Category Archives: Blog

Reading Daniel Mendelsohn in Harper’s, on the flawed DNA of TV series drama

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Ellen Akins

Reading Daniel Mendelsohn in Harper’s on the inevitable diminution and death of TV serial dramas. Talking about shows from Downton Abbey to The Sopranos to Six Feet Under he cites the need of the plot to be finite, refers to … Continue reading →

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Leaving the Sea, by Ben Marcus, a review

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Ellen Akins

Also in Sunday’s Minneapolis Star Tribune (along with my Doctorow review) was my review of Ben Marcus‘s new story collection, Leaving the Sea. Here’s the wonderful Harper’s article that I mention in the review.  (And if you doubt that it’s … Continue reading →

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Andrew’s Brain, by E. L. Doctorow, a review

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Ellen Akins

On Sunday January 12, the Minneapolis Star Tribune published my review of E. L. Doctorow‘s new novel, Andrew’s Brain: Here’s a bonbon for your brain, from E.L. Doctorow’s. Or is it for your mind? That’s the question threading through the … Continue reading →

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Why writers must reproduce

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Ellen Akins

When Laurie Hertzel linked my Star Tribune review of Doctorow’s new novel to my FaceBook page, my son, who’s 16, commented:  “THAT’S MY MOM I’M SO PROUD.”  Rethinking this (and as Laurie remarked, how many 16-year-olds think about tone?), he … Continue reading →

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John Freeman, How to Read a Novelist, a review

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Ellen Akins

On October 26 (playing catch-up here), the Minneapolis Star Tribune published my review of John Freeman’s How to Read a Novelist. Shortly thereafter, the Star Trib’s book editor, Laurie Hertzel, and I went to see Freeman being interviewed by Louise … Continue reading →

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