"The Keep" by Jennifer Egan - Rereading Gothic Fiction

We rounded out "Rereading the Past" tonight with our discussion of Jennifer Egan's "The Keep." This was a great discussion and a wonderful note to end on. The first thing to be brought up was how Jennifer Egan leaves so many loose ends open by the end of the novel...and it doesn't matter! She somehow makes it work. Usually that kind of move would be frustrating, but the fact that there is so much to be interpreted or imagined adds to the genius of the novel. The readers loved the ending. The symbolism of baptism and starting anew was not lost on anyone.

One reader cleverly tied this novel to the last book we read, American Gods, by noting the cell phone worship that occurs in this novel. One of the central characters cannot stay away from his cell phone for too long. Much like the god of tech in American Gods is worshiped, his cell phone is an object of attention and devotion.

In talking about the Gothic nature of the novel, one reader said it reminded him of Wuthering Heights, but he wasn't sure why. I think that's cool he picked up on those vibes, even if he couldn't pin point the reason why. This led him to comment on the "emotional" keeps the characters have in contrast with the physical keep of the novel. Danny, the teacher, and Ray all hold something secret.

Perhaps the most remarked-upon aspect of the novel were, not surprisingly, the scenes that took place in prison. The readers kept looking at the author picture of Egan and wondering if she did time. They were blown away by the realistic language, the attention to detail, and the description of behaviors. They really, really want to know how Jennifer Egan pulled this off.

There was a lot of talking about the craft of the novel, and how slyly and smartly it is written. Not only is the story-within-a-story mode of writing difficult to achieve, but giving two very distinct styles and voices to two different sections is really tough. Most readers said it took them 50-70 pages to get into it, but after that, they cruised until the end. We thought this was mostly due to the shift in narrative tone and voice between stories, since one is meant to not be written so well.

We liked this book a lot, and we loved discussing it. The openness of possibilities, the commentary on the act of writing, and the themes throughout make The Keep a book that will not easily be forgotten. One reader said he appreciated it more than he enjoyed it. And that's what drove our conversation a lot of the time--just how much we appreciate what Egan has done with "The Keep."

Well, this ends this reading group. We're on to the next one in a month, where we'll be reading "Political Science Fiction." Should be fun. Thanks for following along!

Stay tuned for updates regarding our third reading group coming soon!

Here is an essay on image culture and "The Keep." You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman - Rereading Norse mythology and American culture

For our 7th book, we dove into "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman. The first thing someone said was "This book has everything: humor, sex, violence, drama, gods." He really enjoyed it. One thing that stood out to everyone was immigration and what happens when one leaves their homeland goes somewhere foreign. What do people bring with them? What do they forget? What fades over time? And when do they wear different hats? In the novel, the gods are feeling forsaken. One reader related it to his grandparents who would come visit him growing up from Mexico. They were sad to see they were speaking English in the home, and that they were not doing their best to preserve the cultures of their family.

The status of being an outsider was also a big theme here. Shadow is an outsider in many ways, and the Norse gods have come to America, so they are feeling like an outsider as well. The outsiders look at those being prioritized and favored (new gods) and call them fat and foolish because they are taking their attention and worship for granted.

There were some similar sentiments in Atwood's "Penelopiad" that showed up in "American Gods." The old gods see people worshiping new things. Freeways, phones, television, internet. All these things are where people spend A LOT of time. Thus, the older gods and characters don't have a lot of time with newer generations. Both Atwood and Gaiman see the internet and TV as a "shrine" of sorts, where people sit transfixed for hours on end.

The readers called this book an epic, not only because of its length, but because of its complex themes and ideas. There are a lot of different ideas that Gaiman puts forth, and he lands most of them with grace. The readers kept bouncing around the book, pointing to different passages and explanations of this world. For example, with the dead Laura making multiple appearances, she talks of how her time as a mortal is now like a "photograph" to her. What a fascinating way to put our mortal experience into the perspective of a dead person. Another example is how the gods participate in different worldly things to get attention (casino, prostitution, etc.), much like in "Penelopiad."

Every reader commented on how this novel brings up many questions within the reader. It's hard to read this and ask yourself questions like what do I worship? Why do I worship this way? Where am I spending my time? What am I forgetting that I inherited?

Gaiman is great at "closing the loops," or in other words, he mentions something early in the book and it comes back around towards the end and is explained or resolved. One reader commented that, with Gaiman being British, perhaps he was more "gentle" than an American author would have been. He wasn't angry and wasn't picking a side. Not sure what that's saying about American authors, but I get their point. They really enjoyed this one, much more than I thought they would.

Next week, we are reading our last book for this group, Jennifer Egan's "The Keep."

Here is a link to an essay talking about "American Gods" as a postmodern American epic. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"Home Fire" by Kamila Shamsie - Rereading Antigone

We had a fiery discussion sparked by Home Fire (pun intended). This novel put a lot of things in perspective for us. Our conversation was all over the place, but I'll do my best to present the ideas clearly and convey what what talked about in an organized way.

Being Muslim in a western country in the 21st-century is complex. Shamsie mentioned an acronym that we had never heard before: "GWM" or "Googling while Muslim," referring to the fact that Muslims may think twice what they Google in case they are being monitored. One reader related it to DWB, or driving while black. Groups have their own lexicon to communicate more fluidly with each other; they have shorthand for phrases and ideas.

We then got on to the "non-person"-ism aspect of this novel. The Muslim characters have different ways of navigating and expressing their faith and culture. Some are loud and proud, some believe it should be private. Some Muslims feel uneasy about expressing it in certain public places, and we talked about how this can be applied to many different social situations. For example, one gay reader talked about how he sometimes acted more flamboyant when he sensed that someone might be homophobic. Another reader brought in his identity as a felon, and how when he gets out, he really doesn't want have that be known.

