Books To Jump Up and Down Over
Magic Hours by Tom Bissell: This marvelous collection of essays chronicles everything from film shoots to novelists rescued from oblivion. (The essay on the Underground Literary Alliance, with its portrait of raucous factions, unexpectedly reveals how soft today's literary world has become.) But if you peer between the cracks of these smart pieces, you may very well see how cultural lives are formed from the most unexpected life choices. And as we follow Bissell's development as a writer over the years, that goes for Bissell as well. (Bat Segundo interview with Bissell)
Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway: Harkaway's latest novel greatly improves on his previous book, The Gone-Away World, which I'm already on record as praising. Angelmaker adopts genre elements without ever feeling like a genre book, and it leads me to believe that Harkaway is well on his way to a narrative grace close to China Miéville's. Yet inexplicably this very fun book, which includes an eightysomething badass named Edie Banister, a mysterious mechanical object that may destroy the world, farcical scenarios involving lawyers and the police, and some unexpectedly moving moments about fatherhood, doesn't appear to be getting much attention in American newspapers. Nothing from the snobs at The New York Times Book Review, nothing from The Washington Post. And since I can't get Harkaway on Bat Segundo, I hope this Jump Up and Down mention gets you hopping as well.
The Age of Insight by Eric Kandel: Unless you're really pressed for time, forget Jonah Lehrer. If you want to understand creativity and its relationship to neuroscience, then the bowtie-wearing Nobel laureate is your man. In addition to being a physically beautiful book (you will drool over many of the paintings), there are helpful overviews on optical illusions, science, biographical backgrounds, and many vital figures from the Vienna Secession. Kandel's enthusiasm (and his call for greater unity between the humanities and science) is contagious.
Archive for August, 2004
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Next Up in the Celebrity Avarice Department: Ethan Hawke?
Posted on August 9, 2004 | No CommentsMartin Amis’s The Information? Stephen King’s Bag of Bones? Charles Frazier’s advance for the Cold Mountain followup? They ain’t got nothing on Alicia Keys. -
So THAT Explains the Marriage (Or Not)
Posted on August 9, 2004 | 1 CommentSalman Rushdie says that pornography is vital to freedom. His views are to be published in a book called XXX:30 Porn Star, which features photos of porn stars and will... -
I’d Agree With Him Completely, But They’re Also Pretty Aggro About Overdue Fees
Posted on August 9, 2004 | No CommentsKurt Vonnegut believes that his America can be found in libraries. -
Instapundit Ballad
Posted on August 9, 2004 | No CommentsI snapped it with my camera, but didn’t cite the source And so my facts are proven. I’m right, you’re wrong. Of course! I’m the king of all the bloggers.... -
David Mitchell: Complacent? And does anyone care?
Posted on August 9, 2004 | 22 CommentsDueling mini-reviews of Cloud Atlas (courtesy of Kevin Wignall and Ed) pulled from Tingle Alley’s backblog: KW: David Mitchell is, I’m told, a lovely person, but he represents everything I... -
There Are Reasons
Posted on August 8, 2004 | No CommentsIf I haven’t answered your email during the past six weeks, there’s a reason. (And if you’re interested in seeing the results and you’ll be in San Francisco in September,... -
Critical Thinking
Posted on August 8, 2004 | No CommentsAnd now that the NYTBR is in my hands, I’d be remiss if I didn’t note Laura Miller cribbing from “Jeff” Eugenides’ definition of the “multicultral” novel without acknowledgment. Sigh.... -
Also, Hatchet Men Get Strange Ideas About Baker
Posted on August 7, 2004 | 4 CommentsSo this is Sam Tanenhaus’s idea of covering fiction? “scummy little book” — While attempting to read the book as he was cleaning his bathroom, Leon Wieseltier dropped the book... -
Bakers Get Strange Ideas in the Kitchen
Posted on August 7, 2004 | 2 CommentsPorn Bread. With recipes. Includes ejaculating eclair. (NSFW) -
Fire the Bastards!
Posted on August 6, 2004 | No CommentsThe September 2004 Book Sense picks have arrived. Howard Mosher above David Mitchell? We wuz robbed! (via Publisher’s Lunch) -
What-If Questions — The Hep New Way to Avoid Real Ideas About Literature
Posted on August 6, 2004 | No CommentsThis Saturday, literary experts will congregate upon Salinas to discuss one of the important questions of our time: Would Steinbeck vote for Kerry or Bush? What next? Herman Melville —... -
To Be Or Not to Be — Aha! Shakespeare Was a Beekeeper!
Posted on August 6, 2004 | 1 CommentThe gang at the Globe has issued a new disclaimer in their programs, suggesting that Shakespeare’s work was attributed to somebody else. If it’s Mary Sidney Herbert, the case that... -
zine machines
Posted on August 6, 2004 | No CommentsThe Washington Post Weekend looks at the current state of zines (sort of, in pretty skimming, general terms). (Note: The Rowe being quoted here is Chip Rowe, who works for... -
Around the ‘Sphere
Posted on August 5, 2004 | 1 CommentAL Kennedy (with Maud), Tanenhaus, (Complete Review taking piss of same), Andrei Codrescu (with Birnbaum), The Art of Not Writing Books, Robert Ferrigno (no relation to Lou) at Sarah’s, Stephen... -
We Have the Facts and We’re Voting “Asshole”
Posted on August 5, 2004 | 11 CommentsAlas, a bit of research shows that Herr Hamsun did indeed suffer from a case of Nazism. Worse, if that’s possible, he said and did things that rocket him way... -
Hungry for Accolades
Posted on August 4, 2004 | 2 CommentsI’ve found that The Writer’s Almanac is a lot easier to enjoy when you separate the content from Garrison Keillor’s soporific mumble. From today’s entry: It’s the birthday of novelist... -
Eidolon
Posted on August 4, 2004 | No CommentsSpeak, dear superfriends! Speak! Without your contras here, what is this place but a stunning white effulgence of nothingness? No troops, no slimy colonel speaking on television. Save dirge here,... -
Incommunicado
Posted on August 3, 2004 | 4 CommentsWe have only an inkling of what’s going down in the literary world. We thus return this blog to the control of the majestic Superfriends. It should be noted that... -
“Reading — Good for Caucasians, Dangerous for Everybody Else” — A Special Guest Column by Professor Mark “Grand Master” Whitemanson
Posted on August 1, 2004 | No CommentsNow that all the conclusions about the decline in reading have been laid out, it’s time to weigh in well after the worthwhile arguments have been exhausted. I’m talking about... -
you can have our backyard
Posted on August 1, 2004 | No Comments(….as soon as the birds leave anyway.) Guerilla drive-ins are the new best activity: For three years, cult-movie buffs have been organizing “guerrilla drive-ins” in a number of cities, rigging...