Tag Archives: Jonathan Franzen

It’s complicated

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Ellen Akins

In the New York Times Book Review‘s “Bookends” of August 25 two sharp critical thinkers, Zoë Heller & Leslie Jamison, talk about the value, or overvaluing, of difficulty in literature. Heller made this observation about the new, & newly fraught, … 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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Footnotes

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Ellen Akins

Further notes on footnotes: blue streak “As Mexican guns began to fire the Americans noticed a curious phenomenon. Owing most probably to a combination of poor Mexican gunpowder and the rarified mountain atmosphere, the enemy cannonballs left a blue streak … Continue reading →

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