Archive - Writing About Reading

The tyranny of lists

Adding my take to the crowded discourse on the NY Times '100 Best Books of the 21st Century' list

Jul 20 •

June 2024

Marquez's "Until August," DFW's "Pale King," and what to do with unfinished novels by the greats

Jun 23 •

April 2024

"Underworld" is more urban pastiche than cohesive novel, but damn it radiates. Isolated scenes and set pieces will stay with me forever.

Apr 14 •

March 2024

We come to this place for magic

Dune 2, Barbenheimer, American Fiction, Poor Things. Geeking out about a great slew of movies in time for the 2024 Oscars.

Mar 10 •

February 2024

I wish I knew how to quit you

If you're not enjoying a book, quit it. But that's often much easier said than done...

Feb 25 •

"Where do you hear about books?"

I get asked this a lot. Here's my ultimate recommendation guide. Plus: my favorite reads of 2023.

Feb 19 •

November 2023

The monsters we make

Thinking about two recent modern twists on "Frankenstein," one set in Iraq in the early 2000s, the other a satire/commentary on AI and automation.

Nov 3, 2023 •

September 2023

The horror! The horror!

Gus Moreno combines old curses with new tech and pulls it off—including an evil smart speaker.

Sep 23, 2023 •

Barbie and Oppie

Thinking about movie theaters, cultural moments, and book-to-screen adaptations.

Sep 4, 2023 •

July 2023

Scratching my head at the latest Pulitzer-winning critical smash hit. But literary awards don't typically signal readability these days.

Jul 29, 2023 •

June 2023

Camels and ghosts

Téa Obreht's "Inland" is a slow burn, but this Western with ghosts and camels really pays off.

Jun 19, 2023 •

Jeet Thayil's novel "Low" about a grieving husband on a drugged-out weekend in Bombay is lyrical and frequently hilarious.

Jun 3, 2023 •

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