Mary Daniels Brown

My mother always insisted that, as soon as I was old enough to sit up, she’d find me in my crib after my nap babbling away, with a Little Golden Book on my lap. I’ve had my nose in a book ever since. I grew up in a small town, with the tiny town library literally in my backyard. As an only child in an unhappy home, I found comfort and companionship in books. As an adult I wanted to be Harry Potter, although I admit I’m more Hermione. My life has been a series of research projects. Reading has taught me that human lives are deliciously messy and that “it’s complicated” isn’t a punchline.

What do you look for in a book review?

Literary Criticism / By /

The question of what exactly a book review is and what it should do comes up often on the internet. So far I’ve tried to avoid it, because it’s a big question that requires a big answer. But the question is impossible to avoid this morning, with two particular articles getting lots of mention on

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The acclaimed creator of Harry Potter is excited about new book for adults – USATODAY.com

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The acclaimed creator of Harry Potter is excited about new book for adults – USATODAY.com. Read this exclusive interview with J. K. Rowling in preparation for tomorrow’s launch of her new novel for adults, A Casual Vacancy.

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New Material Added to Notes in the Margin

Notes in the Margin / By /

A busy summer prevented me from posting regular updates to the main site of Notes in the Margin. But I’m finally back with a new installment of the following materials: Nonfiction Notes Mrs. Robinson’s Disgrace by Kate Summerscale   Fiction Notes The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Two by

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Monday Miscellany

Awards & Prizes, Book Recommendations, Literary Criticism, Literary History, Monday Miscellany / By / / , , , ,

Some of what I’ve been reading over the last week: Why J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ Isn’t Just For Kids On the 75th anniversary (September 21) of the publication of J.R.R. Tolkien’s first novel, The Hobbit, Corey Olsen explains why the book isn’t just for kids: “The Hobbit” is a brilliantly constructed story unfolding themes that

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Taproot woos fans of Dorothy L. Sayers in upcoming ‘Gaudy Night’

Literary Criticism, Literary History / By / / ,

Taproot woos fans of Dorothy L. Sayers in upcoming ‘Gaudy Night’ | The Arts | The Seattle Times Seattle Times theater critic Misha Berson provides some background on Dorothy L. Sayer’s ground-breaking character, Harriet Vane: And what was groundbreaking about both “Strong Poison” and “Gaudy Night”? The brilliance and fierce independence of a witty, learned

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Monday Miscellany

Book Recommendations, Literary Criticism, Monday Miscellany / By /

Some weeks seem slow in terms of good book-related reading, while others, like this one, throw one interesting article after another my way. I’m guessing the reason is not so much a function of what everyone else is writing as it is of how much effort I put forth to find good material to recommend.

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Monday Miscellany

Author News, Awards & Prizes, Fiction, Film, Literary Criticism, Literary History, Monday Miscellany, Publishing, Reading / By / / , ,

Here’s what I’ve been reading this week: Why the Best Mysteries Are Written in English From the pen of Otto Penzler: It is an inarguable fact that virtually everything of interest and significance in the history of detective fiction has been written in the English language, mainly by American and English authors. This is not

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