This led into a conversation about the consequences of actions. Parvaiz's actions have immense consequences on him and his family. It was going to be hard for him to reintegrate into society; there would be certain limitations. The readers commented they feel the same way as felons. They're going to have to work twice as hard and to shed that stigma, or at least get past it in a way that allows them to be a participating member in society. There's tension with many identities between sticking out and blending in.

We talked a lot about what to do with the dead body in the novel (spoiler, but don't worry, I won't say whose). The Shamsie navigates political and family relations is effortless. She draws the reader so easily into a complex world, but it's an "easy" read, in that many of the readers they would sit down to read and be surprised at how much they read. As readers of this novel, we learn so much about the background, thoughts, and nuance of each of these characters. And then Shamsie also shows us how "the world" or "the media" sees them, and it's frustrating because we know what's going on and we see them as three-dimensional characters! We talked about refugees, immigration, and terrorism...three hot button topics! I had to steer the conversation back to the novel at hand.

There's a passage about grief on page 187 that is moving. One reader mentioned how he lost someone in a car crash a few weeks ago. He read this paragraph out loud and to be honest, it was one of the more moving moments of the reading group to date. Shamsie is gracious, yet economical in her writing. This novel is succinct, yet it envelopes so much. The way she structured the novel allowed us to become more intimately acquainted with the main characters. I grew to like this novel more after talking with everyone about it.

Next week, we are reading "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Shamsie, her work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is an interview with Kamila Shamsie. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"Till We Have Faces" by C. S. Lewis - Rereading the myth of Cupid & Psyche

Right off the bat, readers were confused as to why Cupid didn't really make an appearance in the novel. His name is never mentioned, his presence is referenced, but it's as close as we get. At first, some readers were a little frustrated because they were told this is a rewriting of the myth of Cupid & Psyche. But in our discussion, we were reminded that Orual wrote the novel. She reminds us quite a bit that she wrote it. And in the traditional story of Cupid and Psyche, Orual is a minor character. Well now that she has a pen to write her own story, she has made Cupid a minor character in her story. One reader said it was like writing an entire Star Wars story based on R2D2's bathroom break. Another reader said it's like when you go to see a rockstar in concert--you only see this glorified version of them, not the mundane parts of their life. There is another side to the story.

Everyone agreed that Lewis has a great way with words. One reader said that Lewis makes sure each word "lives" at the right spot in the sentence. Two others mentioned how Lewis carefully builds a world by populating it with small details that subtly build a world for us to live in as we read it. From the politics of the Kingdom of Glome to superstitions to relationships and customs, it's a lived in, grounded world that doesn't detract from the story.

And yes, we did get into the "subtext" or the meta qualities of the novel. Knowing Lewis was a Christian apologist, many readers read into scenes where a Lord of the gods were referenced. A reader remarked that Lewis was at one point an agnostic, and came around to Christianity again later in life. Part 1 ends with Orual being bitter towards the gods, challenging them to answer for themselves. Part II ends with Orual recognizing that she had been shortsighted and proud, not acknowledging the gods presence in her life and realizing the mercy she had received in her life.

The meta quality of the novel is fascinating. Orual is writing part I to set the story straight and how things happened, as she didn't get a lot of air time in previous tellings of the myth. But in part II, she realizes that her memory is faulty, she has been subject to her own passions and emotions. In thinking back over part I, Orual believes that, through her writing, the gods are calling her to remembrance and causing her to reconcile her memory with what may have actually happened.

There's a scene where Orual is before some gods and is asked to read her book (part I) to voice her complaint. In her mind, she has written this big beautiful novel that succinctly sums up how she has been wronged and she is such a good person. But in picking up the book, she sees that it's a small, ugly, tattered book. The readers shared experiences how they saw themselves in this scene: when you're young and proud, your complaints are huge and seemingly valid. It's not only you have some maturity and perspective that you are able to trim that book down and see that it was somewhat petty and didn't amount to much. Is Lewis wrestling with his past in these pages?

There was a lot to wrestle with in this novel, not just in terms of theology (how does Lewis navigate a world of Greek gods), but philosophically. There's a lot of unrequited love in this novel. What does that do to a person? What are we to do when we feel the gods have gone silent? Who is to blame, and how do we move forward? "Till We Have Faces" is a rich and resonating text. We loved it. There is something in here for everyone.

Next week, we are reading "Home Fire" by Kamila Shamsie.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Lewis, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is an essay on C.S. Lewis and the transformation of love in this novel. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"The Penelopiad" by Margaret Atwood - Rereading Penelope from Homer's epics

To be honest, I was a little concerned we wouldn't have a whole lot to talk about. Taking up 90 minutes discussing this book seemed like it might take some stretching in my mind. Well, shame on me. I had to cut the conversation short! We had plenty to talk about regarding "The Penelopiad."

We started the discussion with a preface from the publisher. There's a line that reads, "Myths are universal and timeless stories that reflect and shape our lives--they explore our desires, our fears, our longings, and provide narratives that remind us what it means to be human." So far in this reading groups, we have read some texts that reinterpret and riff on old stories, and they resonate in profound ways. Atwood tells the story of Penelope from her point-of-view AND through a 21st-century lens. We agreed that it was a bold move, but she is sharp, playful, and adept. She pulls it off.

