John Banville reviews Black Mass

.......John Gray's new book, a "brilliant" analysis of religion in politics.

Happy 10th anniversary, Bloggers.

Hard to believe but blogs have now been around for a decade (more or less).
Apparently, there was no "What hath God wrought" moment, but blog archeologists have determined that the blogosphere is indeed approaching its tin/aluminum anniversary.

Reading for the fun of it ...

Skimming through Bookninja today, I came across something that stopped me in my tracks (or, at least, stopped the movement of my cursor down the page). As I mentioned only a short time ago, I’m an English major – I am therefore utterly unable to pass up an article on literary merit without comment. By and large, I liked Rick Groen’s discussion of “liberating” effect of fiction and the importance of novels, but frankly, I found his argument for “literary fiction” a little silly. Yes, we should read great books, yes, they should be artistic, and sure, those graceful yet heavy films that seamlessly infuse their messages into our very souls are fantastic. Honestly, though, if that was all media I consumed, I’d probably read three books and see two movies in a year, and I’d be depressed the whole time (what can I say? Most powerful books tend to end sadly). Unlike Groen, I refuse to dismiss non-“literary” books – in fact, I find them necessary. Not only do they entertain us and lift our spirits, but, like the fool in Macbeth whose comedy actually highlights the tragic nature of the play, they serve to remind us of good literature when we find it. This year I took breaks from Shakespeare to watch Veronica Mars and the Office. My best friend and I occasionally paused in our reading of Cannery Row to chuckle over bad romance novels. Perhaps it’s that I can still remember high school, where getting kids to read at all is a challenge, but honestly, I think that what we read doesn’t matter all that much. So long as we enjoy the English language, we’re doing okay.

It's that time of the week again ...

In today's Inquirer Reviews:

Kelly Jane Torrance explores Susan Vreeland's story of one of Renior's great paintings: A perspective on art from the inside out

Jessica Schneider discovers the ins and outs of the married lives of great literary figures in Katie Roiphe's new book: A literary world of vanity, trysts and pain

Glenn C. Altschuler unearths the silly scheme to steal Lincoln's body in Thomas J. Craughwell's account: Slapstick crypt caper made unduly serious

And though they're technically not book reviews ...

... Katie Haegele discusses the literature of Second Life: Second Life literati create 'book world'

... Carlin Romano considers the literary success of J.K. Rowling: Classic 'Harry'

Naive but nice ...

Perusing Bookninja today, I came across this video that purports to sum up a day in the life of an English Literature Student in Wales. Being the American equivalent myself – known here as the English undergrad or the Soon-to-be-Living-in-a-Box – I had to smile at the sweet-hearted nature of the film. Sure, it neglects the panic of sleeping through that uber-important lecture, the terror of discussing that unread book with an over-zealous TA, and the depression of pulling an all-nighter to write that twenty-page essay (one friend now attributes to Red Bull “the scent of defeat by homework”), but it does convey the brilliance of the professors, the beauty of the language, and the sheer fun of working with literary masterpieces. Now if only employment were as easy as they suggest....

Whoops!

Though I’ve only been blogging for a week, apparently mistakes attack quickly in this business – in particular, I erroneously attributed two opinions to Bryan Appleyard that were really those of his co-blogger, Nige. All errors should now be rectified, and my overwhelming apologies go out to both.

Rejection suggestions

Maxine Clarke points out this site soliciting honest (but not so honest they can't be used again and again) templates for publishers' rejection letters to authors.

What fun!

There’s something almost Dickensian about these serialized stories, which simultaneously thrills me and makes me hope they’re not being paid by the word (excess verbiage breaks my heart, right along with lots of ellipses and writing in all caps – but I digress). Those equally excited should check out the fun here, here, and here.

For the sake of appearance ...

Though we may have differing opinions on the best breakfast cereal, I do have to agree with Nige on using books to pretend to be the person we wish we were. This explains the copy of Freakonomics that resided on my bookshelf during freshman year of college. While an informal poll of my friends revealed that, yes, it did make me look smarter, none mentioned how intelligent they found me when they discovered that I'd only ever read half.

