Author: Jay Ruud

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Anita Loos (1925) If you mention the title Gentlemen Prefer Blondes to the average person nowadays, he or she is almost certain to assume you are referring to the classic 1953 film that catapulted Marilyn Monroe to superstardom and that gave us the iconic pink-gowned musical rendition of “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.”… Continue reading Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

The Chair Amanda Peet and Annie Julia Wyman (2021) Facts for You: Where to Watch: Steaming on Netflix Length: 6 episodes of 30 minutes each Names You  Might Know: Sandra Oh, Bob Balaban, Jay Duplass, Holland Taylor Language: English Rating: TV-MA (content advisory) He Said: Anyone who has ever been involved in higher education in any capacity will find The Chair a fascinating and… Continue reading The Chair

The Man Who Loved Children Christina Stead (1940) In 2005, Time magazine included Christina Stead’s 1940 novel The Man Who Loved Children on their list of the 100 best English language novels since 1923. But this is a novel that continues to be one of the least well-known among that collection of titles. Upon its initial publication, Stead’s book… Continue reading The Man Who Loved Children

Stillwater              Tom McCarthy (2021) Facts for You: Where to Watch: Only in theaters. Length: 2 hours 19 minutes Names You  Might Know: Matt Damon, Abigail Breslin, Camille Cottin Language: English Rating: R (for language) He Said: Tom McCarthy’s last major film, a little thing called Spotlight, didn’t do much other than win an Academy Award as the Best Picture of 2015. His… Continue reading Stillwater

The Death of Jesus J.M. Coetzee (2019) Nobel laureate and two-time Booker Prize winning novelist J.M. Coetzee has spent the bulk of the last decade composing a trilogy that (perhaps even more than his earlier novels, if that is possible) has managed to confuse and frustrate his readers. The “Jesus” trilogy—which began with The Childhood of… Continue reading The Death of Jesus