Category Archives: What I’m Reading

I finished reading Eco’s Serendipities: Language and Lunacy today (a big thank you to Cliff, who bought it for me from my wishlist). It follows on from Eco’s earlier work, The Search for the Perfect Language. Central themes from Baudolino … Continue reading →

Some very interesting thoughts here.

In his book, The Disappearance of Childhood, Neil Postman argues that shame is a crucial element of the civilizing process. He maintains that the printing press encouraged the development of a heightened sense of shame. The reading of books demands … Continue reading →

Woohoo! Now I can understand Berek.

After writing my previous post, I finished reading C.S. Lewis’s An Experiment in Criticism. This concluding paragraph was particularly striking, especially given some of the positions expressed in my earlier comments:— Literary experience heals the wound, without undermining the privilege, … Continue reading →

I finally finished it last night. On balance I think that I preferred The Name of the Rose, but both books are simply superb. I plan to reread both of them multiple times.

To all my American readers.

I am a bit slow in linking to this, but Jeff Meyers recent essay makes a good point.

Being without a computer has its benefits. I have read more in the last few days than I have for quite a while. Yesterday and this morning, in addition to reading God Crucified, I finished reading Alexander Wedderburn’s A History … Continue reading →