THE PROFOUND, THE HEART GRIPPING, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL: Inspired Words from Literature

 “One must be careful of books, and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.” —Cassandra Clare, The Infernal Devices

From the immortal words of Shakespeare to the poetry of Yeats; the tragic romance of Wuthering Heights to the terrifying beauty of Dracula, words continue to make our hearts beat a little faster, our lungs breathe in a little deeper, and our eyes see a little more clearly of all the deeper meaning that lies in every single moment of life.  

A good writer is extremely powerful.  His or her ability to put ink on paper in such an order that our emotions are moved in several different directions--often in the very same page--as we sit in our favorite chair eagerly devouring the story is nothing short of miraculous.  Words nourish us, hurt us, build us up, tear us down, make our hearts swell with love and romance or puncture with the most gut wrenching pain; words can leave us empty, in a puddle of our own tears while bystanding family members stand in wonder and confused dismay.

I have finished books before and been left a complete wreck; I have looked around at the world and wondered, "How can everything continue on as normal, as if none of this story ever happened?  Why isn't everyone else as heartbroken as I am right now?  How can they smile?"  I have also been left by a book thinking that life is more beauteous and amazing and miraculous than I have ever managed to notice before; that language is the same thing as art and that pages of what I just finished reading should be framed, and hung on the walls of the Getty and Louvre.  

Marcus Zusak is telling us over and over in The Book Thief in that special, gorgeous, metaphorical way of his that words are the keys to power.  Shakespeare knew it when he said  "The pen is mightier than the sword."  This Buzz Feed author who wrote the article in the link I am sharing with you  knows it, too.  Here, she has compiled what she claims are 51 of the most beautiful lines of literature.  While I have no idea how anyone could narrow it down to 51, I have to agree that every one of these lines belongs on a list of this description.  As I read some of them, I stopped, closed my eyes, and drank in the words like some sort of liquid nirvana.  Does that sound crazy?  I know what you're thinking:  How does Mrs. Caraway get so excited about a specific arrangement of words in a sentence?

Maybe I am a literature geek.  If that's the label that means I am obsessed with words, their power, and a life-changing story, then I wear the label proudly.  My cast (aka my Odyssey family) just finished their sixth performance of Romeo and Juliet, a performance of the words that Shakespeare organized in a script to tell an ancient story of violence and feudal hatred that is shot through the very heart by a love that transcends time.  We can debate the historical fact about whether the story is completely true or not, but here is something I do know for a fact: The appeal of  Romeo and Juliet isn't that it is real, but something about it is universal.  It is what, in our hearts, we truly believe love to be:  powerful, heartbreaking, beautiful.  It's timeless.  Every time I watched my cast perform, it was like I was watching it all for the first time.  The words of this story clutched my heart, and they always will.

Whether it's Shakespeare or Stroker,  Whitman or Wilde, the words of a skilled word artist will do that to us time and time again.  And you know what?  Thank goodness they do.  For when we are sitting in our favorite chair, drowning in a puddle of our own tears and torn hearts, cursing the writer for putting us in that condition while our family members look on bewildered and concerned, we know, in that moment, we are alive.  We are human.  We can feel the depths of sorrow and the limitlessness of joy.  As a writer and a reader, I celebrate that.

Read through this list, pick a quote that speaks the loudest to you, and reflect on it.  What does it mean?  How does it speak to your heart?  What do you love about it?  THEN, (you are not done yet!) share a quote NOT on this list from a favorite book and tell us why you love it.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and don't ever stop believing....in the great and mighty power of words.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jenniferschaffer/i-am-i-am-i-am#.mdB5JA85Nw

STORMING THE BEACHES

"No man is an island entire of itself; every man 
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main... 
Any man's death diminishes me, 
because I am involved in mankind. 
And therefore never send to know for whom 
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." ~John Donne

I have always loved this poem, but it has never rung as true for me as it did on the day I had the honor of standing above Omaha Beach in Normandy.

So many names--a sea of white crosses. Men--America's sons--who traveled across an ocean to lay down their lives for strangers in the name of freedom and righteousness. They didn't know what fate had in store for them that grey, choppy June day. But they did know that there was a whole continent being held hostage, and it was up to them to do something about it.

