Robert Bruce

LATEST ARTICLES ( 529 )

• Here’s A Guy Who Wrote His Own Epitaph

  It’s said that John O’Hara wrote the epitaph that appears on his tombstone.You catch that? He wrote his own epitaph.“Better than anyone else, he told the truth... Read more

  Posted on 09 September 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Thomas Pynchon WILL NOT Make Fun of Homer Simpson

  As I mentioned while reading Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49 (Gravity’s Rainbow is still waiting), Pynchon has appeared in a couple of episodes of The Simpsons. Read more

  Posted on 08 September 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Next Up: Appointment In Samarra

  I’ve seen Appointment in Samarra, written by John O’ Hara, compared to The Great Gatsby.If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you know... Read more

  Posted on 04 September 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Book 73: The Sportswriter

  

  I’ve been looking forward to reading The Sportswriter since the first time I saw its inclusion on the Time list.At one point in my life, I thought I might want... Read more

  Posted on 03 September 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• 101 Books Turns 4!

  4 years. 918 posts. 20,000 comments. 32,000 subscribers. More than 1.2 million page views.When I dreamed up this hair-brained idea back on a whim back in... Read more

  Posted on 29 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• You Might Not Be A Writer (And That’s Okay)

  I’ve heard a sentiment over the last few years that goes something like this: “Everyone’s a writer. We all just need to tap into our ‘inner writer’ to become... Read more

  Posted on 28 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words…But What If You Couldn’t See It?

  

  That question comes from the Tactile Picture Books Project, which is a fascinating, inspiring, and just downright brilliant use of technology.What is it? Read more

  Posted on 27 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Richard Ford Meets Stephen Colbert

  Richard Ford appeared on Stephen Colbert’s show a few years ago to promote his novel, Canada.Colbert, as only he can, talks about how offended he is that the... Read more

  Posted on 26 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• What Do You See When You Read?

  This Slate article has been making the rounds recently, and it’s something we’ve talked about briefly here on 101 Books before.That being, how do you imagine th... Read more

  Posted on 25 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• A New Challenger For Worst Book Cover Ever

  

  We have a new challenger for worst book cover ever.Yes, I even think it is worse than this delightfully awful book cover.We won’t even talk about the book’s... Read more

  Posted on 22 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• If It Bleeds, It Leads

  “The cheap drama artists of my profession are…specialists at nosing out failure: hinting a fighter’s legs as suspect once he’s over thirty and finally in his... Read more

  Posted on 21 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The One Book You Shouldn’t Carry In Thailand

  

  Apparently, it’s a bad idea to read 1984 in Thailand.If you’re heading to Bangkok, leave your George Orwell at home.An in-flight magazine for the Philippines... Read more

  Posted on 20 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• How Dyslexia Helped Richard Ford

  It would seem to me that dyslexia would be one of the more difficult disabilities to overcome in becoming a writer.The International Dyslexia Association define... Read more

  Posted on 19 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The Most Popular Book Of All Time

  

  Whether or not you’re a Christian or read the Bible, I think you’ll find this infographic pretty interesting.The Bible, by far, is the “best-selling” book of al... Read more

  Posted on 18 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Your Search Questions Answered: Volume 21

  These posts are just the gift that keeps on giving. Despite Google restrictions that have slowed down the amount of search terms WordPress blogs receive, these... Read more

  Posted on 15 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The Grit And Realism Of “The Sportswriter”

  The Sportswriter has that gritty, realistic feel of an Updike novel.To this point, it’s not near as dark as Rabbit Run, but the overall “feel” is the same. Read more

  Posted on 14 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The Time Robin Williams Read Narnia To His Daughter

  When I heard Robin Williams died the other day, I probably responded the same way as a lot of people. Shock. Surprise. Sadness. Read more

  Posted on 13 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Richard Ford On Finding His Writing Voice

  I’ve posted a lot of the Paris Review’s Art of Fiction series interview over the last few years. It’s a really interesting look into the personal and... Read more

  Posted on 12 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Looking Back On The Lord Of The Rings

  Oh, you thought I was done?Well, I’m almost finished talking about The Lord of the Rings…after today.I reviewed the book last week and have moved on to The... Read more

  Posted on 11 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• What Book Never Leaves Your “To-Read” List?

  Last week, I told you about a bookish pet peeve that I’m completely guilty of—that being buying books that I never read. Many of you share that same trait—thoug... Read more

  Posted on 08 August 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE