Signatures: An Anthology for Writers

By Lorraine Granieri and Granieri

A collection of readings, questions, & writing options about the human self & identity (both personal & public). The authors included here write about the gifts & wounds they ve received, the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0756753481
• ISBN13: 9780756753481
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Mayfield Pub. Co.
• Length: 654 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

An important book for both classroom reading and general use

What I appreciate about Signatures: An Anthology for Writers by Granieri and Hillman is that there are so many aspects of the anthology to appreciate: the format, sensitivity of selection, depth and breadth. The explanation to students in the introduction of the book establishes tone and purpose, encouraging students to dig deep and "explore" without regarding the questions and assignments as "therapy." Combining both the personal and academic permits our students to understand the value of decent writing, indeed, fine writing. There is also an overwhelming (in a positive sense) amount of selections available to the instructor and by providing explanations and even a sample syllabus, the editors Granieri and Hillman have taken both beginning and experienced reading and composition teachers into consideration.A colleague at DePaul said recently that, "All books should have pictures." I concur. For young children, pictures offer color, perspective and ways of identifying. This holds true for both young adults and older adults as well. The photographs selected for Signatures are those which invite interpretation. I especially like the photograph of the fetus, daring for an anthology.The editors' groupings/divisions and selections not only show an enormous amount of research, their justifications and explanations for selection are sound. The students are therefore challenged by selections written by Elie Wiesel, Virginia Woolf, and Victor Frankl. Diversity is well-represented not just in ethnic difference but physical limitation and social problems. Including the Arthur Spiegelman Maus II tale is not only inspired but like the fetus photo daring, irreverent.While my comments are indeed brief for an anthology which includes 89 selections, rich and layered explanations, and offers material in the form of assignments and thinking, like the Simon and Garfunkel song "Richard Cory" included in the text, Signatures has "power, grace, and style." After 35 years of teaching high school and college, I am still awestruck by the energy, effort, and pedagogical artistry that it takes to edit an anthology. Applause.