The Crafty Reader Book

This was published the year after I earned my BA in English. I hope it will become required reading in the critical theory class required of all English majors going for their MA. Scholes' assessment of the New Critics validates my suspicions that were a part of my resolve to not continue toward the MA. Those guys seem to take the life out of literature; Scholes' approach recognizes and celebrates the actual human beings behind the works. And his approach to the writings of St. Paul is a gem--I wish I could think and write that clearly. I also appreciate his analysis of the detective literature, sci-fi, and "science fantasy." The latter happily concludes with a ringing endorsement for Rowling's Harry Potter books--a wonderful, cheerful rebuttal to silly Harold Bloom's dismissal of them.