Sharing My Ideas With Others -- For Fans of the Western Canon

[J.D.]

Hello, fellow members of the Literature Network Forums. After reading and engaging in some incredible conversations here, I've been inspired to write about literature again in a way I haven't in quite a long time, and I want to invite fans of the Western canon to check out my work on my new blog, "What Do I Know?" (http://whatdo-iknow.blogspot.com)(the title comes from Montaigne's famous quote).

Right now I'm revising and posting my thoughts on ancient Greek literature, but I'll be working my way through the entire canon in time, and I'd love some feedback from people who have/want to read the same works I'm reading.

Thanks, and thank you for the great conversations -- forums like this do much to keep classic literature relevant.

[JBI]

whose canon? The Bloom list, or the entire list. Bloom himself admitted that his didn't include everything, and it is important to note that one cannot even conquer it in 20 or so years of constant study.

[J.D.]

Yes, I'm using Bloom's canon as a guide, but with my own prefences thrown in for no good reason. I'd never claim to 'conquer' the canon in a lifetime, much less twenty years, and Bloom does leave out what he doesn't feel is central. I can't read Greek or Latin either. And I'm not a professional scholar. In addition, I've been reading, making notes, and writing about it irregularly for about eight or nine years and seriously for a little over two years -- meaning every spare moment I can find -- but I've still omitted or am entirely ignorant of many great works in every time period I've studied. These are problems I freely admit.

My goal is to read, understand, consider, and comment on what I can.

[JBI]

How could you have a preference if you are conquering the canon? There is no such thing as preference, since you do not know works that you have not read. The only preference you can have, is not to read more work by the same author, and even still, it is very difficult to succeed even after that, assuming you give every author a fair crack, and don't put novels down after 1 page.

[J.D.]

Whim, then? Is that a better word? I choose based on what seems interesting after the research I do.

I think you may be missing the point of what I'm trying to say here. I never claimed, nor would I claim, to 'conquer' anything.

[JBI]

"but I'll be working my way through the entire canon in time" Thank you.

[J.D.]

Congratulations! You've managed to spot an instance when someone had to revise a statement to better reflect his intended meaning!

In the clearest language I can manage: I have read/am going to read what are supposed to be some very good books. They represent a survey of what is supposed to constitute the Western canon, though I acknowledge that the canon is debatable and is, in whole, a vast body of work that cannot be conquered. I hope to read at least some books that go beyond a super-condensed or essentials list.

Stop by.

[JBI]

You are essentially saying, I am going to read a list of books, constructed out of a longer list of books, but I am only going to guess at which half to read, as you put it, go by whim, and not actually conquer the canon. In other words, you are going to do what everyone else does, and read books. I was just pointing out that it takes a long time to read any canon, and if you miss one book, you have not read the entire thing. Even Bloom's list is incomplete, as he acknowledges, and it clearly appears to be Anglo-centric (completely understandable since he is an English specialist).

[bluevictim]

Right now I'm revising and posting my thoughts on ancient Greek literature, but I'll be working my way through the entire canon in time, and I'd love some feedback from people who have/want to read the same works I'm reading.I skimmed your blog and it looks like it'll be very enjoyable and interesting -- I'll definitely be back to read your posts more thoroughly! I love the Greek classics so I definitely hope to discuss them with you if/when I have the time.

I think your goal of working through the great works of Western literature is very admirable, and I'm sure your project will be worthwhile no matter how far you end up getting.

[Chester]

Yep, I'm with bluevictim. It is an admirable goal, whether the direction is driven by whims or not, and notwithstanding whatever might get skipped in the process. It seems to me you are doing much more than just "what everyone else does, and read books," as JBI has accused. As long as we insist on being technical, I'm sure you are doing what "some" have done, but certainly not "everyone," not even everyone who is greatly interested in Western literature. I'll follow your blog, J.D. Sounds like an interesting journey.

[Drkshadow03]

I was just pointing out that it takes a long time to read any canon, and if you miss one book, you have not read the entire thing.

Please, JBI, since you're so quick to criticize others, if you happen to know the entire list of all works that should be included on the Canon by all means share it with us. Not just the works that happen to appear on one person's list or another. I would love to see the actual list of THE Canon. It would save me and everyone else a lot of trouble wading through other people's lists if we could just have the list of the definitive Canon of World Literature.

[bounty]

Hello, fellow members of the Literature Network Forums. After reading and engaging in some incredible conversations here, I've been inspired to write about literature again in a way I haven't in quite a long time, and I want to invite fans of the Western canon to check out my work on my new blog, "What Do I Know?" (http://whatdo-iknow.blogspot.com)(the title comes from Montaigne's famous quote).

Right now I'm revising and posting my thoughts on ancient Greek literature, but I'll be working my way through the entire canon in time, and I'd love some feedback from people who have/want to read the same works I'm reading.

Thanks, and thank you for the great conversations -- forums like this do much to keep classic literature relevant.

western canon, heck jd, i was thinking you were talking about zane grey!

[J.D.]

Elmore Leonard's western stories actually. ;)

Seriously, thanks to those of you supportive folks out there who can see where I'm coming from. I appreciate it, and I hope I can offer something worth reading and discussing.

[JBI]

Please, JBI, since you're so quick to criticize others, if you happen to know the entire list of all works that should be included on the Canon by all means share it with us. Not just the works that happen to appear on one person's list or another. I would love to see the actual list of THE Canon. It would save me and everyone else a lot of trouble wading through other people's lists if we could just have the list of the definitive Canon of World Literature.

There is no such list. Bloom's comes close for the West, but it is aimed at the average bibliophile, pulling in around 100 books a year if. Still, I doubt J.D. will read every book on that list, and I am almost certain not in the original languages or order. It is simply impossible. Better to do what other people do, and flip through various forms and time periods than to read Bloom's list in order. His appendices were not written to be read like that, but merely to point out significant works in the history of the tradition.