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 April, 2006
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The Bat Segundo Show #34
Posted on April 20, 2006 | No CommentsAuthor: Tom Tomorrow Condition of Mr. Segundo: Explaining his recent arrest for littering. Subjects Discussed: The relationship between text and image, Moebius strips, clip art, working in digital, color vs.... -
Latest Reading Meme
Posted on April 19, 2006 | 3 CommentsContinuing the meme (apparently originated by Patricia): Look at the list of books below. Bold the ones you’ve read, italicize the ones you might read, cross out the ones you... -
Who Knew the Male Book Reviewers of New York Were So Sexist?
Posted on April 19, 2006 | 2 CommentsNew York Press: “Who knew the women of public radio were so attractive?” -
The Ambitious Charge: Keeping the Literary Rabble in Line?
Posted on April 19, 2006 | No CommentsPowell’s interview with Jonathan Safran Foer: Dave: Something I want to ask: Your Wikipedia entry notes that detractors find you overly ambitious. I’m always puzzled when I hear that criticism,... -
Soon to Come: Millions Thrown Into Proving That Breasts Likely to Get a Man’s Attention
Posted on April 19, 2006 | No CommentsBBC: “Catching sight of a pretty woman really is enough to throw a man’s decision-making skills into disarray, a study suggests.” -
And While We’re At It, His Work Hasn’t Exactly Been Real News Either
Posted on April 19, 2006 | No CommentsNew York Times Corrections: “While he was hired to edit Page Six in 1985 and is its current editor, Mr. Johnson left The Post briefly in 1990 to work at... -
Charles Webb: the Jerry Siegel of 1960s Fiction?
Posted on April 19, 2006 | No CommentsBBC: “The author behind the film The Graduate faces eviction from his home in East Sussex because of rent arrears. Novelist Charles Webb, 66, and his partner have only days... -
More Like a NAMBLA Fantasy
Posted on April 19, 2006 | No CommentsThe origin of He-Man: “[Mattel president] Ray Wagner had passed on Star Wars because the license property apparently required $750,000 upfront. At the time, for an unproven property, that was... -
Crace’s New Novel a Bit of a Pest
Posted on April 19, 2006 | No CommentsThe other day, Publisher’s Lunch reported the following deal: Whitbread and National Book Critics Circle Award-winning novelist Jim Crace’s THE PESTHOUSE, to Nan Talese at Nan A. Talese, for publication... -
So Should I Make My Thoughts Known on “Joe Vs. the Volcano” So That Abe Vigoda Can Collect a Small Residual for His Pension?
Posted on April 19, 2006 | 1 CommentThe Guardian: “Bloggers and internet pundits are exerting a ‘disproportionately large influence’ on society, according to a report by a technology research company. Its study suggests that although “active” web... -
Scott McClellan Fired by Bush; Told He Wasn’t Enough of a Slimy Liar; Replaced by Unemployed Sock Puppet
Posted on April 19, 2006 | 1 CommentRELATED: Vanity Fair profile: “In McClellan’s case, almost all of his sentences are dead on arrival. Even the pre-written sentences (most every briefing begins with a statement about the president’s... -
Barely Awake Roundup
Posted on April 19, 2006 | 1 CommentAlmost finished podcast last night but collapsed circa 1:30, woke up this morning later (much later) than expected, somehow slept through a scheduled phone call (rectified, thankfully), received several crazed... -
Birnbaum Alert
Posted on April 18, 2006 | No CommentsRobert Birnbaum talks with Richard Reeves. Some interesting views on the Edmund Morris Reagan bio, Bob Woodward and this interesting quote: But America, going back to something we said before,... -
More Muriel
Posted on April 18, 2006 | No CommentsSpark’s Slate diaries. -
Roundup
Posted on April 18, 2006 | 4 CommentsEd Park offers a fab review of Black Swan Green. Really, folks, this is the way to write criticism. (via Jenny D) Also tackling Mitchell is Mr. Derek Weiler and... -
Centennial
Posted on April 18, 2006 | 2 CommentsThe 1906 earthquake centennial was a boorish affair — an exercise in gaudy gaucherie where the media was placed first and the people figured in last. Perhaps my feelings are... -
Jesus, They REALLY Want San Franciscans to Go to This
Posted on April 17, 2006 | No CommentsThe SFist: “We’re just trying to spare you some panic tomorrow morning, folks — if you hear bells and sirens at 5:12 a.m., no need to wonder about the cosmic... -
Charlene Li is Full of Shit
Posted on April 17, 2006 | No CommentsPodcasting News: “11% of all Americans have listened to audio podcasts. That translates into approximately 27 million Americans that have tried podcasts.” Of course, the term “trying podcasts” sounds suspiciously... -
Cartoon Blog
Posted on April 17, 2006 | No CommentsHere’s a new blog I discovered with taut posts, many headlines and frequent posting: The Daily Cartoonist. -
Pulitzer Winners Announced
Posted on April 17, 2006 | No CommentsThe 2006 Pulitzer winners have been announced: FICTION: Geraldine Brooks, March DRAMA: Declined to give award. HISTORY: David M. Oshinsky, Polio: An American Story GENERAL NONFICTION: Caroline Elkins, Imperial Reckoning:... -
New Clerks II Trailer
Posted on April 17, 2006 | No CommentsYouTube has the scoop. (via Ghost in the Machine) -
The LBC Lives
Posted on April 17, 2006 | No CommentsThe Litblog Co-Op has revealed its Spring 2006 choice. Like the last round, there will also be five special podcasts provided courtesy of the Bat Segundo show devoted to all... -
Death! Destruction! Earthquake! Fire! Time to Celebrate!
Posted on April 17, 2006 | No CommentsTomorrow at approximately 5:12 AM is the 100th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake. Your correspondent won’t be going all out like Frances, but being something of a city history junkie,... -
More Author Interviews
Posted on April 16, 2006 | No CommentsI stumbled across Charlie Ruas, a guy who’s talked with David Shipler, Dave King, Lily Tuck, A.S. Byatt and many others. Unfortunately, Ruas is a bit of a frightening interviewer.... -
Interviews on the APE Floor
Posted on April 16, 2006 | No Comments(Photo courtesy A to Zombies) -
Working Theory
Posted on April 15, 2006 | 4 CommentsYour advocate, who has spent his Saturday night finalizing his taxes, isn’t so much in a joyous mood (sadly, he has to pay), but is greatly relieved that it’s all... -
Jerry Ochler, Episode 2
Posted on April 15, 2006 | 1 Comment(MP3) -
Cool as Hell, Pinky’s Doing Swell
Posted on April 15, 2006 | No CommentsMichael Rice, who stunned listeners earlier this week with his dramatic departure into Masterpiece Theatre territory (without so much as a set of Retarded Ass Questions!), talks with his first... -
RIP Muriel Spark
Posted on April 15, 2006 | 1 CommentMuriel Spark has passed. She was writing all the way up until the end. I haven’t yet read any of her books, but I’ll definitely be checking her out soon.... -
Jerry Ochler, Episode 1
Posted on April 15, 2006 | No Comments[EDITOR'S NOTE: Return of the Reluctant is proud to introduce a new recurring podcast entitled "The Existential Crisis of Jerry Ochler." Mr. Ochler has agreed to appear for at least...