by Mitali Perkins
Broadleaf Books, 2021. 240 pages. Nonfiction
Blending personal narrative, accessible literary criticism,
and spiritual and moral formation, Perkins delves into novels by Louisa May
Alcott, C. S. Lewis, L. M. Montgomery, Frances Hodgson Burnett, and other
literary "uncles" and "aunts" that illuminate the virtuous,
abundant life we still desire. These novels are not perfect, and Perkins honestly
assesses their critical frailties and flaws related to race, culture, and
power. Yet reading or rereading these books as adults can help us build virtue,
unmask our vices, and restore our hope. Reconnecting with these stories
from childhood isn't merely nostalgia. In an era of uncertainty and despair,
they lighten our load and bring us much-needed hope.
As a lover of children’s literature, I found Perkins'
narrative and literary analysis of some of the best classics both refreshing
and beautiful. Perkins delves into her personal life and her relationship with
these classic treasures. The girls Perkins read about in her youth were
different from her, yet she found ways in which they were alike. They provided
her with a mirror of herself while also offering a window into a world
different from her own. Perkins' writing felt like sitting down with a friend. She
shares her love for the classics while acknowledging their imperfections. It
reminded me that these stories can be read and re-read and are meant for all the
young at heart.
If you liked Steeped in Stories you might also like…
Wild things: the joy of reading children's literature as an adult
by Bruce Handy
Simon and Schuester, 2017. 307 pages. Nonfiction
Now that we're living in a golden age of children's
literature, what can adults get out of reading Where the Wild Things Are and
Goodnight Moon, or Charlotte's Web and Little House on the Prairie? In Wild
Things, Vanity Fair contributing editor Bruce Handy revisits the classics of
every American childhood, using context and biography to understand how some of
the most insightful, creative, and witty authors and illustrators of their
times created their often deeply personal masterpieces. Wild Things will bring
back fond memories for readers of all ages, along with a few surprises.
A reader's book of days: true tales from the lives and works of writers for every day of the year
by Tom Nissley
Norton & Company, 2014. 448 pages. Nonfiction
Book connoisseur Tom Nissley has combed literary history to capture the stories that make writers' lives perennially fascinating: their epiphanies, embarrassments and achievements. Each handsome page in A Reader's Book of Days is devoted to a day of the year, featuring original accounts of events in the lives of great writers, and fictional events that took place within beloved books.
BWW
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