Best Books I Read in 2016

best books 2016

I’ve finally finished my “book a week” challenge (meaning I’ve read, rated, and reviewed 52 books for the year). I actually read quite a few more than that but didn’t mark them down (on my Shannara binge, I was getting through them every 2-3 days). This year I went through audiobooks more than any year … Read more

Who is Ellen in Synecdoche, New York?

Ellen is the key to understanding Synecdoche, New York. This article makes a thorough case for who she is and argues for one clear meaning to the movie.

The Eye of the World: Is Worth It?

jordan eye of the world

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan is my last giant novel for the year. I really wanted to do something complicated and serious like Gaddis’ JR, but it was getting kind of annoying to find a reasonable copy. Anyway, I already covered the epic fantasy giant novel, so this will cover a lot … Read more

On Swanberg’s Easy

swanberg easy

I’ve been a longtime fan of Joe Swanberg going all the way back to his first mumblecore film Kissing on the Mouth. He just came out with a new Netflix series, Easy, so I had to check it out. The show doesn’t follow the conventions we’ve come to expect from Netflix. Each episode focuses on … Read more

Whiplash and the Externalization of the Resistance

whiplash resistance

Steven Pressfield wrote a book called The War of Art back in 2002. Since then, it has risen to cult classic status in various art circles. The book spends some time defining something called the Resistance, and then it turns into a drill sergeant to push you through the Resistance. I want to argue that … Read more

The Difficulty of Invisible Description

invisible description

Invisible description is the essence of great writing. Let’s dig into the mechanics of making this happen. I’ve been reading Fool Moon by Jim Butcher, the second Dresden Files novel. In the middle of a fight with a werewolf, the narrator uses this simile: I was flung back through the air like a piece of … Read more

On Experiencing Bon Iver at 20

bon iver for emma

Bon Iver announced a new album to be released later this year. I thought I’d take some time to reflect on what it was like to hear his first album, For Emma, Forever Ago, when I was twenty. The Cultural Experience I think most generations have some major cultural experience that it is hard to … Read more

Literature, Genre Fiction, Pulp: What is it?

genre fiction pulp

I’ve been working my way through Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One. Genre fiction, literature, and pulp fiction all have a tricky relationship to one another. I have this really bad habit of reading negative reviews on Goodreads while reading a book. If I love the book, I can make fun of the idiots who “cant … Read more