Reading Between the Lines by Gene Edward Veith Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an outstanding book. I assign this for one of my classes (Adolescent Literature) as a broad introduction to forming guidelines for literary taste and literary standards, and my students have commented on how helpful and insightful the book has been for them. I'm wearing my own copy out from underlining, starring passages, and writing in the margins.

Veith shows the importance of the word over the image, gives us an insightful synopsis of literary history, and then gives excellent guidelines for cultivating taste, with page after page of insight. He also includes a great appendix with his recommendations for good fiction, poetry, etc. This is helpful for not just people interested in literature. Pastors/theologians, artists, aspiring writers, and anyone else who likes to read will greatly benefit from reading this book slowly and carefully.

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