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.
Satire Archive
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Questions for Plum Sykes
Posted on May 30, 2004 | 9 CommentsYour new novel, “Bergdorf Blondes,” have created some disgraceful and unintentionally hilarious Q&A sessions which demonstrate that you are a Tina Brown in the making. I have a new disease,... -
“Dagger of the Mind” — Allegory for 2004 America
Posted on May 28, 2004 | 5 Comments[For the purposes of this experiment, replace DR. ADAMS with THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, KIRK with VOTER IN AMERICAN HEARTLAND, HELEN with AMERICAN INTEGRITY, and "Enterprise" with DETERMINATION TO TAKE BACK... -
A DAY IN THE GODDAM LIFE OF …Horace Krum
Posted on March 28, 2004 | No CommentsA Day in the Goddam Life (with apologies to Lenin and all other despicable leftists who object to modifiers like “goddam”), a new feature that will run periodically on Return... -
Monday Morning Boiler Plate Blog Entry
Posted on January 26, 2004 | 2 CommentsWe [drank too much]/[had too many personal fiascos]/[raped a small poodle] over the weekend. It was an experience that [left us intellectually lacking]/[has us pondering __________]/[pairing our argyles]. [Not that... -
Remarks from the President
Posted on January 22, 2004 | 5 CommentsThe crazed Dean speech was one thing, but I’m starting to have grave concerns about the President. Here’s a partial transcript: Remarks by the President to the Press Pool Plenty... -
The Kookysolo Manifesto
Posted on January 11, 2004 | 5 CommentsSasha Cagen’s book, Quirkyalone: A Manifesto for Uncompromising Romantics, is now ranked 436 at Amazon. But I must take umbrage with Ms. Cagen’s success. I fear that Ms. Cagen has... -
A Special Column by Laura Miller
Posted on January 11, 2004 | No Comments[EDITOR'S NOTE: Miguel Cohen is unwell this week. He reports that he Super-Sized his McDonalds meal by mistake. He believes he's suffering from mad cow disease. I asked Miguel what... -
Your Brain’s Guide to a Safe New Year
Posted on December 31, 2003 | No CommentsToday, please adjust the settings in your mind, as follows: 4:00 PM: Yearly Self-Diagnostic. Run defrag program. Check for viruses. Finish organizing and prioritizing memories of 2003 events. 5:17 PM:... -
A Guest Column from Patti Thorn
Posted on December 15, 2003 | No Comments[Because Mr. Champion has become temporarily unavailable due to the holidays, Return of the Reluctant turns over the rest of today's content to Patti Thorn of the Rocky Mountain News.... -
Literary Grandson to Launch Unexpected Career
Posted on December 13, 2003 | No CommentsIn response to the recent news that 25 year old John Buffalo Mailer, the youngest child of Norman Mailer, will be taken over the reins of High Times, Return of... -
If Rick Moody Described Paris Hilton
Posted on December 7, 2003 | No CommentsThe testicles are housed in a ruddy shaking sac barely filtered through hazy colors, Rick Saloman’s, his driving impetus, his force, his motive power, behind a cylindrical-shaped piston engine for...