Shakespeare’s birthday in New York. What’s the best way I could think of to celebrate? How about taking in the brilliant new musical Six at Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre? Any true fan of the Elizabethan theater and poetry of which Shakespeare is the paragon will be gaga over this musical salute to the six wives of Henry… Continue reading New York: A Broadway and Museum Mashup
Author: Jay Ruud
X. J. Kennedy’s “September Twelfth, 2001”
Sylvia Plath’s “Ariel”
Billy Collins’ “Memorizing ‘The Sun Rising’ by John Donne”
Bob Dylan’s “It’s a Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara by Stacey Margaret Jones When a friend of mine from high school and I decided on Santa Barbara for a weekend reunion in March, I admit I didn’t choose it for its literary history, but because it was a wine-tasting destination I hadn’t yet visited. I’ve been to California just enough for it… Continue reading Santa Barbara
Nous Nous
Nous Nous John Vanderslie (2022) It’s been a long time since I read a book that I literally could not put down. But that is the case with John Vanderslice’s new novel Nous Nous. Much of the reason for this urgency is the book’s affinities with the standard cinematic suspense thriller. It has the feel for much… Continue reading Nous Nous
Top Ten Films of 2021
Top Ten Films of 2021 Just in time for the Oscars, here’s a He Said/She Said review of what we have decided are the top ten films of the year. Fight us if you dare! HE SAID: 10. The Power of the Dog The favorite for virtually every major Oscar category, this year’s most honored film… Continue reading Top Ten Films of 2021
