Stereotypical Downturns

Demon Copperhead 

by Barbara Kingsolver

“At the time, I thought my life couldn’t get any worse. Here’s some advice: Don’t ever think that.” ― Barbara Kingsolver, Demon Copperhead

I found the first-person narrator to be annoying and the book to be tedious. I did not find it impressive that David Copperfield was used as the story's model. The story takes a number of depressing turns, such as a stay in a horrifying foster home where Demon is essentially starved. The portrayal of Appalachian life leans into stereotypes; I felt the depiction did not truly capture the diversity of experiences in such communities, and it simplifies them into a narrative of poverty and addiction.

Greek Lyrics

Pure Pagan: Seven Centuries of Greek Poems and Fragments 

by Burton Raffel

“EUROPA Europa costs you a dollar. No one cares, including her. She’s got clean sheets and a fire in winter. Why bother Becoming a bull, O Zeus!”  ― Burton Raffel, Pure Pagan: Seven Centuries of Greek Poems and Fragments

One of my favorite poet-translators, Burton Raffel, translated these Greek lyrics. Through their poetry, the poets in this anthology offer a window into ancient Greek culture. Among them are the very obscure to the somewhat less obscure, with a few familiar names like Plato. There are poems and fragments of poems for everyone's taste. Reading them, I enjoyed making connections with my own life and our twenty-first century culture. Seeing how these ancient poets influenced some of our greatest contemporary poets was also fascinating. 

"Pure Pagan" is celebrated for its role in bringing obscure Greek poetry to light, offering readers a glimpse into the diverse voices of ancient Greece. I appreciate Raffel's modern interpretation. Because of its wide range of selection and lively, if occasionally contentious, translation style, it is a great addition for anyone interested in ancient poetry. Overall, it is a beautiful selection of poetry.

If you're interested in exploring ancient Greek poetry through a contemporary lens, this book might serve as an engaging introduction or a complementary read to more traditional translations. However, for those seeking a translation closer to the original rhythm and tone, opinions suggest looking at other translators' works as well.

Caught in the Crossfire

What Maisie Knew 

by Henry James

“She took refuge on the firm ground of fiction, through which indeed there curled the blue river of truth."  ― Henry James, What Maisie Knew

Even though some of James' fiction can be difficult to understand, Maisie is comparatively simple to follow, though you may need to read a sentence again to fully understand it. Reading some of James' sentences is like hang-gliding from the first word to the period—you take in so much information along the way that you're likely to get a bit giddy.

Maisie, a young child caught in the crossfire of her parents' acrimonious divorce, is the protagonist of the book. Used as a pawn in their manipulative games, Maisie is shuttled between her self-absorbed mother, Ida, and her charming but irresponsible father, Beale. As her parents remarry, Maisie becomes entangled in the lives of her new stepparents—Sir Claude and Mrs. Beale (formerly Miss Overmore)—and their own web of romantic and moral entanglements. Through Maisie’s innocent yet increasingly perceptive eyes, James examines the moral decay of the adults around her and her gradual understanding of their flaws.

Maisie begins as a naive child but is exposed to the selfish and immoral behavior of the adults in her life. James masterfully explores how innocence can coexist with an intuitive understanding of human flaws. The novel challenges traditional notions of right and wrong as the adults justify their actions while neglecting Maisie’s well-being. James uses Maisie’s limited but evolving perspective to create a layered narrative, forcing readers to piece together the truth behind the adults’ behavior.

The story of the sensitive daughter of divorced and irresponsible parents, What Maisie Knew, has great contemporary relevance as an unflinching account of a wildly dysfunctional family. The book is also a masterly technical achievement by James, as it follows the title character from earliest childhood to precocious maturity. It's not surprising from the book's title that knowledge and education form a major theme in it. Her keen observation of the irresponsible behavior of almost all the adults she lives with eventually persuades her to rely on her most devoted friend, Mrs. Wix, even though the frumpy governess is by far the least superficially attractive adult in her life. The novel is also a thoroughgoing condemnation of parents and guardians abandoning their responsibilities towards their children. James saw English society as becoming more corrupt and decadent, and What Maisie Knew is one of his harshest indictments of those who can't be bothered to live responsible lives. It might seem that such a book would become almost unbearably grim. But James leavens the sorry doings with a generous dose of admittedly dark humor.

The act of writing to James was a highly delicate operation, as if he were building a house of cards, and the least slip would ruin the design. Though Maisie is not a perfect book, it is filled with James' elaborate literary feats, those suspenseful sleights of hand that always induce pleasurable gasps at each successful intellectual vibration.

