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CultureWatch: Joan L. Cannon Reviews The North Water, "a brilliant book ... but ..."
Joan L. Cannon writes: For readers who like adventure and macho behavior, subdued heroism with a dollop of basic cynicism, this will be a memorable experience. Descriptions are nothing short of brilliant, so vivid and evocative are they. For others who prefer some entertainment with a slice of terrible life, The North Water will be a trial in spite of its artistry. more »
Literary Lab Explores Why We Feel Suspense: You're sitting on the edge of your seat. Your heart starts racing. You scream aloud, "Don't open that door!"
Although the project is ongoing, the group's central finding so far is that suspense is characterized by the presence of words that convey how things appear to be rather than how they really are, such as "seemed," "perceived," or "observed." In other words, even if you already know what is going to happen next, the text's description of how things "seem" still triggers a feeling of uncertainty and suspense. more »
Culture Watch Reviews by Joan L. Cannon: The Railway Man's Wife and The Yoga of Max's Discontent
Joan L. Cannon reviews: Hay describes loves lost, pasts savaged by shock and horror, hopes defeated in the wake of happenings not yet consigned to experience. She describes vividly a landscape that enriches each of the main characters, and that beguiles the reader as brilliantly as any travel brochure. Bajaj is a master at creating suspense; it's hard to put the story down. The journey with Max will leave memories and likely questions for a very long time. more »
Domino Effect: Restoring, Backing Up, Collecting All Those Scattered Data Pieces and Photos, Oh My!
Roberta McReynolds writes: The very process of attempting to simplify data storage creates questions and problems I never encounter when I merely toss papers into a box to sort later. Admittedly that system also has drawbacks beyond the obvious fact that I can't locate, let alone remember, 80% of what’s in all those cardboard containers. Besides the risk of a fire hazard, it looks like I’m erecting a monument to hoarding. more »