In many ways, Atwood is punching some holes in myths and stories that are perpetuated through the ages and are told from a patriarchal slant. She gives a voice (a funny one, at that) to Penelope and fleshes out her thoughts and emotions. Like Patroclus in "Song of Achilles," a previously minor and somewhat voiceless character is given the chance to narrate their own story. We talked about whether this makes the novel "feminist" or not. Atwood has come out and said that she does not write feminist novels. And one reader appreciated how this novel does not hate on men, like some aspects of some feminist movements.

The readers all had different ways of imagining the story, especially the interludes with the chorus and the court room. One mentioned it reminded him of Monty Python while another imagined it as a Tim Burton film. It was all over, which I think says as much about the readers as it does the text. It's a funny novel, and almost every reader had lines from the book they wanted to share. Atwood has some astute observations about the relationships between men and women. For example, Penelope knows how much Odysseus likes it when she listens to his stories. She said listening to a man's story is an underrated talent of a woman.

The relationship of Penelope and Helen was discussed. Penelope is obviously jealous of Helen, and often times feels insecure. It's important to remember that she is 15 years old! She is shy and growing into her own. It's only from a distance of thousands of years and being dead that she is now given a voice. The readers (all men) talked about how hard Helen and Penelope are on each other. Helen is seen as putting Penelope beneath her and tries to belittle her. They wondered if women are harder on other women than men are, especially in a feminist context. Atwood, again, has made the novel relevant to the aughts. By exploring what is said (and not said) in the relationships of these ancient characters, she is exploring our modern relationships. What was important in Homer's time shows up in his epics, while what is important in Atwood's time shows up in her novels.

We talked a lot about Penelope's maids. They made the best with what they were given. One reader noticed how they like to irk Penelope at the end, perhaps in response to Penelope's lack of responsibility in their death? They too were given more of a voice, adding to the depth of relationships explored.

Lastly, we talked about the role of Gods in this, and how cleverly Atwood portrays the afterlife and the relationships of Gods to mortals. In the novel, there's a passage about wanting to be humble and give credit to the gods when things go right. People still do that! And it's dangerous to take all the credit (hubris).

Oh, and before I forget, one reader talked about his experience thus far in prison. He talks about how he is separated from the world, and he can deal with things in a different way (for example, he gets out of his comfort zone by dealing with homophobia, or reading about feminism, things he wasn't exposed to on the outside). Prison is somewhat of a controlled environment, and moves a bit slower in some ways. He has a lot of time to think and digest, much like Penelope in the underworld. They both have a lot of time that they hope is instructive.

Next week, we are reading C.S Lewis' "Till We Have Faces."

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Atwood, her work, and anything else related in the comments!

You can buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck - Rereading Genesis

What is there to say about East of Eden? It's one of those novels that everyone knows about and people believe they should read. And many people have! It can just be intimidating to start a conversation with, "Alright, what'd you think of East of Eden"?

The first thing we talked about was the first chapter. Steinbeck lovingly and gently places the reader right in the Salinas Valley. He transports the reader there with what seems like little effort. We all noted how astounding it is. It is not wasteful, but does a lot for painting a picture. One reader said, "This is great. If you just want a quick story, go and read a James Patterson novel or something."

The conversation quickly jumped to Cathy and what a scary and frankly evil character she is. She was the character who we had the most difficulty sussing out their motivations. What drove her? After a certain point, it was revenge, but what about before that? Was it all about power? We couldn't quite come to a conclusion. Is her pregnancy the catalyst of of much of the story? We also talked about her being a mixture of Cain and Eve. She has a scar, or a mark on her forehead. And like Eve, she is the reason for the fall of some men, or at the very least a driving factor. One reader said he has a lot of familiarity with FLDS communities, and noted that they believe the apple in the Garden of Eden is symbolic for adultery, which lines up nicely with the novel, as Cathy's profession profits from adultery.

Abra and Cathy are two characters that different men (Aron and Adam) view through rose-colored glasses. They see what they want to see, for better or worse. And they are being fooled, they have a false perspective of these women. Their curated views lead them astray.

Knowing that the novel is based on Cain & Abel (or Genesis more broadly), it was tempting to seek a corollary in each character and name. Abra Bacon (or Abra-HAM), Cal & Aron the brothers, and of course, Adam. The people with C-names tend to be more flawed and filled with sin, where the people with A-names are more favored. The readers didn't seem to think it was too on-the-nose. Steinbeck earns his prose and takes his time to write a beautiful novel. Had the novel been okay or more flawed, perhaps it would have irked the readers more. For example, Steinbeck was clear that the mark of Cain might be viewed as an act of love. It sets him apart from society, allowing him to live and work out his own path and sort through what he did.

We closed the conversation on how universally resonant this novel is. Anyone that has a family, especially brothers, will find some parts of this novel ringing true. In talking about the word "Timshel" and its role in the novel, some readers talked about how it is up to every individual to deal with what they are dealt. We have to carve out our own paths. Everyone chooses their way and how they react to different situations.

At the end of the group, one reader said, "Please tell me that the next book doesn't make me cry. After East of Eden and Song of Achilles, I don't know that I can cry while reading again." I don't think The Penelopiad will summon tears, but I could be wrong.

Next week, we are reading Margaret Atwood's "The Penelopiad."

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Steinbeck, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

You can buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound. And here's an Audible link.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller - Rereading Homer's "Illiad"

One reader was very interested in the discussion around this novel. He had glasses (which he hadn't worn in the past) and a marked up copy of The Illiad. He was ready! The first thing we dove into was the way relationships are portrayed in this novel. In The Illiad, there's no explicit hint at a romantic/sexual relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. This novel paints some beautiful pictures in between the lines that the Illiad did not detail.

