Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2014 -

A crucial addition to the literature on narrative theory, this book will quickly and deservedly become required reading.  The volume provides background on narrative theory, strong defenses of narrative theory's advocacy of increased integration of queer and feminist inquiry, and many examples of such critical work.  One also finds productive conversations across the 20 essays.  The volume begins with a succinct history of narrative theory, from its classical, formalistic beginnings to more recent contextualizing efforts.  Feminist narratology was one of the earliest branches to begin this contextual turn," or what many narrative theorists call the postclassical period.  The focus on the intersections between queer and feminist theories and narratology is complemented by a widening of primary texts.  To identify some highlights: Warhol contributes an essay on television, Hillary Chute writes about graphic narratives, Alison Booth discusses collective autobiographies, Sue Kim looks at novels by "third world women," and Jesse Matz takes upYouTubes It Gets Better videos.  In sum, Warhol (Ohio State) and Lanser (Brandeis) have gathered essays that not only trace the ways that queer and feminist readings and approaches have already productively informed narrative theory but also suggest paths as yet uncharted for future inquiry.Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.