---
title: 'Susan Sontag, 1933-2004'
date: '2004-12-28T13:22:08-05:00'
permalink: /susan-sontag-1933-2004/
tags:
    - reading
---

According to the New York Times, [Susan Sontag](http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/28/books/28cnd-sont.html?ex=1261976400&en=f88d1db2e18c3c3b&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland) died today of complications from acute myelogenous leukemia.

I’m a bit in shock, I think. [Against Interpretation](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312280866/plannedobsole-20) was one of the books that drove me back into grad school, determined to write about contemporary culture in a way both smart and approachable. Today, what smarts I have are escaping me, and I’m left with precious little of interest to say.