Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Harper Perennial (2003), Edition: 1, Paperback, 314 pages
Description
What does it mean when a fictional hero takes a journey?. Shares a meal? Gets drenched in a sudden rain shower? Often, there is much more going on in a novel or poem than is readily visible on the surface -- a symbol, maybe, that remains elusive, or an unexpected twist on a character - and there's that sneaking suspicion that the deeper meaning of a literary text keeps escaping you. In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest a shared meal may signify a communion and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just rain. Ranging from major themes to literary models, narrative devices, and form, How to Read Literature Like a Professor is the perfect companion for making your reading experience more enriching, satisfying, and fun.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bell7
Ever had an English class where you wondered, "How on earth does the professor come up with this interpretation stuff?" Though Thomas Foster himself is a college professor, he clearly remembers what it was like to be a high school or college undergrad reader. In short chapters, he engagingly and
I truly wish that I had read this informative and entertaining book when I was in college. I was an English major, but I didn't buy a good fourth of what I wrote in my papers, feeling like I was reading too much between the lines. The main issue for me was "How could the author have possibly meant ---- or been reacting to ---- ? How do you know?" I never felt that my English professors answered this satisfactorily, but in one chapter, Foster does: since stories are, at their core, interconnected, an author may have read (and reacted to) one book that was informed by a previous one. Even if the author never intended the connection to the original story, his/her writing has indeed been affected by it because of that later book (I'm not explaining this very well, but trust me, Foster does).
I may never read quite like an English professor (I think it would take multiple readings of any text to do so). His attitude that it's OK to enjoy the story at its most literal level and not pick up on every nuance or have exactly his interpretation made me think that I could be a better reader than I have been, and has inspired me to read more texts that take a reader's effort to fully appreciate.
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clearly explains the motifs, symbols, and patterns one can look for and expect when reading.I truly wish that I had read this informative and entertaining book when I was in college. I was an English major, but I didn't buy a good fourth of what I wrote in my papers, feeling like I was reading too much between the lines. The main issue for me was "How could the author have possibly meant ---- or been reacting to ---- ? How do you know?" I never felt that my English professors answered this satisfactorily, but in one chapter, Foster does: since stories are, at their core, interconnected, an author may have read (and reacted to) one book that was informed by a previous one. Even if the author never intended the connection to the original story, his/her writing has indeed been affected by it because of that later book (I'm not explaining this very well, but trust me, Foster does).
I may never read quite like an English professor (I think it would take multiple readings of any text to do so). His attitude that it's OK to enjoy the story at its most literal level and not pick up on every nuance or have exactly his interpretation made me think that I could be a better reader than I have been, and has inspired me to read more texts that take a reader's effort to fully appreciate.
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Whether you're a relatively new reader of literature or you have decades of reading experience under your belt, you're sure to learn something from this book to enrich your future reading experience. Although I'm convinced that I will never achieve Foster's depth of analysis, Foster has also
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convinced me that reading is a skill that I can improve through practice. Foster reassures his readers/students that ”if the story is good and the characters work but you don't catch allusions and references and parallels, then you've done nothing worse than read a good story with memorable characters. If you begin to pick up on some of these other elements, these parallels and analogies, however, you'll find your understanding of the novel deepens and becomes more meaningful, more complex.” So, it's not like I've been reading the wrong way all these years, but I can work at becoming a better reader and have a better appreciation of what I read. I'll be referring to this book often from here on out. Highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member debnance
Now that I've read this book, you may as well not bother trying to read my book reviews; yes, that's right, I will now be examining themes and motifs and character motivation and other things like that and I'll probably be writing such amazing stuff that no one else will be able to understand me.