On that note, some readers commented how the author is trying to address 21st-century audiences through reworking an ancient story. In Homer's story, Patroclus is older than Achilles, where he is younger in The Song of Achilles. Even in TSoA, there is some shame and secrecy surrounding the relationship between the two. This stood out to the readers, because from what we know, homosexual relationships were not the taboo that they are in modern western civilization. The readers didn't love the move the author made by switching this around, but they understood that it adds some weight to their relationship and raises the stakes. She knows her audience.

We dissected Achilles from many different angles. He is the greatest warrior of his time. Half-man, half-god, he is the one many prophesy about. But that does not mean he doesn't have any downfalls. One reader talked about how Achilles gets too focused on revenge, and that's partly because he has a big heart. In some ways, this reader stated, this is his undoing. He was unable to see options that might be greater for others because his heart hurt too much. He cared too much about Patroclus. But as the novel shows, there is more to life than revenge and ego...love is what is important.

The "crush" aspect of the novel was something everyone could relate to. The way Patroclus admires and fawns over Achilles is something anyone who has ever had a crush can relate to. Some readers were admittedly a little uncomfortable reading the gay sex scene. They understood they were in love before that scene, but they said it didn't get too much in the way of their enjoyment of the novel and the development of the relationship. There's an emotional intimacy in the novel that draws the reader in and helps make the relationship believable.

This novel is able to make the themes and experiences of these mythical stories relatable to us humans today. One of the readers talked about the soldier-world aspect of the novel and related it to prison. He talked about it being a male society that is dripping in ego, pride, and spite. And this allows for a lot of blindspots in times both ancient and modern. One interesting correlation is the blind rage of Achilles. Once he learns Patroclus is dead, he goes into battle in a frenzy, not wearing any armor, indulging in self-destructive behavior. One reader likened this to the way some people deal with pain and grief--they might go on a drug binge or lash out at those around them.

The way Achilles carries the expectations others have for him was something we talked about. Achilles has not been the one to go out and proclaim himself as the best warrior, for that is left up to gods, oracles, and others. Achilles has this weight placed on him. But what about what he wants? Is he obligated to these duties? The readers talked about how they have shouldered different expectations others have for them at different times in their life.

We rounded out the conversation with linking the Trojan War to modern geopolitics. How have our perceptions of heroes changed? We went from the Greatest Generation to Vietnam (with draft dodgers) to the 21st-century soldier. How are soldiers treated? And if someone doesn't want to fight in war, how are they treated? It was difficult for us to imagine how Greek or Trojan defectors would have been treated anyway but unfavorably. One reader related the way Achilles pumps up other soldiers to a scene in Space Jam. Michael Jordan gives his team a special sports drink to help them play better. It was actually water, but the team believed it to be a powerful potion. Achilles and his armor provides people with a similar motivation and effect.

Mortality gives us a desire for honor and for some kind of legacy. The gods of mythology don't have to worry about it. But the mortals know they have a limited allotment of time and want to make the most of it. They want honor, or to be remembered in a good way. The readers related to this, as they have obviously done something that makes them viewed as less favorably. But from here on out, they aren't looking for honor or fame; they are simply looking to be good citizens. Their ideas of honor and their legacy have changed, and they are adapting to that.

The readers loved this novel. Many of them wanted to keep a copy for themselves or send it to a friend. A few of them admitted to shedding some tears in the final few pages. I'm glad we read it. It resonated in many ways with the group.

Next week, we are reading a classic (that I'm embarrassed to say I hadn't read up until this point): John Steinbeck's magnum opus East of Eden.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Miller, her work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a reader's guide to the novel, which also shares some background information on the novel. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

"Foe" by J.M. Coetzee - Rereading "Robinson Crusoe"

We had an absolutely riveting discussion regarding Coetzee's "Foe." One reader thought it started out like a YA novel, but was soon dissuaded as soon as Susana Barton became more of a stalker. And then from here, we dove straight into the more metaphorical aspect of the novel. One reader wondered if this is a subtle commentary on Apartheid, as the author is from South Africa; he thought this might be a backdoor approach. Friday, the black native, has no tongue and cannot communicate. Others try to communicate for him. There are also instances of things being of substance, but not life (a stillborn, for example).

We then started talking about whether Barton's daughter was actually there, or if she is a figment of her imagination. And this naturally evolved into a conversation revolving around the "reality" of the novel. Does Susana Barton exist? Is her story something the character Foe made up? Or if she does exist, is she a crazed woman trying to insert herself into a classic novel.

The readers related Barton's existence to their own. She longs to be back in London when she is on the island. Then when she is in London, she longs to be back on the island. They wondered if they might find themselves in the same disposition with prison and the outside world. Related to this, one reader pointed out a passage that stuck with him throughout the week: "I ask you to remember, not every man who bears the mark of the castaway is a castaway at heart." He replaced the word castaway with prisoner, and said that even though bears the mark of a prisoner and is a prisoner, he is not one at heart; that he is in an important time in his life and is using it for a lot of self-reflection.

One reader (the librarian) suggested we read the final 5 pages aloud as a group. The final 5 pages are pretty disorienting and confusing, and we thought we could get more out of it by reading it again. And we really uncovered some things! One reader mentioned how he felt "marooned" at the end of the novel--completely separate from the rest of it. He felt like a castaway.

We also uncovered that the first paragraph of the novel is mirrored in the final page, with a change to the tense. This left us to wonder if the final pages actually took place first chronologically. Perhaps Daniel Defoe (in the novel) works through his subconscious in order to write this novel, and that's how it's illustrated in the last little bit. There's a lot to be said about the relationship between author and reader in this novel. There's the Susana-Foe relationship, Defoe-"Foe", Coetzee-Us.

