I am delighted to report that Clan Murphy has (more or less) completed its relocation to Ashland, Oregon, which means that we can begin to post again, or at least (while we’re warming up those cold “writing muscles”). pass along some interesting tidbits.
Expect a new book review, as well as some exciting news about our hopes for getting fiction into Catholic bookstores.
But for the moment, a couple of “interesting read leads”:
As readers of The Mystery of Things may suspect, I have a certain distaste for much that has passed for “literary criticism” these last few decades. Much of it, however valuable the occasional insight being offered, is not only unreadable, but seems calculated to kill even the most ardent reader’s passion for literature, not to mention, words. With that in view, I share with you a couple of interesting articles.
First, a couple of reviews of a book I’d very much like to read, critic James Woods’ lateest, How Fiction Works. You may have to register to access the articles–they’re usually up for about a week–but it’s free.
- Los Angeles Times book review
- New York Times book review
Secondly, from
The Chronicle of Higher Education, an article on literary critic M.H. Abrams. A quote from Abrams on the reasons for his distrust of contemporary theory: “I’ve been skeptical from the beginning of attempts to show that for hundreds of years people have missed the real point.” Amen to that.
Lastly, a Wall Street Journal review, entitled “
When Lit Crit Mattered“, of
Praising it New, edited by Garrick Davis.
Praising is a collection of some of the most important essays by “New Critics”, including Cleanth Brooks, T.S. Eliot, Edmund Wilson, and Lionel Trilling. Another book I’d like to read!
Tags: lit crit, theory
