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geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'The Republic of Imagination' by Azir Nafisi ('Reading Lolita in Tehran') is an impassioned plea for literature in her adopted home of America. In an era where bookstores are closing, schools are moving away from literature, and we are more distracted, she makes the case for why literature is vital to a society.
The book takes three novels and makes her case: 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain, 'Babbitt' by Sinclair Lewis, and 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter' by Carson McCullers. Each has parallels to our day whether it is showing how materialism and the pursuit of the newest gadget is as American as a pervading sense of isolation even while we are in a crowd. She talks about how literature can get us beyond lists of facts into a new place where we can meet characters similar and dissimilar to us. She rails against the common core and how it turns it's back on literature in favor of a more factual, science based education, and what we lose with that.
Intertwined with her explorations are stories and people from her real life. From a childhood friend with terminal cancer to friends made during protest marches in the States. The true stories show how literature can provide us with perspective and understanding. It's a much more personal book than I anticipated when I read about it, but that's not a bad thing at all. Literature should connect to us at a personal level as it does with this author.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Group Viking, Viking Adult and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fine ebook.
The book takes three novels and makes her case: 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain, 'Babbitt' by Sinclair Lewis, and 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter' by Carson McCullers. Each has parallels to our day whether it is showing how materialism and the pursuit of the newest gadget is as American as a pervading sense of isolation even while we are in a crowd. She talks about how literature can get us beyond lists of facts into a new place where we can meet characters similar and dissimilar to us. She rails against the common core and how it turns it's back on literature in favor of a more factual, science based education, and what we lose with that.
Intertwined with her explorations are stories and people from her real life. From a childhood friend with terminal cancer to friends made during protest marches in the States. The true stories show how literature can provide us with perspective and understanding. It's a much more personal book than I anticipated when I read about it, but that's not a bad thing at all. Literature should connect to us at a personal level as it does with this author.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Group Viking, Viking Adult and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fine ebook.
cemoses's review against another edition
4.0
It was a very well written book of literary criticism and it inspired me to read the writer's very well known book Reading Lolita in Tehran. However, in reading the Republic of the Imagination, it helped that I had read within the last ten years two of the books Ms. Nafisi reviewed, Huckleberry Finn and Babbitt; in addition I liked both of these books. I found it harder to read the section where Ms. Nafisi examines The Heart is a Lonely Hunter which I have not read. However, this book did make me want to read it.
It is a book for English majors and people who enjoy reading about literary fiction; it is not a book for fiction nonbelievers. I was a little disappointed that the book was not a call to arms about the joys and importance of fiction which I do think is under attack now. However, perhaps that goes beyond the scope of the book.
It is a book for English majors and people who enjoy reading about literary fiction; it is not a book for fiction nonbelievers. I was a little disappointed that the book was not a call to arms about the joys and importance of fiction which I do think is under attack now. However, perhaps that goes beyond the scope of the book.
lungching's review against another edition
3.0
Started reading on Feb 27, 2015. I felt I should have read the 3 books she discussed in this book, before reading this book. I didn't finish reading it.
readhikerepeat's review against another edition
5.0
Fiction requires imagination. Democracy requires imagination. Therefore, democracy requires fiction.
If you can get on board with this, then read this book! For the full review, visit The Book Wheel.
If you can get on board with this, then read this book! For the full review, visit The Book Wheel.
katreadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
I have wanted to read this book since 2014 (really since I heard Nafisi speak in 2008), and it found me at the perfect moment. Her naturalized perspective on what it means to be an American, and some of the challenges she sees facing America today was a breath of fresh air, and of course, she takes the reader on a literary journey throughout. As with Reading Lolita in Tehran, this book struck a chord with me.
My favorite quote was one about The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers:
"It is only after [Singer's] death that they become conscious of themselves and their surroundings. No more 'I want - I want - I want,' but a certain taking into account. Taking into account is the price that must be paid if we are to transcend our narcissistic preoccupations...What will rescue them is good old-fashioned passion, a belief that one can give meaning to an otherwise meaningless life, the desire to create - to face the world with its pain and grief, and not evade it. That passion enables them to connect; it is something at once evanescent and enduring, a bit like snow. In that passion there is pain and anguish and redemption, even if that redemption is just a firefly glimmer on the dark horizon." pg. 282
I also loved how this book was about DC. In the acknowledgements, she mentioned some of my most favorite places in DC, and throughout the book she visited various places (including the Borders downtown which I miss so much).
My favorite quote was one about The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers:
"It is only after [Singer's] death that they become conscious of themselves and their surroundings. No more 'I want - I want - I want,' but a certain taking into account. Taking into account is the price that must be paid if we are to transcend our narcissistic preoccupations...What will rescue them is good old-fashioned passion, a belief that one can give meaning to an otherwise meaningless life, the desire to create - to face the world with its pain and grief, and not evade it. That passion enables them to connect; it is something at once evanescent and enduring, a bit like snow. In that passion there is pain and anguish and redemption, even if that redemption is just a firefly glimmer on the dark horizon." pg. 282
I also loved how this book was about DC. In the acknowledgements, she mentioned some of my most favorite places in DC, and throughout the book she visited various places (including the Borders downtown which I miss so much).
athoughtfulrecord's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0