Maybe Frank will assign someone to review this book,

......perhaps himself. We know he's on vacation of course, but he may want to take a look at this book on book-reviewing, a review of which can be found here. And please let me know if I haven't used the word, "review" enough in this posting.

Poetry lovers, here's one you may not know!

Dave again is our guide to this posting on Anecdotal Evidence. It's kind of melancholy and heartening at the same time. Scottish poet Sean Rafferty never quite had the brush with fame he apparently deserved.
My only brush with fame is I knew a guy who once gave Dean Martin a haircut.

The Beeb and the O.E.D.

Dave Lull points out this blog where these two mighty franchises delightfully combine forces in the dictionary's never-ending quest for the original uses of words and phrases. The ghost of Sir James Murray lives on.

Psst. Wanna buy a book?

The New York Yimes has a new (to me, anyway) blog about ads for books.

The Great Science/Poetry Divide?

Science vs. Poetry? Apparently, in Vegas the action is on science; at Harrah's Bloomsbury Casino it's just the opposite.

Attention, authors!

Now, Maxine informs us, you can digitally (literally, i.e., using your fingers) create and publicize a book tour for yourself.

The uses of poetry

Interesting review of a book about the history of reading poetry in the USA.
Hat tip to Dave Lull.

Happy birthday, boys!

Sorry, ladies but all our birthday acknowledgements today (courtesy of The Writers Almanac newsletter) are stag only. You can console yourselves with the fact that most of them are dead. Who, after all, would rather have a birthday than be alive, am I right?
Henry ("don't call me Hank") David Thoreau; camera maven, George Eastman; lyricist, Oscar Hammerstein II; poet and sometime screwball Pablo Neruda; and (how they pinned this down so exactly I don't know) Julius Caesar.

And a pre-posthumous shoutout to Andrew Wyeth who is 90 years old today and still (sometimes literally) painting up a storm.

R.I.P.

Philip Booth, Yankee poet. Read about his life and work here or here.

Price woes

Though I hate to sully great literature by talking about money, here’s an interesting discussion about the price of American books in Canada. I have to admit, economics isn’t my forte, but all this talk about prices and exchange rates makes me remember my trip last night to the public library, where I picked up four books for the extraordinary price of free.

Blame it on overwork …

… or distraction or laziness or sheer blogging ineptitude, but I somehow missed Nige's thoughts on breakfast cereals yesterday. While I completely agree that Kellogg’s Just Right is probably All Wrong, and certainly part of a marketing ploy to take advantage of health concerns, I disagree with him on what is clearly the more important issue. Frosted Flakes is obviouly the supreme cereal, not Shreddies. As someone whose three square meals have often consisted of three bowls of cereal, I feel comfortable asserting my authority on this point.

I was never much good at physics ...

… but Bernard Jacobson’s review of The Human Touch by Michael Frayn almost makes me want to give science another shot.

Idle musings redux

Well, thanks to one and all for your thoughtful and well-argued responses to my faux Christopher Hitchens lunch piece below.
I wasn't so much trying to show that sacred music proves the existence of God as it was to provoke some discussion which you provided in spades, diamonds, hearts and clubs. I was merely - and here I'm echoing Andrew's and Rus's comments, I guess - trying to compare the transcendent experiences of art and religion. However, I gotta say I don't think those experiences provide as much of what modern bureaucrats might call `plausible deniability' as the Santa Claus analogy.
By the way, are you implying that Santa doesn't exist, Rus? Then whose lap, each December, have I been sitting in all these years? I rest my case, you honor.

Idly Musing

I had lunch yesterday with Christopher Hitchens. Well, my dining partner claimed to be C.H. but of course, nobody knows what the tireless, publicity-shy essayist looks or sounds like.
So I said to him, "Chris, I get the Got is Not Great thing of yours and agree with some of it, but riddle me this: If God is an illusion, why is there so much great religious music -- Bach's B minor Mass, Mozart's C minor Mass and any number of other pieces, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Allegri's Miserere, Schubert's Masses, etc., etc., etc.?
Now, don't say these composers were just on retainer and wrote the pieces on commission. That may be true, and obviously these people were geniuses, but surely it was more than genius and money that inspired and informed their work, am I right, my fellow American (welcome aboard, by the way)? Or were the composers just summoning up the feelings, like so many musical method actors?
But alas, answer came there none. No doubt, one would have come if the lunch had actually happened, but I just wonder what it might have been.

