It is a soggy, marshy sort of day, the fifth in a row in this week of spitting rain and wind. We’re not used to this in Southern California; rain makes us crazy, like wet Santa Ana winds. Anyway, I recommend a lot of reading this weekend. Stay inside, cultivate your mind a bit, you [...]
Have we all read this essay yet? If not, hop over to Mother Jones and read it. It isn’t too long, and it’s well-written and presents a dilemma I’d like to discuss. While you’re at it, read this companion piece and the fascinating comment thread that follows it. And if you have the time (I [...]
The weather has taken a turn for the absurd here in Pasadena. Thank God I’m on the internet instead. RIP Robert B. Parker. The master of the crime genre passed away at his desk at the age of 77. Sarah Weinman has collected a series of links for those who want to read more about [...]
As part of my year-end recap of my favorite books from 2009, I talked about Richard Rushfield’s memoir Don’t Follow Me, I’m Lost. In doing so, I admitted to being a sucker for campus literature. Lucky Jim, “The Christian Roommate,” Old School… I could go on. All of this is prelude to saying that David [...]
Yes, another link post. You know you love them anyway. WARNING: SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION! Edan Lepucki writes about purging her (our) book collection at The Millions. “I also felt strongly that our books revealed to visitors our values and our identities; the fact that we were swimming in them emphasized their importance in our lives. The [...]
If it’s Tuesday, it must be links, right? It’s that time of year again: The Tournament of Books is just around the corner. This year’s field is quite impressive, featuring books from heavyweights Margaret Atwood and Lorrie Moore, as well as newcomers John Wray and Wells Tower. My one gripe: where is Dan Chaon’s Await [...]
On NPR’s website, Booker Prize winner Aravind Adiga recommends the NYRB Classic To the Finland Station by Edmund Wilson. It’s an excellent recommendation for a book I’d been intrigued by but that I also found a bit intimidating. Apparently, I wasn’t alone: “The book, which was published in 1940, is called a classic and is [...]
Pasadena is bananas this afternoon. Alabama and Texas fans everywhere! I felt like I was Switzerland on the train this morning, until I looked down and realized I’d accidentally worn Alabama colors. Whoops! Seriously, folks, I’m neutral. On to the links: Is Goodreads building a better literary award? Their Goodreads Choice Awards takes the most [...]
Suddenly, everybody is back online. It’s like everyone is shaking the snow off their roofs (huh?). Whatever. I mean to say that people are blogging and tweeting again like crazy after the holiday slumber. Here are a few choice links to kick off your January in style: Always one of the best posts of the [...]
I spent the New Year’s weekend emptying my tiny apartment of extraneous items (Goodbye, shipping container for laptop I no longer possess! See you in hell, corduroy pants that no longer fit!). Whenever I go excavating in the deep recesses my domicile, I always turn up some interesting stuff. This time, I found a reading [...]
