Pupello, Vanessa. "Jamaica Kincaid." Post Colonial Studies at
Emory. Emory University, Fall 1997. Web. 28 Jan. 2011.
This site provides a brief biography of Kincaid along with an over view of the major themes in her literature, the colonialism, Antigua and in some ways, the struggle it caused her internally. The site provides an extensive list of works cited along with a list of works about Kincaid. This provides the user with lots of other places to look for further information on the author. Related cites are also provided, along with links to the sponsoring university and how this author fits into the schema of their English department.
Overall, this website is pretty good. It offers references and a further reading section. Additionally, this site links to other relevant sites and is linked to by other sites on Jamaica Kincaid.
http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Kincaid.html
Garner, Dwight. "Jamaica Kincaid." The Salon Interview. The
Salon. Web. 28 Jan. 2011.
The Garner interview offers insight into Jamaica and who she is as a person. She talks about her love of books and reading, what she did before she was a known writer to survive in New York City, friendships, her books, and her marriage, kids, and family life. Additionally, we see Kincaid's views on women, colonialism, and her own work. Jamaica's humor and attitude toward life is evident through this interview, as well as her strong work ethic and passion for what she does.
My only criticism of this site is that I don't know when this interview was originally published on the site or if it has ever been updated. Since the author's latest books published in 1996 and 1997 are not mentioned among her works, we can assume the interview took place in the early 1990's. Not being able to tell this, does weaken the resource, but it is still strong in that it shows such a personal glimpse of the author that other more academic sources can't show. I believe in this source's case that the non-academic nature of it still makes it valid because of this unique perspective we get.
http://www.salon.com/05/features/kincaid.html
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Print Sources
Bouson, J. Brooks. Jamaica Kincaid: Writing Memory, Writing
Back to the Mother. Albany, NY: State University of New York
Press, 2005. Print.
This book is divided into three sections. The first deals with living in the shadow of the mother within three of Kincaid's books while the second section is about personal politics. The final section details family portraits within Kincaid's work. The literature is evaluated in a way that is not like either of the other two books. The reading is a bit more creative and interpretive and focuses on the descriptions and metaphors within Kincaid's work.
The unique perspective on the primary source author's work combined with the various sections, detailed analysis and plethora of resources mean that Kincaid's work is very well documented in Bouson's book. The language of this book is less easy to read and more dense than the other two making it much more of "academic" and less accessible to all readers. However, since this is research some would find that more beneficial. I don't find a highly academic tone to always be the most effective. If even the most earnest college undergrad trying to read your book can't read it for their research, who will?
Braziel, Jana Evans. Caribbean Genesis: Jamaica Kincaid and the
Writing of the World. Albany, NY: State University of New York
Press, 2009. Print.
Paravisini-Gebert, Lizabeth. Jamaica Kincaid: A Critical
Companion. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999.
Print.
This print source gives a biography of Kincaid's life, her transformation from Elaine Potter Richardson into Jamaica Kincaid, and details four of her books: At the Bottom of the River, Annie John, Lucy, and The Autobiography of My Mother. Each of the chapters about the works gives information about the genre, plot development, setting, character development, thematic issues, or a summary of each short story within the volume. The chapters on novels also include a reading of the book from a certain perspective such as post-colonial.
This source is a great overview of Kincaid's career and her works. This volume is great for someone who may need a study guide to Kincaid's works or for additional critical information. It could also be used just as an overview for someone who is not familiar at all with her work or maybe for someone who doesn't have time to read all of her work but needs to be familiar with it, such as for a project like this one.
Back to the Mother. Albany, NY: State University of New York
Press, 2005. Print.
This book is divided into three sections. The first deals with living in the shadow of the mother within three of Kincaid's books while the second section is about personal politics. The final section details family portraits within Kincaid's work. The literature is evaluated in a way that is not like either of the other two books. The reading is a bit more creative and interpretive and focuses on the descriptions and metaphors within Kincaid's work.
The unique perspective on the primary source author's work combined with the various sections, detailed analysis and plethora of resources mean that Kincaid's work is very well documented in Bouson's book. The language of this book is less easy to read and more dense than the other two making it much more of "academic" and less accessible to all readers. However, since this is research some would find that more beneficial. I don't find a highly academic tone to always be the most effective. If even the most earnest college undergrad trying to read your book can't read it for their research, who will?
Braziel, Jana Evans. Caribbean Genesis: Jamaica Kincaid and the
Writing of the World. Albany, NY: State University of New York
Press, 2009. Print.
This book is a look into the world of Jamaica Kincaid's literature and her trans-American and transnational paths within literature and the discussion of self, race, and nationality. It also explores how Kincaid blends genres together such as autobiography, biography, and history into her fiction. This book specifically looks at these elements in The Autobiography of My Mother, My Brother, At the Bottom of the River, and others.
Overall, this book seems to be a highly critical and rigorous view of genre blending, race, and women's issues. While the book has a professional tone, it seems to me to be fairly easily reading and is in depth while still being concise. The author's research is augmented with quotes from the work of Kincaid as well as other Kincaid scholars and researchers. Additionally, the language is reachable and interesting making this a great book in terms of both information and accessibility.
Paravisini-Gebert, Lizabeth. Jamaica Kincaid: A Critical
Companion. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999.
Print.
This print source gives a biography of Kincaid's life, her transformation from Elaine Potter Richardson into Jamaica Kincaid, and details four of her books: At the Bottom of the River, Annie John, Lucy, and The Autobiography of My Mother. Each of the chapters about the works gives information about the genre, plot development, setting, character development, thematic issues, or a summary of each short story within the volume. The chapters on novels also include a reading of the book from a certain perspective such as post-colonial.
This source is a great overview of Kincaid's career and her works. This volume is great for someone who may need a study guide to Kincaid's works or for additional critical information. It could also be used just as an overview for someone who is not familiar at all with her work or maybe for someone who doesn't have time to read all of her work but needs to be familiar with it, such as for a project like this one.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Class Activity- Book
Fryer, Judith. Felicitious Space: The Imaginative Structures of Edith Wharton and Willa Cather.
This book details the spaces that women live and work in, attempt to break free from, transform, and make their own. The author discusses the use of setting and created spaces within each author's work comparing one to the other. It also discusses spaces within the popular canon of women's literature.
This book details the spaces that women live and work in, attempt to break free from, transform, and make their own. The author discusses the use of setting and created spaces within each author's work comparing one to the other. It also discusses spaces within the popular canon of women's literature.
Class Activity- Web Page
Perspectives in American Literature- A Research & Reference Guide- Katherine Anne Porter
This website includes a list of primary works, a selected bibliography of research and criticism generated from 1980-present, study questions, and a brief biography. It also gives outside links such as to PBS.
This is a decent site due to it's .edu domain name, recently updated content (December 28), lack of advertisements, references, ability to contact author/sponsor, and an author of the biography. It is not very colorful or interesting. It would be easy to lose interest before finishing reading the page.
This website includes a list of primary works, a selected bibliography of research and criticism generated from 1980-present, study questions, and a brief biography. It also gives outside links such as to PBS.
This is a decent site due to it's .edu domain name, recently updated content (December 28), lack of advertisements, references, ability to contact author/sponsor, and an author of the biography. It is not very colorful or interesting. It would be easy to lose interest before finishing reading the page.
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