BOOKS: The List

I once worked with a person who made lists constantly. First thing in the morning she made a list, lists of what she needed to do during the day of course, but also lists of things she forgot, lists of personal things, list of things in the distance future. Her list making took about 45 minutes. Without them she was adrift. Lists like these are practical, we all use them, however there does exist another kind of list__the literary list. In Robert Belknap’s book, The List: The Uses and Pleasures of Cataloguing, Belknap takes a look at list making as a literary device, specifically a literary device in the works of the American writers: Emerson, Whitman, Millville and Thoreau. First though Belknap examines lists through the centuries, ranging from those on Sumerian tablets to Tom Sawyer’s fence painting. After which he then examines why and how lists were the underlying structure in Whitman’s poems, Melville’s novels, Thoreau’s memoirs and Emerson’s essays. Belknap goes into fascinating detail in the literary structure, scope, art, philosophy and intention of the lists that under gird these author’s works. The list is a framework underneath not readily apparent to the reader not looking for its guiding direction. And because that direction brings order out of chaos it strikes an attractive chord with most readers. Belknap provides an incredible new way to view literature. After you read The List, you will start to see them everywhere, both practical lists and literary. Recommended.