Neither my mom nor my dad ever bought me any comic books. Certainly not for Christmas. I suspect that doing so would have violated the Parents' Code. Michael Dirda bookbuychristmas Change image and share on social
Digital texts are all well and good, but books on shelves are a presence in your life. As such, they become a part of your day-to-day existence, reminding you, chastising you, calling to you. Plus, book collecting is, hands down, the greatest pastime in the world. Michael Dirda bookcallchastise share on social
Reading books might itself be a bit weird, but obviously okay, since books were part of school, and doing well in school was clearly a good thing. But comics were more like candy, just flashy wrappers without any nourishment. Cheap thrills. Michael Dirda bitebookcandy share on social
Deep in my cortex, the year is divided into reading seasons. The period from mid-October to Christmas, for instance, is 'ghost story' time, while Jane Austen and P. G. Wodehouse pretty much own April and May. Michael Dirda aprilaustenchristmas share on social
I once read that there are more biographical works about Napoleon Bonaparte than any other man in history. Michael Dirda biographicalbonapartehistory Change image and share on social
I haven't read for pleasure in 35 years. I mean, I get a lot of pleasure from what I read... For me, it's gotten so that it doesn't seem as though I've read a book unless I've written about it. It really seems the completion of the reading process. Michael Dirda bookcompletionhave share on social
Books can be a source of solace, but I see them mainly as a source of pleasure, personal as well as esthetic. Michael Dirda bookestheticpersonal Change image and share on social
In classic noir fiction and film, it is always hot. Fans whirr in sweltering hotel rooms, sweat forms on a stranger's brow, the muggy air stifles - one can hardly breathe. Come nightfall, there is no relief, only the darkness that allows illicit lovers to meet, the trusted to betray, and murderers to act. Michael Dirda airbetraybreathe share on social
With the possible exception of steampunk aficionados, many reasonable people must view my fascination with Victorian and Edwardian popular fiction - mysteries, fantasy, and adventure - as eccentric or merely antiquarian. Michael Dirda adventureaficionadoantiquarian share on social
It's a sad commentary on our time - to use a phrase much favored by my late father - that people increasingly celebrate Christmas Day by going to the movies. Michael Dirda celebratechristmascommentary Change image and share on social