Bari Jarrett
Cell 2 Soul. 2006 Spring; 2(1):a13
- The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell
"The Quartet" gives one four points of view on the same situations. Each tells a widely divergent story.
- Grendel by John Gardner
In Grendel, who is the monster?
- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Inflexible dictatorial points of view ruin the lives they touch.
- The Source by James Michener
All men are brothers whether they understand this or not.
- The Wall by John Hersey
Propagandistic conditioning can make us oblivious to others' hardships.
- Kristen Laurendetter by Sigrid Undset
The human condition transcends time. We are such things as the fickleness of weather, war, faith and family make us.
- Black Boy by Richard Wright
Everyone has immense potential. Understanding and potential make us bloom. Sometimes, we defy their lack.
- The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann
Even the dying relish life. Opposing views of the world catch us up in webs of confusion. Reason and feeling must seek a balance.
- Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Payton
Should we forgive our children's killers when we created the situation that makes them kill?
- Angels in America: Millenium Approaches by Tony Kushner
Everyone needs respect. To condemn someone whose life-style you disapprove of is to diminish yourself. (This is available as an HBO DVD for rental or purchase.)
In late 2005, the editors of Cell 2 Soul and Dermanities launched a new section, "Why Read? — Personal Canons," which is a forum to catalog those works of art which instruct and enrich us as care givers and individuals. We invited some friends, colleagues and teachers to share those they deem canonical — books, poems, the occasional movie to which they keep returning.
The background for these selections is found in a recent editorial entitled: Why Read? An Emerging Canon.
We welcome your Personal Canon. Please click on Canon Guidelines. Kindly follow the format you see here.