So they stormed the beaches. They stepped out on dangerous enemy territory with the orders to make the climb; up the embankment, to take the bunkers, to take out the enemy. Nothing was certain. Death was likely. But they were involved with mankind. And the bell was tolling....

That was almost 70 years ago, yet very little has changed. We all are asked at some point in our lives for a multitude of reasons to storm a beach. To face a fear. To walk into uncertainty. To let go of one dream and seek out the possibility of another. There are no guarantees. Fate is uncertain. But we are given that same choice: stay adrift, or storm the beach. Will we make the choice to face the enemy head on and get it over with?  Will we make the climb?

The men of Normandy knew their enemy and were willing to do whatever it required to take them out, once an for all. 

You need to know also that you are not an island. While an evil or misfortune may not threaten you directly, if it threatens your family, your friend, your brother, it diminishes you.

If you are storming a beach in life right now--or you are about to--you are in good company. Trust me. I stood on that beach with the spirits of those men, those Boys of Pointe du Hoc. There is peace there where they rest; the peace of those who knew they were not an island. They did not have doubts. Their mission was clear. They were the boys who saved a continent of strangers because they realized that no matter how free they were in their land, they would never truly be free until their brothers all over the world were free. They sought to make the climb, and many, in the process, ultimately laid down their lives for these strangers across the sea....these brothers.

There is no greater love than this.

Take a few moments and reflect on your Book Thief  character.  What beaches must he/she storm right now?  What characteristics or personal qualities does he or she possess that make him/her equipped to face the challenge?  If you are comfortable, you may also share a beach you had to storm in your life, either for yourself or on behalf of another.  What qualities do you have that helped you make the climb over the embankment?  You do not have to share a personal story by any means.  Only if you wish to share.  You may also share a story of someone else who stormed a beach and inspired you.

Tomorrow will mark the anniversary of a day President Roosevelt said would live in infamy.  It was, literally a call to arms.  A bell that tolled.  I hope you will take a moment or two tomorrow to think about the brave men and women who answered the call--who fought for the freedom of others.

I am eager to hear your stories.

"SUCH A FINE SUNNY DAY": The Power of WORDS on the Path of Resistance

The title of this post includes a part of the last words of Sophie Scholl, member of the German Resistance Group, The White Rose.  

On the twenty second of February in 1943, Sophie, her brother Hans and their friend Christoph Probst were found guilty of treason and condemned to death.  Their crime?  The distribution of six anti-Nazi political resistance leaflets.  They had been arrested while distributing the sixth leaflet at the University of Munich just four days earlier.

All three were beheaded by a guillotine in Munich's Stadelheim Prison at 17:00 hours.  The execution was supervised by Walter Roemer, the enforcement chief of the Munich district court.  He along with other prison officials, in later reports describing the scene, emphasized the great courage of the young 22 year old girl as she walked to her execution.  Her complete last words were recorded as follows:  

How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause?  Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter if through us, thousands of people are awakened and stirred into action?

Following her death, a copy of the sixth leaflet was smuggled out of Germany through Scandinavia to the UK by German jurist Helmuth James Graf von Moltke, where it was used by the Allied Forces.  In mid-1943, they dropped over Germany millions of propaganda copies of the tract, now retitled The Manifesto of the Students of Munich...

Sophie's legacy had begun...and it rained down on all of Germany as a warning.

In a historical context, The White Rose's legacy is significant as a demonstration of exemplary spiritual courage and as a well-documented case of social dissent in a time of violent repression, censorship and conformist pressure.

It also teaches us that while words can be manipulated and twisted in pretty ways to lead a nation into committing heinous acts of murder, torture and war, they may also be used to proclaim truth, which is ultimately the mightiest sword in any arsenal.

Playwright Lillian Garrett-Groag stated in Newsday on February 22, 1993:  "It is possibly the most spectacular moment of resistance that I can think of in the twentieth century.  The fact that five little kids, in the mouth of the wolf, where it really counted, had the tremendous courage to do what they did, is spectacular to me."

In the same issue of Newsday, Holocaust historian Jud Newborn noted that:  "You cannot really measure the effect of this kind of resistance in whether or not X number of bridges were blown up or a regime fell...The White Rose really as a more symbolic value, but that's a very important value."

