As if another blog were necessary…

Hello all (and by all, I think I mean the abstract possibility of future readership),

Welcome to the Enfield Book Review! My name is Jed Cohen and I will be your sole (for the time being) book reviewer and trusty guide through the morass of language dubbed (perhaps incorrectly) literature. Rather than follow the tired formula of the book reviews we know and love, I will simply be writing about the books I’m currently reading, whether new or old, fiction, non-fiction or poetry. The obvious influence here is Nick Hornby’s great column in The Believer, though I’m much less clever, and I make much less money. I will also be writing about certain magazines and journals, in which the writing can be absolutely fantastic.

The purpose of this blog is quite personal, as I don’t presume that my pseudo-literary ramblings will interest you in the slightest. I have noticed in recent years that I forget pertinent details about almost any book I read, even if it’s a book I’ve loved. This has happened to me all too often — possibly due to burgeoning post-collegiate alcoholism — and I believe I’ve found a way to prevent my rapidly evaporating knowledge: by constantly writing about the books I’m reading; by documenting the outlandish interpretations and close readings English majors are seemingly built for. In this way I hope to cement these books in my memory, for better or worse, and hopefully these scribblings (or typings?) will guide your reading, and inspire you to comment.

William Kennedy, the renowned chronicler of upstate New York whose Albany cycle of novels has garnered numerous awards, once said, “It is my longstanding feeling that literary conversation is the best conversation in the world.” Though I can’t say I unreservedly agree, literary conversation is certainly some of the best, and I implore you to make comments and respond to the various postings here.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Jed