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Like a professor, right? No, my days of "Uh, I liked it" or "Well, I don't know" are over; I'll be finding things like water imagery and mother archetypes and references to obscure lines from Ulysses. So if you want to try to understand even a glimmer of what I'm writing about, you may need to read this book, too. ;-> Show Less
LibraryThing member jennyo
This book was much more fun to read than it sounds from the title. It's easy to read and easy to understand, and most importantly, Foster makes analyzing literature seem natural and fun. He also stresses that literary works have multiple interpretations and you shouldn't be freaked out if you don't
We speak, as I've said before, of literary works, but in fact literature is chiefly play. If you read novels and plays and stories and poems and you're not having fun, somebody is doing something wrong. If a novel seems like an ordeal, quit; you're not getting paid to read it, are you? And you surely won't get fired if you don't read it. So enjoy.
Foster talks about different types of stories (quests, vampires, etc.) and oft-referenced influences (the Bible, Shakespeare, folk tales), symbolism and irony, sex, setting, and lots more. And he makes it fun. He also includes a list of suggested works that actually looks like fun to read. Well, except for Ulysses.
I think I'll hang on to this one and use it to help my kids once they get to a more analytical stage in their reading.
Oh, and my favorite quote from the book:
But we haven't read everything.
Neither have I. Nor has anyone, not even Harold Bloom.
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get the "right" one. He closes the book with this quote, which I really liked:We speak, as I've said before, of literary works, but in fact literature is chiefly play. If you read novels and plays and stories and poems and you're not having fun, somebody is doing something wrong. If a novel seems like an ordeal, quit; you're not getting paid to read it, are you? And you surely won't get fired if you don't read it. So enjoy.
Foster talks about different types of stories (quests, vampires, etc.) and oft-referenced influences (the Bible, Shakespeare, folk tales), symbolism and irony, sex, setting, and lots more. And he makes it fun. He also includes a list of suggested works that actually looks like fun to read. Well, except for Ulysses.
I think I'll hang on to this one and use it to help my kids once they get to a more analytical stage in their reading.
Oh, and my favorite quote from the book:
But we haven't read everything.
Neither have I. Nor has anyone, not even Harold Bloom.
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LibraryThing member kawika
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author is able to present broad concepts in an engaging way that will relate to a modern audience that is looking to add a little depth to that which they read. Certainly, there are more things that could have been covered, but this is an excellent starting point
Throughout the book, the author includes a number of examples for the areas he covers. He not only uses classic from mythology and celebrated authors like Joyce, Hawthorne, and Lawrence, but is also able to reference more contemporary works and some authors you may not expect. The fact that he gives modern literature so much respect is refreshing. Also included in the appendix is a long list of suggestions, though he does make it a point to say that the list is neither comprehensive nor exclusive. Take what he presents and apply it to whatever you want to read and it can enhance your personal experience with the work, even if the author didn't intend that deep a meaning.
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for most people.Throughout the book, the author includes a number of examples for the areas he covers. He not only uses classic from mythology and celebrated authors like Joyce, Hawthorne, and Lawrence, but is also able to reference more contemporary works and some authors you may not expect. The fact that he gives modern literature so much respect is refreshing. Also included in the appendix is a long list of suggestions, though he does make it a point to say that the list is neither comprehensive nor exclusive. Take what he presents and apply it to whatever you want to read and it can enhance your personal experience with the work, even if the author didn't intend that deep a meaning.
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LibraryThing member EustaciaTan
This is the book that I read through before my English Paper 1 (Unseen Commentary) paper. As an introduction and a summary to the literary devices that writers employ, this book is excellent. The prose is readable, unlike the more "academic" books, but at the same time, does not come off as having
The range of devices is also fairly adequate. Topics covered include: eating (communion), the paranormal, water, flight and illnesses and others. In each chapter, you can see the "literature professor" aspect, since his chapter titles neatly summarize the chapter, just like what we are told to do when writing an essay.
Although a test case is given at the back of the book, there are no explicit lessons on how to write a literature essay. However, since he gives you the tools to analyse the essay, I assume that the implication would be that one already knows how to structure and write an essay.
