I'm pretty omnivorous - in fact, I don't think of books in terms of genres. J. K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' books are no more Y.A. reading, to me, than John le Carre's 'Smiley' novels are spy stories.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the idea that books should not be limited by genres, reflecting a broader appreciation for literature.
Michiko Kakutani expresses her belief that the categorization of books into specific genres is unnecessary and restrictive. She argues that literature can transcend these boundaries, as evidenced by her enjoyment of both J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' series and John le Carré's spy novels, which she views as equally valuable and enriching, regardless of their labels. This perspective encourages readers to explore a diverse range of literature without being confined by traditional genre classifications.
In practice
During a book club, you could use this quote to encourage members to explore books outside their usual genres.
If a novelist had concocted a villain like Trump - a larger-than-life, over-the-top avatar of narcissism, mendacity, ignorance, prejudice, boorishness, demagoguery, and tyrannical impulses, she or he would likely be accused of extreme contrivance and implausibility.
With his mendacity and increasingly virulent attacks on immigrants, Muslims, women, the press, the judiciary, the intelligence services, the F.B.I. - any group or institution that he finds threatening or useful as a scapegoat - Mr. Trump is attempting the Orwellian trick of redefining American reality on his own terms.
For most of us, art is supposed to do something more than simply mirror the confusions of the world.
Reading papers and memorizing them doesn't make you a good researcher.
Strange questions are the more interesting ones. Children by and large don't try to trip you up... they want to find out how you do this funny thing that you do... if they've loved a story they love to know how it started.
There are no books in this world that everybody must read, but only books that a person must read at a certain time in a given place under given circumstances and at a given period of his life.
I hope that one day when I'll go back to Pakistan, I will build a university like Harvard.
Nothing of any importance can be taught. It can only be learned, and with blood and sweat.
It is easier for a tutor to command than to teach.
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