- Daphne Merkin profiles Tom Stoppard.
- Jerome Weeks reveals the astonishing exorbitance of the George W. Bush Presidential Library.
- The Star serves up an interesting article on the ethics of reviewing. (via Bookninja)
- Matthew Tiffany raises some important points on why Eggers shouldn’t be pilloried for his Infinite Jest flip-flop.
Marianne Wiggins reveals the inside dirt on selecting National Book Award finalists. But I’m wondering if it’s entirely fair to Dana Spiotta and Ken Kalfus to reveal to the world that they were last-minute replacements. An ethical slut would never tell his eleventh hour date that she’s sloppy seconds.- The Indie Spirit nominees have been announced.
- Locus offers a list of notable books through September 2007. (via Gwenda)
- Jonathan Lethem’s “Phil in the Marketplace.” (via The Publishing Spot)
- The Xmas Time Horrors That Await You
- How to Make Your Own Book (via Books, Inq.)
- Sarah geeks out to Don Carpenter. I may have to do the same. Thanks a lot, Lethem!
- The Tesla Roadster. Probably a good car for the Chums of Chance. (via Jenny D)
- Another Bebe Moore Campbell rememberance from Max.
Month / November 2006
I Was So Into Radiohead When I First Heard “Kid A” (Because My Friends TOLD Me It Was Cool!)
Leave it to the Rake to uncover a very interesting shift in opinion from Mr. Eggers.
Al Sharpton Goes Home Without Cookies Or Bloomberg Handshake
Roundup
- Mr. Sarvas talks with Jonathan Lethem on all matters Daniel Fuch.
- Ian McEwan is now fighting another plagiarism rap.
- RIP William Diehl.
- I’m sorry, but 1,500 words is not a novel. And what kind of life experience does a six year old have? Until this kid coughs up a gripping 75,000 word mystery about an icky girl trying to spread cooties to first graders, I remain unimpressed.
- Raul Guerra Garrido has received the Cervantes Prize. But if you ask me, Spain doesn’t throw nearly as much money around as New Zealand does.
- John Barrell demolishes Hitch.
- Could it be that Levi and Scott are starting to see the light?
- The Gray Lady discovers that girls like comic books too. Next week’s shocking discovery: Girls have vaginas!
- All My Children plans to include a transgender character.
- Over at Bookslut, Raina Bloom tallies up the Notable Books figures. No surprise. A sizable portion have written for the Times. The Times does not regret the error.
- I have lost faith in The Bat Sex Award. What were the judges thinking putting David Mitchell on the longlist? The whole point of the passage in question is to chronicle a twelve year old boy’s unfamiliarity with sex in an awkward manner. Go after the real literary criminals, such as the preposterous sex contained within Jay McInerney’s The Good Life.
- I haven’t read BeBe Moore Campbell, but Tayari observes her passing. Also from Tayari: John Ridley is an incoherent hack. But then you already knew that.
- I believe Lev Grossman may be the first critic to compare Infinite Jest with Dickens. (If I’m mistaken, please let me know.) Unfortunately, Grossman’s interesting observation is cut short by the ridiculous limitations of the 600 word review. I’m thinking Grossman should get a blog. (via Jeff)
- JSF has gone to the dogs. (via Gwenda)
- Will Self on gay polygamous Mormons. Only in Nerve. (via Locus)
Post-Thanksgiving Solutions
What is to be done? I have spent the past week gorging like Tip O’Neill at a buffet table and I have spent the morning sobbing into an empty cup of coffee, realizing that I no longer have the metabolism of a twenty-five year-old. How did this happen? Did I gain weight? Do I dare step onto the scale? Are these pants tighter or am I hallucinating?
There are, of course, solutions and I produce them here for the benefit of all parties:
1. Starvation.
Advantages: Dramatic weight loss, a test in ascetism.
Disadvantages: Hunger, low energy, an Auschwitz-like physique.
2. Salad diet.
Advantages: Healthy, calorie-conscious diet.
Disadvntages: A terrible betrayal to my carnivorous instincts. (Et tu, Brute?)
3. Running seven hours a day over the next week.
Advantages: Additional energy, a sudden fitness regimen.
Disadvantages: Potential hallucinations, no spare time, facing the terrible realization that I am out of shape, the possibility of turning into Jim Fixx and dying at 52.
4. Do nothing.
Advantages: No exertion of energy, getting in touch with my inner slacker.
Disadvantages: Nothing changes.
5. Option Five.
Advantages: It’s good to settle on something decisive if the first four options don’t pan out.
Disadvantages: What is Option Five?