Authorship and ethnicity

The subject is taken up by Crystal Mahey in The Guardian

Anyone remember any nursery rhymes?

Apparently they're in danger of dying out - at least in Britain. In the States I think they've been dead for years (which may explain why I didn't start talking until the fifth grade).

Rob Mack

........has a nice appreciation of Michael Hamburger's 10-years-in-the-making look at modern poetry "The Truth of Poetry". Hamburger died last month at 85.
Hat tip to Dave Lull.

Elmore Leonard

Dave Lull alerts us to this short MSNBC/Newsweek piece touting Leonard's upcoming book on writing and his 5 "Most important books"

You might call it anti-diet …

... when you look at Gina Kolata’s new book and interview with the Inquirer.

It makes me chuckle …

… though that’s probably because it’s true.

Call me cynical …

… but it seems to me that Sebastian Faulks’s new James Bond novel is less about celebrating Ian Fleming’s 100th birthday, and more about making yet another blockbuster picture (which totals exactly how much literary merit?). Thanks to Grumpy Old Bookman for bringing this one to my attention.

How many Nobel Prize winners have great legs?

Dave Lull points out this short piece on the durability of many of the winners of that big lollipop.

Literoddities

The new Merriam Webster dictionary gives you the 411 on old words and new.

J'accuse!

The gloves are off and, if by some chance you haven't noticed, the Poetry war has begun. Apparently, while you were poolside naively sipping a pina colada a group of poets, critics and editors for nefarious reasons known only to themselves has hijacked the American poetic agenda.

Origins of rap

I once heard someone conjecture that hip-hop really originated with "You Got Trouble" from Meredith Wilson's musical "The Music Man" but Dave Lull points out that Stephen Burt has traced the origins waaaaaaay further back than that to Alexander "Li'l" Pope.

Poetry and the Movies

Admitttedly not a topic that comes up very often - although I seem to vaguely remember watching a discussion on the subject with a panel of experts led by Professor Irwin Corey - but Dave Lull points out this thougtful piece by Stacey Harwood.
Thanks too to Dave for the alert about the previously noted book-signing tonight.

And now for something completely different....

If you don't like wearing ties (or anything else) check out this event. You better hurry though, it's happening (real happening, man) tonight. It's a book signing. The title of the book? "Nudity and Christianity".
I don't think Jesus mentioned the subject in the Beatitudes -- "Blessed are the optionally clothed for they shall inherit the Casual Elegance Collection at Barney's" -- so it should be an enlightening evening.

You should be happy ...

… that your kids are reading school-approved material at all. Thanks to Bookninja for finding this NY Times article.

Dressing for Success

A few words of sartorial wisdom from Bryan Appleyard, because we all like to look pretty while reading.

Chatterley Chat

Is Lady Chatterley's Lover D.H. Lawrence's worst novel? D.J. Taylor in the Sunday Times gives Lawrence and the book a working-over that leaves D.H. in that no-man's land between the canon and canon fodder.
Hat tip again to Dave.

Attention thriller lovers

Maxine sends out this APB (as the coppers might call it) for a big thrill ride in NYC this weekend.

Speaking of appreciations

...........if that's the word, here's one by Brian Appleyard of Homer Simpson, patriarch of the family and program that for my money is the best send-up of the American Way of Life ever. I learned of Brian's piece via Maxine's Petrona blog and was saddened to learn of her inability to "get" pop culture (and this despite Stephen Hawking's multiple guest-starring roles as himself on The Simpsons).

Prosper Merimee

That polymath Frenchman's felicitous name is always a great attention-getter, I find. I drop it at cocktail parties all the time. Dave Lull has pointed out a wonderful appreciation of him by Julian Barnes. A writer of outre and outrageous fiction (including the novella upon which Bizet based his opera, Carmen) he should, Barnes tells us be as well-known as a protector of French architectural history.

New literary magazine

The Southampton Review will launch later this month.

Terry Teachout

.....has added a new supporting cast member to his blog.

