Constructor: Kanyin Ajayi

Relative problem: Very Easy

THEME: perhaps? — there are some suggestive symmetries, however theme? I do not suppose so …

Word of the Day: Paulo COELHO (35A: Paulo who wrote “The Alchemist”) —

Paulo Coelho de Souza (, Portuguese: [ˈpawlu kuˈeʎu]; born 24 August 1947) is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist and a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters since 2002. His novel The Alchemist turned a global best-seller and he has printed 28 extra books since then. (wikipedia)

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A literary puzzle for me, a literature professor, on my birthday (true story). I completely crushed this puzzle, as a lot of you’ll have as nicely, since it’s principally a Tuesday / Wednesday-level themeless. Hmmm, maybe if you’re utterly unfamiliar with “WIDE SARGASSO SEA” (16A: Jean Rhys novel that is a response to “Jane Eyre”) and “THINGS FALL APART” (56A: Chinua Achebe novel that is a response to “Heart of Darkness”), the puzzle would possibly’ve performed extra like a Saturday for you, however these titles are CANTERBURY TALES-level acquainted to me, so whoosh, I lit them up. I actually preferred the literary pairing there, one grid-spanning post-colonial novel echoing the opposite. But that wasn’t the one symmetrical echo. HIT OR MISS will get paired with RIDE OR DIE, after which there are the TWOSOMES who TIE A KNOT. I do know, technically the time period is “tie the knot,” however I nonetheless select to see this as a mini matrimonial theme, which will get TIE A KNOT a go on its EAT A SANDWICH-ness. TIE A KNOT is (okay)not good, however as a part of a matrimonial twosome with TWOSOMES, it magically turns into good. So you have bought your self a themeless puzzle right here, however there is a sure consideration to symmetrical pairings that provides it some semi-thematic playfulness. I actually preferred it, on the entire. 

LOOPER was by far the toughest factor on this grid (45D: Key piece of an overlock stitching machine). I wrote in LOOMER at first as a result of …. uh …. “stitching machine” and LOOM appeared to have one thing to do with each other, clothes production-wise. Thankfully, I knew that the Chinua Achebe title was not “THINGS FALL … A MART!” so I used to be in a position to change LOOMER to LOOPER—which is a fairly well-known film, directed by Rian Johnson, whose “Glass Onion” simply opened this weekend (so excited to see it!). I’d’ve liked a film clue for “LOOPER,” however as an alternative we get this considerably obscure stitching machine terminology … and it nonetheless would not actually sluggish me down in any considerable means. There have been another issues I did not know. Gemma CHAN, for example (40A: “Crazy Rich Asians” actress Gemma). But crosses made it clear it will be CHEN or CHAN, after which COCOA sealed the deal (it is CHAN!). I had SAN earlier than SAO, however that did not final lengthy. I had COEHLO earlier than COELHO, however that did not final lengthy. I forgot Kyle LOWRY existed, however then I remembered (could not inform you a factor about him, however I observe basketball sufficient to know his identify) (26A: Six-time N.B.A. All-Star Kyle). If there have been different pauses or hesitations in my fixing expertise, they have been minor. Overall, this puzzle was SASSy and I loved it.