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Wiener, Gary
4 Reviews
(3)
YA
Social Issues in Literature series.
The Huxley volume in this reliable (if not always inspired) series stands out. The timeliness of debate surrounding bioethics makes it useful; the editor is careful to maintain neutrality by presenting a well-chosen selection of essays. The volumes on Hansberry and Knowles are dependable but less likely to elicit enthusiasm from students. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind. Review covers these Social Issue in Literature titles: Bioethics in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, War in John Knowles's A Separate Peace, and Gender in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.
Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac
(4)
YA
Social Issues in Literature series.
Solid but impassive, these collections present short essays and excerpts (usually five to twelve pages) broken down into three categories: background and biography, critical readings of the title topic, and contemporary perspectives that highlight a classic author's continuing relevance. Selections are up to date, varied, and culled from reputable sources. These volumes are useful, but they're unlikely to be read for fun. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind. Review covers these Social Issues in Literature titles: Women's Issues in Alice Walker's The Color Purple, Women's Search for Independence in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, Tyranny in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Censorship in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, and War in Time O'Brien's The Things They Carried.
Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac
(3)
YA
Social Issues in Literature series.
Each collection features at least eighteen essays reprinted from a variety of sources, including academic journals and popular periodicals. The articles explore the author's life, thematic issues in his work, and contemporary perspectives on related topics. Lists of thematically similar novels in addition to discussion questions further deepen the material. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind. Review covers these Social Issues in Literature titles: Male and Female Roles in Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises[c1], Industrialism in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, Women's Issues in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, and Workers' Rights in Upton Sinclair's The Jungle.
Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac
(3)
YA
Social Issues in Literature series.
Each volume presents brief, thoughtful essay reprints (primarily written by literary critics and academics) arranged into three sections that explore the author's life, identify relevant social issues, and discuss current cultural applications. Although the pieces are sometimes awkwardly truncated, they usually present ideas that go well beyond superficial critique, inviting readers to consider fiction as a vehicle for analyzing American identity. Reading list, timeline, Bib., ind. Review covers these Social Issues in Literature titles: Class Conflict in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Racism in Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Racism in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, and Women's Issues in Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club.
Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac
4 reviews
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