Dwight Garner, by far the most visible editor at The New York Times Book Review, told the folks over at the National Book Critics Circle on Friday that he's leaving the job and joining the rotation over at the daily paper's Arts section. Mr. Garner confirmed in an e-mail this morning that he'll soon be in the mix with Janet Maslin and Michiko Kakutani, reviewing one or two books per week.

Mr. Garner, whose prominent role at The Times' book blog Paper Cuts and his weekly column on the best-seller list made him better known than most of his colleagues at the NYTBR, said the paper's culture editor, Sam Sifton, was bringing him in as a replacement for William Grimes, the former food critic who moved to the obituaries desk several months ago.  read more »

From Janet Maslin's review of Alice Schroeder's new Warren Buffett biography The Snowball:

Ms. Schroeder is as insightful about her subject’s precise anticipation of current financial crises as she is about his quirky personal story. And she is a clear explicator of fiscal issues. This sprawling, colorful biography will mesmerize anyone interested in who Mr. Buffett is or how he got that way.

A photo of Mr. Buffett at age 2 shows him grinning cryptically while clutching a toy tightly to his chest. It goes without saying that he was an unusual child.

Here's the photo she's referring to, which appears to show a toddler with a toy. Cryptic, indeed.

Janet Maslin loved Bright Shiny Morning. The teaser text on the New York Times books portal is "James Frey stepped up to the plate and hit one out of the park with his new book." Ms. Maslin's review, published today, is not only an unequivocal rave, but a tribute to Mr. Frey's choppy trademark style: "His publisher called it a dazzling tour de force.  read more »]]> Media James Frey Janet Maslin Mon, 12 May 2008 10:59:37 -0400 Leon Neyfakh 69056 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/38458 “It’s almost like watching a ballgame played without the ball,” Janet Maslin said.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/38458#comments Chris Rock Janet Maslin Jon Stewart Jonathan Landman Sun, 26 Feb 2006 19:00:00 -0500 Tom Scocca 38458 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/51911 “It’s almost like watching a ballgame played without the ball,” Janet Maslin said.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/51911#comments Chris Rock Janet Maslin Los Angeles Times Times Oscar Sun, 26 Feb 2006 19:00:00 -0500 Tom Scocca 51911 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/51912 “It’s almost like watching a ballgame played without the ball,” Janet Maslin said.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/51912#comments Chris Rock Janet Maslin Los Angeles Times Times Oscar Sun, 26 Feb 2006 19:00:00 -0500 Tom Scocca 51912 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/51734 Boys Do CryAt 5:19 on this week’s warm Monday night, the Charles Street home of Hilary Swank and C  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/51734#comments Style Chad Lowe Hilary Swank Janet Maslin Viggo Mortensen Sun, 15 Jan 2006 19:00:00 -0500 Observer Staff 51734 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/42002 After 22 years at The New York Times and too many bylines to count, film critic Janet Maslin is quit  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/42002#comments Media Harmony Korine Janet Maslin Lois Rosenthal Stanley Kubrick Sun, 26 Sep 1999 20:00:00 -0400 Carl Swanson 42002 at http://www.observer.com