For some reason, I am averse to rereading books, so I wasn't looking forward to this. It was for a class. But now I'm glad. Even though I remember I lFor some reason, I am averse to rereading books, so I wasn't looking forward to this. It was for a class. But now I'm glad. Even though I remember I liked the book plenty the first time, after seeing that Capote movie, (which I thought was pretty good) and reading part of Other Voices, Other Rooms, (which I thought was pretty crappy), I guess I was starting to think maybe Truman Capote wasn't such a great writer after all. The reread reassured me: he was a great writer! He was!...more
I like the idea of reviewing books I read as a kid, but the problem is, I don't remember much about them. I know I liked the Anastasia books, but I'm I like the idea of reviewing books I read as a kid, but the problem is, I don't remember much about them. I know I liked the Anastasia books, but I'm not really sure why. I wonder if I'd still like them if I read them now. I think I probably would....more
It is an anthology of newspaper articles and other documents concerning the infamous lynching of EmmThere should be more history books like this one!
It is an anthology of newspaper articles and other documents concerning the infamous lynching of Emmett Till. In his wonderful introduction, editor Christopher Metress explains that he initially set out to write a more traditional kind of book, with himself, the historian, picking out the real "facts" in order to guide readers and help them perceive which memories were "false." But then along the way he realized that by providing an account of what we now know truly happened, he would be "betraying the process of how we determine what history is and how it comes to have meaning for us." Instead, the historian's voice is very minimal and the documents themselves tell the story. It is a fabulous book about the relationship between memory and history.
And it's about a very important event of the Civil Rights Movement, about which many Americans know little or nothing!
I am very enthusiastic about this book because lately I have been reading/hearing some very irritating stuff about the discipline of history. Some silly people (like for example a certain professor of mine) are apparently dismayed and frustrated by the fact that it is impossible to know the "objective truth" of past events. Mr. Metress, bless his heart, understands that our removal in time is what makes history what it is. History is not just stuff that happened in the past; it's also the way we make sense of it later....more
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