Pictures from an Institution, by Randall Jarrell | Dreaming Beneath the Spires

What I am Reading: Pictures from an Institution, by Randall Jarrell. Luscious, carefully written sentences, each one a delight. One of the most carefully written novels I’ve read in a long time. Not just funny, but absolutely hilarious. Enjoyed the portrayal of Mary McCarthy as Gertrude
Another academic novel, this one set in Oxford High School which my daughters attend. Daughters of Jerusalem by Charlotte Mendelson. Carefully observed but a bit too caustic and misanthropic for my taste. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.


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