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We were sitting with the sister, waiting for a haircut, when the conversation turned to the book we were reading. We described the plot and the underlying social issue — it was, ahem, an unabashed issue book all dressed up in literary credentials — and how the characters faced said issue. Granted, the sister is […]

Americans tend to love the notion of fairness. We like the idea of balance. We often seem to believe a world without bias is possible. That it is feasible to create “no spin” zone. This is a Velveeta with Miracle Whip on Wonder Bread viewpoint. It’s safe. It’s nice. It’s boring. Last week’s Washington Post […]

It is nice to see a reasoned response to a community issue. A question is raised on a radio talk show, and immediately large numbers of books are pulled off the library shelves. Oh, and there are protesters, most of whom likely haven’t entered the library nor read the books in question, passing judgment on […]

While we are fundamentally opposed to doing stuff like research around here, sometimes research cannot be avoided — it comes knocking at the door, asking if we’d like to play. No, no, we say, knowledge only muddies opinions. Mostly research goes home; sometimes it parks on the front porch, holding its breath until we agree […]

Sometimes I wonder when the reporters will get bored with this topic. When I was in journalism school, we were told to be very careful of falling in love with our own words. Of being so enamored of our slant of the story that we forgot things like facts, research and basically avoiding the easy […]

We know that we can be hard on the Los Angeles Times. It’s tough love and someone’s got to do it. Frankly, we know of nobody better suited to the job*. And just when we think our voice remains unheard (or posts unread), they go and do something just too sweet for words: they address […]

Top heavy sounds good, you know, when it’s someone else’s problem. When it’s yours? Well, you apparently pretend it’s a bad thing, while secretly thinking “nyah, nyah, nyah.” Or other thoughts inappropriate for this blog. Thus is the problem at the Aaron M Priest Literary Agency. Agents Aaron Priest, Molly Friedrich, Lucy Childs, Lisa Erbach […]

If you need further proof that the British do not take the English language seriously, look no further than the second edition of the Oxford Dictionary of English. Our careful observation of our British friends has assured us there is no word they cannot shorten, mash with another, or create out of thin air. This […]

It has turned out to be one of those weeks — the sun is shining (far too much), the traffic is flowing (far too slowly), and there’s not a enough caffeine in the world to raise our heart rate above sluggish (far too depressing). We knew we’d hit rock bottom when we actually caught our […]

After much thought and whatnot, textbook publishers are finally making some books available electronically to students — at a 33% discount. Whoo hoo! Yes, you save a few bucks, but then get to deal with use restrictions and expiring content. Also, since Dante’s Inferno is probably available at Project Gutenberg for free, it’s not such […]