| Author |
Message |
    
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 01:39 am: | 
|
Hello All,
I've been negligent in my duties and failed to mention CWMYB October selection, Shadow and Act by Ralph Ellison. Shadow and Act is a non-fiction essay collection. I'm still expanding my horizons. Cynique have you read this one before?
|
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 02:01 pm: |
|
No, I haven't read this collection, Thumper. But a book of essays would certain diversify my reading habits, and this sounds like something I need to check out. What's currently broadening my horizons is my excursion into the world of fantasy via "The Lord Of The Rings." I'd never gotten around to reading this book when it came out years ago, but I just happen to have come across the movie one night when I was surfing the Cable movie channels and I decided to watch, and in the course of doing so, I became totally enthralled. I was blown away by the awesome special effects, and drawn into the quest which revolved around the timeless battle of good versus evil. The more I watched re-runs of the movie, the more I understood what was going on and by the time the second installment of the trilogy was released, I was totally hooked. I bought the video, and have sent away for the book, which I'm told is not that well-represented by the movie. But, no matter. Chris Hayden asked what I liked about this series which he hated. Actually what appealed to me about the film was its epic sweep, the extraodinary visual artistry which took me away to another time and another place, and provided me with heroes, and introduced me to the world of magic and legend. What can I say? As pure escape entertainment, "The Lord of the Rings", for a brief moment in time, allows me to forget about what's happening in today's crazy world. I'm sure the book will also absorb me. (And put me in the frame of mind to tackle Toni's latest release.) |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 10:12 am: |
|
All:
You will love Shadow and Act. |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 10:04 pm: |
|
Hello Chris,
I'm looking forward to it. |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 06:13 pm: |
|
Hello All,
I'm back and behind. I've just finished the first three essays in Shadow and Act. Boy, is Ellison deep. If you've started the book you'll know that the articles in the first section is mainly discussing black folk and literature: how we are represented in literature, whether our novels should be based on our folk traditions, and the mask black charcters wear in white literature. Isn't it fascinating? Naturally, he mentions the usual suspects when it comes to the black characters in white literature: Twain, Hemingway and Faulkner. He states that the stereotypes black folks are forced to endure isn't due to any truth but to the insecurity and guilt of white people. That's a new thought to chew on for a minute, isn't it? I wonder what Ellison would think of the sista-girlfriend novels? |
|
Email This Page