Tag Archives: book criticism

All Is Well That Ends Well – Goodreads Catastrophe Reversed!

Posted on November 15, 2015 by

FINALLY the problem seems to be solved.  I’m holding my breath, though. Shouldn’t have taken so long IMHO in view of the length of my membership, my activity as a reviewer and author. Anyway, dear friends, WHEW!!!

Posted in Book Reviews, Goodreads, Reading | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

How Extravagant! My Christmas Present to Myself! Everything My Hero Ever Wrote!

Posted on November 7, 2015 by

[an “aside” in a stage whisper:] “When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.”–Erasmus, 1469-1536 Mark Twain is the funniest, most original, wholly American literary genius this country has … Continue reading →

Posted in American Literature, Humor, Literary Classics, Literary Lions, Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

“Beauty crowds me till I die.” Emily Dickinson

Posted on October 22, 2015 by

Here are some of my favorite lines from my favorite poets–just to share and for the heck of it.  Poetry (the really good stuff) has always been my favorite genre as both a reader and writer. The above line is … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

What’s the Big Idea?

Posted on July 24, 2015 by

I was scratching my head yesterday at the astronomical number of new books on writing on the market today–most by people I’ve never heard of before with slim writing resumes and credentials.  If you take the time to examine enough … Continue reading →

Posted in writers, writing | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Writing Rules: Avoid the Hoopdedoodle

Posted on February 19, 2015 by

Elmore Leonard, the modern master of the “low life” detective story and mystery, was one of my favorite contemporary writers and when he died a few years ago I felt a personal loss of a very unique, important voice on … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, publishing | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Tradition and the Individual Talent – T.S.Eliot

Posted on January 1, 2015 by

[This is in  a sense a public service announcement of sorts, a refresher, if you will, for poets and would be poets of all stripes among us.  Eliot’s erudition is bullet proof.  If you don’t study the masters, you will … Continue reading →

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So here we go again! NYT “10 Best Books of 2014”

Posted on December 13, 2014 by

Something to argue about or totally ignore (NYT) The year’s best books, selected by the editors of The New York Times Book Review. We should be so grateful for this priceless direction. The Times used to have the best readers/critics … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment