Robert Bruce

LATEST ARTICLES ( 529 )

• The Best-Ever Quote About Ayn Rand

  I’ll be honest. I don’t know who John Rogers is, but if this isn’t the best-ever quote about Ayn Rand then I don’t know what is.If you love Ayn Rand, well,... Read more

  Posted on 02 June 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• What’s Your Unpopular Book Opinion?

  This post on Reddit inspired me. And that’s saying something. Because to find anything inspiring on the Reddit Books forums is a rarity, unless you’re inspired... Read more

  Posted on 30 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Dave Eggers Loves Infinite Jest, Or Does He?

  It seems like ages ago when I read Infinite Jest. When was that? 2011 to be precise. I had one kid at the time, and he wasn’t even one yet. Read more

  Posted on 29 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• My Answers To 10 Questions: Round 4

  Thanks for playing 10 Questions last Friday. You guys had some great answers, and I enjoyed reading them, though I was out of town and couldn’t comment much. Read more

  Posted on 28 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• 10 Questions: Round 4

  It’s been awhile since we’ve played 20 Questions, mainly because I’m running out of questions, but also because 20 Questions is just too many.So I’ve renamed... Read more

  Posted on 23 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Should A Dead Author’s Private Letters Become Public?

  One of the few things that stood out to me while I was reading Possession was this issue of publishing letters of dead authors. Read more

  Posted on 22 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The Troubling Stats About Kids And Reading

  Frank Bruni at The New York Times wrote an outstanding op-ed last week about kids who read—and why our society needs them.He quotes a recent report by Common... Read more

  Posted on 21 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Elizabeth Bowen Channels Her Inner Stephen King

  Obviously, I’m not reading short stories right now. But I have to say that Elizabeth Bowen’s short story called The Demon Lover has me intrigued.The Demon... Read more

  Posted on 20 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• 5 Terribly Annoying Grammar Mistakes

  I used to edit a lot more than I do these days. Thankfully, better editors were hired for the job and I was allowed to focus on what I enjoy more—writing.But I... Read more

  Posted on 16 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The Bright Side Of The Death Of The Heart

  I try my best to be fair about the books I’m reading. After all, if I’m reading through all 101 of these novels, I want to do everything I can to enjoy them.... Read more

  Posted on 15 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The Most Unfortunate Of Typos

  I don’t even know what to say about this, guys, but I find it hilarious.Sarah Welland from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books discovered an extremely unfortunate typo... Read more

  Posted on 14 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Elizabeth Bowen On Character Development

  There’s an old BBC interview from 1956 with Elizabeth Bowen, author of The Death of the Heart, in which she discusses the importance of strong characters. Read more

  Posted on 13 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Star Wars: Retribution

  Did you hear the one about the college football player who made the Star Wars fan film?That football player is wide receiver Chris Conley from the Georgia... Read more

  Posted on 12 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Dear Mom

  Mother’s Day is Sunday here in the U.S., and I must say that I’ve got a pretty amazing Mom.Let me tell you about her a little bit. Read more

  Posted on 09 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Let’s Revisit That Opening From The Death Of The Heart

  I read through your comments on Tuesday’s post in which I gave you the opening to The Death of the Heart and asked for your thoughts on it.A few... Read more

  Posted on 08 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Literary Meals That Will Make You Hungry

  

  Over the past ten years, I’ve become one of those awfully annoying people you might know as “foodies.” I really hate that word, foodie, but if someone were to... Read more

  Posted on 07 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• What Do You Think Of This Opening?

  Today’s post is simple.First, read the opening paragraph to The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen.THAT morning’s ice, no more than a brittle film, had... Read more

  Posted on 06 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• One Reason eReaders Could Bust Your Budget

  I’ve talked about eBooks and paper books a lot on here. Many of you might know that I’m a traditional book guy—and I won’t badger you for liking eBooks, but the... Read more

  Posted on 05 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Here Are 8 Of The Greatest Literary Mustaches

  

  As I was doing a little research on Red Harvest and its author Dashiell Hammett, I couldn’t help but be struck by the wonder that is Hammett’s mustache.You’ll... Read more

  Posted on 02 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Next Up: The Death Of The Heart

  The brief, enjoyable reading that was Red Harvest is now behind me, and it’s time to move on to my 71st book. Next up on the Time list is The Death of the... Read more

  Posted on 01 May 2014 BOOKS, CULTURE