Jillian's review
Orientalism
by Edward W. Said
Jillian's review
Orientalism by Edward W. Said
Jillian's review
rating:
bookshelves:
currently-reading,
historical,
political
Said's discussion of how and why "the Orient" is (mistakenly) viewed as strange, exotic, and "other" by western societies is incredibly interesting, and also incredibly dense.
Two pages of this book contain more information than most college text books, and almost every paragraph needs to be read two or three times in order to marginally process that information. As a result, I often find myself putting having to put the book down after an hour of reading in which I've only made a few pages' worth of progress. Additionally, Said often cites lengthy sections of French literature on the subject of Orientalism, and only occasionally bothers to include an English translation of those citations.
I've been reading this book since March 2008, and I think that if I ever finish, I will throw myself a party.
Two pages of this book contain more information than most college text books, and almost every paragraph needs to be read two or three times in order to marginally process that information. As a result, I often find myself putting having to put the book down after an hour of reading in which I've only made a few pages' worth of progress. Additionally, Said often cites lengthy sections of French literature on the subject of Orientalism, and only occasionally bothers to include an English translation of those citations.
I've been reading this book since March 2008, and I think that if I ever finish, I will throw myself a party.
