tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post8193496775056642029..comments2024-02-27T13:22:06.787-05:00Comments on Literature Frenzy!: Native Son by Richard WrightJason Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-62999211153304083822015-03-06T09:34:45.236-05:002015-03-06T09:34:45.236-05:00Jason, a good place to start is with the lists com...Jason, a good place to start is with the lists compiled by the Crime Writers Association (UK) and Mystery Writers of America (MWA); Wikipedia has a combined listing here:<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Top_100_Crime_Novels_of_All_Time<br />Another good list as a starting point is from the Independent Mystery Booksellers' Association which is here:<br />http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/IMBA%27s+100+Favorite+Mysteries+of+the+20th+Century<br />(BTW, James Patterson -- you will notice -- appears on no lists.)<br />The genre awards lists are also helpful. Search out Edgar Awards, Agatha Awards, Anthony Awards, and Dagger Awards.<br />Once you start searching, you will find so many good recommendations that you will need several lifetimes to read all the titles. Hint: I would choose the books common to both the CWA and MWA lists as a way of getting started.<br />I hope this helps.R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-66340537072006595062015-03-05T22:36:24.352-05:002015-03-05T22:36:24.352-05:00I won't hold that against you, we all have our...I won't hold that against you, we all have our personal preferences. I've only read a bunch of Flannery O'Connor's short stories and enjoyed them quite a bit. For me, it's medieval lit and Victorian novels that I tend to avoid.<br /><br />That reminds me, I could really use some crime/murder mystery recommendations. I've read barely anything from this genre and my brother was asking me the other day if I could recommend something and the best I could come up with us Agatha Christie and James Patterson. >.<Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-67292900125303295572015-03-05T22:28:09.212-05:002015-03-05T22:28:09.212-05:00Well, I'm not sure that I would go that far bu...Well, I'm not sure that I would go that far but I see you point lol. The thing is though, it's not like Richard Wright is trying to let Bigger off the hook here. He just puts forth a controversial argument in that he is not entirely to blame for his action. <br /><br />Never even heard of Solzheitsyn. I'll look into him, thanks.Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-35364946510923110522015-03-05T13:55:39.404-05:002015-03-05T13:55:39.404-05:00Shame on me! I have not read Native Son. And more ...Shame on me! I have not read Native Son. And more shame on me! I have no plans to do so. Perhaps there is something missing in my reader's DNA, but I have relatively little interest in American literature of Wright's era (post WW2). One exception is Flannery O'Connor's fiction. Another exception to that narrow, shameful preference is crime-detective-mystery fiction. In that genre, I will read almost anything from anyone from anywhere.R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-58076243126603111662015-03-05T12:11:56.622-05:002015-03-05T12:11:56.622-05:00The degree of guilt ...... Hmmm ...... Can we pai...The degree of guilt ...... Hmmm ...... Can we pair that idea with being a "little bit" pregnant .....?<br /><br />You're right that blood gets spilled in revolutions and then what happens after that? You should read Solzhenitsyn. He has many profound views on that subject. Ha ha! I'm telling <i>you</i> to read him, yet I've only read one of his works! But I do know about his views ...... really, I do ..... ;-)<br /><br />Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-24516087722944912572015-03-05T08:52:26.298-05:002015-03-05T08:52:26.298-05:00This novel is brilliant because it does make the r...This novel is brilliant because it does make the reader think and ask those tough questions. Another reason why it is so controversial. Wright also doesn't take sides, leaving the reader conflicted over the complex issue of race. <br /><br />However, I don't think that he vindicates murder exactly; as I mentioned in the review, he trying to suggest that violence is inevitable when a particular class is oppressed. If you look back to revolutions throughout human history, blood tends to be spilled in the name of freedom. Is Bigger Thomas guilty of his crimes? Of course, no doubt about that. However, a more difficult question to answer is, to what extent is he guilty? Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-72348591558915084902015-03-05T00:32:02.584-05:002015-03-05T00:32:02.584-05:00Hmm. I can't agree that any type of oppressio...Hmm. I can't agree that any type of oppression justifies murder. It's intriguing that Wright may be able to present the issue in a way that makes the reader question his own convictions. I really don't know what to say. I've got to think about it .....Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.com