Lastly, we wondered why Coetzee used Robinson Crusoe to tell this story. After all, this novel does take some liberties with details in the original story. But perhaps there is something universal about wanting our own stories to be told (one reader suggested Susana Barton is like a proto-Kardashian, wanting to exploit her story for fame). The librarian talked about how Crusoe was merely a device to explore certain themes for Coetzee, and it could have been any story. He is not making a commentary on Crusoe, but just using bits and pieces to formulate his own meta-narrative and explore the writing process. All in all, it was an absolutely fascinating discussion.

Next week, we venture into into the world of Homer's Illiad with Madeline Miller's Song of Achilles. So tune in next week!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Coetzee, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to Coetzee's Wikipedia page. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is a link to an essay from 2012 by Marco Caracclio on the embodiment of meaning in Foe. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon and IndieBound.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

UPEP Reading Group II: Rereading The Past

Thanks for following along thus far! We finished our first reading group. The 3 readers who showed up every week had so much to say about each novel. I loved our discussions. They are eager to advertise this group to fellow inmates and recruit some more readers for our next group.

When it came time to decide what the next batch of books we shall read, we took a vote. There were 5 themed groups of books and we decided on a group titled "Rereading the Past." This group is centered around 8 novels novels that are retelling and reinterpreting old stories, texts, and archetypes. We will discuss these more contemporary texts in relation to their older source material. Dissecting editorial and structural choices made by each author. We will talk about the intent of each novel and how it helps us revisit these old and ancient stories through a new lens. What parts of these stories make them adaptable to new audiences throughout the years? Why do writers keep revisiting these tales? And what can we learn from multiple retellings of the same story. These are a few of the questions that will help guide our conversations.
Here is a list of the books we will read:

Book 1: Foe by J.M Coetzee (inspired by Robinson Crusoe) 1986
Book 2: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (inspired by Homer's Illiad) 2011
Book 3: East of Eden by John Steinbeck (inspired by Genesis and Cain & Abel) 1952
Book 4: The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood (inspired by Penelope) 2005
Book 5: Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis (inspired by Cupid & Psyche) 1956
Book 6: Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie (inspired by Antigone) 2017
Book 7: American Gods by Neil Gaiman (inspired by ancient and modern myth) 2001
Book 8: The Keep by Jennifer Egan (inspired by Gothic literature) 2006

I hope you enjoy following along. Feel free to share your own thoughts on these novels, and if you have suggestions for other books that would pair well, please share those as well!

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.

Thanks! And keep reading.

Dystopian Fiction - Book 8: "On Such A Full Sea" by Change-rae Lee

We've reached the end of our first reading group. And our final book is On Such a Full Sea by Chang-rae Lee. It was somewhat difficult to find a novel to pair with Animal Farm, but dystopia is a broad enough genre that I hope we made it work.

Right as we sat down, one enthusiastic reader said, "This book is like a peony: it opens up just a little bit each day. And then it blossoms." He loved it, said the Lee led him through the novel in soft waves, and he was gently brought into the world of the novel. Two of the readers really loved the style (one of them didn't care for it too much). 

We all seemed to like the "We" narrator(s). A collective narrator has a calming and welcoming effect on the reader, at least with this group. It almost made it like a mythology of sorts--that Fan is this hero whose story has been told again and again over time.

One confounding thing is that Fan isn't exactly a hero, at least in the way we traditionally think of heroes. She doesn't change much throughout the novel and is usually acted upon. She doesn't have a lot of agency throughout the novel. She is taken advantage of as soon as she leaves B-Mor by almost every character she encounters. So what makes her exceptional? One reader she is just a mythologized runaway.

One reader, the one who didn't like it that much, pointed out some SOLID connections to "Animal Farm." He noted how the "we" narrators are akin to the collective animals on the farm. They are somewhat unsettled. And they have limited information (at least the later generations do). They are left to fill in the gaps and focus on the present, as the reasons for their current disposition are distant and foggy.

It was a great conclusion to this reading group. We covered a lot of territory and had some very vibrant discussions. Can't wait for the next one. 

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Lee, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of Chang-rae Lee, as well as some information on On Such a Full sea. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is a link to an essay from 2017 by Christopher T. Fan. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.

Stay tuned for our next reading group. It's called "Rereading the Past," and we're really excited about it.

Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Dystopian Fiction - Book 7: "Animal Farm" by George Orwell

The readers said they read Animal Farm in two days; it was short and enjoyable. And we loved talking about it. We didn't pause for a second.

They immediately related the novel to the situations in prison. They all have different experiences having traveled to different prisons and facilities. They talked about how different it is when the guards are "in charge" as opposed to when the inmates are "in charge." They much prefer to guards being in charge. When the officers had no power is when they were most scared. We had a new reader (just for the day), and he related it to some works by Ayn Rand--the kind of "support-the-cause/revolution" type of feeling in her writing.

We also talked about so many different political worlds, both past and present. Everything from WWII to Revolutionary War to the current US administration. In "Animal Farm," facts and news are distorted, leaders change their own rules and rhetoric. Readjustments are made to the rations. We were all in awe of the way Orwell's ideas fit so nicely on top of so many different contexts and histories.

We talked about socialism and capitalism, and in this text and perhaps in reality as well, how they both lead to the people at the top getting fat and taking advantage of those below them. Both of these routes lead to corruption. They lead the lower-class to the same place, just with slightly different autonomies. 

The role of hope came out in our discussions, which was surprising. One reader talked about how much people can endure if they have hope. They can endure lots of conflict and suffering if they have hope and something to look forward to. This is also the same way with fear. The animals are afraid of Mr. Jones. And in what ways do political figures use fear to manipulate the bodies they govern? All of these ideologies have different ideals and "utopias" they are striving for--it's just the getting there that's the problem.

This was one of the more robust conversations we've had. We went all over the map, talking about the book and how its ideas correlate to our world and the world of the past. We all marveled at Orwell's accomplishment with this novel and how true it rings to this day. 

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Orwell, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of George Orwell, as well as some information on Animal Farm.  You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Detective Fiction - Book 6: "Devil in a Blue Dress" by Walter Mosley

With everyone loving The Big Sleep last week, I was curious to see what they thought of Mosley's detective novel. I had never read it myself, so I didn't have any preconceived notions regarding the novel.

Well, we had quite the range of reactions. Personally, I thought it was okay. One read really did not enjoy it, and the other two had positive feelings. Our conversation began with the language, like it did with The Big Sleep. The readers did not feel as grounded in the 1940s as they expected to be. The language was a bit more modern, which led them to drift around in their mind in regards to when and where this story took place. Granted, Chandler actually published The Big Sleep in 1939 as opposed to Devil being published 61 years later. Additionally, the readers felt many of the characters fell flat; they were entirely one-dimensional, making it hard to invest in them or their motives or feelings. One reader in particular had a hard time with Daphne and why everyone in the novel was so interested in her. "She was so flat and we really don't know a lot about her."

One reader suggested the novel would've been better had it not been a detective novel. The scenery is cool and the era is cool. But the investigative wandering detracted from all of that. The readers commended a sense of realism in the novel, especially in depictions of bar scenes as well as race relations. The relationship between rich white men and Easy Rawlins felt complex and real to the readers. Easy has a way of expressing a sense of internalized racism; he realizes that he is accepted as a man to some, but attributes his mistreatment to his skin color, while Mosley hints that it could be due to his socio-economic status. This leads to an existential crisis of sorts for Easy. Where does he fit in? Who are his friends? What do people want from him?

Speaking of Easy...is he a hero in the story? In many of the scenes, he just so happens to be there and is more of a pawn or a passive actor. He is being saved by others. He feels like he is being manipulated by someone else, which he kind of is! He's a gum shoe, for sure, but he doesn't seem to make a lot of things happen all by himself.

Every once in a while, the author would throw in a "zoot suit" or some kind of cultural marker to remind the reader when the book is taking place. It feels forced.

We compared Devil to The Big Sleep. Both have a man hired to find a woman. Both have a simple crime that becomes more complicated as the novel goes on. And both novels have a cast of characters introduced at different points and the readers has to make sense of who they are and their level of importance. It's just that, according to this reading group, Raymond Chandler pulls it off to a greater degree.

Next week, we venture into dystopian fiction with a book most people read in high school--Animal Farm by George Orwell. So tune in next week!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Mosley, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of Walter Mosley as well as some information on Devil in a Blue Dress. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is a link to an essay from 2001 by Marilyn C. Wesley on power and knowledge in Devil in a Blue Dress. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Detective Fiction - Book 5: "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler

My heart is very full after this meeting. The readers LOVED Chandler's masterwork of detective fiction The Big Sleep. We had an enthusiastic conversation around it. The first thing the readers gushed about what the language (of course). Not only is the dialogue top-notch, but Chandler has some rather poetic moments, like when he describes the ocean or even something like death (spoiler, the Big Sleep = death). The first bit of our discussion was just bouncing around from page-to-page, reading passages we had underlined and found memorable. To put it simply, it was a lot of fun. As we got talking more about the novel, we wondered about Marlowe's past. With his alcoholism, what burdens from his past are plaguing him? The readers also commented on the balancing act he performs: he doesn't open up emotionally when others are around. There are a few moments when he's alone and lashes out, but aside from that he is constantly masking his feelings, whether it is with alcohol or his quips. He is quite defensive of himself and his role.

One connection that I hadn't thought of, but one of the readers pointed out, is the detective's name, Marlowe. The first book we read was Heart of Darkness, and the main character's name in that is Marlow. We had to discuss what similarities they might have. Both characters dive deep into a corrupted world, they become a part of it, so to speak. Chandler says Marlowe is a "part of the nastiness" at the end of the novel.

There is a web of characters that somehow make the novel somewhat lifelike. Marlowe's original mission is complicated by the people he meets and the roads he goes down. The readers related that to their own lives. People come and go, and sometimes our attention is taken by them for a brief moment. Chandler is not so concerned with plot, but more with characters and atmosphere. And that's great, we all agreed. We weren't too concerned with the novel getting resolved in a neat little now because, he, that's what happens in real life. For example, we don't find out who killed the chauffeur, and we don't really know what Ms. Regan has over Eddie mars, two things that are unsolved as the novel ends. But they are not fundamental to enjoying the novel or getting caught up in the story and the characters.

Chandler telegraphs his code of ethics of detectives at the end of the novel. In Chandler's eyes, the detective is a man of principle and does what he is supposed to do. In a way, Chandler laid the groundwork for generations of detective fiction that follow. Marlowe's stoicism, attitude towards females, and even his attitude towards homosexuals all go towards building up an ethos for a literary detective. In closing out the discussion, we talked about Marlowe as a "knight" of sorts. Did he rescue some damsels? Is he heroic? You'll have to decide for yourself when you read it.

Next week, we're reading 1990's The Devil in a Blue Dress, an updated take on the detective novel that is sure to give us a peek at a different side of things.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Chandler, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of Raymond Chandler, as well as some information on The Big Sleep. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is a link to an essay from 2003 by Megan Abbott (a great crime writer in her own right) on masculinity with Philip Marlowe. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Survival Fiction - Book 4: "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Fresh of the heels of Robinson Crusoe, we dove right into Andy Weir's bestselling novel The Martian. So we'll dive right in on this post.

Off the bat, we talked about how relatable Mark Watney is as a character (not his specific circumstances). His approach to problem-solving (sitting down and thinking through things) is something we have all done. The readers really gravitated (no pun intended) towards his approach, his humor, and his determination. These all helped make him more human.

The next turn we took was a deep discussion about a situation that occurs approximately halfway through the novel. And that's the relationship between China's space program and NASA. The readers were interested in what China would actually do if they were faced with the choice of sacrificing their own space exploration to help possibly rescue a stranded American on Mars. How would the media cover this event? The more bureaucratic elements of the missions were of great interest to our group. And this led into a conversation about the value of a single human life, and the opportunity and costs associated with rescuing Mark Watney. Did they invest in his rescue to simply save his life? Were they thinking of his potential once he gets back to Earth?

When comparing The Martian to Robinson Crusoe, it's evident that science in The Martian supplants the role that religion plays in Crusoe. In a way, they both explain God's role in saving these stranded men. Granted, Watney never says he prays or things about God--he relies solely on science. A believer might say God uses science to make the universe work. And both use science to varying degrees in order to survive. As closing note, we talked about how Crusoe and Watney both cultivate their temporary homes, and the micro-economies that comes as a result. Watney only had potatoes, where Crusoe had more options.

Mark Watney is his own hero. And what is essential to his character in this novel is his humor. He's a fun character, the readers enjoy spending time with him, which makes the novel just that much more readable. He's not overtly cynical or pessimistic. His self-reliance and "Macgyver-ness" make him appealing.

It was a pretty straight forward conversation, we didn't get too deep in the weeds of the novel, but took it at face value, more or less. Tune in next week where we read one of my personal favorite novels The Big Sleep.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Weir, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of Andy Weir, as well as some information on The Martian. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is a link to an essay from 2017 by Thomas Strychacz on potato farming in The Martian. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Survival Fiction - Book 3: "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe

 I did not plan on our first three novels correlating the way they did, but we discovered that Heart of Darkness, The Drowned World and Robinson Crusoe all talk to each other in certain ways. The readers noted the treatment of the "savage" in Crusoe and how the island natives are viewed and treated as lesser, more like commodities. They also noted how Crusoe had a sense of mastery and ownership over the island, perhaps a similar (but less innocent) feeling Kurtz had over his territory. in Heart of Darkness. There are also some heavy imperialistic overtones in the novel that resonated with anyone familiar with Heart or similar words.

I usually let our conversation snowball naturally, but I had a question of which I was curious to hear their answer to."Why has this novel remained so popular over the last 300 years?" It is arguably the first novel, at least in the western world. It's inspired it's own genre of fiction (Robinsonade). One reader linked it to those "desert island" questions we hear. "What would your five movies/books/albums/etc. on a desert island?' Robinson Crusoe looks at what life might be like on a desert island. The notion of being stranded on an island is a questions people enjoy wrestling with. We all live to imagine ourselves as these inspired, crafty survivors. Another reader suggested this novel is the inspiration for the reality television show "Survivor." But above the desert island aspects of the novel, they were struck by the sense of adventure and ingenuity in the novel. What Crusoe experiences is something nobody else will experience. Being based in a realistic world allows for readers to be transported and imagine what it was like. One reader thought at length what he would do were he in Crusoe's shoes, especially in regards to building boats and caves and cultivating a farm. He would set his book down and think about what he might do.

In the last part of our discussion, the readers related the novel to their own situation of being in prison.Crusoe had to "scavenge" for social interaction. Crusoe could not be picky with Friday and quarrel over differences in lifestyle, worldviews, or opinions. They found common ground. The readers could relate to this. They are in a hyper-controlled/restricted environment and have to make the best of what's in front of them. They have very little they can control. The simplicity and minimalism of Crusoe's island boils things down to what's important and essential. Crusoe didn't have to worry about politics or social structures or things of that nature. Many of the religious dogmas and doctrines that bog the modern world don't matter. It's only his relationship to God, to Friday, and his self-reliance. We started to touch on the ideas of rebirth and repentance but alas, we ran out of time! 

Next week, we are reading a novel that falls in the Robinsonade tradition: The Martian. We're swapping out a desert island for the red hellscape of Mars.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Defoe, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of Daniel Defoe, as well as some information on Robinson Crusoe. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is an essay from 2012 by Geert Vandermeersche & Ronald Soetaert on landscape, culture, and education in Robinson Crusoe. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Psychological Fiction - Book 2: "The Drowned World" by J.G. Ballard

Trying to find a contemporary novel to weave Conrad's work into took a bit longer than I anticipated. But when I read about Ballard's The Drowned World, I thought I found a worthy partner. The novel depicts a future in which global warming has caused most of the earth to become uninhabitable. There's a group of scientists who research ongoing environmental developments in London that has been flooded and abandoned. When I was reading about it, I had an image of people on ships sailing through dark and murky territories, which certainly occurs in Heart of Darkness.

Anyway, let's get to the discussion. Up front, one reader loved it, one really did not like it, and one was right in the middle. So we were set for a nice, rounded discussion. Initially, they jumped ahead to next week's book, Robinson Crusoe. In Crusoe, nature was feared and something to be tamed. That was written in 1719. By the time the 1960s came around, we had national parks and nature was actively being preserved for appreciation and recreation. It was not as scary. In Ballard's novel, however, nature has really taken over and the humans are more devolved; they submit to nature, as society is no longer alluring or a serious alternative.

