These collected lectures present a rather high-browed peek at the flesh and bones of the English novel as it existed in the early twentieth century. This book is more about the novel’s anatomy than its creation. It is not a how-to-do manual, but it’s worth reading nonetheless.

Eric Meyer knows CSS, and if you pick up this book, you’ll learn a lot, too.

In Vietnam, from 1950 to 1975, America moved through four phases: Upholding French control, building and maintaining South Vietnamese independence, denying victory to North Vietnam, then withdrawing from the fray.

My review is here.

Michael Lind explains the war in Vietnam in terms of the Cold War. Excellent.

If you write, read this book. It explains how description creates mental images. Elaine Scarry’s prose is clear, direct, and engaging. In fact, this book is so good, I really want to keep it to myself. Oh, well. Merry Christmas!

Why do we write? Sometimes writing becomes impossible. Why? Alice W. Flaherty illuminates the subject as a writer, a doctor, and a witty, pleasant guide through the curly insides of the human brain. This is an excellent, excellent book. Read it.

Excellent.

Not a book so much as a collection of letters and essays; sometimes funny, but often boring. This could have been much better, had it been a book that explored the themes of corrosive political correctness instead of a re-packaging of short pieces about various aspects disconnected in time and meaning.

Clear, friendly, and engaging.