HeyJaredCritic at Play
I write literary criticism and cultural commentary focused on white American evangelicalism and the female experience.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 11
- Latest publication
- Sep 29, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 7, 2026
Latest issues
the Platitudypus (opens the original)
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Have you ever approached someone trusted with something difficult in your life, and they met your authentic question/cry for connection with a pat answer, a platitude? A stock phrase less designed to respond to your suffering and more designed to shut you up? In that case, my friend, you’re already familiar with the ‘thought-terminating cliché.’ “Let go and let God.” “If he brings you to it, he’ll bring you through it.”“It’s always darkest before the dawn.”“God gives his hardest battles to his s
A Field Trip to Focus on the Family (opens the original)
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*Note: Whenever I reference books, I’m going to start linking to them on Bookshop.org. If you don’t know about Bookshop, it’s an online book retailer built by people who actually care about literacy, equity, and the planet – a fantastic, convenient alternative to supporting billionaires who want to take over the world!These links are affiliate links.<a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KGAz!,f_auto,q_aut
Ladies in Fellowship Together (opens the original)
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Today’s Critic at Play is a shorter one because my best friend Hannah and I are going on an adventure!<img alt="" class="sizing-normal" height="1092" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KbVK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/htt
The Latest in Library Drama (opens the original)
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Libraries are our most vital third spaces—but they are not uncomplicated. I was scrolling Substack last week for my regular infusion of creativity, advice, and hot takes, when I saw a note from my friend , a librarian, referencing some kind of controversy in the library world. Former Washington Post book critic wrote about a joint study released by the Association of American Publishers (AAP) and the Authors Guild
Mourning Wendell Berry (opens the original)
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I’d been writing something else for this week, and then, last night, I was scrolling instagram when I was stopped short by ’s illustration of Wendell Berry paired with the words, “Lord have mercy.”<img alt=""
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