This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts. Last week, the fine folks at Paper Cuts, the NY Times’ book blog, came ...

In the beginning of George Saunders' short story "Home," published in The New Yorker in 2011, Mikey, a vet just returning from war in the Middle East, goes to visit his mother. Almost everything looks ...

Q: I have always wondered about the strange spelling of the word "poignant." Can you tell me how this came about? V.C., Gary, Ind. A: The spelling of "poignant" is indicative of its French influence.

Some moments stay with us not because they were loud or dramatic, but because they reach something deep inside. It might be a goodbye that stays with you, a memory that comes back unexpectedly, or a ...