Discussion Question #1: Best Wendell Berry Book.
One of the things we like most about books is the opportunity they create for conversation. While most of the books we review are brand new and our reviews serve primarily to inform people of these books (which is not particularly conducive to conversation), we thought we would throw a discussion question into the mix every Friday to get people thinking and talking about what they’re reading.
As most long-time readers of The Englewood Review will recognize, we have a deep appreciation for the works of Wendell Berry. So, our first discussion question is:
What is your favorite Wendell Berry book? And why? Do you find yourself reading more of his fiction, his essays or his poetry?
Please use the comments below to discuss. Note: We do get hit with a good deal of spam, so we have to moderate your comments. We ask your patience, as we try to get your comments moderated as quickly as possible.
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March 5th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
My favorites are definitely his essays and poems. I have a hard time reading fiction (though Berry’s is wonderful…)
I’d say my favorite books are WHAT ARE PEOPLE FOR? (Essays) and SABBATHS (poems)
Chris Smith
Editor
March 5th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
I’ve read many essays. I go back to The Unsettling Of America: Culture and Agriculture most and What Are People For?
March 5th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
The Gift of Good Land is still my favorite.
March 5th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Despite the many wonders of all of his fiction, “A Place on Earth” still amazes me … and touches me deeply. In my one & only very brief conversation with Mr. Berry, he mentioned getting “a lot of hell” for his revision of it in ‘83. Yes, much “essential” detail had to be sacrificed (for those of us who insist on treating the characters as real people), but I don’t get how anyone could fail to recognize the intense focus on loss that he achieved in the revision. Great stuff.
March 5th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
I’ll have to say: The Unsettling of America.
March 6th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Mad Farmer Revolution. It’s on my coffee table and I read it at least twice a month.
Had a hard time with the fiction, too, but then again, i’m not a big fiction guy.
March 8th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Hannah Colter is my absolute favorite, although I love all the fiction. I love reading Nathan Colter, then reading Hannah Colter and then thinking about how events are experienced so uniquely by each of us even when we think we have experienced them together.
Folks used to say, “I cannot tell what Wendell Berry’s theological views are.” to which I reply, “READ HIS FICTION!”
My favorite essay book is Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community.
March 10th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
I really like all his short stories. So very, very, good. My favorite of Wendell’s essays are whichever collection I am currently reading (just finished Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community: it’s currently my favorite). Mad Farmer Revolution is my favorite poem.
He is “one righteous dude”. =)
March 11th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Fidelity, his masterpiece collection of short stories. Every story is beautiful in a different way. I appreciate his essays, I like his poetry, and I love his novels, but these five stories are the best of all.
March 12th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Any book of essays is fantasic (I must also recommend the newest, IMAGINATION IN PLACE).
But I come back to the poetry more than anything else, and most particularly GIVEN.
March 12th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
This is like having to decide which is your favorite toe or finger. Anyway tonight I would say The Hidden Wound. It’s simply one of the best books that anyone in America has ever written about race.