... to the Middle Ages, but I get Roger's point: The Middle Ages - They're Bad and They're Back!
I'm sorry, folks, I can't work up any sympathy for a religion that doesn't like dogs.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Happy Anniversary ...
... to The New Criterion: Twenty-Five Years of Arts and Ideas. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Sleight of blurb ...
... David Montgomery wonders: Is this a fair blurb? Of course not, but it is far from atypical. I on ce reviewed Crazy Cock - a very early and not very good book by Henry Miller - and said that "for Miller aficionados, the book is must reading." On the paperback edition the quote was there - minus the qualification, of course.
Heart-warming tales ...
... over at InstaPundit - and I'm not being ironic: People who try to prey on the innocent deserve what they get. No bleeding heart I.
Yet again ...
... my colleague David Hiltbrand braves the vacuity of television to spare us having to:
Dave on Demand.
Dave on Demand.
Friday, September 08, 2006
A grand convergence of sorts ...
... In an email, Dr. Blogstein asks: "Can the public demand that a book gets published?" The question has to do with this post on the doctor's blog: Father Felony Needs Some Lit-Love. Interestingly, the subject of this post, Randall Radic, is also discussed in the GOB's Friday fryup (in the second item). Radic, apparently, is a priest in the Old Catholic Church (a schismatic sect that originated in Holland, I believe). I mention this because I once attended a Good Friday seder conducted by a gay, Communist priest of the Old Catholic Church. As I recall, everyone was welcome except "enemies of the people." I sure used to get around.
There much here worth pondering ...
... Michael Allen on Ambition in writers. I can't say that I have lacked ambition, but very early in my life - while I was still in college, actually - I arrived at a fairly realistic (and I believe correct) assessment of my abilities. I had a pretty good idea of what I could do and I was content to go about doing it - as I have ever since. As a result, I have managed mostly to fulfill my modest ambitions - whatever else may come is gravy.
Chekhov's Mistress ...
... touches upon Ckehhov in Dmitri, Anton, and Francine (and Bill too).
This is especially affecting: "One impression from the film that will last in my mind is of Shostokovich having his favorite Chekhov story, 'Gusov,' read to him shortly before his death. 'Gusov,' is a sad but beautiful story of a man dying at sea with nothing more than to show for his life than memories of his Russian winters at home. The end of that story is as poignant as anything Chekhov wrote and the entirety of it is exemplary of the amazing way that he could make a story so interesting when nothing really happens." To have a great work of literature read to you when you are dying - as I'm sure Shostakovich did - is the mark of a truly cultivated man.
This is especially affecting: "One impression from the film that will last in my mind is of Shostokovich having his favorite Chekhov story, 'Gusov,' read to him shortly before his death. 'Gusov,' is a sad but beautiful story of a man dying at sea with nothing more than to show for his life than memories of his Russian winters at home. The end of that story is as poignant as anything Chekhov wrote and the entirety of it is exemplary of the amazing way that he could make a story so interesting when nothing really happens." To have a great work of literature read to you when you are dying - as I'm sure Shostakovich did - is the mark of a truly cultivated man.
Now they tell me ...
... Amy Nelson-Mile has a post about What Type of Writer Should You Be?
Here's my results:
Here's my results:
You Should Be a Film Writer |
 You don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind. You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life. Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling. And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen! |
Now this is a blog ...
... the Hyde Collection Catablog. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.) Imagine if the good doctor were around today to blog. Guess he's put us all to shame.
Gee, Glenn Reynolds ...
... has found much to embarrass the media today. Check out DANIEL DREZNER LOOKS AT THE LATEST SALVO - and just for fun look at DRIVING A HYBRID, too.
Ouch!
Glenn Reynolds quotes Megan McArdle on median household income: "You can't compare apples to oranges just because the apples are prettier." Then adds, acidly: "This statement suggests that she doesn't have much of a future in the newspaper business."
Glenn has more re the media: STOP THE PRESSES. He also links to this Jim Pinkerton column: To Live and Die in Toronto.
Glenn has more re the media: STOP THE PRESSES. He also links to this Jim Pinkerton column: To Live and Die in Toronto.
I don't know ...
... if this link will work, or if it's subscription only. I hope note, because Anti-Judaism needs to be widely read. This is an issue that must not be ducked.
In the meantime, consider this, by one Jostein Gaarder, author of Sophie's World. It appeared in the Aftenposten, Norway's newspaper of record: "There is no turning back. It is time to learn a new lesson: We do no longer recognize the state of Israel . . . We must now get used to the idea: The state of Israel in its current form is history . . . Fear not! The time of trouble shall soon be over. The state of Israel has seen its Soweto . . . May spirit and word sweep away the apartheid walls of Israel. The state of Israel does not exist. It is now without defense, without skin. May the world therefore have mercy on the civilian population."
