May 13, 2008
The return of James Frey
Author James Frey—who was at the center of a scandal in 2006 when it was revealed that portions of his supposed memoir, 'A Million Little Pieces,' had been fabricated—has returned with a novel, 'Bright Shiny Morning.' Frey was given “another chance” and “look what he did with it,” said Janet Maslin in The New York Times. “He stepped up to the plate and hit one out of the park. “'Bright Shiny Morning' is a terrible book,” said David L. Ulin in the Los Angeles Times. “One of the . . .
May 8, 2008
Why is Random House CEO Peter Olson stepping down?
Peter W. Olson, who has been chief executive of book publishing company Random House since 1998, is leaving his post in a few weeks. It appears that Olson has “fallen victim to the same bottom-line calculus” that led him to fire several people in the past, said Mark Landler in The New York Times. Olson shouldn’t be entirely blamed for poor book sales at Random House, said the blog Bookyards. The . . .
May 8, 2008
Also of interest ...
in war and its myths
in war and its myths
May 8, 2008
Author of the week
James Frey
James Frey
May 8, 2008
Novel of the week
The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
May 8, 2008
A Voyage Long and Strange
Several years ago, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Tony Horwitz suddenly realized that he had “mislaid an entire century” of American history. He realized that he knew almost nothing about . . .
May 8, 2008
Review of reviews: Books
What the critics said about the best new books:
A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father by Augusten Burroughs
What the critics said about the best new books:
A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father by Augusten Burroughs
May 1, 2008
Also of interest ...
in bibliophiles and bibliomaniacs
in bibliophiles and bibliomaniacs
May 1, 2008
Is Augusten Burroughs making things up?
It’s hard to believe that Burrough’s new memoir 'A Wolf at the Table' is entirely true, said Claude Peck in the Star Tribune. “With his new book, said Deirdre Donahue in USA Today, “Burroughs proves that his memory well hasn’t gone dry.” It’s impressive how . . .
May 1, 2008
Author of the week
Jessica Queller
Jessica Queller
May 1, 2008
Review of reviews: Books
What the critics said about the best new books:
Willie Nelson: An Epic Life by Joe Nick Patoski
What the critics said about the best new books:
Willie Nelson: An Epic Life by Joe Nick Patoski
May 1, 2008
Review of reviews: Books
What the critics said about the best new books:
A Summer of Hummingbirds by Christopher Benfey
What the critics said about the best new books:
A Summer of Hummingbirds by Christopher Benfey
May 1, 2008
Fall of Frost
In Brian Hall’s powerful new novel, poet Robert Frost is a man “who never gets what he needs,” said Peter Behrens in The Washington Post. We meet the white-haired New Englander in the last year of his life. He has . . .
Apr 29, 2008
McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld
Times have never been better for criminal entrepreneurs, says journalist Misha Glenny. Car theft is Europe’s fastest-growing industry. Female sex slaves have become “an attractive entry-level commodity” for . . .
Apr 28, 2008
What you didn’t know about Norman Mailer
Carole Mallory, who claims to have been Norman Mailer’s mistress between 1983 and 1992, sold a collection of papers to Harvard University recently, which include detailed descriptions of their sex life and a selection of her writings during that time period. Mallory has delivered some serious dirt on Mailer, said Tony Allen-Mills in The Sunday Times. “Mailer was an exhibitionist, crafting his own highly public life with greater care than his latter novels,” said Lionel Shriver in The Observer, so “he’d eat this stuff up. But . . .
Apr 24, 2008
Should Nabokov’s last book be published despite his dying wish?
Dmitri Nabokov, son of Vladimir Nabokov, has decided to publish his father’s last work, 'The Original of Laura,' despite his father’s dying wish that the manuscripts be destroyed. This has certainly been a “most tortuous dilemma” for Dmitri Nabokov, said Kate Connolly in a Guardian blog. Dmitri’s decision to publish the book means that he “is a bad son AND Vladimir was a terrible father for putting his boy in this position,” said Gawker. And . . .
Apr 24, 2008
Also of interest ...
in two games of summer
in two games of summer
Apr 24, 2008
Author of the week
Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie
Apr 24, 2008
Review of reviews: Books
What the critics said about the best new books: McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld by Misha Glenny; Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon—and the Journey of a Generation by Sheila Weller
What the critics said about the best new books: McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld by Misha Glenny; Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon—and the Journey of a Generation by Sheila Weller
Apr 24, 2008
Novel of the week
Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch
Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch
Apr 22, 2008
Strange Bedfellows: How Late-Night Comedy Turns Democracy Into a Joke
Jay Leno is a threat to democracy, says American Studies professor Russell L. Peterson. Every weeknight, the host of TV’s most popular late-night talk show bounds onstage in his Burbank studio and directs a barrage of pillowy jabs at . . .
Apr 17, 2008
Also of interest ...
in new mysteries and thrillers
in new mysteries and thrillers
Apr 17, 2008
Author of the week
Ben Mezrich
Ben Mezrich
Apr 17, 2008
Review of reviews: Books
What the critics said about the best new books: Strange Bedfellows: How Late-Night Comedy Turns Democracy Into a Joke by Russell L. Peterson; Fatal Misconception: The Struggle to Control World Populations by Matthew Connelly
What the critics said about the best new books: Strange Bedfellows: How Late-Night Comedy Turns Democracy Into a Joke by Russell L. Peterson; Fatal Misconception: The Struggle to Control World Populations by Matthew Connelly
Apr 17, 2008
Novel of the week
The Story of Forgetting
by Stefan Merrill Block
The Story of Forgetting
by Stefan Merrill Block
Apr 16, 2008
Rowling battles for words
A Harry Potter fan cried in court this week after author J.K. Rowling accused him of stealing from her by publishing a lexicon filled with terms from her books. Rowling is a “witch,” said Andy Martin in the Contrarian Commentary blog.
There are a lot of Harry Potter fans out there who disagree, said Tom Weber in The Wall Street Journal’s Buzzwatch blog. “At two key Potter sites . . .
Apr 15, 2008
The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century
Osama bin Laden founded al Qaida two months after his oldest brother, Salem, was killed while flying an ultralight in Texas. Salem bin Laden had lived in a world of luxury. As head of the Saudi Arabia–based construction empire their late father had built, Salem enjoyed . . .