This has nothing to do with books, but

........in the interest of the health of Books, Inq. readers may I point out a couple of things? The first in today's Inquirer by science writer, Erika Gebel is about the latest new product in what can no longer be denied is a worldwide conspiracy to caffeinate the entire potable world.
I predict "Decaf Plus" will be the next caffeine-added beverage.
The second piece is for our marginally hypertensive, dark-chocolate-loving readers.

Frank has noted this point from time to time

..........but thanks to Dave Lull for referring us to this piece in Anecdotal Evidence that reminds us once again that "art is frivolous" (although in my estimation essentially so, if I'm not being oxymoronic or just plain moronic).

Today's Inquirer Reviews ...

... Cecil Johnson is impressed by Doug Stumpf's business truths disguised as fiction: Of soles and the soulless

... Michale McHale happily discovers Martin Cruz Smith's detective Arkady Renko back at work: Arkady Renko's Russia still haunted by Stalin

... Dan DeLuca finds Haruki Murakami's new novel a little underwhelming: Murakami works in a lower key.

... Scott Stein explores Brink Lindsey's views on American wealth and economic, cultural, and religious history: Cogent, coherent examination of U.S. culture now

I apologize for the delay in this posting. Like opportunity, internet connectivity can be fleeting.

My heart's in the highlands ...

... as we head off to Pennsylvania's lovely, if modest, mountains. Won't be back until July 17. In the meantime the blog is in good hands. John Brumfield you should already know. Joining John will be Eliza Fox, who wrote her first book review for me before she had graduated from Springside School. I think it may have even appeared in print before she graduated. So welcome Eliza, please.

Favorite reading ...

... Karen Heller has Suggestions galore for books to read this summer.

Get involved: Discuss | What are you planning to read this summer?

I missed this ...

... and I shouldn't have: Merci.

Deelightful!

Thanks to Dave Lull for pointing out this lighthearted prose-vs.-poetry smackdown by novelist Naeem Murr.

In yesterday's Inquirer ...

... Glenn Altschuler reviewed Woody Allen's latest: Woody's still shticking that landing.

SciFi Fans ...

... don't forget tomorrow.

It's about time ...

... I Overturn 450 Years of Scientific Error.

A sad state ...

... from Terry Teachout's Almanac.

Only a French intellectual ...

... would think that jogging is right-wing activity: Bravo, Sarkozy - from one jogger to another. (Hat tip, Vikram Johri, who notes slyly that "this is taking it a bit too far."

I don't jog myself, but I do walk four and a half miles every day at a good clip, and I used to hike and climb a good deal. I think of walking as more civilized than jogging.

Oh, I like this ...

... Jihadi Transvestite Busted in Islamabad.

Crime galore ...

... Another double dose of Euro Crime.

Take your pick ...

... What’s Your Alchemist Name?

For reasons best not explained, my choice was Navzar Bombastus.

Always helpful ...

... that's our Bryan: How to Do Everything. His latest scientology reprise shouldn't be missed, either.

I know what he means ...

... from the Grumpy Old Bookman: Nassim Nicholas Taleb: The Black Swan. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

"I've been putting this off, you know -- writing a review of Nassim Nicholas Taleb's new book, The Black Swan. Why? Because it's hard work for one thing: requires concentration; and because it's a deuced risky enterprise for another."

Me too. Putting it off, that is, but not only because it is hard work - which it is. But mostly because it takes an amount of time I haven't had at my disposal as I try to get ready to go on vacation and deal with some other matters. Which is why my review won't run until July 29, after I return from vacation. And which is also why I have read only the GOB's introductory remarks.

Shallow deep down ...

... and not so very deep down, either: Gut instinct isn't science. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

Professor Barash, like M. Jourdain discovering that he was speaking prose, has discovered that appearance and reality aren't necessarily the same (though they are necessarily connected: Nothing is real that doesn't in some way appear to be, and every appearance, even a mirage, is in some way, to some degree, real).

"Our planet is round, even though it sure feels flat under our feet as we walk." Well, sort of. But scanning the horizon suggests otherwise, and the the roundness of the Earth was regarded by Thomas Aquinas, for instance, as a matter long settled.

The question, however, is this: Who exactly is suggesting that we substitute "gut instinct" for science? And how many of those counterintuitive insights of science started out as someone's gut instinct?

