In 'The Crossing' by Richard Parker, the author presents a historical narrative of El Paso, emphasizing its complex cultural heritage as the birthplace of American history. He reflects on events from the sixteenth century, highlighting both the violent struggles and the vibrant multicultural society that emerged. Inspired by a tragic act of violence in 2019, Parker expresses hope that El Paso can influence a new beginning for America. In contrast, Peter Szendy's 'Powers of Reading' examines how the shift from communal to solitary reading practices has reshaped our engagement with literature, advocating for a renewed focus on collective experiences in reading.
"American history did not begin in the Northeast. It began in the Southwest," Parker asserts, in this sweeping history of El Paso, his home town.
"El Paso is where Native, Spanish, European, African, Jewish, and Arab cultures fought, bled, died," he writes, but it's also where they forged a "vibrantly diverse" society.
Although Parker was moved to write the book after a white nationalist murdered twenty-three people at an El Paso Walmart, in 2019, he strikes a hopeful note.
Szendy argues that the solitary, silent type of reading that has become the norm is "an interiorization of the reading aloud that prevailed" for centuries.
Collection
[
|
...
]