If, for example, you're not a literature student, have no interest in the classics, you should still read this book. Just knowing how writers can use various plot devices can help you enjoy reading so much more, and it may even entice you to read the Canon (which as he says is "a master list of works everyone pretends doesn't exist (the list, not the works) but that we all know matters in some important way"). The myriad amount of books he references is also an excellent way to find new books and authors, such as Toni Morrison.
In conclusion, this book is wonderful. It's not an academic work, and if you're looking for a detailed, how to book that covers every aspect of literature, then don't bother with it. But if you're looking for a light read that happens to be educational, or a way to make literature fun again, then just try the book. There's no harm done.
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no content - Homer is mentioned repeatedly, as is Chaucer. By integrating many books as examples into the text, it gives the reader a practical example of how to apply the device. The range of devices is also fairly adequate. Topics covered include: eating (communion), the paranormal, water, flight and illnesses and others. In each chapter, you can see the "literature professor" aspect, since his chapter titles neatly summarize the chapter, just like what we are told to do when writing an essay.
Although a test case is given at the back of the book, there are no explicit lessons on how to write a literature essay. However, since he gives you the tools to analyse the essay, I assume that the implication would be that one already knows how to structure and write an essay.
If, for example, you're not a literature student, have no interest in the classics, you should still read this book. Just knowing how writers can use various plot devices can help you enjoy reading so much more, and it may even entice you to read the Canon (which as he says is "a master list of works everyone pretends doesn't exist (the list, not the works) but that we all know matters in some important way"). The myriad amount of books he references is also an excellent way to find new books and authors, such as Toni Morrison.
In conclusion, this book is wonderful. It's not an academic work, and if you're looking for a detailed, how to book that covers every aspect of literature, then don't bother with it. But if you're looking for a light read that happens to be educational, or a way to make literature fun again, then just try the book. There's no harm done.
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LibraryThing member exlibrismcp
Self-described as "A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines" - and it certainly lives up to that reputation. It provides a reader with the necessary skills needed to critically examine a body of work by knowing how to recognize "patterns, the routines, the archetypes at work in
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the background" (Foster xvii). A well-written novel can contain many layers of meaning. In addition to the obvious plot line, there can be other things going on that the casual reader may not notice. For those who enjoy going beyond the casualness, this book is a useful addition to their library. Show Less
LibraryThing member SandSing7
I recommend this book to my incoming 10th grade Honors American Lit classes because it's one of the few books that covers archetypes, motifs, literary theory, and other important literary elements that's actually readable. Throughout the course of the year, we will put all of his chapters to use
I love too that Foster repeats that much of literary analysis has to do with "feeling" that there's something important about a certain aspect of a novel, because reading should be an emotional journey as well as a cerebral one.
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using varied works, and they will see how viable the information he provides actually is. I love too that Foster repeats that much of literary analysis has to do with "feeling" that there's something important about a certain aspect of a novel, because reading should be an emotional journey as well as a cerebral one.
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LibraryThing member jacketscoversread
My chief complaint, although more my fault than the “non textbook, with How to Read Literature Like a Professor is that most of the novel, plays, and poems Foster discusses I have not read. In fact, I only recognized three of the works he mentioned; Animal Farm, Hamlet, and The Adventures of
And I feel like, since this was required reading for my advanced/gifted and talented English IV class, this book would have served as a better introduction to literature and been more helpful, as it has many tips and tricks for recognizing common symbolism and other literary techniques, the connotations of which can be easily missed, if this “non textbook” would have been required for Language Arts in eighth grade or, at least, Freshman English. Since “reading between the lines” has always come somewhat naturally to me, and for my “gifted and talented” classmates, How to Read Literature Like a Professor was some what lost on me. And it is my belief that even people seeking help wouldn’t appreciate the italicized text that supposedly voices the reader’s confused and helpless thought
That said, How to Read Literature Like a Professor served as a nice refresher on critical reading. As an added bonus, Foster’s writing style makes him easy to understand, not patronizing or intimidating. In fact, some of what he writes received a chuckle from me here and there.
