It’s getting closer to Christmas, and these are some more items I’d recommend for you and yours. I’m afraid I didn’t have time to go through and write-up thoughts on each, but I find them all exciting. 1. Postertext Wall Art This team of bibliophiles have created dozens of pieces of wall art out of … Read more
If you’ve ever wanted to provide financial support to the website or the podcast, there is now an easy way to do so. In the upper-left corner of the blog there is a new button: “Donate.” Over the years I’ve received several emails from people asking how they can support the site and, now, the podcast. … Read more
While I don’t typically do a holiday gift guide, I think I have some good ideas this year that might help you get gifts for your book-loving friends and family — and you might find something on here for yourself. This is Part I. Part II will include children’s books and a few other knick-knacks. 1. … Read more
I believe many of you have noticed that over the past week my site has been hit and miss. I apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate that many of you have contacted me about your problems, expressing encouragement rather than ire. As I’ve suspected all along, the problem is my host and not my site. … Read more
Last night, the National Book Award winners were announced: Fiction: The Good Lord Bird, by James McBride Nonfiction: The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America, by George Packer Poetry: Incarnadine, by Mary Szybist Young People’s Literature: The Thing About Luck, by Cynthia Kadohata Essentially, I know nothing about these titles. Any favorites?
A few months ago I announced here that I was venturing into a solo podcast dedicated to discussing “The Worlds and Works of Shakespeare.” Well, that’s been going on, and I’ve just finished the first play (the first of 38 — this is a long-term project). While I do plan on keeping that podcast separate … Read more
Today they announced the five finalists for each category of the National Book Awards. Fiction: The Flamethrowers, by Rachel Kushner The Lowland, by Jhumpa Lahiri The Good Lord Bird, by James McBride Bleeding Edge, by Thomas Pynchon Tenth of December, by George Saunders Nonfiction: Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin, by … Read more
This year’s winner is: The Luminaries, by Eleanor Catton And for those of you in the United States, Little, Brown just published the book today. I have had a copy for a while, but so far I haven’t been able to bring myself to read the large (848 pages) book, but I am looking forward … Read more
I was beyond thrilled this morning when I woke to find that Alice Munro has won the Nobel Prize for Literature. She becomes the first Canadian to do so (if you don’t count Saul Bellow, who moved to the USA when he was nine and is considered a US winner). I believe she is also … Read more
Today the Giller Prize shortlist was announced: Going Home Again, by Dennis Bock Hellgoing, by Lynn Coady Cataract City, by Craig Davidson Caught, by Lisa Moore The Crooked Maid, by Dan Vyleta This is a bit surprising to me. First, I’m almost finished with Going Home Again, and I don’t like it much at all … Read more