etc.

Gertrude Johnson is the new Creative Writing instructor (and a sort of Writer-in-Residence, although she isn’t called that) at a fictional all-girls college called Benton. This deliciously satirical novel is about Gertrude’s deliciously satirical novel about life at Benton, a satire that cunningly lances the pedantic personalities at the institution as well as the institution itself and academe in general. If you’re a little confused, you should be. The novel (Jarrell’s novel, that is) is a cunning patchwork of caustic jabs and hilarious vignettes, and if you’re in the mood for some ignoble reading at this very noble time of year (and who can blame you?), you’d do well to pick up this one.