“When they’re writing about other things, they really mean sex, and when they write about sex, they really mean something else. If they write about sex and mean strictly sex, we have a word for that. Pornography.” {pg. 144}
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Huckleberry Finn. Therefore, I found it hard to understand exactly what Foster was trying to say through his examples and his connections from one example to another.And I feel like, since this was required reading for my advanced/gifted and talented English IV class, this book would have served as a better introduction to literature and been more helpful, as it has many tips and tricks for recognizing common symbolism and other literary techniques, the connotations of which can be easily missed, if this “non textbook” would have been required for Language Arts in eighth grade or, at least, Freshman English. Since “reading between the lines” has always come somewhat naturally to me, and for my “gifted and talented” classmates, How to Read Literature Like a Professor was some what lost on me. And it is my belief that even people seeking help wouldn’t appreciate the italicized text that supposedly voices the reader’s confused and helpless thought
That said, How to Read Literature Like a Professor served as a nice refresher on critical reading. As an added bonus, Foster’s writing style makes him easy to understand, not patronizing or intimidating. In fact, some of what he writes received a chuckle from me here and there.
“When they’re writing about other things, they really mean sex, and when they write about sex, they really mean something else. If they write about sex and mean strictly sex, we have a word for that. Pornography.” {pg. 144}
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LibraryThing member bruce_krafft
It seems to me that this book is a great wake-up call in a world where critical thinking seems to be a thing of the past. Everything is done passively; no one takes responsibility for their own actions, for their thoughts. Thomas C Foster tells you that you should be interacting with the author
Does the story have a familiar ring to it? Is it a variation on a theme from Shakespeare or the bible? Did the geography or the weather matter to the plot? How would the story have changed if say it took place in a desert instead of a mountain top or if it was raining instead of snowing?
Oh, and it is not as mind numbingly boring as the title would suggest. I would recommend this book.
DS
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when you read their stories. Your past experiences, your culture, makes the stories deeper, denser and make you relate to each story in your own way, perhaps in a way that the author intended, or perhaps not. Does the story have a familiar ring to it? Is it a variation on a theme from Shakespeare or the bible? Did the geography or the weather matter to the plot? How would the story have changed if say it took place in a desert instead of a mountain top or if it was raining instead of snowing?
Oh, and it is not as mind numbingly boring as the title would suggest. I would recommend this book.
DS
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LibraryThing member ksmyth
As a fairly new teacher of high school English I thought this title might suggest some ideas for my students. In fact, it's probably a bit advanced for my sophomores, but left me with a few ideas nonetheless.
Foster focuses on the idea of symbolism in literature and then goes on to suggest themes
Foster focuses on the idea of symbolism in literature and then goes on to suggest themes
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and specific examples. While this would normally be a fairly dry topic, he writes with wit and sarcasm that makes it all a bit more fun. The last chapter gives the reader an opportunity to discern themes and examples of symbolism in an Elizabeth Mansfield story. Included is an annotated list of great literature. Show Less
LibraryThing member jnmegan
As advertised- an extremely well-presented and interesting exploration of symbolism, allusion and thematic tropes that will illuminate any reader's experience of literature. Should be mandatory reading for all English majors, but would also appeal to anyone looking to fully experience the nuances
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that many would miss without Fosters humorous advice. Show Less
LibraryThing member John_Warner
Do you remember when you were in English or literature in school and the teacher told you that a specific literary element was symbolic for what-have-you, and you wondered what part of the air the teacher pulled that from? If you did, this book can help you understand the deeper meaning behind
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literary elements. For example, if the protagonist is going on a journey this may mean that he or she is going on a quest of self-discovery. What if the protagonist falls into the river and re-emerges? Could this be symbolic of new life and renewal? The author provides an entertaining analysis of symbols in various stories and their underlying meaning. Now that I have completed the book, I will never read another book without mining it for deeper meanings. Show Less
LibraryThing member publiusdb
It's a rare day that I'm willing to give a full five out of five stars to a book. It's rarer still that I'll give the five stars, and then put it back on my bed-stand for continual reference in my future reading.
