The Contemporary Novel and the Art of the Book Review (undergrad seminar)

An introduction to the contemporary Anglophone novel, with particular attention to book reviews. As we read pairs of novels that represent the possibilities for the contemporary novel, we will also read the reviews that have set the terms by which these novels are read and understood. Students will write reviews of one book assigned for the course, as well as a longer review essay on a topic, author or genre of their own choosing. Novels to include Hollinghurst's Line of Beauty, Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, Adiga's White Tiger, Ghosh's Sea of Poppies, Franzen's Freedom, and Egan's Visit from the Goon Squad.

Class Materials:

Student Reviews from Fall 2012

At the end of the course, the students wrote long review essays on subjects that were important to them. All of them did excellent work, and some volunteered to post their reviews on line.

Jimmy Biblarz, "The Campus Novel, Sex on Campus, & Other Musings"

Thomas Dai, "Dressing Down the Fashion Novel"

Ginny Fahs, "Written Love: Reading Relationships through the Novels of Literary Couples"

Charlotte Lieberman, "A Few Things Right With Lydia Davis"

Jesse Nee-Vogelman, "My Struggle, My Love"

Blythe Roberson, "3000 Words and All the Words Are 'Lack of Female Agency'"