Scan barcode
kendranicole28's review against another edition
4.0
Classic movies, songs, shows, people and books—especially books—are being canceled left and right these days, with older works deemed outdated, irrelevant, or even toxic based on modern perspectives on what types of cultural representation, verbiage, and themes we consider acceptable. While many parents and educators are quick to remove older “misguided” books from circulation, and others argue for continuing to embrace the classics while disregarding their problematic content, children’s author Mitali Perkins proposes a third option: reading these classic books, embracing their powerful lessons and themes while acknowledging their insensitivity or misguidedness in certain areas and using these faux pas to introduce helpful discussions.
Mitli Perkins was raised on classic stories that helped her make sense of her personal identity and adopted culture as the daughter of Bengali parents living in the California suburbs. Perkins saw herself in some of these stories, and found herself (or anyone like her) noticeably absent in others, but each book offered lessons she would carry into adulthood that would inform her own writing and parenting. Decades later, Perkins’ eyes have been opened to the cultural insensitivity and flaws built into the bones of many of these books, and though such awareness has not tainted her love for classic literature, she’s thinking more critically about the classics these days. In Steeped in Stories, she helps us to do the same.
Combining her own narrative with critical commentary and a Christian world view, Perkins begins by addressing the “elephant in the room: (i.e. the presence of problematic content in each of the books she is about to explore). She shows why certain issues are, indeed, problematic for the ways they portray certain cultures or individuals in a dehumanizing manner, or show deference to white western culture and those with political or economic power. Perkins argues against removing these books from shelves or even editing them (pointing out that simply removing problematic content undermines other merits of the literature, and might not hold up to future evolutions of values/norms). Instead, she makes a case for continuing to embrace the classics (welcoming their invitations into uncomfortable but important conversations regarding these topics) and also incorporating them into a more complete cannon with books from a wider variety of cultural backgrounds—books that can serve as mirrors for the marginalized in ways the well-known classics cannot.
Following this introduction, Perkins dedicates one chapter each to seven beloved classics, identifying a specific virtue that can be found in each one. (Love in Anne of Green Gables, Faith in Heidi, Hope in Emily of Deep Valley, Courage in The Hobbit, Temperance in Little Women, Justice in A Little Princess, and Prudence in The Silver Chair.) I loved this approach, and though I haven’t read all seven of the books, I appreciated Perkins’ insights into each story and the value of each one, as well as her modern-day take on the flaws of each book and how we might discuss such flaws with young readers. While I felt Perkins was overly harsh in her treatment of some of the books (her views are exceptionally “woke”), I commend her for her respectful tone towards the authors and the grace she shows them in their shortcomings. Perkins recognizes that these authors were largely products of their own times, unable to see the bias and insensitivity baked into their own ideologies and perspectives, and she is able to forgive the authors if not fully condoning their views.
As I said, I do think Perkins goes a little too far in her critique of outdated world views and mores, but she explains her views well, and in many instances helped me understand why certain terminologies or descriptors might be perceived as insensitive or hurtful. Perkins is helping me think more critically about all of the content I consume, and about the things I say and write. I admire Perkins’ willingness to shift her personal views, going so far as to acknowledge the missteps in some of her own books, and acknowledging the presence of hypercorrection occurring in modern works that is just as harmful in reinforcing stereotypes and divisiveness. She clearly cares deeply about consuming, creating, and sharing literature that is authentic, wholesome, and affirming. I too am a huge advocate for beautiful literature that points readers (especially young readers) towards truth and virtue, so in this I believe I have found a kindred spirit in Perkins and am thankful for her work in this space.
My Rating: 4 Stars.
Mitli Perkins was raised on classic stories that helped her make sense of her personal identity and adopted culture as the daughter of Bengali parents living in the California suburbs. Perkins saw herself in some of these stories, and found herself (or anyone like her) noticeably absent in others, but each book offered lessons she would carry into adulthood that would inform her own writing and parenting. Decades later, Perkins’ eyes have been opened to the cultural insensitivity and flaws built into the bones of many of these books, and though such awareness has not tainted her love for classic literature, she’s thinking more critically about the classics these days. In Steeped in Stories, she helps us to do the same.
Combining her own narrative with critical commentary and a Christian world view, Perkins begins by addressing the “elephant in the room: (i.e. the presence of problematic content in each of the books she is about to explore). She shows why certain issues are, indeed, problematic for the ways they portray certain cultures or individuals in a dehumanizing manner, or show deference to white western culture and those with political or economic power. Perkins argues against removing these books from shelves or even editing them (pointing out that simply removing problematic content undermines other merits of the literature, and might not hold up to future evolutions of values/norms). Instead, she makes a case for continuing to embrace the classics (welcoming their invitations into uncomfortable but important conversations regarding these topics) and also incorporating them into a more complete cannon with books from a wider variety of cultural backgrounds—books that can serve as mirrors for the marginalized in ways the well-known classics cannot.
Following this introduction, Perkins dedicates one chapter each to seven beloved classics, identifying a specific virtue that can be found in each one. (Love in Anne of Green Gables, Faith in Heidi, Hope in Emily of Deep Valley, Courage in The Hobbit, Temperance in Little Women, Justice in A Little Princess, and Prudence in The Silver Chair.) I loved this approach, and though I haven’t read all seven of the books, I appreciated Perkins’ insights into each story and the value of each one, as well as her modern-day take on the flaws of each book and how we might discuss such flaws with young readers. While I felt Perkins was overly harsh in her treatment of some of the books (her views are exceptionally “woke”), I commend her for her respectful tone towards the authors and the grace she shows them in their shortcomings. Perkins recognizes that these authors were largely products of their own times, unable to see the bias and insensitivity baked into their own ideologies and perspectives, and she is able to forgive the authors if not fully condoning their views.
As I said, I do think Perkins goes a little too far in her critique of outdated world views and mores, but she explains her views well, and in many instances helped me understand why certain terminologies or descriptors might be perceived as insensitive or hurtful. Perkins is helping me think more critically about all of the content I consume, and about the things I say and write. I admire Perkins’ willingness to shift her personal views, going so far as to acknowledge the missteps in some of her own books, and acknowledging the presence of hypercorrection occurring in modern works that is just as harmful in reinforcing stereotypes and divisiveness. She clearly cares deeply about consuming, creating, and sharing literature that is authentic, wholesome, and affirming. I too am a huge advocate for beautiful literature that points readers (especially young readers) towards truth and virtue, so in this I believe I have found a kindred spirit in Perkins and am thankful for her work in this space.
My Rating: 4 Stars.
More...