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 July, 2008
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Alligator
Posted on July 23, 2008 | 1 CommentThe alligator gnawed upon the stray shreds of flesh flapping along the boy’s femur. The boy’s pallid face had long melted into the joyless hearth of the dead. Not a... -
Kevin Smith vs. The MPAA, Take 2
Posted on July 23, 2008 | 2 CommentsKevin Smith’s forthcoming film, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, is, at least for the moment, rated NC-17 “for some graphic sexuality,” pending appeal. What is exceedingly frustrating here is... -
In Praise of “Peep Show”
Posted on July 22, 2008 | 3 CommentsIn the past two weeks, I have wolfed down all five seasons of Peep Show, a dark and frequently hilarious British television series written by Jess Armstrong and Sam Bain... -
The Ed Critics
Posted on July 22, 2008 | 15 Comments“Do you often speak so authoritatively on subjects you know so little about?” — June 22, 2005 “If you’re going to raise consiciousness, you’ve got to post something that actually... -
People Living Deeply Have No Fear of Death
Posted on July 22, 2008 | 1 Comment -
Kris Lindgren Axed at the Los Angeles Times
Posted on July 22, 2008 | 3 CommentsI’ve confirmed with multiple sources that editor Kris Lindgren has indeed been laid off from the Los Angeles Times. Her last day is Friday. This is a terrible loss for... -
Margo Rabb: The Blogosphere Hates Me! Oh Noes!
Posted on July 22, 2008 | 14 CommentsMargo Rabb’s now throwing a pity party over the controversy that her YA article generated, even tossing around uncited assertions that bloggers have threatened to punch her. I presume that... -
Carole Goldberg Laid Off at the Courant
Posted on July 22, 2008 | No CommentsI have confirmed with Hartford Courant features editor Naedine Hazell that books editor Carole Goldberg has been laid off. Goldberg’s final day as a staffer will be on July 31st.... -
Roundup
Posted on July 22, 2008 | 1 CommentThere is indeed a huge difference between Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother and Jenny Davidson’s The Explosionist. One is written by a smug man who wishes to preach to the converted... -
Developments at the LATBR
Posted on July 21, 2008 | 6 CommentsThis morning, L.A. Observed posted an open letter sent by four previous editors of the Los Angeles Times Book Review. Calling the forthcoming termination of the Sunday Book Review “a... -
Roundup
Posted on July 21, 2008 | 11 CommentsDetails on the Save Segundo Plan will be put up here very soon. With the exception of Saturday’s much-needed musical fiesta, I’ve spent the weekend working. My research suggests that... -
Invisible Rag
Posted on July 20, 2008 | No CommentsTo live, embrace the neck melts into noose To die, slow sauce traverses present goose Bill folds thin fi’e flecking dire embers Soap queen gags this taste, Marilyn Ch’mbers Syntax... -
The Siren Festival
Posted on July 20, 2008 | 5 CommentsNone of the acts at this year’s Siren Festival convinced me that they were rock ‘n roll’s second coming, but I certainly had a lot of fun. The festival went... -
The Ryugyong Hotel
Posted on July 18, 2008 | 2 CommentsThe Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea has been dubbed the worst building in the history of mankind by Esquire. But I must confess that there’s a warped part of... -
The Fate of Segundo
Posted on July 18, 2008 | 4 CommentsThanks to all who have emailed with their support and ideas. I have been developing a plan to keep Segundo going that will involve a form of sponsorship open to... -
The Bat Segundo Show: Nam Le
Posted on July 18, 2008 | No CommentsNam Le is the author of The Boat. He appeared on The Bat Segundo Show #222. Condition of the Show: Attempting to find classification within the media industrial complex. Author:... -
The Bat Segundo Show: Grandmaster Flash & Karen Abbott
Posted on July 17, 2008 | No CommentsGrandmaster Flash and Karen Abbott appeared most recently on The Bat Segundo Show #221. Grandmaster Flash is most recently the author of The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash (with David Ritz).... -
The Bat Segundo Show: Mark Kurlansky
Posted on July 17, 2008 | 1 CommentMark Kurlansky appeared on The Bat Segundo Show #220. Kurlansky is most recently the author of The Last Fish Tale. Condition of the Show: Moving forward after unexpected losses. Author:... -
The Bat Segundo Show: Thomas M. Disch
Posted on July 17, 2008 | No CommentsThomas M. Disch appeared on The Bat Segundo Show #219. The late, great author committed suicide on July 4, 2008. This was his last face-to-face interview before his death, conducted... -
The Bat Segundo Show, 2004-2008?
Posted on July 15, 2008 | 30 CommentsThe Bat Segundo Show is going on indefinite hiatus. Which pretty much means that it’s over, unless some magical sponsor or benefactor can appear at the eleventh hour to save... -
L.A. Times Layoff Developments
Posted on July 14, 2008 | 1 CommentL.A. Observed reports that publisher David Hiller has resigned. The site has posted his memo, which ends, “I’m sorry I won’t be here to pitch in, but I’ll be rooting... -
The State of American Literacy As Represented by Talk Show Hosts
Posted on July 14, 2008 | 7 CommentsFrom The Leonard Lopate Show, September 22, 2004, at the 14:04 mark on the RealAudio file, from a conversation with Terry Gross: LOPATE: The question that people ask me the... -
The Bat Segundo Show: Andre Dubus III
Posted on July 14, 2008 | No CommentsAndre Dubus III appeared on The Bat Segundo Show #218. Dubus is most recently the author of The Garden of Last Days. Condition of the Show: Plagued by decaying verdure... -
Roundup
Posted on July 14, 2008 | 4 CommentsWhile Critical Mass continues to perpetuate its collective ego stroking, remaining silent about developments at the Los Angeles Times, LA Observed reports that the last Sunday Book Review/Opinion section will... -
Think This Will Air On American Television?
Posted on July 13, 2008 | No CommentsSunday Times: Stephen Payne, Bush lobbyist offering access to Bush administration officials in exchange for six-figure donations to the Bush library. -
Paris Occupied, Color Photos Taken
Posted on July 13, 2008 | No CommentsNew Yorker: “In France, the wounds of war are only thinly healed, as proven by the pained response to a recent exhibit of 270 color photographs by André Zucca, called... -
Tony Snow Expires
Posted on July 12, 2008 | 7 CommentsOne week after the death of Jesse Helms (and, alas, Thomas M. Disch), the universe illustrated once again that, despite its many abominations, it still maintains a self-correcting impulse. Tony... -
What Obama Must Do
Posted on July 12, 2008 | 5 CommentsThere are two fascinating developments that have arisen with Barack Obama’s move to the center. Newsweek reports that Obama is leading McCain by only three points: 44% to 41%. Compare... -
This American Reality
Posted on July 11, 2008 | 2 CommentsBen Tanzer: “But how does one get a piece on the show? Or even meet Ira Glass who I understand rests in a cryogenically sealed chamber between shows? I imagine... -
There Are No Friendly Musicians!
Posted on July 11, 2008 | No Comments