"Science, bless its innovative soul, constantly reveals new realities. Many of them — global warming, nuclear weapons, overpopulation, threats to biodiversity — are pregnant with immense risk. Others, like genomics or stem cell research, offer great opportunity. But nearly all are freighted with a lack of truthiness."

Does this mean genomics and stem cell research offer only opportunity, but no risk? And I am not the only one to think the jury is still out on global warming - or does Professor Barash think Freeman Dyson and others have been seduced by gut instinct? Moreover, I believe the population bomb turned out to be a dud.

Actually, that paragraph demonstrates perfectly the extent to which Professor Barash's thinking is confined to conventional pieties, which can be as much of a threat to science and truth as any gut instinct.

Your nominations, please ...

... What's a 'perfect line' in poetry? (Hat tip, Rus Bowden.)

Since, I gather, one can cite more than one line, I would choose, off the top my head, this:

... the future is a faded song, a Royal Rose or a lavender spray
Of wistful regret for those who are not yet here to regret,
Pressed between yellow leaves of a book that has never been opened.

Mad as hell ...

... Why I Hate Poetry Magazine. (Hat tip, Laurie Mason.)

Gee.

Precision thinking ...

... Joseph Epstein on The intimate abstraction of Paul Valéry. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

“The religious debate is no longer between different religions; but between those who believe that belief has some sort of value and those who don’t.”

Bryan's choices ...

... and commentary for the Interboard Poetry Community poetry competition: Winning Poems and Commentary. (Hat tip, Rus Bowden.)

Who knew ...

... that Calvin Coolidge was so eloquent? The eternal meaning of Independence Day.

Happy Fourth of July to all!

My sentiments exactly ...

... Should You Trust the Government?

My idea of a high-trust society differs from that of many elites. Elitist journalists think that a high-trust society is one where we trust the mainstream media. Elitist politicians and activists think that a high-trust society is one where we trust legislators, regulators, and experts to exercise broad authority. In contrast, I believe that a high-trust society is one in which processes ensure that elites are subject to checks and accountability. It is particularly important for legislators, regulators, and experts to have their authority limited and their accountability assured.

My impression is that no single climate model enjoys the confidence of a large number of scientists. Instead, many climate scientists are willing to endorse a "consensus" that takes a range of estimates from some models. I would like to read an essay written for an intelligent layman that explains why this is a persuasive approach. What is the rationale for including some models while excluding others? Do predictions based on the "average" or "consensus" model out-perform the predictions of any individual model, as in a "wisdom of crowds" phenomenon? Or is the purpose of a "consensus" is to strengthen a political coalition, rather than to improve accuracy?

Here's an idea: How about taking all the most reliable meteorological data from, say, 1950, and feeding it into one of these climate models and seeing if the results describe what in fact took place weatherwise in, say, 2000?

Coming to Philly?

... well, here's a nice B&B not far from where I live: Bella Vista Bed & Breakfast.

Cool ...

... Alarmist global warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

South of the border ...

... from the Wild River Review: Here Is Your Neighbor — This is Mexico.

And why not ...

... Why, Poetry? (Hat tip, Rus Bowden.)

Gee ...

... “I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are. If I killed them all there would be news from Hell before breakfast.”

- William Tecumseh Sherman

Interesting indeed ...

... Brown, gays and Gramsci.

I'd worry if my prime minister were a fan of Antonio Gramsci.

Evidence and nuance ...

... can both be found here: A Divine Materialism. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

As a bonus there's Francis Bacon's explanation of Richard Dawkins: "A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion."

Sad but unsurprising ...

... at least to me, though I am in a position to see the literary world from its least flattering angle: The end of a competition.

Seen any lately?

... Venting one's spleen.

The results are in ...

... for A Roaring Contest !

He's back ...

... And Yes I'm...

Some background: Free the Blogger one.

It just won't go away ...

... Richard: The church may be struggling, but in politics its rhetoric is on the rise. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

Gulley Jimson ...

... the painter protagonist of Joyce Cary's novel The Horse's Mouth, had a prototype in real life: Stanley Spencer.

Spinning your wheels at work?

Go to the movies!

Join T.E.S.T.I.C.L.E. ...

... now: Chip Dale's Thought Experiments: The Campaign. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

As is well known, I do not subscribe to conspiracy theories, so when I suspect there is a conspiracy afoot to silence the founder and president of the Failed Intellectuals Society (FIS), you better take it seriously. Come on Blogger: Free Bryan Now!

Summer substitute blogger found alive in Phila.

Just a test message to see if I can still log onto Books, Inq.

Frank will soon be on holiday and I'll be trawling for blog entries while he's gone. Don't hesitate to email me at jbrumfield@phillynews.com with any suggestions.

Fact or fiction ....

... Dead Airman's Affidavit: Roswell Aliens Were Real.

In case you wondered ...

... Why Intellectuals Like Genocide. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

Update: Here is a lecture by Keith Windschuttle: Postmodernism and the Fabrication of Aboriginal History.

By their fruits ...

... you shall know them. And by that standard one can learn a lot about the two people who wrote The Third Culture and Inferior Design. The style of the one, it seems to me, reveals the writer to be supremely civilized and kind; that of the other seems reflective of a twit full of himself.

Also the latest ...

... Junto newsletter.

The latest issue ...

... of The Mad Hatters' Review.

Where we were ...

... and why I didn't blog yesterday: We visited friends - Dot and Nancy - across the river in New Jersey. Their lovely house is nestled in a woodland. The pup is their sheltie Comet. Standing near the hydrangeas are (from left) Dot, Nancy, and my better half. The painting of doves is by Nancy as are the figurines in the corner above the glass table.

Centenary alert ...

... Robert A. Heinlein.

Calling all grammarians ...

... Too clever by half? (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

Well, it seems to me that patients, not an assortment, would parade.

History and endings ...

... On Web Utopians.

I'm not sure if I agree that utopianism is based on the idea that "that history tells a story with a happy ending." I think, rather, that utopianism is based on the idea - surely false - that we can devise a sociopolitical system that will solve any and all problems. As for history, it is simply the sequence of events. I happen to believe, along with Julian of Norwich, that "all will be well and all manner of thing will be well," but that's because I also believe that "the Holy Ghost over the bent /world broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings."

Idiot wind ...

... Prayer: A Neurological Inquiry.

Actually, there's a lot of interesting stuff here, but the final sentence is a howler: "In contrast to thoughts themselves, the brain activity from which thoughts arise does consist of energy—electrochemical energy within neural circuitry. Reading this teeming energy in millions of circuit neurons and translating it into the thought or prayer arising from it seems theoretically impossible for even a supernatural being. "

A supernatural being, by definition, is, well, supernatural, which would mean, by definition, that natural criteria would not apply to such.

Check out ...

... Reluctant Memsahib. (Hat tip, Roberta Nolte.)

And click on the photo in the first post.

Again, we link ...

... you decide: The M&C Interview 2: Daniel Dennett, 7/07. This is actually a very good interview and Dennett comes across in it as much more engaging than I find he does in his writings.

And the winners are ...

... The storySouth 2007 Million Writers Award for Fiction. (Hat tip, Laurie Mason.)

More here.

Declaration of independence ...

... Why Indie Bookstores Matter. (Hat tip, Laurie Mason.)

A review's afterlife ...

... Michiko vs. Glenn. We link, you decide.

Today's Inquirer reviews ...

... I find Andro Linklater's The Fabric of America fascinating: The edges of character. I have selfishly given myself pride of place in today's list because I have also made my online video debut: Book Talk with Frank Wilson | Andro Linklater Interview.

... Ed Pettit is pleased at Philip K. Dick's latest honor: A most worthy gathering of Philip K. Dick sci-fi of the '60s.

... David Montogmery has good news for C.J. Box fans: Mystery set in Yellowstone is stunning fun.

... Katie Haegele does some virtual exploring: Online, Second Life avatars are prosing and poetizing.

... Sandy Bauers finds that Michael Ondaatje's latest is hard listening: Complexity of Ondaatje's new novel a driving challenge.

This past week, Andy Maykuth looked into the mystery surrounding a Pearl Buck manuscript: Long-lost ‘Good Earth’ manuscript found and FBI says secretary took Buck typescript.