Monthly Archives: July 2026

Gradual Improvement: Charles Webb’s THE GRADUATE vs. Mike Nichols’

Posted on July 28, 2026 by JE

When I find out that a movie I like is based on a book, I frequently seek out the book. It’s not just that I like books better than movies (though a case could be made, I guess). There’s just … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, books, comedy, movie review, review or meta-review | 6 Comments

Reader’s Block: THE THIEF WHO COULDN’T SLEEP by Lawrence Block

Posted on July 13, 2026 by JE

I’ve been hearing about Lawrence Block’s crime fiction since forever, but I finally got around to reading some. Now I wish I’d done it decades ago.

Posted in books, review or meta-review | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

How Clever Is Your Cleaver?

Posted on July 2, 2026 by JE

I was reading Dougan’s commentary on Cicero’s Tusculan Disputations, which is a perfectly normal thing to do, and at one point (ad 1.49.118) he suggested that the English word clever is derived from deliver. “Interesting, if true,” I thought, and … Continue reading →

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