The idea that a book can advise a woman how to capture a man is touchingly naive. Books advising men how to capture a woman are far less common, perhaps because few men are willing to admit to such a difficulty. For both sexes, I recommend a good novel, offering scenarios you might learn from, if only because they reflect a lot of doubt.

Last year, I reviewed a nine-hour documentary about the lives of Mongolian yak herdsmen, and I would rather see it again than sit through The Frighteners.

My newspaper job … is my identity.

What you see is so much less than what you get.

It has been said that the reason we establish relationships is to assure ourselves of a witness to our lives.

I do suspect my star ratings average too high. But, of course, star ratings are ridiculous. I'm stuck with them.

Going to a movie so you won't be offended is like eating potato chips made with Olestra; you avoid the dangers of the real thing, but your insides fill up with synthetic runny stuff.