mAKE iNTERESTING wISHES

An unabashed nerd's review of "Star Trek: Into Darkness" and I agree with every word. Spoilers ABOUND.

Might be a little too removed, but I like the dissection of book reviews (themselves the dissection of books).

I admit it: I love these kinds of discursive literary conversations online.

I don't think I agree with this (since the web allows for negativity, arguing, and hatchet jobs just as easily as it does "liking") but the point is an interesting one, and well-made.

Reminds me a little bit of this older Jonathan Franzen essay. But the real problem that Franzen and Silverman have is with the easy, facile nature of online “liking.” I’d argue that there is plenty of (perhaps more than plenty of) excellent discussion and debate online. Perhaps not on Twitter, but if it’s (intelligent) disagreement and dissension you crave, I don’t think it’s hard to find. Or endangered.

This is an absolutely terrific read in a genre I typically despise: The Author Talks About Himself, His Reviews, and/or His Sales. However! Patrick Somerville has written a lovely piece that manages to walk the tightrope of self-pity near-perfectly.