It's just that kind of a book, and every bibliophile should read it.
In "How to Read
For example: in chapter 10, "It's more than just rain or snow," we read that "weather is never just weather. It's never just rain." Rather, Foster says, instead of providing just a setting, a backdrop to the story, weather in fiction is rooted in our fears and hopes. In addition to appearing as a feature character in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic biblical tale of the great flood, it makes notable and significant sightings in mythologies from all over the world, often, if not always, appearing and appealing to our fear of drowning. "Rain," Foster says, "prompts ancestral memories of the most profound sort. So water in great volume speaks to us at a very basic level of being.
So rain--and floods--signifies drowning? Kind of, but it doesn't stop there. Citing D.H. Lawrence's "The Virgin and the Gypsy" (1930), which I've not read yet, Foster sees it as a "big eraser that destroys but also allows a brand-new start."
Kind of like baptism? Yeah. If you're part of that Christian tradition, this is what baptism is: death of the old, imperfect, and flawed man, and rebirth of a new man. And such is the role that this element--rain and floods--plays in literature. Well, most of the time. Fog can represent a lack of clarity, sunshine hope and clarity. In short, weather is rarely just setting.
That's rain and weather. Each chapter is a written with a quick and light wit that allows a reader, whatever his level of experience with literature, to follow along, see the theme, enjoy the examples, and find a taste for the point. Other chapter titles include the following:
• "When in Doubt, It's from Shakespeare..."
• "…Or the Bible"
• "It's All Political"
• "Marked for Greatness"
• "Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion" and, of course,
• "Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampire." (Stephanie Meyer ought to pick that one up to understand why people who love literature hate Twilight).
Weighing in at just under three hundred pages, "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" doesn't require deep commitment, deep concentration, or deep literature reading. My brain-candy of choice usually falls in the science-fiction or fantasy categories, and yet, I've started to find the themes and allusions and ironies that I saw in classics like "Howards End" and "Bleak House" appearing there, too. Whatever you read, it applies the symbolism that Foster walks through. As a result, my experience, whatever I'm reading, has been more enjoyable since I started it. It's that moment of sudden realization when the whole theme of Steven Erikson "Book of the Fallen" subplot (and there are a lot of them) is an allusion, or imitation, to Spartacus (I think). Or that the journey (all journeys are quests) across the water is a journey of transformation, where the fallen man chooses to start a new life, emerging from the water, as it were, reborn.
It's fun. A lot of fun. Even just reading the book itself is fun. To boot, at the end Foster provides a list of all the books he refers to throughout his essays to allow you, the reader, to pick them up and read further. And what could be more fun about reading than delving into great fiction?
Pick it up, start reading, and enhance your general reading experience. If you're going to read fiction, and you should, you might as well get the most out of it.
It's just that kind of a book, and every bibliophile should read it.
In "How to Read
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Literature like a Professor," Thomas Foster has given us a delightful little romp through literature, producing a guide to the themes, symbolism, ironies, allusions, and plots that reoccur through-out almost all of the fiction we read. Whether it's Charles Dickens or Charles Schulz or even Tom Clancy, Foster's collection of essays are each a fun and enjoyable guide to what you've been reading, and what you will read, when you pick up a work of fiction.For example: in chapter 10, "It's more than just rain or snow," we read that "weather is never just weather. It's never just rain." Rather, Foster says, instead of providing just a setting, a backdrop to the story, weather in fiction is rooted in our fears and hopes. In addition to appearing as a feature character in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic biblical tale of the great flood, it makes notable and significant sightings in mythologies from all over the world, often, if not always, appearing and appealing to our fear of drowning. "Rain," Foster says, "prompts ancestral memories of the most profound sort. So water in great volume speaks to us at a very basic level of being.
