Burn This Book: PEN Writers Speak Out On The Power Of The Word (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
I have mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, there are some really, really good essays in here. Wonderful insights and extremely compelling. The ones I remember most are the ones by Paul Aster, Salman Rushdie, Pico Iyer, Nadine Gordimer, and John Updike. On the other hand, there's a fair amount of narcissism and writers congratulating themselves here. And some of the essays are atrocious. I found Ed Park's essay to be totally inane (and about as inscrutable as his website design). There's a fair amount of randomness in how the writers approached their task and I think the editor (Toni Morrison) should have either been a bit more picky or tried harder to accomplish some cohesion and consistency. Burn This Book is probably the most important and most meaningful work I've read this year. International writers discuss their perspectives on writing, politics and oppression--sometimes even offering reflective testimonials on what it means to be a writer writing under oppressive circumstances. In all cases, the essayists write with clarity, precision and honesty. Burn This Book recharged my interest in writing, human rights, politics and introduced me to the PEN America organization. Check this one out.
What do You think about Burn This Book: PEN Writers Speak Out On The Power Of The Word (2009)?
Some valuable, if age-old and simplistic, insights offered - but ultimately a boring exercise.
—anjoos21
thoughtful essays from famous writers about why they write and why it shouldn't be censored.
—Lavae
SIX WORD REVIEW: Some great writers writing about writing.
—malavika_m
I am being re inspired to write. And write I shall.
—majie37
