AltWeeklies Wire
How Alicia Silverstone Made Me Vegannew
The Kind Diet is a cookbook, yes, but the first half is dedicated to a surprisingly readable, occasionally affably ditzy, and heartfelt argument as to why one should consider the benefits of a "plant-based diet," which -- unbelievably redundant as it may seem -- is the politically correct way of saying "vegan."
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
10-16-2009 |
Nonfiction
Road to Somewhere: David Byrne's Energizing 'Bicycle Diaries'new
The underlying message here is that while bicycling may be a political movement, it can also be liberating and fun at the same time. I'm hoping Byrne's book now heralds bicycling's offbeat entry into the American mainstream, just as his wacky persona hit the big time thanks to our parents' taste in pop music.
The Portland Mercury |
Matt Davis |
09-25-2009 |
Nonfiction
Character Witness: Stephen Elliott Talks S&M and '20/20'new
Elliott's new book, The Adderall Diaries, is a brilliantly executed memoir disguised as a true crime book.
The Portland Mercury |
Kevin Sampsell |
09-18-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
'The Hunter' Flawlessly Brings a Crime Novel to Comicsnew
The Hunter quickly becomes a cascade of sex, murder, and international intrigue, and you just have to root for our antihero—he's just so good at what he does.
The Portland Mercury |
Paul Constant |
09-03-2009 |
Fiction
I Have to Wonder: Who Exactly is 'Porn & Pong' Written For?new
Nothing Brown presents in Porn & Pong is going to be a huge revelation if you're already mired in gamer culture, and I just can't see the average person choosing the book over Stephenie Meyer's sparkly vampires.
The Portland Mercury |
Earnest "Nex" Cavalli |
08-28-2009 |
Nonfiction
'That Old Cape Magic' is Incrementally Less Magical Than Richard Russo's Previous Worknew
Cape Magic lacks the expansive, roomy quality of Russo's best work, but his trademark warmth makes it a worthwhile read all the same -- after all, it's only 261 pages.
The Portland Mercury |
Allison Hallett |
08-20-2009 |
Fiction
The Shadowy Panels of 'You Have Killed Me'new
You Have Killed Me is a graphic novel in the hyper-stylized tradition of film noir.
The Portland Mercury |
Alison Hallett |
08-06-2009 |
Original Work
'We Did Porn' Peeks Behind the Curtain of the Alt-Porn Industrynew
Oh, pornography. Progressives still get turned around. Does it victimize women? Reinforce impossible sexual expectations? Cheapen intimacy? In his new book, Zak Smith cuts to the crux of the confusion: "The most hideous thing about pornography, of course, is that it works. On you."
The Portland Mercury |
Alison Hallett |
06-19-2009 |
Nonfiction
Kate Hopkins Creates a Boozy Travelogue with '99 Drams of Whiskey'new
Hopkins is an entertaining storyteller, which works in a book dedicated to a storied beverage. Moors, alchemists, gangsters, and politicians all show up in whiskey's history, and Hopkins' language lends fullness to the characters responsible for its mystique.
The Portland Mercury |
Patrick Alan Coleman |
06-19-2009 |
Nonfiction
Katherine Dunn's New Book Collects the Best of Her Essays on Boxingnew
Renowned Portland author Katherine Dunn talks to the Mercury about the unjustly maligned sport of boxing.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
05-07-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
No Bologna: An Interview with 'Knockemstiff' Author Donald Ray Pollocknew
It's hard to believe that the town of Knockemstiff, Ohio, really exists, but it's even harder to believe that some of these nasty creatures crawled from Donald Ray Pollock's head.
The Portland Mercury |
Paul Constant |
03-26-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
How FreeDarko Saved the Sport of Basketballnew
The head of the FreeDarko collective, Bethlehem Shoals (the ridiculous nom de plume of Seattle resident Nathaniel Friedman), took time to discuss turning a blog into a book and the long-lost record collection of former Blazers/Sonics player -- and flattop enthusiast -- Detlef Schrempf.
The Portland Mercury |
Ezra Ace Caraeff |
02-05-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
New Scott Pilgrim!! Squee!!new
Everybody loves Scott Pilgrim—and if they don't, it's only because they haven't met him yet.
The Portland Mercury |
Alison Hallett |
02-05-2009 |
Fiction
Dame Darcy Plays with Her Dolls in 'Gasoline'new
Gasoline is essentially an illustrated novel: Drawings accompany the text, but they're not integral to the story, pushing Dame Darcy's prose into the spotlight in a way that Meatcake does not -- and unfortunately, the writing simply isn't sophisticated enough to take center stage.
The Portland Mercury |
Allison Hallett |
12-19-2008 |
Fiction
This 'Almanac' is Less a Book, More a Shot Heard 'round the Sportswriting Worldnew
For all of those who absolutely love the sport of basketball, but have grown tired of the tired cliches that weigh the game down, then Macrophenomenal is your new bible -- proof that if there is any justice in this cruel world, sports writing as we know it is about to change for the better.
The Portland Mercury |
Ezra Ace Caraeff |
12-12-2008 |
Nonfiction
