“HowtoReadNowexploresthepoliticsandethicsofreading,andinsiststhatwearecapableofsomethingbetter:amoreengagedrelationshipnotjustwithourfictionandourart,butwithourburiedandentangledhistories.““Abookthatdoesn’tseektoshutdownthecurrentliterarydiscoursesomuchasshakeitup.“(TheNewYorkTimesBookReview)Offering“itsaudiencetheopportunitytolookpastthesimplicitywe’realltoooftenspoon-fedintoordertorestoreourselvestochaosandcomplexity--awayofseeingandreadingthatdemandssomuchmoreofusbutoffersevenmoreinreturn.“(LosAngelesTimes)“Igasped,shouted,andholler-laughedwhilereadingtheseessaysfromthephenomenalElaineCastillo.Whatpowerfulwriting,whatarigorousmind.ForaslongasIlive,IwanttoreadanythingCastillowrites,andyouprobablydo,too.“--R.O.Kwon,authorofTheIncendiariesHowmanytimeshaveweheardthatreadingbuildsempathy?Thatwecantravelthroughbooks?Howoftenhavewewereheardabouttheimportanceofdiversifyingourbookshelves?Orclaimedthatbookssavedourlives?Thesefamiliarwords--beautiful,aspirational--aresometimeseventrue.Butaward-winningnovelistElaineCastillohasmoreambitioushopesforourreadingculture,andinthiscollectionoflinkedessays,“shemovestowrestreadingawayfromthecotton-candyaspirationsofunitingpeopleinempatheticharmonyandrepositionitasthornier,ultimatelymorerewardingwork.“(Vulture)HowtoReadNowexploresthepoliticsandethicsofreading,andinsiststhatwearecapableofsomethingbetter:amoreengagedrelationshipnotjustwithourfictionandourart,butwithourburiedandentangledhistories.Smart,funny,galvanizing,andsometimesprofane,Castilloattacksthestalequestionsandless-than-criticalproclamationsthatmasqueradeasvitaldiscussion:reimaginingthecartographyoftheclassics,buildingamoralcaseagainstthesettlercolonialismoflaudedwriterslikeJoanDidion,takingaimatNobelPrizewinnersandtopplingindiefilmmakers,andcelebratinggloriousmomentsineverythingfrompopularTVlikeTheWatchmentothefilmsofWongKar-waiandtheworkofcontemporarypoetslikeTommyPico.Atonceadeeplypersonalandsearchinghistoryofonewoman’sreadinglife,andawide-rangingandurgentinterventionintoourglobalizedconversationsaboutwhyreadingmatterstoday,HowtoReadNowempowersustoembraceamorecomplicated,embodiedformofreading,invitingustoacknowledgecomplicatedtruths,ignitesurprisingconnections,imagineamoredaringsolidarity,andcreatespaceforariskierintimacy--withinourselves,andwitheachother.
SMART VULTURE BEAUTIFUL READ OFFERING