In the meantime, consider this, by one Jostein Gaarder, author of Sophie's World. It appeared in the Aftenposten, Norway's newspaper of record: "There is no turning back. It is time to learn a new lesson: We do no longer recognize the state of Israel . . . We must now get used to the idea: The state of Israel in its current form is history . . . Fear not! The time of trouble shall soon be over. The state of Israel has seen its Soweto . . . May spirit and word sweep away the apartheid walls of Israel. The state of Israel does not exist. It is now without defense, without skin. May the world therefore have mercy on the civilian population."
This, however ...
... is quite interesting: Short-short Story Subscriptions. I hope to have more to say about this over the weekend.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
I am reading ...
... for review Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale. So far it is wonderful, so wonderful I want to get back to it. So that will be for blogging until tomorrow.
And while we're at it ...
... let's consider a real threat to our civil liberties, one widely supported by many who are quick to decry any alleged loss under other circumstances: McCain-Feingold Iron Curtain Roundup.
Prairie Mary tells ...
... How I Learned To Write - which also say much about how to teach. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Check out this ...
... An Interview With IBPC Poetry Competition Judge David Biespiel. (Hat tip, Rus Bowden.)
Who says ...
... poetry serves no useful purpose? This poetry serves a very useful purpose: Babylon Burning: 9/11 five years on. (Hat tip, Rus Bowden.)
Please make a donation of you can.
Please make a donation of you can.
We haven't had a list for a while ...
... and this is an unusual one: The Top 20 Greatest Banjo Paterson Poems of All Time.
I was away ...
... on vacation when this blog reached 100,000 page loads. But I'm here now and I guess I should note that we've now topped 125,000. Thanks for visiting.
And the winner is ...
... Michael Palmer: "Foremost Experimental Poet of His Generation"Wins $100K Wallace Stevens Prize. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Old news ...
... is good news: Google opens up 200 years of news . (Hat tip, Dave Lull, who also sends along Rethinking Google's system Human-powered search premieres).
Sic transit gloria mundi ...
... the finest American Catholic writer of the twentieth century. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
But he is also just a good novelist.
But he is also just a good novelist.
Dave Lull sends along ...
... this link tp Jerry Coyne's TLS review of Frederick Crews's Follies of the Wise, which I had seen earlier, but had hesitated over linking to myself: A plea for empiricism. The cause of my hestitation was simply that I have a mixed reaction to Crews's positions as outlined here. I certainly agree with him about Freud, but his notion that science and religion are necessarily incompatible strikes me as arrant nonsense. Science and religion shouldn't be confused with each other and shouldn't trespass upon each other, but to assert - as Crews must implicitly - that Francis Collins, the man who mapped the human genome, is somehow inferior as a scientist because he is also a Christian simply flies in the face of fact. To the assertion that science and religion are incompatible I would answer Father Copernicus, Father Lemaitre, Father Mendel, Father Teilhard de Chardin ... As for the idea that science always proceeds in a civilized manner, well Lysenko was a scientist, and so was Josef Mengele.
Update: Thanks also to Dave, here is an earlier, relevant post: What would science have done ...
Update: Thanks also to Dave, here is an earlier, relevant post: What would science have done ...
Well, this will certainly irritate ....
... some people: Lie back and think of Jesus. (Hat tip, Vikram Johri.)
I feel obliged to second this ...
... Prig Alert 2: Cyclists.
Last summer, while walking home, on the other side of the street a cyclist riding on the sidewalk struck a pedestrian. The latter proceeded to pummel the former with great gusto.
I silently applauded. Why cyclists are given a pass when it comes to the traffic code is beyond me. Of course, eventually, someone - a child or an elderly person - will be seriously injured or even killed by a cyclist speeding heedlessly where he does not belong. Then a great hue and cry will go up and politicians will make solemn pronunciamentos, editorials will be written, etc.
By the way, here's the story behind hue and cry.
Update: Thanks to a post by Anonymous, we now know the worst has already happened: Bus death stirs urban-cycling issue
Last summer, while walking home, on the other side of the street a cyclist riding on the sidewalk struck a pedestrian. The latter proceeded to pummel the former with great gusto.
I silently applauded. Why cyclists are given a pass when it comes to the traffic code is beyond me. Of course, eventually, someone - a child or an elderly person - will be seriously injured or even killed by a cyclist speeding heedlessly where he does not belong. Then a great hue and cry will go up and politicians will make solemn pronunciamentos, editorials will be written, etc.
By the way, here's the story behind hue and cry.
Update: Thanks to a post by Anonymous, we now know the worst has already happened: Bus death stirs urban-cycling issue
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
I have just returned ...
... from being interviewed by the lovely and charming Lisa Coutant. Blogging will resume tomorrow, because I have some reading to do.
In case you needed reminding ...
... The Realities of Evil. (Hat tip, Dave Lull - and be forewarned: There is pretty awful stuff recounted there.)
This looks important ...
... though I've only had time to glance over it: "Winning Online" -- A Manifesto. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Here's something I can support ...
... The Plain English Campaign.
C.S. Lewis comments somewhere on the utility of jargon as a necessary shorthand for scholars. He then goes on to suggest that no one should be granted a Ph.D. unless he (or she) could translate a jargon-filled passage into plain English. His argument was that if you could not do that, the rest of us could not be sure that you really understood it yourself. He also estimated that the result would be about a third longer than the original.
C.S. Lewis comments somewhere on the utility of jargon as a necessary shorthand for scholars. He then goes on to suggest that no one should be granted a Ph.D. unless he (or she) could translate a jargon-filled passage into plain English. His argument was that if you could not do that, the rest of us could not be sure that you really understood it yourself. He also estimated that the result would be about a third longer than the original.
Of tragedy and nutcases ...
... All Plots Move Deathward. (Hat tip again to Dave Lull, who has been very busy.)
Trouble in the blogosphere ...
... and how to deal with it: Terry Teachout's New world, old rules. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Terry's generous words are much appreciated.
Terry's generous words are much appreciated.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
I noticed this over the weekend ...
... but didn't want to link to it until I had read it: Simon Armitage's Out of the Blue, described as a Poem for 9/11, by the laureate in waiting. I confess I find it rather underwhelming.
More on bells and whistles ...
... I am at home today for the first writing day I've been able to schedule for a couple of weeks. So blogging is going to be light. But I want to link to this OK, folks ... post of Aug. 29 (which in turn links to the post in which I originally raised the question of an online book review section.
The comments are far more interesting than the original post, and Trav's suggestion in particular, that "the 'bells and whistles' should wrap all of the available technology around the book review, which is key and placed at the center," gets pretty much to the heart of what I've had bubbling in the back of my mind. And the other comments nicely expand on that.
It would be interesting to know what publishers think of such of an idea. After all, they'd be providing the authors for podcasts. They're the ones that may benefit from the publicity. Would they be willing to sink any of their advertising dollars into it?
In the meantime, keep the comments coming, please.
The comments are far more interesting than the original post, and Trav's suggestion in particular, that "the 'bells and whistles' should wrap all of the available technology around the book review, which is key and placed at the center," gets pretty much to the heart of what I've had bubbling in the back of my mind. And the other comments nicely expand on that.
It would be interesting to know what publishers think of such of an idea. After all, they'd be providing the authors for podcasts. They're the ones that may benefit from the publicity. Would they be willing to sink any of their advertising dollars into it?
In the meantime, keep the comments coming, please.
Monday, September 04, 2006
I've seen a couple ...
.. of good films lately - including, tonight, Factotum - but I would have to agree with this: Caine hits out against today's 'banal' films.
It's Labor Day ...
... and we touched on the subject of earnings and the economy just the other day. Regarding the first link, it is useful to look at this, too: 72 Hours after Mourning Death of Wage Growth, Times Notes Wages Up with GDP Growth and in particular at the economists' commentary linked to at the bootom. And this is the paper that most journalists regard as the gold standard of their profession.
More good news ...
... about books: Google Book Search driving surfers to booksellers. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
An altogether different take ...
... on John Betjeman: A Triumphant Misfit. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Don't miss this link: In the Bivouac of Life: Longfellow and the Fate of Poetry. I am rather fond of Longfellow myself and think that any theory of poetry that excludes him must be a defective theory.
Don't miss this link: In the Bivouac of Life: Longfellow and the Fate of Poetry. I am rather fond of Longfellow myself and think that any theory of poetry that excludes him must be a defective theory.
A comeback for the ages ...
... The return of the book. (Hat tip, Rus Bowden.) Now if we can only get the people who run newspapers to notice.
I promised ...
... a couple of weeks ago, as it happens, that I would have more to say in reference to this post: Dick Margulis sends along ... Now's as good a time as ever to make good on the promise.
When I became The Inquirer's book editor in 2000, about 125,000 new books a year were published. This year that figure is likely to be 175,000. Usually, the month of August is a slow one in publishing. Not this year - at least in terms of the number of books sent to me. I spent yesterday trying to catch up on all the books that had piled up in my office (at one point there was something like 40 or 50 bins of unopened books outside the book room).
Back in 2000 I had a full-time assistant. Later it became a part-time assistant. Now it is a sometime assistant - and the sometimes are increasingly rare.
I mention this for two reasons. One is to show that the volume alone is obviously more than one human can master in any but the most superficial manner. The other is that there are obviously plenty of books worthy of consideration than are ever considered. Which is why I get so annoyed whenever I am told - and I am told it frequently - that a particular book ought to be considered for review because .... the New York Times wrote admiringly of it recently. The idea that the only books worth considering - or at least the books most worth considering -- are those the Times considers worth considering is, quite simply, a stupid idea, every bit as stupid as the idea that the Times is still the newspaper of record for anyone except too many journalists.
There are some books that have to be reviewed, because their appearance is an event - Thomas Pynchon's forthcoming novel comes immediately to mind. But how pick fresh and interesting choices from all those others?
Well, the first thing anyone in my position has to do is resign himself to the fact that you can only review a fraction of what is out there and will therefore miss many books that deserve better and review plenty of books that ought to have been ignored.
That said, I pay attention to what others tell me, especially my reviewers, many of whom have more expertise in some areas than I will ever have. I also read my fellow lit bloggers. That's how I chose to have Jane Gardam's Old Filth reviewed.
One of the things you would notice if you had to, as I do, spend the greater part of the day opening one book package after another, is the lack of imagination on the part of publishers. Book after book decrying the Bush administration (which has but two years left), book after book announcing some social, economic, or environmental disaster looming on the horizon that only reading this book can help stave off, book after book in imitation of - mirabile dictu! - The Da Vinci Code.
At any rate, I look to review books that seem interesting and in danger of being overlooked. I also make sure that books of poetry are reviewed as, well, books. The idea of a poetry roundup - giving each maybe a hundred words or so - betrays a complete lack of understanding of what poetry is. I also pay a good bit of attention to genre fiction because (a) a lot of people read it and (b) a lot of it is very good, better than much that calls itself "literary."
When I became The Inquirer's book editor in 2000, about 125,000 new books a year were published. This year that figure is likely to be 175,000. Usually, the month of August is a slow one in publishing. Not this year - at least in terms of the number of books sent to me. I spent yesterday trying to catch up on all the books that had piled up in my office (at one point there was something like 40 or 50 bins of unopened books outside the book room).
Back in 2000 I had a full-time assistant. Later it became a part-time assistant. Now it is a sometime assistant - and the sometimes are increasingly rare.
I mention this for two reasons. One is to show that the volume alone is obviously more than one human can master in any but the most superficial manner. The other is that there are obviously plenty of books worthy of consideration than are ever considered. Which is why I get so annoyed whenever I am told - and I am told it frequently - that a particular book ought to be considered for review because .... the New York Times wrote admiringly of it recently. The idea that the only books worth considering - or at least the books most worth considering -- are those the Times considers worth considering is, quite simply, a stupid idea, every bit as stupid as the idea that the Times is still the newspaper of record for anyone except too many journalists.
There are some books that have to be reviewed, because their appearance is an event - Thomas Pynchon's forthcoming novel comes immediately to mind. But how pick fresh and interesting choices from all those others?
Well, the first thing anyone in my position has to do is resign himself to the fact that you can only review a fraction of what is out there and will therefore miss many books that deserve better and review plenty of books that ought to have been ignored.
That said, I pay attention to what others tell me, especially my reviewers, many of whom have more expertise in some areas than I will ever have. I also read my fellow lit bloggers. That's how I chose to have Jane Gardam's Old Filth reviewed.
One of the things you would notice if you had to, as I do, spend the greater part of the day opening one book package after another, is the lack of imagination on the part of publishers. Book after book decrying the Bush administration (which has but two years left), book after book announcing some social, economic, or environmental disaster looming on the horizon that only reading this book can help stave off, book after book in imitation of - mirabile dictu! - The Da Vinci Code.
At any rate, I look to review books that seem interesting and in danger of being overlooked. I also make sure that books of poetry are reviewed as, well, books. The idea of a poetry roundup - giving each maybe a hundred words or so - betrays a complete lack of understanding of what poetry is. I also pay a good bit of attention to genre fiction because (a) a lot of people read it and (b) a lot of it is very good, better than much that calls itself "literary."
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Before I sign off ...
... for the night (I spent a large part of the day at the office catching up on opening, sorting and shelving books - more about that tomorrow) - anyway, I thought you might want to know that
All Physicists are Wrong all the Time. This probably means that there are lots of things you don't need to worry about anymore.
All Physicists are Wrong all the Time. This probably means that there are lots of things you don't need to worry about anymore.
More on multiculturalism ...
... Headteacher who never taught again after daring to criticise multiculturalism. (Cf. Vikram Johri's review in previous post.)
Today's Inquirer reviews ...
... are, in my obviously biased view, a pretty impressive bunch.
To begin with, though, Carlin Romano offers a distinctly personal appreciation of Naguib Mafouz: Mahfouz: A universal voice in the Arab world.
Carlin also notes, in an essay for Arts & Entertainment, that Obstacles abound for the 9/11 novel.
Next, Susan Balee takes a look at Philly fiction: Where there's pain, there's good fiction.
John Freeman discovers that a little of Jonathan Franzen's discomfort goes a long way: Writer's lifelong struggle with guilt.
Tim Worstall makes his Inquirer debut with a look at another way of looking at the world: Looking at world through shape of a 'J'.
And Vikram Johri makes his American debut with a provocative review of Michael Barone's updated edition of The New Americans: On the multicultural fallacy.
Dorothy Lehman Hoerr likes Marie Arana's debut: Cellophane in the Amazon? Clearly a winner .
And Katie Haegele is much taken with Cecil Castellucci's Boy Proof: Young Adult Reader Egg breaks out of her sci-fi shell and learns just to be herself.
To begin with, though, Carlin Romano offers a distinctly personal appreciation of Naguib Mafouz: Mahfouz: A universal voice in the Arab world.
Carlin also notes, in an essay for Arts & Entertainment, that Obstacles abound for the 9/11 novel.
Next, Susan Balee takes a look at Philly fiction: Where there's pain, there's good fiction.
John Freeman discovers that a little of Jonathan Franzen's discomfort goes a long way: Writer's lifelong struggle with guilt.
Tim Worstall makes his Inquirer debut with a look at another way of looking at the world: Looking at world through shape of a 'J'.
And Vikram Johri makes his American debut with a provocative review of Michael Barone's updated edition of The New Americans: On the multicultural fallacy.
Dorothy Lehman Hoerr likes Marie Arana's debut: Cellophane in the Amazon? Clearly a winner .
And Katie Haegele is much taken with Cecil Castellucci's Boy Proof: Young Adult Reader Egg breaks out of her sci-fi shell and learns just to be herself.
Last week, besides those linked to already here, we ran Theopolis Fair's review of Waiting for the Midnight Hour: Giving black power its due in American and world history
and Elizabeth Fox's review of Stephanie Bond's Body Movers: Book Review Men, family, money troubles, sealed with a big pink kiss.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Having just ordered ...
... the book the GOB writes about in the link on the previous post, I realize that I have never linked here to one of my favorite sites: Books and Book Collecting, a part of Trussel's EclectiCity.
And with that, I am signing off for the night.
And with that, I am signing off for the night.
Lots more stuff
... about the Bread Loaf Writers' Confererence from Lisa Coutant. Just keep scrolling.
You may know him ...
... as one half of Brandywine Books. But Lars Walker also writes fiction. Hunter Baker has just discovered it:
Changing Gears: The Fiction of Lars Walker
Changing Gears: The Fiction of Lars Walker
Word from Maxine ...
... I received a card from our wandering blogger yesterday. She and her family had settled in Provence for a week, in the town of Orange. Happily, everyone seems to be having a wonderful time.
Once again ...
... David Hiltbrand demonstrates why you were better off this past week lost in a good book than clicking your remote: Dave on Demand Big Apple blahs.
Friday, September 01, 2006
It is ...
... in the immortal words of Edward Bulwer-Lytton, "a dark and story night" in Philly, the end of an especially hectic week. Which is why I am going to sign off now and spent the rest of the night reading. Until tomorrow ...
Take a look at this ...
... Illustrations From Old Books. A nice Arthur Rackham link and Dant Gabriel Rossetti illustration his namesake's La vita nuova, among many other fascinating items.
More on Oulipo ...
... much more: “Oulipo ends where the work begins”. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
And here's an explanation of Oulipo.
And here's an explanation of Oulipo.
Chaotic maybe ...
... but a lot better than the alternative: Tim Worstall's It is our right to babble.
Life imitates art ...
... rather frighteningly: A Look Inside Insanity.
"I'd say that King might want to review his security situation." Indeed.
"I'd say that King might want to review his security situation." Indeed.
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