Good Reads
In contrast with the awful book I read this weekend, I have enjoyed a couple of interesting works of both fiction and nonfiction. And we’ll be discussing these more in the coming days. But to just quickly recap, and get myself out of this funk, here’s the good stuff from recent days. William D. Cohan’s…
continue readingLost 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 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 readingKindness, Positive Outlooks, and Small Surprises
As the economic news continues to sour, and the publishing and writing industries continue to struggle, I’ve tried to focus on small bits of kindness, positive notes, and suprises this week. Ed provided an inexpensive recipe for a hearty corn chowder for writers looking to stretch their food dollars during this difficult time. On first…
continue readingComma Overload
Aspiring authors are frequently advised to read their target markets, try to discern editorial tastes, and learn from published writers. As useful as those tips can be, it is also infuriating when you read an article that defies belief. I was in doctor’s office recently and picked up the February 2009 issue of Conde Nast…
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