Benjamin Kunkel on Samuel Beckett: “Easy on the eyes, Beckett is, however, a hard read. His plays continue to be performed, but as a novelist—and he considered playwriting ‘mainly a recreation from working on the novel’—he is increasingly more honored than read.”
Month / July 2006
eBullshit
Cerado: “In an exclusive e-mail exchange with our editors, the reclusive vowel talks about what he’s been doing since the year 2000, his investment strategy, and his thoughts on whether we’ve entered a new technology bubble.” (via Laughing Squid
It’s Funny Because It’s True
The Best Desire Andrew Lloyd Webber Has Felt in Years
BBC: “Speaking to the Radio Times, the Evita composer said he did not have ‘a huge desire’ to write another musical.”
Roundup
- Pinky remembers Rupert Pole, who recently passed away. Pole was otherwise known as Anais Nin’s lover and (later) executor of her estate. But if it weren’t for Pole’s presence, I’d have to mention the story anyway, simply because any tale involving a barechested 70 year old man, asparagus and NPR is simply too good to pass up.
- Le Haggis asks Curtis Sittenfeld 20 cues. One response: “I know it’s sort of fun and frothy to imagine literary feuds, but I don’t think every negative review comes from the reviewer’s malice.” Really, Curtis? Calling Melissa Bank a slut ain’t malicious? Well, by that measure, here is my “review” of The Man of My Dreams: I saw Curtis’s phone number in the bathroom. People have told me she’s great in bed, the way literary novelists are often perceived to be great in bed. She will even let you tie her up if you ask politely. But mostly she wants to manacle your wrist to your leg without your permission and she doesn’t rectify this when you cry out the safe word. This has been an unmalicious review.
- Salman Rushdie vs. Germaine Greer redux. (via Bookninja)
- Laila Lalami reviews Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home.
- The next victim of Turkish literary censorship: Elif Shafak.
- Laura Lippman talks with the Toledo Blade: “That’s one of the great things about having worked in a newsroom. I don’t need a completely silent retreat from the world. As a matter of fact, I like working in a place that’s buzzy like a coffeehouse. All I need is my laptop.”
- Will the late Montreal novelist Hugh MacLennan make a comeback from beyond the grave?
- Ron Silliman on Clark Coolidge.
- A 2001 interview with John Berger. (via wood s lot)
- Kerp on Fesperman.
- Who knew that Sarah Waters’ The Night Watch was a beach read? (And there is also some indication in that list that Updike’s Terrorist is getting a warmer reception across the Atlantic.)
- Hard SF: a new review site to investigate. (via Locus)