Robert Bruce

LATEST ARTICLES ( 529 )

• Let’s Talk Game of Thrones

  Okay, guys, I’ve got a new obsession.A few months ago, after realizing I had access to HBO GO on my iPad, I rolled through 4 seasons of Game of Thrones in... Read more

  Posted on 27 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• My Dirty Little Secret About Inspiration

  A few weeks ago, my writing team at work was talking about inspiration—the whole idea of how we get inspired and what inspires us to write. Read more

  Posted on 24 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Next Up: Brideshead Revisited

  Hello again, Evelyn Waugh.I last read Mr. Waugh’s (yes, Evelyn is a guy) work when I tackled my 49th book from the list, A Handful of Dust, which is also... Read more

  Posted on 23 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Book #80: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

  

  Have you ever been to a restaurant that gives you a palate cleanser?It’s usually a sorbet, or maybe it’s a drink, like warm tea, to cleanse your palate and... Read more

  Posted on 22 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The New Yorker Profiles Muriel Spark

  The New Yorker, as expected, wrote an outstanding profile of Muriel Spark in 2014.Check out the whole piece if you’re interested, but I thought I’d highlight a... Read more

  Posted on 21 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• What’s On Holden Caulfield’s Playlist?

  

  Oh, Spotify, how I love you.While I’m writing at work, I can pretty much pull up any song ever and listen to it—thanks to you, Spotify. Read more

  Posted on 17 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The Lifelong Rift Between Muriel Spark And Her Son

  Muriel Spark passed away in 2006 at the age of 88.In her will, Spark left her entire estate (valued at millions of dollars, according to The Standard) to a... Read more

  Posted on 16 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Miss Brodie: “Education is Leading out of Knowledge.”

  In The Prime of Miss Brodie, the protagonist (Miss Brodie) is a school teacher with a different take on education.She has a few select female students she’s... Read more

  Posted on 14 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Who’s Your Most Hated Fictional Character?

  Wednesday is Tax Day here in the United States. April 15. It’s a dreadful day.Having paid my taxes yesterday, I’m reminded of how much disdain I have for the... Read more

  Posted on 13 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• 6 Stupid Words You Should Drop From Your Vocabulary

  You know I have a thing with words. It’s a fault of mine–that being I too often judge people by the words they use.I’ve written about annoying words and gross... Read more

  Posted on 10 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Kurt Vonnegut Grades His Own Novels

  Love the transparency here.Letters of Note recently tweeted a photo of Vonnegut’s grades of all his novels.Some of you Kurt Vonnegut fans will appreciate this.... Read more

  Posted on 09 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Maggie Smith Shines As Miss Brodie

  You ever discovered an actor or actress late in their acting career and wondered where you’ve been?That’s how I feel about Maggie Smith.Let me preface this by... Read more

  Posted on 08 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Can Someone Explain This Book Cover To Me?

  

  I’ve been known to post about bad book covers before. The cover I featured in this post is perhaps the worst book cover I’ve ever seen–in that “so bad it’s good... Read more

  Posted on 03 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Next Up: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

  So now that Naked Lunch is gone with all its Nakedness, I’m excited to move on to the next novel.Enter The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.What do I know about this... Read more

  Posted on 02 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• 9 Ways To Become A Better You

  I’m a lover of life. Like, I really love life, and I want you to love life too.That’s why I wrote this blog post. When you’re a lover of life, you truly become... Read more

  Posted on 01 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Book #79: Naked Lunch

  

  I need a vacation.Naked Lunch is, without a doubt, the most tortured reading experience I’ve ever had. After about 110 pages, I finally just started skimming th... Read more

  Posted on 31 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• And The Next Five Novels Will Be…

  Thanks for voting on Friday and over the weekend, everyone.Here’s how the results turned out.The next 5 novels will be (listed by votes received, not the order... Read more

  Posted on 30 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• You Pick My Next Five Novels!

  So praise baby Jesus that I’m wrapping up Naked Lunch, and it’s time to pick the next five novels I’ll be reading from the Time list.We’re starting down the... Read more

  Posted on 27 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Fifty Shades of Grey: Is The Writing Really That Bad?

  

  I’ve never read 50 Shades of Grey, nor do I intend to, and I think most of you feel the same.And from the few small excerpts I’ve read, E.L. James is no... Read more

  Posted on 26 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Daddy Long Legs: Who Did Name You?

  After yesterday’s nasty post, we need a palate cleanser.Enter everyone’s favorite German, Flula. If you don’t know Flula, you should.Flula has a difficult time... Read more

  Posted on 25 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE