On Lamination
Why do some books keep you on the outside?
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In my last post, I wrote about choosing books based entirely on whether I find the prose laminated (it pushes me out) or permeable (it lets me sink in).
After that post, I received a bunch of questions about what laminated writing is. I gave examples of the permeable last time. What then causes a piece of writing to be laminated—that is, it may have a beautiful sheen, bu…


