Essays & Musings

What We’ve Been Thinking About

Thoughts on books, reading, culture, and the literary life.

the ask@AAR: What series/book would you like to see adapted for TV?

the ask@AAR: What series/book would you like to see adapted for TV?

April 1, 2022

While we had varying degrees of satisfaction around the latest season of Bridgerton, I think we all agree it’s excellent to see romance novels adapted for TV. Given how wildly…

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We have to ask: What did you think about the Oscars?

We have to ask: What did you think about the Oscars?

March 30, 2022

I didn’t watch the Oscars–I’m an NCAA basketball fan (The extraordinary event that will happen when, for the first time, Duke meets UNC in the tournament in Saturday’s Final Four…

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Bridgerton Season Two has arrived!

Bridgerton Season Two has arrived!

March 26, 2022

It’s here! I’ve just watched episode one–I thought it was smashing. I love the Queen’s boredom, Kate’s chat with Lady Danbury, Penelope’s desire for Lady Whistledown to do more, Benedict’s…

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the ask@AAR: What was your first paying job?

the ask@AAR: What was your first paying job?

March 25, 2022

When I was 16, I wanted my own phone line–we were a family of six and my father had rules. My parents agreed that as long as I kept my…

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the ask@AAR: Are you ready to travel?

the ask@AAR: Are you ready to travel?

March 18, 2022

Today, I, Dr. Feelgood, and our twins are going abroad. I can barely believe it. We’ve not left the country since Covid hit. But it’s our daughter’s spring break and…

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What are you watching?

What are you watching?

March 14, 2022

My mother, who’s been staying with me for a bit, is watching The Gilded Age. She’d already started it before she came, so I’m not watching it with her although…

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the ask@AAR: What do we think about all that butt stuff?

the ask@AAR: What do we think about all that butt stuff?

March 11, 2022

OK, it’s a thing. I’ve just read my third contemporary romance in a row in which fingers find their way into what is often referred to the back door. This…

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How to support AAR via Amazon

How to support AAR via Amazon

March 9, 2022

Recently we ran into yet another problem with our affiliate links at Amazon, our main source of income. In the process of solving that problem, I got ACTUAL FACTS from…

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Are people ruder?

Are people ruder?

March 7, 2022

I’ve had two friends in the past week say they think people are becoming “more self-absorbed,” “ruder,” and “less empathetic.” A close family member said she feels like she needs…

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the ask@AAR: What’s your favorite love story?

the ask@AAR: What’s your favorite love story?

March 4, 2022

Have you seen Spielberg’s West Side Story? It’s good–a fairly faithful remake of the 1961 film–with gorgeous song and dance scenes and a heartbreaking finish.  I grew up with the…

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An apology for today’s the ask@AAR

An apology for today’s the ask@AAR

February 25, 2022

I am so sorry for the phenomenal insensitivity and stupidity of today’s Ask.  I had written it earlier in the week in a poorly thought out effort to connect romance to…

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the ask@AAR: How are you doing?

the ask@AAR: How are you doing?

February 18, 2022

Today I had one of those days that everything seemed harder than it should have. Home Depot, for the third time, didn’t show up to deliver my dishwasher so I…

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What We’ve Been Thinking About

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