I would personally argue that Sophie Scholl and The White Rose Resistance has more than just symbolic value.  It represents the essence of what every human being is called to be:  a protector of truth, a defender of the innocent, and a warrior for freedom.  This, in the case of young Sophie, may prove to be deadly in a world where so often truth is abhorrent to those who hunger for their own personal gain and power; but it is that quiet gnawing in the soul and heart of all human beings--that part of ourselves that can hear the voice of that truth and realize that it is, in fact, something worth dying for.

The Power of Words.  The Power of the Truth they can wield.  It is immeasurable.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor and another member of the German Resistance who was tortured then executed for treason against Germany once said:  "Silence in the face of evil is, itself, evil:  God will not hold us guiltless.  Not to speak is to speak.  Not to act is to act.  The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children."

Powerful words.  Convicting words.  They acknowledge that our voice, when used for truth--when used as a weapon to admonish evil outright and out loud to the world--is what defines our character.  Inaction is, in fact, a choice of action.  Silence is also speaking volumes.  Sophie knew this.  Her executioners knew this, too.  She made her choice, and I believe that because it was the right one--the truth--that she was able to face her death in peace and with a clear conscience.

On May 9, 2014, Google depicted Sophie Scholl for its Google Doodle on the occasion of what would have been her 93rd birthday.  She is, apparently, an inspiration to Google.

She is also a great inspiration to me.

Please take the time to read about Sophie in the article below.  She is worth your time, I promise! If you like what you read and want to be inspired further, there is a great YA novel based on her lived titled The Silenced.  There is also an incredible movie:  Sophie Scholl: The Final Days  that I highly recommend.  I have also included the trailer to that movie below.  Please look at BOTH and give me your comments.

Here is to Words and their saving power.  Here is to truth and courage.

Here is to the White Rose.

"Always stand up for what's right; even if you're standing alone." ~Sophie Scholl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM5A4ETW_Io

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/rose.html

THAT ONE GREAT REGRET

Regrets.

They are the outcome of a decision made prematurely, a thoughtless action or inaction, an impulsive act made without forethought.

A missed opportunity.  

I have never fully understood (and in many ways, envied) people who say confidently they have lived a life with "no regrets."  No regrets?  Really?  Haven't you made mistakes you wished you could take back?  Haven't you ever found yourself looking back on a circumstance, only to realize, "I could have been a better friend, made a nobler decision, acted with greater courage or authenticity?"  I have.  All of the above.

To me, if someone I love or care about was hurt in anyway by my action or lack thereof?  That is a regret.

It's not that living with regrets is a "bad thing."  It's a life thing.  It's a great teacher.  It forces us to reflect; to look back on former decisions so that in our future, we will make better ones.

Regrets keep us humble, and humility is a character trait that is both rare and precious.  Regrets remind us that we need grace--and in turn, we would do ourselves well to offer that same grace to others.

This article was shared with me by a friend and colleague who thought it would be a great read for this class.  It is thought provoking.  Hopefully, it will remind you that while we might not be one of those "lucky few" who live "without regrets," we are among those who discover some profound purpose in every single one of them.


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/29/1340122/--Son-tonight-I-will-kill-myself

THE GREAT LOST ART OF ASKING

Somewhat related to power and language would be the art of asking for something in such a way that you guarantee an answer of...."YES?"

I am sharing this particular TED TALK for three reasons.  Number one, as an enthusiast of theater (and a person who realizes that there is a large dose of theater in every language and literature endeavor) I love this presentation by Amanda Palmer.  She is a brilliant speaker and story teller, as well as a pretty good artist in the genre of cabaret-punk music.

Number two, she talks about  both the art of asking as well as the art of discovering the RIGHT question to ask.  Both are equally important.

Finally, number three, because it is both snarky (love) and entertaining (double love), I think it teaches both the art of presentation to an audience as well as the art of using your language to reach a goal or get what it is you ultimately want (language and power.)

Enjoy, and please share your favorite moments!  :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMj_P_6H69g#t=13

SEVEN SHELBYS: A VISIT TO THE MOVING VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL

This reflection relates, in a way, to our discussion of Language and War.  In this particular case, I am personally looking at the ultimate effects of war on individuals and how they define themselves, as well as how war makes us respond with our language.  I dedicate this post to my friend Larry Frost....

After reading, please do one of two things:  respond with any thoughts you have on this particular reflection, or please feel free to share any reflections YOU have from a visit somewhere that made you stop and think, a war story or any other story from a loved one...whatever you would like to share with us....

Last weekend, we took the family over to our Estrella Residential Center to visit the Moving Vietnam Memorial Wall.  I have never seen the one in Washington DC, neither have our kids, so we thought that would be a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon and reflect on the freedom we enjoy, and take time to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

One of our very dearest friends is a Vietnam veteran.  He has shared many incredible stories with us in our home and his.  We have looked through his picture and scrap books of memories, and seen the display of his many war medals that his wife lovingly made for him.  He had tried to throw them all away once, but she would not hear of it.  Despite the memories that still haunt him over thirty years later, she sees him as a true American hero.  So do I. 

I remembered him telling us many times about his dear friend, Shelby, whom he lost over in Vietnam.  It was a horrifying story in which my friend witnessed his best friend's helicopter being shot down just yards away from his own.  Shelby had a baby daughter when he died...a daughter who would never know the incredible, kind-hearted man who was her father.

We arrived to the wall that day, and I realized I didn't have the slightest clue as to what Shelby's last name was so that I could find him on the wall.  My friends live in Kauai, so I texted them, hoping that perhaps they would see the text and reply in time.  In the meantime, we decided to try and inquire based on our knowledge of Shelby's first name.  It was not a common first name.  Maybe, just maybe, we would get lucky.

We asked the volunteers who were not only gracious, but eager to help us find this friend.  They looked up the name "Shelby" in the database.  "Let's give it a try," one of them said.  Then, we waited a few short seconds, and she gave us the verdict:  "Seven.  There are seven Shelby's on the Vietnam Wall."

I asked her about them--perhaps some detail might register so that we could narrow it down.  Here is what I learned:

There are seven Shelbys on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

One was from Louisianna.  

Two were from West Virginia.

One was from Virginia.

One was from Missouri

One was from Nebraska

and one Shelby hailed from Ohio.

All of the Shelbys on the wall were from the ages of 20-23 when they died.

Seven sons.  Seven friends to countless others.  Seven American heroes.

These are the things these soldiers share...along with their name.

Suddenly, we wanted to find them. We all wanted to find each of the Shelbys on the wall because no matter which one was my friend's buddy, they all had a story to tell. 

A story that ended much, much too soon.

In a strange way, I felt we owed all of the Shelbys a glance, a silent word of thanks.  A touch on the wall.  A photograph.

They deserved to be remembered.

We found all of the Shelbys.  I took photographs of their names because these young men matter.  

My friend did send me a text before we left the exhibit, and we were able to obtain a rubbing of his Shelby.  The Shelby who was his dearest friend.  The Shelby who would never really know his daughter.  The Shelby who will always have a place in my friend's heart, and now, mine...

But I am so grateful to have found the others, as well.  They will also have a place in my heart.

FIGHTING THE BATTLE? Words of War in Well-Being

We have been talking about how language defines and signifies communities and individuals.  Before we embark upon reading what I consider one of the most beautiful works of literature that is, in fact, a story of war, we will explore the language of war.  Specifically, we will look at various texts that were written/spoken/published, taken from a time when the whole world was at war.  What defines this language?  What literary tools and techniques are used to communicate the agenda and purpose?
In this week's article, we will discover that this very unique language of war has seeped into other realms of life, specifically the realm of health and well-being.
In another context, I recently read a quote from a young boy who has been living with cancer that broke my heart:  "I know that I am going die.  I have accepted this and I am at peace with it now.  But somehow, I feel that I am letting everyone down because I have lost my battle.  I feel that maybe I just didn't fight hard enough...that in dying I am not just leaving, I'm losing."

Once again, we see that our words and how we use them have power.

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/wounded-by-the-language-of-war/ 

TODAY, THE TRUTH FOUND ME....

This week, we will begin exploring another section of Part I, Language in Cultural Context:  Language and Identity.

With each generation, it seems  discovering and defining who you are as an individual, and maintaining uniqueness and individuality within our communities becomes more and more challenging.  Often, as we go about our daily lives, we are forced to wear masks.  These masks reflect more of what we believe OTHER people expect us to be rather than who we truly are.  Most of us have many masks in our "wardrobe," and we are flipping through them so often during the days, weeks, and months, we eventually lose track of who we TRULY are underneath it all.

