their circumstances, although I did not understand how the use of language showed this. It just seemed flat and at times even teetered on being poorly written. For the most part, I found the characters to be the strongest element of the novel. The narrating character Ken, an aging writer searching for a last story, however, was highly disagreeable. In his constant niggling at obtaining the full story of another couple's relationship, Miller creates the impression that the character is somewhat unsympathetic or indifferent to his friend's evident despair. Furthermore, the details of Ken's past and the death of his wife propose to create an understanding and deeply empathetic character, yet to me he did not display either of these qualities. Miller sets the scene for Ken to be able to sympathize with John, and yet this does not occur.

3. Add your link to the Linky List below.

Happy Hopping!

*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list. 

Literary Blog Hop: March 31-April 2

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.


<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>

2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.

(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Do you find yourself predisposed to like (or dislike) books that are generally accepted as great books and have been incorporated into the literary canon? Discuss the affect you believe a book’s “status” has on your opinion of it.

Our answer comes from Meagan:

When I was maybe thirteen years old, the talk around the family dinner table one night turned to Africa. I've long since forgotten the specific details, but the outcome of the conversation was that my dad ran to Blockbuster and brought back a copy of "The Gods Must Be Crazy."

"You'll LOVE it!" he enthused.

"It's fantastic!" my mom chimed in.

So our entire family eagerly sat down to watch this supposed classic.

But for any of you that have seen the movie, the first ten minutes or so play like a really bad Animal Planet documentary. My siblings and I began to grow restless. What was this dated footage with the boring voice over? Was this our parents' sneaky way of getting us to do something "educational"? Had we been duped?

Our parents told us to be patient though, and eventually things took a turn for the better. By the time the credits were rolling we were all wiping away tears of laughter and making plans to watch the sequel as soon as possible.

-----

That experience describes how I feel about the so-called "great books" in the literary canon. I'm not really predisposed to like or dislike a classic because I've been exposed to enough good literature to know that each and every one of these books run the gamut of being treasured to despised. For example, as I think I've mentioned before, I kind of hated Gone With the Wind; but, I know it's one of Connie's absolute favorites and I don't think either of us are alone in our feelings and our opinions are divided by those of millions of other readers whose lukewarm feelings have them balancing somewhere in the more apathetic middle.

However, I usually put a lot of trust in the recommendations of people I respect. Just as my parents' promise of a fantastic film made me suspend my disbelief longer than I would have had I come across "The Gods Must Be Crazy" on my own, the fact that the books which are considered classics usually achieved that status because of the opinions of people who are or were widely respected makes me more likely to read further past the point where I would normally abandon a book not held in such esteem.

And nine times out of ten, popular opinion will be proven right. I loved the movie. I usually love the book. So when I hear of a book described as "great" or "classic", I generally reserve judgment until I've read it, but I'm more likely to give it a fair go in the process. And I usually expect a greater return for my efforts. If that movie had been an ounce less funny, I would have been a little incensed after such high praise. And if a classic fails to move me, I find it to be more guilty of offence than your average mediocre read.

How about you?


3. Add your link to the Linky List below.

Happy Hopping!

*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list. 

Literary Blog Hop: March 17-20

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.


<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>

2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.

(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Debbie Nance from ReaderBuzz asks:

What one literary work must you read before you die?

Our answer this week comes from Christina:

The wording of this prompt can be interpreted two ways. And, being the chatty little blogger that I am, I'm going to answer both interpretations!

1.) The literary work that I recommend you (yes, you) must read before you die:
Well, I usually try to tailor my recommendations to the recommendee a little. But, if pressed, I think I'll go with Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides. I know not everyone likes this book, but I loved it intensely. I never wanted it to end, and I think it has something for everyone.

2.) The literary work that I must read before I die:
With this question, the first things I think of are the big works, like War and Peace, Infinite Jest, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. And I do really want to read all of those. But to be honest, the book I feel the strongest draw toward right now is The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor. If I were to die tonight (knock on wood), one of my last thoughts might be, "Oh, MAN! I never got to read all of Flannery O'Connor's stories!" And the really sad thing would be that I've had the book sitting on my shelf for, like, three years.

I'm looking forward to seeing how you all interpret and answer this question! Hop away!

3. Add your link to the Linky List below.

Happy Hopping!

*PLEASE NOTE: if you do not answer the question and link back to The Blue Bookcase in a post on your blog, you will be removed from the Linky list. 

Literary Blog Hop: March 3-6

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase!

This blog hop is open to blogs that primarily feature book reviews of literary fiction, classic literature, and general literary discussion.

How do I know if my blog qualifies as "literary"? Literature has many definitions, but for our purposes your blog qualifies as "literary" if it focuses primarily on texts with aesthetic merit. In other words, texts that show quality not only in narrative but also in the effect of their language and structure. YA literature may fit into this category, but if your blog focuses primarily on non-literary YA, fantasy, romance, paranormal romance, or chick lit, you may prefer to join the blog hop at Crazy-for-books that is open to book blogs of all kinds.

Instructions for entering the Literary Blog Hop:

1. Grab the code for the Button.


<a href="http://www.thebluebookcase.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/IngridLola/LiteraryBlogHop-1.jpg" alt="Literary Blog Hop" width="150" height="150"></a>

2. Answer the following prompt on your blog.

(Suggestions for future prompts? Email to them us at thebluebookcase@gmail.com)

Gilion from Rose City Reader asks:

Can literature be funny? What is your favorite humorous literary book?

Our answer this week comes from Lucia:

I will make the assumption that classics qualify as 'literary,' (although if you object I'd be interested to hear your argument, so please don't hesitate). I see a text as being of literary merit when there is heavy focus towards the way in which the author displays his or her ideas, through the use of language, style and structure. That being said, a dull plot remains a dull plot no matter how articulately or originally written. Should an author develop humour into their language or write in a style which is witty, sarcastic, charming, funny etc, in addition to these 'literary' qualities, logic would say that a kind of humorous literature is created. I believe that humour, in any form, can be introduced into a novel which is either literary or not. It is an addition, and not an essential quality of either. So, after all that babbling, yes, would be my answer of absolute certainty that literature can be and is, funny.

My favorite humorous literary book would be Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I think it is widely acknowledged that she has literary merit, and for me, that which makes her work so is in her descriptions of society and its values at the time. Austen's wit is often evident only after one has read a particular line several times (at least, that's what I find myself doing), and wondering 'why have I been drawn to this phrase more than once?' What I mean is, it's not an overt kind of language feature. Her style is sarcastic and witty, yet subtle and undistracting, which is what I love best about Austen.

3. Add your link to the Linky List below.

Happy Hopping!