Robert Bruce

LATEST ARTICLES ( 529 )

• This Is The Most Vile Passage I’ve Ever Read

  

  And we’re back to talking about Naked Lunch, perhaps the most uncomfortable, steaming pile of dog poo novel I’ve ever read.With hesitation, I want to give you a... Read more

  Posted on 24 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• At What Point Do You Quit On A Novel?

  I touched on this last Thursday in regards to Naked Lunch.I’m about halfway through the novel now, so I’m thinking I can force myself through the final 100... Read more

  Posted on 23 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Bookish Pet Peeve #10: Book Trailers

  The book trailer is a relatively new thing in our modern era of social media and book marketing. I understand why publishers and marketers do it. Read more

  Posted on 20 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• With Naked Lunch, I Might Have Finally Met My Match

  It’s happened to all of us.A novel makes a “best of” list, maybe like Time Magazine’s—the critics love it—some of our friends say it’s great and some online... Read more

  Posted on 19 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• 64 Classic Books Battle It Out Bracket-Style

  Every March, I think about making up a great books bracket, matching up 64 of the best novels ever head to head, a la March Madness style. But I’ve never done... Read more

  Posted on 18 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Naked Lunch On Trial For Obscenity

  Boston, Massachusetts has often been the setting of some major trials, including the one going on right now for the Boston Marathon bomber.But, back in 1962, a... Read more

  Posted on 17 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• My Most Popular Posts, Broken Down By Category

  Having published more than 1,000 posts on 101 Books over the last four-and-a-half years, it’s easy for me to completely forget about some of my past... Read more

  Posted on 13 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Next Up: Naked Lunch

  Okay, then, here we go with Naked Lunch.William Burroughs writes in an experimental style—imagine William Faulkner as a beat writer. I believe I’ll really need... Read more

  Posted on 12 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Book #78: Housekeeping

  

  I want to say awesome things about Housekeeping.I want to tell you how much I loved the novel, how much the characters moved me, and how engaged I was by... Read more

  Posted on 11 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Did A Computer Or A Human Write This?

  According to the New York Times, “a shocking amount of what we’re reading is created not by humans, but by computer algorithms.”Really? I had no idea. Read more

  Posted on 10 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Snowed-In Cabin Or Sunny Beach?

  I love reading on the beach.With two boys under 5, I don’t get many opportunities when we go on vacation, but reading in a lounge chair, under and umbrella,... Read more

  Posted on 09 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• The Lord of the Rings Mythology In 5 Minutes

  Have you ever felt a little confused about The Lord of the Rings mythology—like how many rings are there and how they were created? Read more

  Posted on 05 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• William Faulkner’s Drinking Was A Matter Of National Security

  

  Times they have a-changed, friends.In today’s “image means everything” political climate, I can’t imagine the United States sending a drunken author overseas... Read more

  Posted on 04 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Conversations With Marilynne Robinson

  Today’s video comes courtesy of the University of Iowa and the Big Ten Network.As an aside, who knew the Big Ten network produced high-brow literature pieces... Read more

  Posted on 03 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• What’s Your Rules On Spoilers?

  Back when the new Great Gatsby movie was coming out, I wrote a post with a story about a friend who complained when I ruined the plot for him.Basically, as I wa... Read more

  Posted on 02 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Bookish Pet Peeve #9: Snobby Authors

  I would imagine that all of us, whether we’ll admit it or not, have a snobby bone or two in our bodies.I struggle with book snobbery at times. Read more

  Posted on 27 February 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Does Fear Hold You Back?

  If you think about it, how much of what we do in our daily lives is motivated by fear?In an interview with Wyatt Mason for The New York Times in October 2014,... Read more

  Posted on 26 February 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Fun With Word Counts

  

  This blog post is 133 words.The average article I write for my day job is around 600 words.The estimated word count on the book I’m pitching to agents is... Read more

  Posted on 25 February 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• “To Crave and to Have Are as Like as a Thing and Its Shadow.”

  So I wasn’t crazy about the opening paragraph in Housekeeping, as I explained recently.But as I mentioned in that same post, Marilynne Robinson’s writing style... Read more

  Posted on 24 February 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• My Answers To Literary Would You Rather (6th Edition)

  Thanks for playing Literary Would You Rather on Friday. You all had some awesome answers.We had 47 responses, so I take it that you guys enjoyed it.Now it’s my... Read more

  Posted on 23 February 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE