Betty Smith, Coffee, and the Existence of Beauty.
I know you don’t want to hear this right now, but beauty does exist. Continue reading Betty Smith, Coffee, and the Existence of Beauty.
Category: Books
The Evil Appeal of Sociopaths in Literature
Especially right now, when we feel like we’ve got to care all the time about everything, the sociopath’s nonchalance is both the most evil and enchanting thing about them. Continue reading The Evil Appeal of Sociopaths in Literature
Terrible Fish: Women and Mirrors in Literature
Mirrors are a potent image whichever way they turn and twist and distort (and they often do). Continue reading Terrible Fish: Women and Mirrors in Literature
Is Harry Potter a White Savior Story?
How the once celebrated allegory falls short in 2020. Continue reading Is Harry Potter a White Savior Story?
“The Turn of the Screw”: Sex, Ghosts, and… Feminism?
The Turn of the Screw is an excellent book to read if you enjoy feeling confused and upset: for a comparable experience you can take LSD or sit in a tub of spiders. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Continue reading “The Turn of the Screw”: Sex, Ghosts, and… Feminism?
The Problem With Dystopias
I understand the appeal of dystopian novels—but the genre is flawed. Continue reading The Problem With Dystopias
The History of the “Crazy” Woman in Literature
From “Hamlet” to “The Bluest Eye”, the troubled history of mentally ill women in literature. Continue reading The History of the “Crazy” Woman in Literature
Is “Rebecca” Sexist?
Daphne du Maurier’s novel illustrates some of society’s deepest fears about women. Continue reading Is “Rebecca” Sexist?
The Subtle Horror of “We Have Always Lived in the Castle”
An examination of Shirley Jackson’s enduring masterpiece. Continue reading The Subtle Horror of “We Have Always Lived in the Castle”
In Defense of Daisy Buchanan
Why Daisy isn’t the villain of “The Great Gatsby” Continue reading In Defense of Daisy Buchanan
