Bites: Painting Bukowski on Books, Lists of “Noughties” Lists, Philip Roth Kind of Eclipsed by a Dead Man, and more

An interview with L.A. artist Mike Stilkey, who paints beautifully on books (and portraits Bukowski). Lit. and The New Decade The end of the decade approaches, which means….lists!  Times and Telegraph on the 100 definitive books of the ’00s. And the first item on More Intelligent Life’s more inclusive “noughties” list: Hoodies. Everyone who is anyone is weighing in on Laura. Here you have it, if you can keep up, in no particular order: Amis, Banville, Hemon, Kakutani, n+1, 92nd […]

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Introducing a New Indie Press (And Another Reason Print Won’t Die)

The editors at Vol. 1 would like to draw your attention to a new non-profit publisher, Madras Press.  A literary and philanthropic project, this new printing press publishes individually bound stories and novella-length booklets featuring writers such as Aimee Bender, Trinie Dalton, Joy Williams, and Rebecca Lee.  All of their proceeds are donated to a list of charitable organizations chosen by their authors. Directly from their website, “The format of our books provides readers with the opportunity to experience a […]

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Bites: A Woman’s Wit, James Franco is on Daytime TV, So What?, Aerosmith Understands the Internet, and more

The New York Times reviews “A Woman’s Wit: Jane Austen in Life and Legacy” on exhibit at The Morgan Library & Museum. Lit. Even though there are approximately one billion newly published food memoirs per American second, everyone’s still obsessing over Jonathan Safran Foer and his book about that ultra-modern idea of vegetarianism. Wells Tower is also still writing for Outside Mag. According to the Rumpus, this is one example of why fiction writers make good journalists. The Guardian reviews […]

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How to Write a Novel: Impractical Advice From People Who Have Done It

“Put your left hand on the table. Put your right hand in the air. If you stay that way long enough, you’ll get a plot,” Margaret Atwood says when asked where her ideas come from. When questioned about whether she’s ever used that approach, she adds, “No, I don’t have to.”  Enough said, Margaret Atwood. I go through phases where I don’t care at all about the practices of other writers, as I’m fairly certain nearly all of us are […]

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Bites: Gladwell is Analyzed, Zizek on Post-Communism, the “Weirdness” of Health Insurance, and more

Malcolm Gladwell The internet is a-twitter with three things this morning: the anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the health care bill, and Maureen Tkacik’s Nation piece,  “Malcolm Gladwell for Dummies.” HTMLGIANT’s Justin Taylor sees the essay as more than just a piece on Gladwell, but also “worth looking at…in light of [the] ongoing discussion of what good criticism can or should look like.”  The Millions wonders if this is “a tipping point for Gladwell haters.” Berlin Wall […]

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Bites: Gentrification Lit, Adam Langer, Dustin Hoffman Loves Libraries, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin host the Oscars, and more

N+1 discuss “gentrification novels”. Discussed are Jonathan Lethem, Prospect Park West, etc.  As a Park Slope resident, I feel a little bit shitty right now. Lit. Rare books for the “cultured traveler” Adam Langer, one of the great Chicago writers, tells us some music he likes. HTML Giant tells us about Warm Milk Press. The American zeitgeist implodes upon itself as James Franco, following his quirky stint on daytime television, is slated to guest star on 30 Rock. Dustin Hoffman: […]

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Reviewed: The End by Salvatore Scibona

Salvatore Scibona’s recently released debut novel, The End, is a tale of identity, belonging and a whole lot of longing in an American immigrant community in the first half of the twentieth century. The reader signs on for a strange and tragic DeLorean ride traversing time, and occasionally continents, to worlds that surely would have scared or at least depressed the hell out of Marty McFly.

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Bites: Hemingway’s African Snows, Colson Whitehead on Your Next Novel, The Virtuousness of Swiss Prisons, and more

Hemingway’s short story “The Snows of Kilimanjara” may make a resurgence in the coming years, as the African snows, once “as wide as all the world…and unbelievably white,” of the sky-high peak could be completely obsolete within as little as 12 years. Lit. Is the Internet making you illiterate? Colson Whitehead on choosing What to Write Next: play darts! The Millions has compiled a descriptive list of Difficult Books.  I like this.  Let’s read them. Somerset Maugham broke all the […]

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