I’m not sure how old I was the first time I encountered The Phantom Tollbooth, but I do recall that my first exposure was in an anthology in an elementary grade reading class. We read the chapter on the Royal Banquet, where Milo is forced to “eat his words.” It strikes me that this book is likely the first exposure kids have to really understanding figures of speech and the complexity of the English language. For those who haven’t read The Phantom Tollbooth, well first […]
Can a story about the fall of a Soviet regime stand up 25 years later?
When The Porcupine was published in 1992, the world was still absorbing the dramatic events of the anti-Communist revolutions that started in the late 1980s, culminating in the reunification of Germany in 1990 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Influenced by these events, Barnes spun this tale that takes place in a fictional Soviet satellite country that some critics will swear is based on Bulgaria, while others will insist it’s obviously inspired by Romania. In this unnamed nation, the Communist Party has […]
Ratting in New York City
This isn’t exactly the book I hoped it would be, but it was fascinating nonetheless. In the author’s (after)words: “Ratting, for me…is not just about rats; it is also about seeing another side of a given city.” And that’s exactly what he sets out to show his reader.
Stupid things people do, explained by a smart guy
First published: 2008 Revised and Expanded: 2010 Recommended for: People whose bosses have just told them they need to give a presentation on Behavioral Economics to some senior marketing leaders Stars: 4. I debated giving it 3 because you can get the same info from TED talks, but walking into my presentation with a hardcover book with pages tagged earned me some points for initiative, so I’m sharing the love. Ok so I didn’t pick this book up by choice, exactly. I work in marketing communications, and the […]