Who we are as individuals may be determined and defined by a myriad of different factors, depending on our beliefs and world views.  What is YOUR truth?

You don't need to answer that here.  Instead, watch this very unique short film about Identity.  Then, write a synopsis of the film:  what is it about?  What is the message?  What did you as the viewer take from it?
(Art work:  by Michelle Robb)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikGVWEvUzNM

THE EVOLUTION OF LANGUAGE:  What does this do to our Registers?  How do we know when to slang or not to slang?  How do different nuances in English define communities?

I will be honest and say I am not a fan of slang....unless it is used in the appropriate setting.  I believe in moderation with most things, including language.

I recently spent months researching slang of the 1920's, and that was a whole lot of fun.  It also opened my eyes as to where some of our current slang originated, and how the meanings have changed.  Words go in and out of style in much the same way our fashions do.  What was hip to say in the 80's makes you sound "old" and "out of touch" today.  It can be hard to keep up, and in many ways, the changing slang landscape can be a way of excluding and including others via language.

Here is a very interesting article from the BBC on Slang.  Although the British slang may not be the same as ours, well, it is cool to learn about what "slang" looks like in other English speaking countries. I think this article is poignant because it also addresses how English is becoming a much more international language, and every nationality is dressing it differently to suit their cultural community.

So....watch your slanglish, and enjoy the read.  I look forward to hearing your reactions!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8388545.stm

THE POWER AND PROVIDENCE OF WORDS

“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.” 
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

It is our class theme...and if I am totally open and honest, it is a major theme in my own life as a literature teacher and writer, as well:  The Power of Words....

I will share with you two stories from my life, as well as two very different videos that both address this theme.  In return, I want to learn about YOU, and how this theme is true for you in your life.

Flashback many, many, MANY years ago.  Mrs. Caraway is only about three, almost four years old.  This must have been a significant moment to me because I don't have memories from that far back...yet this one is clear.  My mother had bought me a magnetic letter set and board so that we could practice "making words."  She would move the letters around, and I would watch, in amazement, and listen to the sound of them sliding on the board.  She made the word cat.  She made the word dog.  She made other words.  And then she made the letters spell my name.  

That same day, she had to write a check at the table to pay a bill while I was busy sliding the letters around on the board.  I remember very clearly watching her sign HER name on the check--she wrote in swirly letters, and she had beautiful handwriting.  She wrote in that strange language you all know as "cursive."  I didn't say anything, but as she put the check into the envelope, I remember distinctly thinking to myself: I need to learn how to write my name--how to write these words the letters make in swirls.  That was powerful.  I recognized that power.  Even at three.

Flash forward to my freshman year at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California.  I was probably THE shyest girl in Honors English I.  I barely spoke.  Our first writing assignment was given:  write a description of a secondary character from Steinbeck's  The Red Pony in his same style of description.  I read the reading assignment we had over carefully.  I noticed how Steinbeck didn't describe his characters outright; instead, he put them into some mundane or routine action, and gave us a glimpse of what they did, how they did it, and the very subtle expressions in their face and words.  He basically SHOWED us who they were.  I wrote my description of Jody's (the main character) mother.  

The next day, the teacher said only one student did the assignment correctly and imitated the style of Steinbeck.  She was going to read that student's work out loud.  I remember the instant she started reading recognizing my words.  THAT was powerful.  She told me that day (aside, later) that I was a writer.  That's what she said:  you are a very good writer.  I still remember those words and their power.  They meant the world to me. 

We are about to embark on a reading of some very inflammatory texts this week.  They may upset you.  They may offend you.  Why?  Because words have power.  They use this power in many ways--depending on the author's intention.  They are weapons of anger and destruction or saviors of grace.  In just four weeks, we will begin reading Markus Zusak's The Book Thief.  You will see the power of words in one young girl's life and the life of her country.  You will see those words hurt and heal.  And you know what?  The experience will be powerful.

I love words so, so much.  I love to play with them.  I love to manipulate them and move them around on the page.  I love searching for just the right one.  They mean the world to me, so this will be probably my longest post of the year (sorry).  I will also confess that sharing the words I have written in my own novels with you in class was a powerful experience for me, too.  

Enjoy these videos.  Enjoy the message they convey.  I hope they move you in your heart so you experience that power working in you.  It is magic.  In closing, I wish to share a favorite quote by Markus Zusak with you...
"I have hated words, and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right."

I hope that this year, you will experience both the joy and sorrow of words so that you, too can fully appreciate and experience their power.

~from Mrs. Caraway with love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVY4DeAvnfI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU

AMERICAN LITERATURE:  Vintage or View Screen?  What's YOUR style?  What's the Future for Authors and Publishers?

I love technology.  But it also frustrates me.  I love that I can create things in color, with imagery, flashy transitions, and even film clips to use in my teaching.  I love that when I get a great idea for a chapter in my book, I can get it all down on paper just as fast as I can type (which is about 60 words per minute, thanks to typing class in high school) then go back later and delete, cut, paste, and move it around if necessary.  I love how with just my IPhone, I can connect with people all around the world in an instant, watch a video, change my facebook status, and text my family what to pick up from the grocery store so I can throw dinner together once I get home.  Technology is convenient, fast, and pretty amazing.

But I think it also costs.  Not just money (although as a Mac owner, I can attest there is quite a monetary cost involved) but also in personal connections.  Technology can rob us of eye contact with each other.  Instead of a phone call now, we are more likely to receive a text.  Instead of getting together with friends physically, many people stay home in their comfy pajamas and facebook each other.  Technology is even changing our language in frustrating ways, as I just exemplified using facebook as a verb, and also in "text talk," where the personal I is now i (hint:  my personal PET PEEVE!!!)  and beautiful words are reduced to two or three letter clusters.

Come to think of it, the personal I to i is a great way to symbolically represent what technology can do to us as individuals and our relationships if we let it dominate our lives.  It reduces them to the lower case.   One very specific area we are seeing this is in the realm of book publishing.  Now, instead of a physical book, many people are opting to download literature on a tablet, Nook or Kindle.  No more glossy, cover art work to dazzle the eyes; no more turning of crisp pages, touching the story as you read the words; no more smell of print.  It is a little heartbreaking to me,  although I must confess, I truly enjoyed my Kindle this summer.  Instead of packing six, thick, heavy books along on a trip, I had a thin, lightweight Kindle, giving me access to thousands of titles with wifi connection and a touch of a button.

We all know that technology has both enhanced and in some ways inhibited education and personal relationships, but what about the world of publishing?  What do Amazon and iBooks mean for the author, agent and publishing firm?  What about the bookseller?

This week, I have two videos for you to watch.  Please watch both and then tell me your thoughts on technology, literature, and how the two both help and hinder each other.   I will be patiently awaiting, in front of my screen, with my real, honest to goodness "vintage" book in hand...

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4693889/how-technology-is-changing-book-publishing/#sp=show-clips

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/book-expo-publishers-authors-confront-changing-industry/

LOST IN TRANSLATION?

Many readers are intimidated by works in translation.  I can admit to you that I am, regrettably, one of them.  I can also admit to you that unless the work in translation is from a familiar "Western" culture, I am very leery about picking it up at all.  Why?  Because I am not in my present mind terribly interested in reading a book set in a place and time I don't know or understand.  This is changing for me since I have had some wonderful reading experiences now with works in translation, but that doesn't change the fact that I am hesitant.

I share this with you because I am wondering if perhaps some of you feel the same way.  I want to read works in translation because it seems sophisticated and "good for me" in a literary and academic sense, but I go into the experience expecting it to be more like a root canal than a virtual vacation (as I hope my reading experiences will be).  Why do you think that is?  Why do so many people look at reading works in translation like they may look at a plate of beets or liver and onions?  (food metaphors work for me!)

We focus a lot on cultural differences in this course and in Individuals and Societies course.  Maybe we should balance that focus with one on human connectivity.  Certainly there are many things that make us different, but there are also things that make us so much the same.  Think of this as the difference between reading critically and reading aesthetically:  when we look for connections, we often surprise ourselves by finding them.  :)

Read the article by clicking on this link.  Then, I would love to hear your response to the questions I have posed here, and the material presented in the article.  Enjoy!

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/24/british-readers-translations-foreign-literature-sales-boom-stieg-larsson-jo-nesbo

PS:  I personally find both beets and liver appalling.  No offense intended.  ;)