No Frigate

How amazing does this sound?

I wish I weren't too cheap to buy hardcovers, because Christopher Buckley's review of The Imperfectionists has me drooling.  Journalism and Rome -- what's not to love?

Anglo-Mania of different sorts

I bet I was the only person at the Ricky Gervais show last night who had Margaret Drabble's A Summer Bird-Cage in her bag . . . 

 

Admission

Admission

Jean Hanff Korelitz

College admissions is a quagmire of race, sex, and class issues, and Jean Hanff Korelitz does an admirable job of exposing what it's like to be an Ivy League admissions officer while also creating a credible narrative with characters who are interesting and believable. One recurring problem I had with the novel, though, was the speechifying. Yes, sometimes the main character had to make speeches because it was part of her job to do so (i.e., she'd go to a prep school and give a presentation) but even her casual conversations sounded like they needed a powerpoint. Still, an enjoyable read -- particularly if you know anyone who went to Princeton.

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

Was it as good as the first two?  No.  Did I occasionally ignore my child to keep reading it?  Yes.  Did it leave me wanting more of Salander?  Hell, yes.  Stieg Larsson, you are so missed.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest (Millennium Trilogy, 3) [Import] (HARDCOVER)

Stieg Larsson