Questions About How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about How to Read Literature Like a Professor, please sign up.

Answered Questions (4)

¿Alguien conoce libros equivalentes a este pero más centrados en un corpus literario más centrado en el mundo literario español y latinoamericano?

Roberto Hola Dani. No sé si llego a tiempo y tampoco si es exactamente aquello por lo que preguntabas.

Diría que específicamente de literatura en español es má…moreHola Dani. No sé si llego a tiempo y tampoco si es exactamente aquello por lo que preguntabas.

Diría que específicamente de literatura en español es más infrecuente porque lamentablemente no tenemos autores tan renombrados o prolíficos en los siglos XVIII y especialmente XIX como tienen los anglosajones, alemanes o incluso franceses.

Dicho esto, podría recomendarte:

- De Borges y Bioy Casares, "Libro del cielo y del Infierno".
- Clásicos vividos de José María Micó.

Más generales:
- De Nuccio Ordine "Clásicos para la vida: Una pequeña biblioteca ideal".
- De Stefan Zweig "Encuentro con libros".

Espero haberte ayudado. Un saludo,(less)

flag

Is this book suitable for 12 year olds? Is it easy enough to comprehend?

Ali Yes- while a 12 year old may not understand all of the literary references or subject matter, it is a very accessible and easy to read book. It offers…moreYes- while a 12 year old may not understand all of the literary references or subject matter, it is a very accessible and easy to read book. It offers a great foundation of symbolism and allusions that I think would be great for young readers!!(less)

flag

I have the first edition of this book. He updated it and it was re-released as the revised edition. Has anyone read both and are they basically the same? Will I be missing out on anything if I never get the newer version?

Alanna According to the introduction in the revised version, he fixed some things and removed the chapter on sonnets. He also "added a chapter on characteriz…moreAccording to the introduction in the revised version, he fixed some things and removed the chapter on sonnets. He also "added a chapter on characterization and on why being buddies with protagonist is so bad for the health of second fiddles...new discussion on public versus private symbols" and "a meditation on taking charge of one's own reading experience". I'll leave it to you whether or not it's worth hunting down the new version.(less)

flag

I have to annotate the book Fangirl by Rianbow Rowell using this book.. Help?? I liked this book and all, it's just that it's a bit confusing to annotate another book with. I know that it would be a great reference thing, I'm just confused.

Kelly I know this question is several years old at this point (I hope your annotations went well!) and it has been a hot minute since I have read either boo…moreI know this question is several years old at this point (I hope your annotations went well!) and it has been a hot minute since I have read either book, but these are examples I could think of:

-"Every Trip is a Quest": you could make the argument that Fangirl is a quest story. Cather's a freshman (a quester) who moves to college away from her home (a place to go) to earn a degree (a stated reason to go there) has difficulty fitting in, handling her anxiety, doing well in her classes (Challenges and Trials), and ends the book learning how to be more independent and confident in herself (the real reason to go)
-"Geography Matters": talk about how the college location contrasts Omaha where the girls are originally from. How does Cather view both places throughout the story, and what does this reveal about her character?
-"Nice to Eat with You" I remember there was a subplot about Cather only eating peanut butter and protein bars in her dorm and fearing the cafeteria for some reason (again, it's been a hot minute). I'm pretty sure there were scenes later on in the story, however, wherein Cather ends up eating there with other students and in the process she gets to know them and comes out of her bubble a little bit (or maybe I'm making that up. Again. A hot minute).
- I have this nagging feeling there was a scene in the story where Cather is caught in the rain, but I might be making that up. If so, rain = transformation/cleansing. How has Cather changed in that scene?

I would actually argue that some of Foster's chapters like "It's Never Just Heart Disease.. and Rarely Just Illness" does not apply to Fangirl, because a lot of contemporary lit (esp. YA lit) actively subverts traditional tropes. For example, much contemporary lit tries to destigmatize illness. As Foster explains in his book, society tends to be pretty ableist and makes harmful assumptions about people with disabilities or sickness, and many canonical texts play into these ideas by using deformities and illnesses to imply character flaws. Much of today's literature, such as Fangirl imo, tries to undo this. So I don't think Cather's father's bipolar disorder would count as an indication of a character flaw nor Wren's alcoholic tendencies. (less)

flag

Unanswered Questions

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more