I have just re-read Grace Paley’s Collected Stories, a wonderful literary indulgence and massive time commitment I justified under the pretext of preparing for my role on a "literary committee" charged with introducing Grace as the guest of honor at a June 7 … [Read more...]

As I reflected on my jury duty, I noted the weird assumptions of the law. I had sneered at the ignorance of a prospective juror who declared stoutly during voir dire that he would want to know the backgrounds of accused and accusers, e.g. whether they’d been … [Read more...]

1. In the Central Jury Room, they show a video about the ascent of Justice from the age of medieval superstition to its present exalted state: Trial by Jury. The video depicts a suspect in brown robes being subjected to Trial by Ordeal—dunking in a pond or some … [Read more...]

My students believe that travel is broadening. More and more frequently I encounter students who want to be “travel writers.” Or they write about travel as a sign of a fictional character’s sensitivity and maturity. Someone sets a story in the Midwest, then has her … [Read more...]

I'm still playing catch-up so I won't go into detail about Danielle Dutton's excellent reading yesterday from her new book Attempts at a Life. It was amusing to arrive at the Four-Faced Liar on West 4th St., site of the Tarpaulin Sky reading series, a few minutes … [Read more...]