Literary Criticism

Judging THE Book By Its Cover

Michael Gilmour | Posted 05.09.2012

Michael Gilmour

The paratextual content in modern Bibles goes far beyond basic features, of course, and there appears to be no limit to the marketing creativity of publishers who continuously repackage the Scriptures.

The Physicist and the Porn Star

Max Raskin | Posted 04.18.2012

Max Raskin

The trouble with creative writing classes in the modern university is they do not teach writing. Pop-cultural analysis, pop-psychology, and pop-philosophy are discussed, while how to write a compelling sentence is not.

Literature as an Experiment

Paul Ruth | Posted 04.15.2012

Paul Ruth

Literature as an experiment engages both the reader and the text in an equal synthesis of interpretation. In this sense, literature becomes an experience, which experimentation must be used to understand it.

What Literary Characters Are Most Like the GOP Front Runners?

Brian Joseph Davis | Posted 02.26.2012

Brian Joseph Davis

A flaw makes for a good character but a flaw also make for a terrifying, if entertaining, politician. The Republican contest is with us for a while longer so to help understand the candidates better, let us turn to comparisons from literature.

Meanest Book Reviews

Posted 11.29.2011

From barnesandnoble.com Bad reviews are a fact of literary life, even for the most successful writers. Take Steig Larsson -- perhaps the hottest ...

(Snooty) Literature Critics Criticize Reader's Literary Criticism

David Ropeik | Posted 07.13.2011

David Ropeik

The flaws of customer criticism notwithstanding, the ability of readers to offer their feedback into the great public discussion of literature contributes significantly to an interest in reading, and writing.

Read "Bossypants" Like A Fancypants

blog.oup.com | Posted 07.09.2011

Summer heralds many important things: 3D movies, involuntary camping trips, and sidewalk distribution of ice cream samples in tiny disposable cups. Bu...

On Hitchens

Ashley Rindsberg | Posted 05.25.2011

Ashley Rindsberg

What idea of Hitchens' could a man possibly grapple with? What new perspective has he introduced that can be pondered, analyzed, defeated or accepted?

A Book About Children's Books for Book Loving Adults

Monica Edinger | Posted 05.25.2011

Monica Edinger

For grown-ups who want to know more about the books kids read there's a great new resource --- A Family of Readers: The Book Lover's Guide to Childre...

The Misguided Anger Of A Critic

themillions.com | Posted 05.25.2011

If so, Myers would have a lot to answer for. But in the real world, instances don't yield general truths with anything like the haste of a typical Mye...

Creative Writing Programs

Anis Shivani | Posted 05.25.2011

Anis Shivani

Just as the guild structure was socially conservative--and hence easily superseded when the more progressive market system, flourishing along with the industrial economy, came along--so is the present MFA credentialing system.

Anis Shivani: Why American Reviewers Disliked Ian McEwan's 'Solar'

Anis Shivani | Posted 05.25.2011

Anis Shivani

What American reviewers have missed is that satire and history are coming together for the first time in McEwan's career.

Chair Of The Booker Prize Judges Andrew Motion Discusses The Shortlist

The Guardian | Andrew Motion | Posted 05.25.2011

And how would I characterise this "best"? By all the means that sound familiar, but make their material strange. Good writing (adventurous as well as ...

The 17 Most Innovative University Presses

Anis Shivani | Posted 05.25.2011

Anis Shivani

Following our spotlight of independent literary presses, here is a special feature devoted to the most exciting university presses in the country. ...

Author's Shocking Comment: Christos Tsiolkas, Author of 'The Slap', Slams European Writers

Telegraph | Andrew Hough | Posted 05.25.2011

The 44 year-old Australian, author of the most divisive book chosen for Britain's most highly regarded literary award in recent memory, also criticise...

Joshua Ferris Interview: Rock Star in the Book Store

Jason Pinter | Posted 05.25.2011

Jason Pinter

When Ferris speaks, he does not come across as a rock star, an object of literary affection, or someone who has grown a large head from his success.

Not DOA But DIY: Resurrecting The Book Review Section

The Huffington Post | Patricia Holt | Posted 05.25.2011

I know readers are supposed to mourn the loss of book review sections in newspapers and magazines across the country, but at this point -- well, in fa...

The Beastie Boys, Rush and Contrapuntal Thinking

Ajay Singh Chaudhary | Posted 05.25.2011

Ajay Singh Chaudhary

The most ambitious and more successful mash-ups often involve either a creative reimagining of one half of that equation or, perhaps even more ambitiously, of entire musical ideas from both sources.

The First Lady's Guide to Writing a Bestselling Memoir

Margo Hammond and Ellen Heltzel | Posted 05.25.2011

Margo Hammond and Ellen Heltzel

Having stood by her good mate's side as he walked two bestsellers to the altar, Mrs. Obama is hip to the power of the pen, both in economic and political terms.