The Words After Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories and Jean-Paul Sartre : Book Review

"The Words After: Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories and Jean-Paul Sartre" by Carla Harryman is a captivating and thought-provoking book that merges two distinct works of literature into a unique and intellectually stimulating narrative. Drawing inspiration from Carl Sandburg's "Rootabaga Stories" and Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialist philosophy, Harryman creates a fascinating combination of imaginative storytelling and profound existential musings.

The book is divided into two parts, with each part dedicated to one of the literary sources. In the first part, Harryman explores Sandburg's playful and fanciful "Rootabaga Stories," reimagining them through her own experimental writing style and innovative prose. Her bold and unconventional approach challenges traditional storytelling conventions and pushes the boundaries of language.

The second part of the book delves into Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialist philosophy, focusing on concepts such as freedom and individuality. Harryman employs Sartre's ideas as a lens to analyze the themes and characters of the "Rootabaga Stories." This interplay between fiction and philosophy creates a thought-provoking exploration of existence, meaning, and the human condition.

Throughout the book, Harryman showcases her intellectual acuity and literary prowess. Skillfully blending the two disparate sources, she produces a coherent and engaging narrative. The result is an original and intellectually stimulating reading experience that encourages readers to question their own reality and explore the depths of human existence.

"The Words After: Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories and Jean-Paul Sartre" is a must-read for those who enjoy literary experimentation and philosophical introspection. Harryman's fusion of Sandburg's imaginative storytelling and Sartre's existentialist ideas offers a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of language, existence, and the nature of being. It is a book that will challenge and inspire readers to delve deeper into the complexities of literature and human perception.

What are readers saying?

Carla Harryman's book, "The Words After Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories and Jean Paul Sartre," has garnered a range of opinions and levels of appreciation from readers.

Some reviewers found the book to be a captivating and experimental work of literature. They admired Harryman's unique writing style and her ability to seamlessly integrate elements from Sandburg's original stories with Sartre's philosophical ideas. These readers praised the book for its thought-provoking nature and its ability to challenge traditional storytelling conventions.

However, there were others who found the book to be confusing and difficult to follow. They struggled to understand the narrative and felt that the experimental style hindered their enjoyment of the story. These reviewers considered the book disjointed and inaccessible, making it challenging for them to connect with the content.

Some reviewers admired Harryman's poetic language and the vivid imagery she created through her writing. They found her use of language to be emotive and commended her ability to capture intricate emotions and ideas. These readers viewed the book as a beautiful and poetic exploration of language itself.

On the contrary, some readers experienced difficulty in comprehending the story due to the poetic language used in the book. They found the writing style overly abstract and believed it detracted from the overall coherence of the narrative. These reviewers struggled to engage with the characters and themes of the book because of the complexity of the prose.

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