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 January, 2007
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Clive Owen as Marlowe?
Posted on January 25, 2007 | 1 CommentComing Soon: “Children of Men producer Marc Abraham has revealed to The Courier-Journal that he will reteam with that film’s star Clive Owen for a feature adaptation of one of... -
How This Will Help Neutered Dogs Looking for a One Night Stand in a Bar with the Neighborhood Tramp is Anyone’s Guess
Posted on January 25, 2007 | No CommentsNewsvine: “After a long day hunting, there’s nothing like wrapping your paw around a cold bottle of beer. So Terrie Berenden, a pet shop owner in the southern Dutch town... -
And While We’re Talking About Bands Reuniting
Posted on January 25, 2007 | No CommentsVan Halen & David Lee Roth, with Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang filling in for Michael Anthony. (via Fimoculous) -
Signs of Aging
Posted on January 25, 2007 | 1 CommentClick on the cat. I can hear up to 15,000 Hz. (via Quiddity) -
Roundup
Posted on January 25, 2007 | No CommentsApparently, there’s a nutbar trying to off writers in Turkey. He killed Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and threatened Orhan Pamuk in a courtroom. Perhaps the only way to calm this... -
Rage Against the Machine to Reform for Coachella?
Posted on January 24, 2007 | 8 CommentsIt seems that this year’s Coachella lineup has been leaked, with Rage Against the Machine headlining Sunday. Rage Against the Machine. Who disbanded seven years ago. If this means that... -
This Might Explain Why So Many Scientologists Smoke or Why Tom Cruise is So Intense
Posted on January 24, 2007 | 2 CommentsNew York Times: “Magical thinking is most evident precisely when people feel most helpless. Giora Keinan, a professor at Tel Aviv University, sent questionnaires to 174 Israelis after the Iraqi... -
Andy Griffith: Unamerican?
Posted on January 24, 2007 | 1 Comment -
Southwest: Thank You for Nearly Dying
Posted on January 24, 2007 | 2 CommentsConsumerist: “Richard Brown nearly died on Sunday, January 21st, thanks to reckless indifference by a Southwest Airlines ticket agent. A dying hep-C patient, Richard, secured an appointment at the Mayo... -
Zero Results for “I’m Sorry”
Posted on January 24, 2007 | No CommentsHere’s an extraordinary tool for State of the Union speech junkies, that permits you to examine the last seven speeches by word and see where they are in the speeches. -
NBCC, Take Note Again
Posted on January 24, 2007 | 4 CommentsI’m with Colleen on this one. This is an eclectic list. -
If He Can’t Even Pronounce “Nuclear” Correctly, What Would His Safeword Be?
Posted on January 24, 2007 | 2 CommentsDespite plummeting approval ratings, there are still some people want to get into Dubya’s pants. -
Garrison Keillor: Spokesman for Sexist Hunter-Gathering Revival Movement?
Posted on January 24, 2007 | 4 CommentsGarrison Keillor: “It’s a guy thing, shoveling snow. It’s a form of marking. You shovel the walk to show other males that you’re on the scene and operating at full... -
AMS: “Disproportionate” is the Key Word Here; Does This Apply to Indies?
Posted on January 24, 2007 | No CommentsMore info on the Perseus-PGW offer: “Perseus CEO David Steinberger said that the company’s standard offer will be 70%, and that the only exceptions will be if a publisher’s fourth-quarter... -
China Miéville on Cormac McCarthy’s The Road
Posted on January 24, 2007 | 2 CommentsCrooked Timber: “I mean, didn’t you think the roasted baby was just, y’know, a little bit camp?” -
Ulysses? The Recognitions? The Third Policeman? I Think I’ll Watch the DVD
Posted on January 24, 2007 | No CommentsWashington Post: “‘You’re right. The book is long,’ I said. ‘But once you start this one, you won’t be able to put it down, right from that first page about... -
The Food Network Employs “Parallax View” Tactics?
Posted on January 24, 2007 | No Comments -
I’m Always the Last to Know…
Posted on January 24, 2007 | No Comments…but the great M. John Harrison has a blog. -
Roundup
Posted on January 24, 2007 | 3 CommentsNow that the Little House books have hit their 75th anniversary, the publisher has seen fit to replace Garth Williams’ illustrations with photos. And who will be in these photos?... -
RED ALERT TO BILLY WILDER FANS!
Posted on January 23, 2007 | 2 CommentsIt comes from Terry Teachout, who reports that Ace in the Hole aka The Big Carnival is airing this Thursday at 2:30 AM EST, Wednesday 11:30 PM PST. This film... -
Who Knew Fred Flintstone Was a Winston Man?
Posted on January 23, 2007 | No Comments -
William Shawn’s Old Office
Posted on January 23, 2007 | 1 Comment -
PM Roundup
Posted on January 23, 2007 | 3 CommentsHappy five years Largehearted Boy! Forget the Oscars. The big deal awards ceremony to watch is The Razzies. Basic Instinct 2 is the front-runner, with seven Razzie nominations. RIP, Ron... -
Salma Hayek Apologizes for Oscar Snubs Against Mexicans; White Men Contrive More Ways to Celebrate White Men
Posted on January 23, 2007 | No Comments -
Mayor Lee Swaney Transforms Overnight Into Sweet Valley High Villain
Posted on January 23, 2007 | No CommentsNew York Times: “‘There will be nothing but baseball and football down there as long as I am mayor,’ Lee Swaney, a retired owner of a heating and air-conditioning business,... -
The Latest in AMS
Posted on January 23, 2007 | No CommentsAt Galleycat, Sarah has enlisted the help of Scrivener’s Error author C.E. Petit to explain what the possible Perseus deal means. Petit compares the speculative merger quite rightly to the... -
We Pause for a Moment of Geek
Posted on January 23, 2007 | No CommentsThe new workstation went operational at 2 AM. Three bottles of beer were consumed during the course of its construction. My previous motherboard, whom I had referred to occasionally as... -
RIP Barbara Seranella
Posted on January 22, 2007 | 1 CommentSarah breaks the news that Barbara Seranella has passed away. -
This Link is All Ed Park’s Fault
Posted on January 22, 2007 | No Comments -
Home Land Security?
Posted on January 22, 2007 | No CommentsLaura Miller is okay in my book. After considerable accolades from the blogosphere, Miller’s reviewed Scarlett Thomas’s The End of Mr. Y in Salon.