urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:1year100books Or at least to entertain you while you live it Jessie 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:1year100books:6300 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z Stagefright- The Band <p>I read <em>Cane</em> for my 20th Century American Lit class.&nbsp; This is not going to be a regular review, because I don't feel as confident in critiquing this book as I do others.&nbsp; So, anyway, what I mean to say is, this will be a quick review.<br /><br /><em>Cane</em> is one of the more experimental American modernist novels.&nbsp; Toomer has collected stories and poems and even a play and put them in one book.&nbsp; He separates the three sections with half circles indicating a beginning in the South, a trip to the North, and, finally, a return to the South.&nbsp; All the Southern sections take place in Georgia, and Northern section takes place in D.C. and Chicago.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />In the first Southern section, Toomer creates the most amazing sense of place.&nbsp; His words capture exactly how I feel about my home state.&nbsp; The languidness and heat and underlying sense of danger--all of that is in the first section, and it's so lovely.&nbsp; The Northern section is faster paced, with more introspection and less sex.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />For the most part, though, I didn't feel I had a good grasp of Toomer's intentions, and I didn't really enjoy reading the book.&nbsp; Once we talked about it in class, I understood more and appreciated more, but I don't think I will ever read it again.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />No grade for this one.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />Coming up next: <em>The Wicked Ways of a Duke</em> by Laura Lee Guhrke, and <em>Keturah and Lord Death</em> by Martine Leavitt</p>