What I’m Reading Now…

The time to write reviews for all of these turned up missing somewhere in the jumble of wrapping paper, noisemakers, and new years resolutions.  I tend to keep roughly five books going at any given time from my need to start something new every five seconds (I’m a better sower than tender), AND from valuing diversity in my life.  Instead of reviews, here’s the book list of what I’m up to:

A Critical History of Children’s Literature

Tara and Aunt Kim found this little gem perched on top of this hidden shelf on the upper floor of the Greenville, Ohio library.  They started renovating the old castle with private funds and gave away excess books (donations encouraged) for anyone who stopped by.  Among them sat two Grisham novels, The Lord of the Flies, and a new copy of Strunk and White’s Elements of Style (Lord knows I need a new one).  Next to all of this – A Critical History of Children’s Literature.  I’m not even sure if that Amazon link’s the right one, but if it is, man oh man you need that in your library.  ATTENTION KIDDIE LIT AUTHORS:  This book starts with the beginning of history (for the English anyway) and follows the ancient faerie myths all the way up to the sixties going through everything from Pilgrim’s Progress to Wonderland, Narnia and George MacDonald. As a writer and graphite (is there another term for an american inkling?), the information changed my entire view of how kids read books. It’s a must-have for writers, teachers, parents, and eccentrics.

The Dictionary of Imaginary Places

I’m stealing this.  What I mean is, I’m borrowing every single imaginary place that came into existence before Lewis and Tolkien came along.  How will that work?  Dunno yet, still working out the kinks, but my inner-Danny-Ocean’s on the prowl, taking notes, names, and numbers (or publishing dates as the case may be).  Meanwhile, you can find me in a Starbucks, flipping through this tome.  If I’m absent from Starbucks, it’s because I’ve built yet another fire in my over-sized, over-heating fireplace, and I’m sitting in front of it with a springer spaniel at my feet.

Emma

In the DVD version of me rooting on the literary greats, Jane Austen might make an appearance in the deleted scenes.  Unreasonable as it is, I’ve yet to get swept up in the whole victorian-era-woman-suffers-angst-from-victorian-era-courtship.  Gimme Jack Handy with a pickaxe and a lumberjack beard long before any of that.  But, thanks to the Kindle, I’ve made it through progressive chapters.  I think it’s the pages.  My ADD kicks in, and I feel like I should be doing something – turning pages for instance.  The kindle makes that possible every twenty lines or so. If I finish this puppy before the year’s out, I’ll count it a win for the home team.  Smile like you mean it, Jane:

That’s better.

Honorable mentions:

Miracles by C.S. Lewis
Surprised by Joy also Lewis

READ NEXT:  Cormac McCarthy — Pater Noster in The Road

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Quick note from Lance about this post: when you choose to comment (or share this post with your friends) you help other readers just like you.

How?

Well, see, your comments & sharing whisper a few things to those who come after you:

The first is that this site is a safe place to speak up & stay curious. That it's civil. That discussion is encouraged. That there's no such thing as a stupid question (being a student of Socrates, I really and truly believe this). That talking to one another and growing together is more important than anything we could possibly publish. That the point is growing in virtue and growing together and growing wise. That discovery is invention, deference is originality, that we all can rise together. The only folks I'm going to take comments down from are obvious jerks who argue in bad faith, don't stay curious, or actively make personal attacks. And, frankly, I'd rather we talk here than on some social media farm — I will never show ads and the only thing I'm selling anywhere on the site or my mailing list is just the stuff I make.

You're also helping folks realize that anything you & they build together is far more important than anything you come to me to read. I take the things I write about seriously, but I don't take myself seriously: I play the fool, I hate cults of personality, and I also don't really like being the center of attention (believe it or not). I would much rather folks connect because of an introduction I've made or because they commented with one another back and forth and then build something beautiful together. My favorite contributions have been lifelong business and love partnerships from two people who have forgotten I introduced them. Some of my closest friends NOW I literally met on another blog's comment section fifteen years ago. I would love for that to happen here — let two of you meet and let me fade into the background.

Last, you help me revise. I'm wrong. Often. I'm not embarrassed to admit it or worried about being cancelled or publicly shamed. I make a fool out of myself (that's sort of the point). So as I get feedback, I can say, "I was wrong about that" and set a model for curious, consistent learning, and growing in wisdom. I'm blind to what I don't know and as grows the island of my knowledge so grows the shoreline of my ignorance. It's the recovery of innocence on the far end of experience: a child is in a permanent state of wonder. So are the wise: they aren't afraid of saying, "I don't know. That's new: please teach me." That's my goal, comments help. And I read all reviews: my skin's tough, but that's not license to be needlessly cruel. We teach one another our habits and there's a way to civilly demolish an idea without demolishing another person: just because I personally can take the world's meanest 1-star review doesn't mean we should teach one another how to be crueler on the internet.

For three magical reasons — your brave curiosity, your community, & my ignorance:

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