Tag: Beatty’s narrator
The Books Briefing: Akiko Busch
This is an edition of the revamped Books Briefing, our editors’ weekly guide to the best in books. Sign up for it here.
Almost as soon as printing became widespread, books began serving as teaching tools. Just consider one of the 16th century’s best sellers, Il Galateo, Overo de’ Costumi, a primer on proper social comportment (example: A person should not sniff at their food or drink; “the reason is that from his nose could fall those things
Nine Funny Books That Will Actually Make You Laugh
The phrase serious literature comes with an unfortunate double meaning. When we call books serious, we mean they are satisfying, well written, and worthy of consideration. But we also use serious as an antonym for funny, which can mislead us into assuming that a good book shouldn’t make us laugh. That’s too bad, because humor is a bona fide literary effect, right up there with tragedy, suspense, and profundity—just as much a part of the author’s toolbox but a