Mary Daniels Brown

Mary Daniels Brown learned at an early age how to read people, and she’s been doing that ever since. Combining advanced education in both literature and psychology, she reads and reviews novels that explore identity, the search for meaning and purpose in life, and the varieties of human experience. She’s been blogging about books at Notes in the Margin for more than 25 years. Mary believes that her focus on Life Stories in Literature has made her both a more astute reader and a happier, more human person.

Notable Crime Books of 2011 – NYTimes.com

Notable Crime Books of 2011 – NYTimes.com. What people like to read is always a matter of personal taste, but taste becomes especially important in the mystery genre, which can range from the civilized cozy to the darkest noir. New York Times crime reviewer Marilyn Stasio acknowledges this and therefore separates her best books list […]

Notable Crime Books of 2011 – NYTimes.com Read More »

The Best of 2011: Editors’ Picks & Customer Favorites | Audible.com

The Best of 2011: Editors’ Picks & Customer Favorites | Audible.com. Audiobook giant Audible.com offers a huge number of lists of “best books of 2011.” (They even have a list devoted to the year’s best zombies.) Customers’ favorites are included along with editors’ picks.

The Best of 2011: Editors’ Picks & Customer Favorites | Audible.com Read More »

Mark Twain quotes: 10 favorites on his birthday – A recipe for contentment

William Faulkner called him “…the first truly American writer.” Ernest Hemingway declared that all American writing comes from “Huckleberry Finn,” and “there has been nothing as good since.” And Norman Mailer said “Huck Finn” stands up “page for page” to the “best modern American novels.” Wednesday marks the 176th anniversary of the birth of the

Mark Twain quotes: 10 favorites on his birthday – A recipe for contentment Read More »

Monday Miscellany

Books | Talking Book and Braille Library in Seattle is a volunteer wonder | Seattle Times Newspaper The Washington Talking Book and Braille Library serves more than 10,000 state residents and runs on the best efforts of 400 volunteers, providing recorded and Braille books for anyone with a disability that prevents them from reading books

Monday Miscellany Read More »

Monday Miscellany

The fiction of literary friendship Writing in the Guardian, Wayne Gooderham concludes: “Judging by the stories that have been written about it, writers do not make the best of friends.” 10 Most Reclusive Literary Geniuses in History The world’s greatest writers use their literary genius to illustrate and comment on the human condition. And yet,

Monday Miscellany Read More »

Scroll to Top