#reading critically

Slamming coffee to get through this book section about critical reading. Like I don’t even know how to feel.

Either, undergrads were coddled into not reading critically and now they’re making up for it

Or

So many grads didn’t know how to read critically that this is the result trying to fix it. I am panda.

I have a favorite author, one who writes both sci-fi and fantasy. I really enjoy all his work, in both genres. However, I’m not going to name him because I am going to dissect what I love and don’t love about his work. I never write a review for books I don’t love, and I have reviewed most, but not all, of his work. In this post, I’m going to point out things I notice with my editorial eye and…

Regarding Raven Kaldera: He’s definitely a controversial author. I suppose my view on books (particularly pagan books) is that I will always find things I don’t agree with - especially if I consider an author’s personal life as well as what is presented in the text - but I lean towards reading it anyways and nit-picking parts that are useful or thought provoking to me. I never take books at face value.

So... currently I haven’t read anything in the text The Jotunbok that seems immoral or hurtful to others, though I have read parts that won’t become part of my practice, parts i don’t find applicable or helpful, and parts that are very clearly UPG (generally this is acknowledged). I have enjoyed reading others’ perspectives on less-commonly discussed jotnar because it makes me consider other ideas and connections and re-examine my own views even if I don’t end up altering my views or accepting much of theirs.

I suppose I treat books like I treat tumblr: there are good ideas, poor ideas, and sometimes completely inaccurate ramblings. However, I don’t really mind reading it either way. I check ideas with other sources before daring to take anything as fact. All is UPG until proven otherwise.

That being said, I also haven’t read a great deal of the controversy surrounding Raven Kaldera. If here are things folk think i know before reading further, please feel free to let me know.

What I’ve seen so far is mostly concerns about his personal life (which doesn’t appear to affect his writing, and I haven’t seen signs he’s a white supremist) and the amount of UPG in his writing (which since I view this book as UPG it doesn’t bother me at all).

Anon is on as always though, and I am available by message. I do prefer to have sources for any concerns, please. It makes discussions easier. :)

If you’re like me (a writer), you probably love to read. Good books. Not crappy books. Crappy books bore me. They probably bore you, too.

Which is why, as a writer, I want to write those good books. You know, the ones everyone can’t stop talking about during lunch in the break room. I want to be that writer.

Call me a perfectionist. Call me arrogant.

But if I’m going to be a writer, I want to be…