The Immersion Library > Recent Status Updates

"The Angler" - Which method best proceeds knowledge: academia or experience? From one Minnesotan to an insightful writer sketching the image of fishing, look into this...

"The Pride of The Village" - The sweetest obituary I've ever read. Yet, as a sketch, the exaggerated sentimentality hides behind the veil of reality, like a news story.

"John Bull" - A human metaphor the the English identity and character as viewed by an outsider. Who would our American be today?

"Philip of Pokanoket" - If his skin were of a different hue, people would think Irving was beating the worn out drum of heroism. As it is, we need to hear this.

"Traits of Indian Character" - I admire Irving's thoughtful and eloquent presentation in defense of Indian humanity and disarmament of unjust stereotypes. Yet his tone signifies his time and therefore "civilization", as the white man calls it, remains glorified.

I should have this finished by now, but I can't seem to read at my usual pace. I seem to be digesting more than reading.

At first I scoffed at Mrs. Bennett. Now I sympathize with her. I have found more depth in Austen's satirical presentation of women who live to chase eligible bachelors who make ideal socio-economic matches.

Uh-oh...Elizabeth isn't perfect

Okay...I really like this one

"Stratford on Avon" - A beautiful account of Shakespeare's home littered with poetic imagery and responsible historical coorelations. I wonder what Irving would think of the popular Shakespearean conspiracy theories of today.

I don't think this is "about" bullfighting...

Some parts do a FAR better job of proving his writing ethos than the tourist sections - what a roller coaster of dribble and brilliance!

His introductory treatise on style and the essence of quality writing alone make this book worth a read.

"Little Britain" - I just witnessed the rise of nostalgia from the roots of a city's origins naturally corrupted. I find such pining hopeless, as it seems all beloved things eventually twist into something awful at the behest of those trying to make it better, only to leave us with that nostalgic longing for what we failed to realize we had.

"London Antiques" - Such a contrast between outside and inside, ancient and modern, so the reader feels the personal pull of each.

His parentage shouldn't make a difference.

You can call him a pansy, but you have to admit he endures some serious abuses.

I LOVE how Dickens' tone fluidly blends witty sarcasm with boldly detestable characterizations! One can't really confuse his sentiments.

"The Christmas Quintet" - I'm sweating nostalgia!

"Westminster Abbey" - 'Thus man passes away; his name perishes from record and recollection; his history is as a tale that is told, and his very monument becomes a ruin.'

"The Specter Bridegroom" - An imaginative tale of innocent deception, Irving weaves together two fated lovers by allowing circumstances to play to their favor. But, of course, he dictates the story as part of a sketch.

"Rural Funerals" - The man sees poetry in real life. Amazing.

Kids...they're just kids!

I really like Jon Snow...and Tyrion Lannister, oddly enough.

I think familiarity with the TV show actually helps me keep all these characters and subplots in order. I would have had a tough time otherwise.

"The Mutability of Literature" - Ha! I know we often employ the cliche of conversing with a book, but Irving decides to actually do it! It does shed light on reasons for culturally abandoning certain literary contributions - though I don't think Irving thoroughly addressed all of them.

"The Boar's Head Tavern, Eastcheap" - While reading this, I thought related the preface to Don Quixote to Irving's tone regarding Shakespeare's influence on current writers. Irving chose a different form of reverence.