I'm liking Ron Charles more and more and more, and
this video review of Jonathan Franzen's Freedom makes just makes me giddy.
Over at Critical Mass, the blog for the NBCC, Wyatt Mason
writes about Roth's "tenth, short, and perfect novel, The Ghost Writer." I agree with Mason; this is one great novel, and a great place to start if you're looking to get to know Roth. Here is
my review. It wasn't my first Roth, but it is the book that made him one of my favorite writers of all time (if not my favorite).
This promises to get interesting. Anis Shivani of
The Huffington Post has posted his list of the
fifteen most overrated contemporary American authors. As usual, he makes some great points. Often when I see these, though, I think, "Okay, so they are bad. Now, tell me who is good -- and why the difference." Shivani promises to follow-up with the most
underrated contemporary American writers. Followed with similar lists for American writers of the past century, and going further to include lists for the global writers.
Patricia Zohn interviews Jennifer Egan at
The Huffington Post. I still think
A Visit from the Goon Squad is one of the best books of the year.
New York Magazine has a nice
look at independent bookstores in the City, which are rising "against all odds."
At Reading Matters, Kim has featured my blog on her
Triple Choice Tuesday. My choices?
The Ghost Writer,
So Long, See You Tomorrow, and
Butcher's Crossing. Pop on over and see my fresh, brief write-up of each title.
For Independence Day, the Huffington Post has a slide show of
fifteen great independent publishers, featuring a few of my favorites --
Open Letter,
Archipelago -- and a few I didn't know about.
New Directions is a model of perfection, and I agree. I have stacks and stacks of books from these three presses, and I'm anxious to see what the others have to offer.
Michiko Kakutani's
review of Jacob de Zoet is surprising in its lack of substance. It's mostly just a plot rehash (which I think gives away a bit too much). It's boring to read and insightless, where I usually enjoy her reviews even if I disagree (as I do here). I'm not saying my reviews are better, surely, but this is pretty poor for
The New York Times daily and from a Pulitzer-winning critic.
In the new issue of
The New Yorker, James Wood
takes a look at The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet: "This is to argue not that David Mitchell should be more like Tolstoy or Conrad or Beckett but, curiously, that he might be more Mitchellian—that the reader wants a kind of moral or metaphysical pressure that is absent, and that has ceded all the ground to pure storytelling."
The Paris Review blog has a
Q&A with Jennifer Egan, author of
The Goon Squad, a piece of which was published in
The New Yorker and discussed
here.
Click
here for the
Never Let Me Go trailer. I didn't like the book as much as I hoped I would, but the trailer makes the film look good.
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I’m surprised to see I’ve read three of these: The Driver’s Seat, The Birds in the Trees, and The Vivisector. In my opinion, The Vivisector, one of *the* most challenging (but entertaining) books I’ve ever read should win hands down.
I wanted to pick up The Vivisector today, kimbofo. I went to the bookstore with my 40% off coupon plus $5 credit (yes, it was Borders) and pulled the book off the shelf. Unfortunately, I got a call at that point and the line was incredibly incredibly long (lunchtime). So I put the book back thinking I’d return later in the day when the line was shorter. I went back a few hours later and the line was gone — but so was the book! I ended up getting nothing. So I’m still 0-6 with the Lost Booker, though New Directions has kindly posted a copy of The Driver’s Seat.
As far as should win hands down — I have never heard much mention of Hazzard’s novel. She gets so much attention for Transit of Venus and The Great Fire, but people who read those books might assume her novel here is the best without reading the others. For that reason I assume she or Spark will win because it is a popular pole. I’m not sure many people will take the time to get into White — though I certainly hope to.
Shame about not getting your copy of the Vivisector! I bought mine from Abebooks years ago for about 2 pence! It was half falling apart and by the time I’d read it it was in two or three pieces — the spine broke! I keep meaning to update it with a pristine shop-fresh copy but never see it anywhere.
I think you’re right: Murial Spark will win it. It’s a wonderful book and incredibly well plotted and written in such bare prose that not one word is wasted. But… but… I love White’s book because it’s so ambitious and so massive in scope and concept… peopled with such extraordinary characters. I still think about them, actually, and I read the book several years ago now. I think that’s always a sign you’ve read something special.
I agree – Muriel Spark will win. I can’t see any other result, really. And not having read many of the others I shouldn’t really comment – but I hope The Vivisector wins.
I just got The Vivisector, but I think it will be a while before I get it read. It’s long! And apparently quite dense. But it looks great!
This just in from the Man Booker forum: we commenters complained about the short deadline for readers and the administrators of the prize listened. The new deadline for voting is Friday, April 30. It’s only a week longer, but I think it’s much more reasonable.
I just started Troubles, and it’s definitely worthy so far.