Growing up Gay

The Beautiful Room Is Empty 

by Edmund White

“And William laughed with his special blend of mischief, compounded of humor, spite, and sadness in a ratio even he wasn't sure of but that he mixed by feel."  - Edmund White, The Beautiful Room Is Empty

Edmund White's semi-autobiographical book "The Beautiful Room Is Empty" chronicles the experiences of a young gay man growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, leading up to the Stonewall Riots in 1969.

The narrative follows the protagonist from his preparatory school days through his college years and into the burgeoning gay culture of New York City. It's a journey of self-discovery, marked by the protagonist's struggle with his sexual identity in a repressive society, his attempts at psychoanalysis to "cure" his homosexuality, and his eventual acceptance and celebration of his identity.

The narrative focuses on themes of identity, alienation, the search for belonging, and the transformation of gay culture during a pivotal time in American history. The novel paints a vivid picture of the era's social constraints and the personal and collective liberation that followed. White's prose is often eloquent, with a particular emphasis on the richness of language and the emotional depth of the narrative. His storytelling has candor, intelligence, and humor, even when addressing the painful aspects of oppression and self-acceptance.

White has an ability to convey the loneliness and subsequent fulfillment of coming out. The book has a literary quality and an honest portrayal of gay life in mid-20th-century America. As part of White's autobiographical trilogy, it is often compared to "A Boy's Own Story," its predecessor. While both are celebrated, "The Beautiful Room Is Empty" can seem slightly less engaging due to its different stylistic choices and the protagonist's more introspective, sometimes self-conscious, narrative voice.

"The Beautiful Room Is Empty" stands as a significant work in the landscape of American literature, particularly within the context of gay narratives. It offers not only a historical snapshot of gay life before and during the Stonewall era but also a compelling personal journey through the complexities of identity. For those interested in literature that explores themes of self-discovery, societal change, and the nuances of love and sexuality, this book is highly recommended. However, readers should be prepared for a narrative that is both introspective and, at times, self-critical, reflecting the protagonist's internal struggle with the external world.

Meditation on Mortality

Small Rain 

by Garth Greenwell

“Read it again, read it more slowly, that was the whole of my pedagogy when I taught my students, who were pressured everywhere else to be more efficient, to take in information more quickly, to make each moment count, to instrumentalize time, which is a terrible way to live, dehumanizing, it disfigures existence.”   ― Garth Greenwell, Small Rain






Set in the COVID-19 era, this novel explores the physicality of suffering as its protagonist, an unnamed poet, is admitted to the intensive care unit after suffering a serious medical crisis. The book focuses on an examination of the American healthcare system, the nature of pain, and the search for meaning and connection amidst suffering. It is both a meditation on mortality and a love story, highlighting the unexpected intimacies that can develop in such extreme circumstances.

Because of its lyrical quality, philosophical asides, and ability to convey the narrator's consciousness, I thought Greenwell's prose was unique. The narrative style is introspective, focusing on the internal experience of the protagonist, which contrasts with the external environment of the hospital. His prose style had a unique aspect in that he referred to characters with merely the first letter of their name.

"Small Rain" pushed the limits of narrative structure by emphasizing the internal rather than the external, and I found it to have a complex depiction of illness and an intriguing character study. I enjoyed it's departure from and extension of Greenwell's earlier works, focusing on different aspects of human experience but with the same meticulous and poetic prose.

Living in Music

Every Good Boy Does Fine: 

A Love Story in Music Lessons

by Jeremy Denk

“And what else is music but a space for us to live in, for a while.”   ― Jeremy Denk, Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story, in Music Lessons

In his memoir, Denk details his path from taking his first piano lessons in New Jersey to graduating from Juilliard with a doctorate. It is a coming-of-age tale that weaves together his development in comprehending different kinds of love—for music, family, friends, and romantic partners—rather than merely recounting his musical education.

The book delves into the intricacies of learning piano, highlighting the passion, frustration, and joy of mastering classical music. Denk discusses his lessons, teachers, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career, giving readers a vivid picture of what it takes to become a virtuoso.

In addition to discussing his musical journey, Denk offers personal tales that offer insights into his identity, familial relationships, and emotional growth. His narrative style is both humorous and poignant, offering readers a deeply personal look at his life.

Denk is renowned for his ability to simplify difficult musical ideas in his writing. He uses metaphors and personal stories to explain musical theory, making his reflections on harmony, melody, and rhythm both educational and engaging.

This memoir is for you if you enjoy classical music and, even better, are a piano player. Jeremy Denk has managed to combine a tour of classical music for the piano with a very personal memoir of his life as both a student and performer of that music. The result is a unique journey for the reader.