Tag: Literary Criticism
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Crucible by John Sayles: An Engrossing Epic of Historical Fiction Fueled by Expert Dialogue
Introduction: Sayles’s Momentum in Historical Fiction John Sayles has carved out a remarkable streak in contemporary historical fiction, releasing a trio of ambitious novels in quick succession. Following the enlightening To Save the Man and the sweeping Jamie MacGillivray, Crucible stands as a testament to his relentless research and narrative dexterity. This latest work invites…
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When Family Feuds Go Public: Autofiction and Defamation in a European Literary Clash
Introduction: The personal becomes public in autofiction Across contemporary European literature, autofiction—where authors intertwine personal narratives with fiction—has become a powerful, sometimes controversial, instrument. While writers push the boundaries of truth to reveal intimate truths, they also risk legal trouble when real people and delicate family histories are portrayed in a way that readers recognize…
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A Particular Kind of Courage: A Book Review
Introduction: A Moment of Honest Reckoning Publishing a debut memoir requires more than polished prose and a compelling story: it demands a particular kind of courage. In A Particular Kind of Courage, the author turns a scrutinizing lens on personal history, inviting readers to witness the raw process of turning lived experience into narrative. This…
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Kevin Killian and Kylie Minogue: A Star-Obsessed Poet
Introduction: A Poet in Myriad Glitter Kevin Killian is often remembered as a poet drawn to bright surface, performance, and the kinds of fame that flash across screens and magazines. What sets him apart in literary biographies isn’t just his formal experiments or his role in San Francisco’s vibrant literary circles; it’s his fascination with…
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It’s notoriously hard to write about sex: David Szalay on Flesh, his astounding Booker prize-winner
David Szalay’s Flesh: A Booker Prize Triumph and Moral Puzzle When the announcement dropped that David Szalay had won the Booker Prize for Flesh, the literary world paused. Szalay, already renowned for his precise prose and unflinching ethical compass, had delivered a novel that multiplies the tension between desire and responsibility. Flesh is not merely…
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Book of Lives review: Margaret Atwood’s witty, time-spanning memoir
Overview: Atwood’s latest memoir and its light-footed ambition Margaret Atwood’s Book of Lives is not just a memoir; it’s a playful excavation of time, memory, and the choices that accumulate into a sense of self. In this new volume, the Canadian author—long celebrated for dystopian fiction, insightful essays, and a career that reads like a…
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Book of Lives review: Margaret Atwood’s witty memoir
Overview: A witty, time-traveling memoir Margaret Atwood has long since proven that she can bend genres without breaking them. In Book of Lives, she turns her attention to memory, history, and the act of storytelling itself. This memoir, framed as a series of intimate reflections and sharp asides, invites readers to watch a master memoirist…
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Margaret Atwood Speaks Truth to Power: Banned Books, Trump, and a Memoir That Settles Scores
Behind Closed Doors and Public Defiance Renowned author Margaret Atwood has spent decades shaping conversations about power, censorship, and the moral responsibilities of writers. In a recent disclosure-rich interview, she addresses how the climate around the presidency—specifically the Trump era—urgently tested the boundaries between literature and politics. For Atwood, the answer to oppression is not…
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Margaret Atwood on defying Trump, banned books, and her no-holds-barred memoir
In a candid frame of reference Margaret Atwood, the towering voice of contemporary fiction and a long-standing observer of power, has spent decades turning the lens on society’s most urgent questions. In a recent, wide-ranging discussion, she framed the current moment as “the scariest of times” and tied it to a broader struggle: the defense…
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A Masterclass on All the Evil in the World: Hamlet as a Chameleon of Power
Hamlet: A Chameleon of Time and Power This piece invites readers to view Hamlet not merely as a tragic prince, but as a living mirror of shifting power structures. He is a masterclass on all the evils that haunt the world, a character who continually redefines the social stage around him. Hamlet’s strength lies in…