great books – Jacke Wilson

March 10, 2017

History of Literature #83 – Overrated! Top 10 Books You Don’t Need to Read

Life is short, and books are many. How many great books have you read? How many more have you NOT read? How to choose? Mike Palindrome, President of the Literature Supporters Club, joins Jacke for a discussion of overrated classics and the pleasures of shortening one’s list of must-reads. Podcast: Play in new window |… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, history of literature, novelists, Podcast, Writing

chad harbach, don quixote, great books, henry james, joyce carol oates, kingsley amis and martin amis, Shakespeare

July 29, 2016

History of Literature #52 – Recommend This! The 101 Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers

What works of literature are essential? When we start reading literature, where do we begin? The College Board, an organization that prepares standardized tests for millions of American young people, has published list of 101 recommended books for college-bound readers. High schools and colleges across the country take their lead from this list, and students are encouraged to use… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, history of literature, novelists, Podcast, Writing

101 books recommended for college-bound readers, college board, great books, Literature

December 16, 2015

Little Black Dress? Yes. Little Black Penguin Classics? Also Yes!

Some things are so classy they just never go out of style. Like little black dresses, and little black classics from Penguin Books. Here’s another gift idea for this holiday season (along with Edward Gorey). Eighty Penguin Classics, presented in bite-sized form (i.e., novellas, short essays, selections of poems, or excerpted passages from longer books).… Continue reading

books

Arts, Christmas, great books, holiday gift ideas, penguin books, presents, Publishing

October 15, 2015

Is Literature Dying?

Okay, the new podcast is off to a great start! Many thanks to all the listeners, wherever you are, and whoever you may be. It seems that a lot of you have the same question I do: Is literature dying? I know what you’re thinking: sounds like a straw man! I get it, I get it.… Continue reading

Authors, Fiction, history of literature, Podcast, Writing

Arts, Authors, culture, great books, internet, is literature dying, Literature, Podcast, society

October 14, 2015

History of Literature Episode 1 – The Epic of Gilgamesh

Starting our journey with the surprisingly modern story of an ancient warrior-king whose restlessness drives him to seek immortality. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:36 — 23.1MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS Continue reading

history of literature, Podcast

great books, History, Literature, Poetry

October 12, 2015

Episode 0 – Battling the Beast

Here we go! Episode zero of our new podcast, The History of Literature, right here on jackewilson.com. Let me know what you think! Introducing the wildly unqualified host, Jacke Wilson. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:24 — 10.6MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS Continue reading

history of literature, Podcast

great books, host, introduction, is literature dead, Jacke Wilson

October 27, 2014

Virginia Woolf on How to Read a Book

Via Maria Popova’s Brainpickings (of course!), we get this amazing overview of Virginia Woolf’s amazing advice on how to read a book. The whole post is worth reading, but here’s a taste: To read a novel is a difficult and complex art. You must be capable not only of great fineness of perception, but of… Continue reading

Authors, Fiction, Publishing, Writing

Authors, brainpickings, great books, Literature, Maria Popova, reading, Virginia Woolf, Writers