I'm pretty omnivorous - in fact, I don't think of books in terms of genres. J. K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' books are no more Y.A. reading, to me, than John le Carre's 'Smiley' novels are spy stories.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the idea that books should not be limited by genres, reflecting a broader appreciation for literature.
Michiko Kakutani expresses her belief that the categorization of books into specific genres is unnecessary and restrictive. She argues that literature can transcend these boundaries, as evidenced by her enjoyment of both J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' series and John le Carré's spy novels, which she views as equally valuable and enriching, regardless of their labels. This perspective encourages readers to explore a diverse range of literature without being confined by traditional genre classifications.
In practice
During a book club, you could use this quote to encourage members to explore books outside their usual genres.
If a novelist had concocted a villain like Trump - a larger-than-life, over-the-top avatar of narcissism, mendacity, ignorance, prejudice, boorishness, demagoguery, and tyrannical impulses, she or he would likely be accused of extreme contrivance and implausibility.
With his mendacity and increasingly virulent attacks on immigrants, Muslims, women, the press, the judiciary, the intelligence services, the F.B.I. - any group or institution that he finds threatening or useful as a scapegoat - Mr. Trump is attempting the Orwellian trick of redefining American reality on his own terms.
For most of us, art is supposed to do something more than simply mirror the confusions of the world.
Further Education should be about the ability to learn, not the ability to pay - everyone who is able should have the opportunity, regardless of their family background. I don't want to see students struggling with huge debts or frightened off even going to university in the first place.
Some people read so little they have rickets of the mind.
September 11 We thought we'd outdistanced history Told our children it was nowhere near; Even when history struck Columbine, It didn't happen here. We took down the maps in the classroom, And when they were safely furled, We told the young what they wanted to hear, That they were immune from a menacing world. But history isn't a folded-up map, Or an unread textbook tome; Now we know history's a fireman's child Waiting at home alone.
Every single minute matters, every single child matters, every single childhood matters.
Today knowledge has power. It controls access to opportunity and advancement.
We go into rural communities and all we do, like has been done in this room, is create the space. When these girls sit, you unlock intelligence, you unlock passion, you unlock commitment, you unlock focus, you unlock great leaders.
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