So rain--and floods--signifies drowning? Kind of, but it doesn't stop there. Citing D.H. Lawrence's "The Virgin and the Gypsy" (1930), which I've not read yet, Foster sees it as a "big eraser that destroys but also allows a brand-new start."
Kind of like baptism? Yeah. If you're part of that Christian tradition, this is what baptism is: death of the old, imperfect, and flawed man, and rebirth of a new man. And such is the role that this element--rain and floods--plays in literature. Well, most of the time. Fog can represent a lack of clarity, sunshine hope and clarity. In short, weather is rarely just setting.
That's rain and weather. Each chapter is a written with a quick and light wit that allows a reader, whatever his level of experience with literature, to follow along, see the theme, enjoy the examples, and find a taste for the point. Other chapter titles include the following:
• "When in Doubt, It's from Shakespeare..."
• "…Or the Bible"
• "It's All Political"
• "Marked for Greatness"
• "Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion" and, of course,
• "Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampire." (Stephanie Meyer ought to pick that one up to understand why people who love literature hate Twilight).
Weighing in at just under three hundred pages, "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" doesn't require deep commitment, deep concentration, or deep literature reading. My brain-candy of choice usually falls in the science-fiction or fantasy categories, and yet, I've started to find the themes and allusions and ironies that I saw in classics like "Howards End" and "Bleak House" appearing there, too. Whatever you read, it applies the symbolism that Foster walks through. As a result, my experience, whatever I'm reading, has been more enjoyable since I started it. It's that moment of sudden realization when the whole theme of Steven Erikson "Book of the Fallen" subplot (and there are a lot of them) is an allusion, or imitation, to Spartacus (I think). Or that the journey (all journeys are quests) across the water is a journey of transformation, where the fallen man chooses to start a new life, emerging from the water, as it were, reborn.
It's fun. A lot of fun. Even just reading the book itself is fun. To boot, at the end Foster provides a list of all the books he refers to throughout his essays to allow you, the reader, to pick them up and read further. And what could be more fun about reading than delving into great fiction?
Pick it up, start reading, and enhance your general reading experience. If you're going to read fiction, and you should, you might as well get the most out of it.
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LibraryThing member justagirlwithabook
I remember when this book came out and was quickly put on summer reading lists everywhere. It was initially a book that I saw most often on college readings lists (for classes like Comp 101 and so forth) and then I started seeing it on high school reading lists. It offers up some really great
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advice and tips to "reading between the lines" when reading literature - analysis, symbolism, and so forth. It's not super boring but could be read in bits and pieces just to help you along on your own analytical reading abilities. Show Less
LibraryThing member EricaKline
This is not a book for Literature majors, but attempts to distill-out some of the major themes and symbols in literature for the rest of us. Well written, funny, relatively jargon-free. I recommend it if you like to read and want to understand better what you are reading.
LibraryThing member booktsunami
Initially, I thought that this book was going to be rather hard going. But by a couple of chapters in he had me quite engrossed. His chapter 4: If it's square it's a sonnet"...was quite delightful. And I really liked the way that he focused on the parallels that we should look for in literature; to
I think he does a really good job of showing just how professors of literature do approach their reading and how it's possible to use the same techniques in analysing prose or poetry ...and maybe thereby score a higher mark for our essays. Ot even just get a lot more out of the particular work.
Happy to give this five stars. Worth re-reading.
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the greek myths; to Shakespeare; to the bible for quotes and storylines. Obviously, it helps a lot to be steeped in some of these ...and as he points out....past generations were steeped in the King James version of the bible. (Which, incidentally, was deliberately written (translated) to be read out loud). I like his chapter on symbols....yes it's a symbol;...but everyone's interpretation of symbols is coloured by the own experience. And, "A road is never just a road"....it's about a journey. I think he does a really good job of showing just how professors of literature do approach their reading and how it's possible to use the same techniques in analysing prose or poetry ...and maybe thereby score a higher mark for our essays. Ot even just get a lot more out of the particular work.
