You may be feeling the imminent arrival of R. L. Stine. He's coming to Columbus for the 3rd annual Ohioana Book Festival on May 9. R. L. Stine is the famed Ohio author of the Fear Street and Goosebumps book series for kids. He's also authored many other scary books, including the Rotten School series. R. L. Stine's website claims The … Continue reading Got goosebumps?
Month: April 2009
Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi
Geoff Dyer's "Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi" tells the story of British middle-aged Jeff Atman as free-lance journalist covering Venice's Biennale and then experiencing spiritual insight in India's sacred city, Varanasi. Dyer's cleverness teases us along, much like a clever friend that drops the occasional hilarious line or gem of wit.
Forgotten Pulitzer-winning novels
NPR's All Things Considering offered a list of novels that won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and likely would provoke a perplexed "huh? who?" Here's that list. It includes three Ohio authors: Louis Bromfield, Josephine Johnson and Conrad Richter. Johnson's novel Now in November is not forgotten by me -- it's one I've given as a gift, … Continue reading Forgotten Pulitzer-winning novels
Jennie Gerhardt is back
A few years ago, at some random point in my reading journey, an author or critic said he or she preferred Theodore Dreiser's Jennie Gerhardt, published in 1911, to the more famously known and assigned Dreiser classic Sister Carrie. Not just preferred, though -- the book was described as a favorite. I went online to purchase a copy, only … Continue reading Jennie Gerhardt is back
I miss letters
On October 8, 1946, legendary singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie wrote an eight-page letter to Charlotte Strauss. The two had been corresponding since 1945, after Strauss read Guthrie's autobiography Bound for Glory and wrote him a fan letter. That eight-page letter went up for auction on January 15, 2009 at Freeman's, as part of the Manuscript Archive of … Continue reading I miss letters
Will you be dispensable?
The Other Press is publishing The Unit in June, the first novel by Swedish author Ninni Holmqvist, translated byMarlaine Delargy. From what I read in the press release, it's sci-fi along the lines of Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World. Sci-fi is not a genre that calls to me, although I've read the aforementioned classics, … Continue reading Will you be dispensable?
W. S. Merwin wins Pulitzer
Pulitzer Prize winners for Letters, Drama and Music 2009 announced today are listed here in the New York Times. Among them is W. S. Merwin for his extraordinary collection of poetry The Shadow of Sirius. One of my favorites in the collection, etching unforgettable images/sounds, "An Empty Lot" about the "long dusty patch/ of high ragweed" … Continue reading W. S. Merwin wins Pulitzer
A super son nevertheless: Michael Dirda
Michael Dirda reviews Jayne Anne Phillips Lark and Termite in the current New York Review of Books (April 30, 2009). His exceptional analysis of this dreamy, multi-narrated novel unravels the complexity that IMO makes the story less accessible to all readers. Anyone who's already read the novel or who plans to read it will find … Continue reading A super son nevertheless: Michael Dirda
Breathing the most fascinating and admirable characteristics of race
Paul Lawrence Dunbar come to mind? Not as well known yet writing during the same time period, Elliott Blaine Henderson hit my radar when a book dealer handed me one of his collections, Humble Folks, published in 1909. I had no idea who Henderson was but fell in love with his photo in the book and also in … Continue reading Breathing the most fascinating and admirable characteristics of race
The Longest Chapter 