The readers liked the multiple characters, even if we don't get to go in depth with them. But we talked about how we wanted even more description of the climate and environment. The book felt like it was written in the '60s. One thing we all appreciated about the novel is that we were not bogged down with inventing new kinds of technology. Often times in science fiction, the author needs to introduce new tech, ideas, and things like that. Not here.

We talked a lot about genetic history/memory. What is passed down in our "genetic" memory i.e. survival instincts? There's this aspect of the idea that once man is immersed in nature, the primal part of him starts to emerge and take over. Like in Heart of Darkness, the collapse of society draws these men towards nature, which in both cases, has lead to a craving for power, a digression in any kind of civilized advances that man made.

The characters in Drowned don't seem to matter much, or at least their relationships don't. The isolation of the individuals is what matters. Man alone in the natural world is what Ballard seems to be driving home. In Drowned, Kerans seems to be a "terminal" patient, meaning that he accepts what is going to happen. He seems content to embrace the change and destruction. Crusoe is the opposite--he is never terminal, only hopeful and determined that his current situation will not be his end.

We briefly touched on the inversion the biblical Adam at the end of the novel. Drowned's Adam retreats into a jungle where the biblical Adam retreats from the garden. The water and the planetariums seem to symbolize a womb, suggesting a rebirth for the earth, as well as some of the characters.

It was a lively discussion that led us into a lot of rewarding rabbit holes. Can't wait to dive into the world of Defoe's Robinson Crusoe next week.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Ballard, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of J.G. Ballard, as well as some information on The Drowned World. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is an essay from 1997 by Patrick A. McCarthy on allusions in The Drowned World. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Psychological Fiction - Book 1: "Heart of Darkness" & "The Secret Sharer" by Joseph Conrad

We have 3 readers for our first group. They are all seeking some mental stimuli, as well as an outlet; something to break up their regular routine during their stint in prison. Eager and energetic, I could tell this was going to be a great group and we were going to uncover nuance and details to illuminate the texts.

In our first official meeting, we discussed two works from Joseph Conrad. We read and talked about one of the most famous works of literature of all time, Heart of Darkness, as well as a lesser-known work of Conrad's, The Secret Sharer. The first thing the group brought up is the difference in style between these two works. They wondered if The Secret Sharer was written after Heard of Darkness (it was). They remarked that the story of Secret itself gripped them more than the plot of Heart, even though Heart has a lot more to unpack.

We talked about what the captain in Secret might gain from hiding Legatt, the stowaway on board. This lead into a discussion of whether Legatt might not be a real person or if he is a figment of the captain's imagination. One reader wisely noted that his is a story told from memory, and the captain might be filling in blanks from his memory. How reliable is this narrator? Another reading mentioned since Legatt is naked in the beginning, this portrays him as a blank canvass, so to speak, for the captain to project himself on. With the descriptions of the naked Legatt, the readers (all of whom are gay) said they suspected Conrad was gay himself. This evolved into a conversation regarding how each reader brings their experiences, lenses, and worldviews to each book they read and how this effects our experiences.

With Heart, the group was going back-and-forth on whether or not the novel is anti-imperialist, straight up racist, or just merely observing norms and culture of the time. They were repulsed with the way natives are described and treated in the novel. They were quick to remember the novel is a framed narrative, meaning Charlie Marlow is telling the narrator a story who is in turn relaying it to the reader. So there is some buffer between the story and the reader. The realist style and language made it a bit of a slog for some of the readers, but one reader has read it quite a few times and said it gets richer and richer with each reading.

We rounded out the discussion by talking about the psyche of the main characters, their sense of isolation, and how their surroundings impact their state of mind. Every main character is a sailor, which makes sense as Conrad spent a lot of time as a sailor. Conrad writes about how the ship is the home and the sea is the country. Even with this notion in mind, Marlow and the captain from Secret feel uneasy as they are out on the water, not knowing what is beyond the waters and shores where they are traveling. The further they get into their respective journeys, they start to lose their sense of the world and question who they are and why they do what they do.

It was a great discussion and bodes well for next week's reading of J.G. Ballard's The Drowned World.

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of Joseph Conrad, as well as some information on the novellas. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is a 1977 essay by Chinua Achebe on Heart of Darkness. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and AudioBooks.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Conrad, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Utah Prison Education Project Reading Group: Classic Models, Contemporary Models

The University of Utah Prison Education Project (UPEP) is sponsoring a reading group in the Lone Peak facility at the Utah State Prison. The group meets one day a week (sometimes every two weeks, depending on the length of the novel). Books are provided to individuals free of charge due to generous donations from friends, family, and others. The goal of the reading group is to facilitate critical thought and discussion while building community. This is the first UPEP offering in the Lone Peak facility.

Each Reading Group consists of novels with some sort of theme or unifying idea in mind. For the first group, we will pair one classic novel with one contemporary novel; in other words, novels that are associated by theme, genre, and other characteristics. We will discuss the contemporary texts with a focus on determining whether they have the makings of a classic novel. We'll also talk about what makes the classic novel classic. Dissecting stylistic and structural choices made by each author, we will talk about the effectiveness of each text and how it highlights universal themes and/or resonates with broader issues and ideas.

Here are the book pairings:
Set 1:
Heart of Darkness and The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad (1902 & 1910)
The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard (1962)

Set 2:
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (1719)
The Martian by Andy Weir (2011)

Set 3:
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler (1939)
Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley (1990)

Set 4:
Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945)
On Such A Full Sea by Change-rae Lee (2014)

I hope you enjoy following along. Feel free to share your own thoughts on these novels, and if you have suggestions for other books that would pair well, please share those as well!

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.

Thanks! And keep reading.


-Elliot