Miriam M. Barnum

'War, So Much War' a Catalan Master Novelist's Grown-Up Fairy Tale

In her novel "War, so much War," the late Catalan writer Mercè Rodoreda successfully weaves an intricate allegorical examination of evil, both beautiful and disturbing, without the simplistic moralizing of many fairy tales.

'Coup de Foudre' a Clever Collection

Kalfus is at his best when he isn't trying too hard to be innovative, when he embraces the oddities that give his stories their spark without forgetting the need for character development and a sense of closure.

'The Dream of My Return' a Nuanced Dream

Castellanos Moya demonstrates his facility with the stream of consciousness narrative, masterfully depicting the psyche of an exiled journalist trapped in a Kafkaesque nightmare of anxiety and paranoia.

'Aureate Gloom' Uninspired Moroseness

"Aureate Gloom" shows that of Montreal's wellspring of stylistic creativity is drying up.

'The Country of Ice Cream Star' Shines

If there is any weakness in “The Country of Ice Cream Star,” it is that it tries too hard to do too many things. Newman seems driven by a compulsion to ensure no dystopian trope is neglected.

“Clocks” Worth Your Time

It is difficult for a single review to capture everything that is David Mitchell's “The Bone Clocks.” The novel is by turns family drama, political commentary, cultural history, fantasy epic, and post-apocalyptic vision.

All "Bark" and No Bite

"Bark" is unable to accomplish its goals without descending into its own form of absurdity—an expanse of self-conscious irony, uninspired metaphors, and general narrative aimlessness.

"Ripper" Not Quite a Thriller

While “Ripper” is an enjoyable read and a generally successful novel, it is also an experiment with mystery writing—one that suggests Allende's prodigious talents are most effectively used in the genres with which she is most familiar.

The Harvard Grade Generator

By now everyone's heard the news: Harvard hands out good grades like candy. Dining halls are alive with the sounds of students wondering who is getting all of these apparently ever-so-abundant As.

New Policy on Harvard Business Review Articles Sparks Debate

A spokesperson maintains that the Aug. 1 restrictions do not represent a new policy, but rather a means of enforcing existing terms of use.

Because Twitter is probably a Warner Bros. casting director’s first stop.

So you’re not too old to play an imaginary creature in an imaginary world?

Crikey! Would you look at the size of that acromantula? What a beaut!

In case you were wondering what everyone will be saying when the movie doesn’t live up to their expectations.

A mystery that has plagued “Harry Potter” fans for years. I hear they can be difficult to spot in the wild.

Yes, the lack of tangentially related “Harry Potter” prequels is definitely just as bad as sitting in a prison cell in the middle of the North Sea letting literally soul-sucking creatures drain every happy thought from your mind.

Doesn’t everyone wear a wizardry school uniform underneath their clothes?

Actually, I couldn’t have put it better myself.

The Craziest Reactions to J. K. Rowling's 'Fantastic Beasts' Movies Courtesy of the Internet

The news that J. K. Rowling's "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is going to be adapted into a movie series inspired a multitude of different emotions. Here are the craziest.