Happy to give this five stars. Worth re-reading.
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LibraryThing member ljhliesl
Thomas Foster says at the end that his reader has put up with his digressions and mannerisms more than he has any right to expect. No she didn���t. She skimmed. A lot.
He writes for a popular audience and very carefully does not condescend, all very well. If I were part of his target audience
He writes for a popular audience and very carefully does not condescend, all very well. If I were part of his target audience
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instead of the condescending one to the side wondering that anyone could fail to sense that rain in a book is not precipitation but a symbol, I might have found him encouraging. As it was, I found him too like the writers of the Dummies series for my taste. Show Less
LibraryThing member LynnB
A great, yet simple, guide to symbolism in literature, and how to appreciate and develop a sense for context in reading. I liked it so much, I immediately bought and began reading the sequel, which deals with novels.
LibraryThing member Bellettres
Wonderful book. I refer to it frequently, especially when reading a book for discussion. It has enriched all my reading, however. Highly recommended.
LibraryThing member horacewimsey
A very basic book. Not sure why I picked it up, having minored in British literature at university. Still, if you're new to the reading for meaning thing, you could do a lot worse than giving this book a quick read.
LibraryThing member Samwisegirl12
A book about finding common themes in literature may sound extremely boring, but this book is anything but that.
The author approaches the topic in an interesting, and often hilarious way that made me look forward to each new chapter.
From meals to water to sex, all sorts of themes are covered with
If you want to have a deeper understanding of everything from required reading to your own "just for fun" books, this is a must-read - highly recommended!
The author approaches the topic in an interesting, and often hilarious way that made me look forward to each new chapter.
From meals to water to sex, all sorts of themes are covered with
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examples, explanations, and humor.If you want to have a deeper understanding of everything from required reading to your own "just for fun" books, this is a must-read - highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member Cecilturtle
Funny, insightful, concise, easy to read, this book is quite complete - and modest. I thought I was a very good reader until I started this book and realized how far my university days are! This was a great refresher - the concrete examples, the short chapters and variety in themes also made it an
Critics beware: yes, the choices are anglo-Western centric - but the precepts apply to all sorts of literature.
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agreeable read. I've already noticed how it's made me change my habits and although I don't pretend to be a professor, I feel I'm certainly getting more out of my readings.Critics beware: yes, the choices are anglo-Western centric - but the precepts apply to all sorts of literature.
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LibraryThing member MerryMary
Revealing, interesting, eminently readable. I tend to be only dimly aware of themes, parallels, mythic re-creations. This wonderful book leads the reader (me) to trust my own instincts when interpretations come to mind. The author has some good rules to keep in mind ("The real reason for a quest is
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always self-knowledge." or "It's never just rain."), but he spends a good deal of time on the exceptions, and the alternate paths of reasoning. And, of course, irony trumps everything. Show Less
LibraryThing member Magadri
I really enjoyed reading this book. As several reviewers before me have said, Foster's tone is very readable and "un-snobbish." Each chapter is devoted to one specific theme/symbol/etc. with titles like "It's Greek to Me," "It's More Than Just Rain or Snow," and "It's Never Just Heart Disease." He
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covers quite a bit of material in this relatively thin book, but obviously, there are still some stones left unturned. He gives a list at the end of the book for more titles on literary criticism as well as literature and movies to check out. Another thing this book offered was a "test case" at the end. Foster includes Katherine Mansfield's short story "The Garden Party" at the end and challenges you to put your new knowledge to use. Show Less
Awards
Language
Original publication date
2003-02-18
2014
Physical description
314 p.; 5.31 inches
ISBN
006000942X / 9780060009427