Book Reviews
Category“100 Years, 100 Buildings” Surveys Remarkable Architecture From 1916 to 2015
The most refreshing thing about 100 Years, 100 Buildings is that it’s not those 100 years. By cutting himself free of the artificial const..
“Yesterday’s Future”: Remembering utopian architecture
In these apocalyptic times, utopian architecture has fallen out of favor. Why design for the future when the planet is burning up and you’..
“Modern Forms”: Photographer Nicolas Grospierre Finds Beauty In the Wreckage
According to my 1968 Webster’s, the definition of “modern” is:
of or characteristic of the present or recent times; not ancient: often us..
“The Story of Emoji”: Gavin Lucas Has the Inside Poo on Those Ubiquitous Little Icons
Where did emoji come from? Why did they seem to suddenly become ubiquitous? Are they here to stay? Should you or should you not use them i..
“The Perfect Letter”: A totally serious review of “Bachelor” host Chris Harrison’s debut novel
Frankly, I admired Chris Harrison’s decision to write a romance novel. It’s nice to think he does something with his off-hours besides get..
Ten Opening Paragraphs for a Review of Chelsea Fagan’s “I’m Only Here for the WiFi”
Arts journalism in 2013: opening a book review by disclosing that you’re an Internet friend of its author.
For Chelsea Fagan, the “..
Ten Opening Paragraphs for a Review of Jordan Castro’s New Books
“Readers who have been craving a comprehensive examination of the inner lives of pooping poets will not want to miss Jordan Castro’s n..
J.K. Rowling, Garrison Keillor, and the Battle for the Soul of Small-Town Life
I’ve been listening to the audiobook recording of J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy, but I had to take a break from it. In Rowling’s first..
Ten Opening Paragraphs for a Review of Mira Gonzalez’s “I Will Never Be Beautiful Enough to Make Us Beautiful Together”
“In the Victorian Era, sex was not thought to be enjoyable for women, who were famously advised to ‘lie back and think of the empire’ whil..
Ten Opening Paragraphs for a Review of Marie Calloway’s “What Purpose Did I Serve In Your Life”
“I’m a man. Does that make it impossible for me to review Marie Calloway’s What Purpose Did I Serve In Your Life, or does it make me t..
A Review of J.K. Rowling’s New Novel that Does Not Make Constant, Punny Comparisons to Harry Potter
The following are the 3 types of books I can’t resist:
1) Long, head-sized novels that take weeks to read and leave you missing the c..
Slutty Words of the English Language
Geode: You’re a mass-produced volcanic rock easily broken apart by children to reveal polished crystals, commonly sold in state park g..