"Why is it that so many reality dating shows use formats that recall the courtship rituals of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century novels?" Miranda Hoegberg compares forms old and new.

"I’ve spent many years searching for some version of my story, yet what seems a simple premise—'daughter carries on without father'—is not so simple to find in children’s literature." Abigail Spencer on the Amber Brown series

"By then, I knew that what I had always wanted from a story was what I had wanted from life: to make it mean something despite what seemed like utter chaos." Samantha Colicchio on her journey with the hit TV show Lost. the-rambling.com/2024/11/23/i...

Give thanks—The Rambling is out! From Lost to Lord of the Rings, reality TV to “succubus chic,” you will not lack for conversation at the dinner table after reading our latest issue, now live at the-rambling.com.

Turkey trot your way over to @therambling.bsky.social straight away, because our latest issue is out—from Lost to Lord of the Rings, reality TV to “succubus chic,” you will not lack for conversation at the dinner table after reading the essays at the-rambling.com. 🐌🦃

Bluesky is officially “open” now (no more invites). So just a reminder to not engage with trolls and bad actors, there is no algorithm here to promote or spread them, replying to them is what puts them on everybody’s timelines. So block and give no oxygen.

“Writing prose for experts is seen as harder than writing prose for non-experts, and I just don’t think that’s true. They’re both hard in different ways, and they’re both a practice.” @bethanysays.bsky.social @devoney.bsky.social #c18th #AcademicSky

I write fiction and I run the production department of an academic press. Writing fiction is MUCH, MUCH HARDER at the prose level. Academic writing with brilliant ideas, convincing arguments and evidence, and dull prose will still get published. Fiction has to achieve telepathy.

This was FASCINATING

Check out The Rambling's fantastic new issue!

when I wrote about basically being Mr. Darcy

Congressional staffers say an onslaught of calls and emails asking for members to support a cease-fire has caught Dems completely off-guard. “I’ve never seen such a disconnect between where voters and constituents are and where Congress is"

Nikki Haley to Ramaswamy: “well, you’re just scum” undoubtedly best thing ever said on a Republican debate stage.

Please sign this petition to keep funding NEH. It's quick and easy. Thanks. 🗃️

Please spread the word about the Ithaca College Pre-Doctoral Diversity Fellowship! A one year fellowship where you teach one course per semester and are paid $42k plus $5k travel/professional development funds, plus various forms of mentoring.

no one has ever made a better Lady Bracknell joke

very excited for The Rambling on bluesky