Yesterday, the world heard the news: Harper Lee, the private author behind To Kill A Mockingbird and Go Set A Watchman, had passed away. Lee wrote two books and offered very few interviews and public appearances, but I feel that I lost a literary giant on what would have been an ordinary Friday. Many, many writers are offering tribute to Harper Lee; I am willing to join the crowd on this one.
Recently, I had the pleasure of reading Bandersnatch by Diana Pavlac Glyer, a professor of mine and a mind I admire greatly. The short review: the book did not disappoint. Bandersnatch
takes its title from a quote of CS Lewis' on his friend, JRR Tolkien: "No one ever influenced Tolkien. You may has well try to influence a Bandersnatch." Glyer argues that Lewis not only influenced Tolkien, but was one of the greatest forces behind the completion of The Lord of the Rings. Beyond that, she argues that collaborative creativity is the key to the success of the Inklings (the group of scholars and writers Tolkien and Lewis belonged to and founded). The book is brilliantly orchestrated and makes its points clearly; every concept is readily applicable for the creative mind.
