“The storyteller and poet of our time, as in any other time, must be an entertainer of the spirit in the full sense of the word, not just a preacher of social or political ideals. There is no paradise for bored readers and no excuse for tedious literature that does not intrigue the reader, uplift him, give him the joy and the escape that true art always grants.” GivingDoeArtPoliticalJoySpiritLiteratureSocialPoetReaderIdealsExcuseUpliftingBoredOur TimeParadiseGrantsPreacherStorytellerIntrigueEntertainersTediousNo Excuses Book:The collected stories of Isaac Bashevis Singer Source: The collected stories of Isaac Bashevis Singer
“But if there is such a thing as social commitment in literature, I think it must manifest itself in a reader's awareness of the human condition, in the writer's touching some common nerve ending. I think this kind of social commitment, like a lady's slip, should be there but it must not show.” IfsThinkingShouldHumansKindShowsLiteratureSocialCommonConditionsAwarenessReaderCommitmentNervesManifestTouchingSlipsHuman Condition Author:Bel Kaufman
“Most of promoting seems unnatural to me, and I wish I didn't have to do it. I'm not especially good at tooting my own horn. However, I do love to connect with readers. That's why I try to keep up with my social media even when I don't have a new book coming out.” TryingBookSeemsWishSocialMy OwnMediaReaderSocial MediaComing OutPromotingHornsUnnaturalNew Books Author:Linda Conrad
“When I write provocative social and cultural criticism that causes readers to stretch their minds, to think beyond set paradigms, I think of that work as love in action. While it may challenge, disturb and at times even frighten or enrage readers, love is always the place where I begin and end.” ThinkingWritingMindMayEndsActionSocialCausesChallengesLove IsReaderCriticismParadigmProvocative Author:Bell Hooks
“I strive to find materials that will engage students, expand their capacities as critical readers and thinkers, and feel immediately relevant to their daily lives and future work in court and social service systems.” FeelsSocialStudentsMaterialsReaderCapacityCourtStriveCriticalDaily LifeThinkerRelevantSocial ServiceFuture Work Author:Dean Spade
“I am certain a great many believers and bible readers do believe in social justice.” BelieveCertainSocialJusticeReaderSocial JusticeBelieverGreat Men Author:Anne Rice
“I am not against standardized tests. There are tests and tests and tests, and, to simplify, the ones I favor are criterion-referenced tests of skills, aligned with the curriculum. Social and emotional skills are important but skills are too. I find it heartbreaking that this is so often seen as an either-or choice. To get to the richness of studying literature, for example, you must first be an adept and confident reader. Whether you are is something a good test can measure.” FirstsImportantChoicesLiteratureSocialStudyExampleEmotionalReaderSkillsTestsFavorsCriteriaRichnessSimplifyHeartbreakingCurriculumAdeptEither OrStudying Literature Author:Nicholas Lemann
“I am drawn, as a reader, to detail-drenched stories about human lives affected as much by the internal as by the external, the kind of fiction that Jane Smiley nicely describes as 'first and foremost about how individuals fit, or don't fit, into their social worlds.'” WorldFirstsHumansKindStoriesIndividualSocialFictionReaderFitDetailsHuman LifeInternalsAffectedJaneSmiley Author:Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“Every novel deals with social problems. It can't help it because the protagonist must come in conflict with his group. So the author has to offer an analysis of how the group and the protagonist fit. Otherwise, the reader will just say, "This makes no sense," and will put it away.” HelpingProblemSocialDealsNovelGroupsReaderFitOffersConflictAnalysisProtagonistsSocial Problems Author:Jane Smiley
“It's not Brits who think American readers are a bunch of whinging morons with the geo-social understanding of a wire coathanger, it's American editors.” ThinkingSocialUnderstandingReaderBunchEditorsWireMoronBrits Author:Terry Pratchett
“I only know what it's like to be an author with social media. I can't compare. I do think we lose the mystery of the author. Today, I get tons of e-mails and Facebook messages from readers, and my goal with Twitter and Facebook is, if someone reaches out to me, I'm going to respond to them. I don't want to be an elitist author who is untouchable. I'm just a regular person, too. I will always respond to everybody.” IfsThinkingKnowsWantPersonsI CanTodaySocialGoalLosesMysteryMediaReaderMessagesSocial MediaCompareReach OutMailElitistUntouchablesTwitter And Facebook Author:Matt de la Pena
“Miss Havisham is a glitch in the smooth functioning of the Patriarchy, enforcing awareness of a moment of social disaster and personal shame, something it seems she would want us to forget (but no one would forget). (Maybe an interesting "discussion question" for readers of Complicated Grief might be, "What do Terry Barton and Miss Havisham have in common?"?)” WantMomentsSeemsMightSocialForgetInterestingCommonGriefAwarenessMissingReaderShameComplicatedDisasterDiscussionSmoothPatriarchyWant UGlitchesHavishamMiss HavishamComplicated Grief Author:Laura Mullen