The Western Lit Survival Kit: An Irreverant Guide to the Classics from Homer to Faulkner
Sandra Newman
The title and subtitle neatly explain what this book is about. Written with razor-sharp wit and satire, it also manages to convey a great deal of information and insight in a very accessible manner.
I didn't always agree with the author's assessment of a classic. For instance, she pretty much panned Frankenstein. I think she forgot that one keystone of great literature is that it addresses big questons - gets us to think about things that are larger than ourselves, particularly, the human condition. I consider Mary Shelley was a genius at this aspect of the writer's craft.
Even though I'm a bit put out about the author's assessment of Frankenstein, and even though it felt, at times, that the author were showing off a bit, I adored this book! I really needed to add dozens of books to my wishlist like I needed a hole in the head, (o.k., dozens might be a slight exaggeration), but that's exactly what I've done, thanks to this book. I'm also now dying to re-read some old favorites.
Sandra Newman is a book-junky's enabler.
Seriously, this book is more fun than a Six Flags theme park. It's a treasure for book lovers, and I think that it would make literature more accessible to those who are intimidated by it - as long as they're not intimidated by her erudition and dextrous display of wit.
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