Moranthology
The truth will set you free, some say. In Moran’s case, it will make you guffaw. The British columnist is nothing if not bracingly honest, from her commentaries on Keith Richards (everything he says is “in the cadence of Pirate”) to her own sartorial insecurities (“I need to know if I look like some manner of ‘Lady Ace Ventura—Pet Detective’”). In this follow-up to How to Be a Woman (2012), Moran once again opines on American and British pop culture, touting Ghostbusters as the greatest film of all time (against which Star Wars doesn’t stand a chance) and BBC smash hit Sherlock as the television program that puts all others to shame. (It doesn’t hurt that its star, Benedict Cumberbatch, is a total hunk.) Moran has some serious moments, too, including a paean to the power of local libraries—“cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination.” This witty and wise collection is sure to expand Moran’s fan base on this side of the pond. --Allison Block