Episode 233: The Literary Canon
This week, Josh and Dietrich discuss a New York Times article asking about how books enter and leave the literary canon. Who decides what books are added, and how is it decided? Does the general acceptance of a book's addition to the canon grant it a permanent spot, or can revelations about the author or changes in public perception render books more obsolete than we'd like to admit? How can we develop and cultivate a literary canon that's more inclusive and considerate of all readers, not just the few? In addition, Josh discusses a wonderfully bizarre novel that fuses Douglas Adams and American Idol, Dietrich raves about the sophomore effort from one of the best self-published authors working today, and Josh talks about the newest Stephen King book. Finally, they wrap up with Josh making Dietrich furiously jealous with a trip to see Hamilton, a brilliant series pitting a spy against an assassin in style, and a deep, spoiler-heavy, discussion about the finale of The Americans. You can send questions or comments to librarypolicequestions@gmail.com.
