Lost Hours
As a book critic, you learn to put aside (as much as humanly possible) your personal tastes and judge a book on its own merit. There’s the old John Updike advice to evaluate what the author intended to do, and don’t criticize him for failing to achieve something he didn’t intend to attempt. Also, as…
continue readingStep into the Devil’s Garden
As spring arrives and the grass finally turns green and flowers begin to bloom, our minds turn to fixing up the yard and digging in the dirt. But crime writer Ace Atkins gives us a reason to spend time in a different garden. One where fame, celebrity, sex, alcohol, and intrigue cloud the notorious story…
continue readingWelty Events Detailed in SF’s Chronicle
The San Francisco Chronicle had a nice roundup of all the coming events in Jackson, MS associated with Eudora Welty’s 100th birthday. Although it’s hardly news to most of the bookish set, I always like to see references to Richard Ford’s years on the same street as Welty. “The miracle of two Pulitzer winners growing…
continue readingHarperCollins Digital Catalogs
Yesterday, Publishers Weekly posted an article on the plan to move to digital catalogs at Harper Collins. The article stated that this new “digital alternative that will feature a handful of PR-like bells and whistles, as well as various search capabilities.” On first glance, I’m thrilled about this move. I must admit that my mailbox…
continue readingInterview: Mickey Rapkin, Author
Who knew collegiate a cappella was such a big deal? Mickey Rapkin, senior editor at GQ a veteran of the a cappella circuit at Cornell, knew. Besides his own life experiences, Rapkin noticed several a cappella references sprinkled throughout recent popular culture. Popular television shows such as The Office and 30 Rock joked about the…
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