Review of Laurel Snyder's The Myth of the Simple Machines at Pickle Me This.

That these simple machines would do much more than they appear to. The ordinary language is arranged in extraordinary ways, syntax twisted to catch on, wordplay belying horror, images arranged with every element in its place and things are not what they seem, nor will they stay that way. The seesaw illustration on the cover absolutely fitting, tilting back and forth with every line-- hanging on "only", "despite", "but", "and then..." and even when these conjunctions are not present, we sense the same weighing effect.