Line for line, Smiley delivers such clear, vibrant, precise prose — handed forth as calmly and equitably as an ice cream cone, even when she’s incensed — that a reader feels smarter just taking it in ... Focuses range far. Yet all feel connected by Smiley’s remarkable vision, conveyed in crystalline language ... This quality of keen, cool analysis suffuses every piece.
Smiley’s agile, seemingly blithe inquiries are wryly incisive, ethically rigorous, and propelled by her profound passion for literature as an endless source of illumination and liberation.
Smiley makes for great company, and her unpretentious style will appeal even to those whose eyes glaze over at the thought of revisiting these high school classics. Fleet-footed and smart, this delights.
