AltWeeklies Wire
Madison Smartt Bell Brings the Civil War to Your Doorstepnew
Devil's Dream's frontispiece includes a photograph of the small-eyed, dark-bearded Civil War general Nathan Forrest. Prepare to flip back to that single photograph over and over again as you read.
Baltimore City Paper |
John Barry |
12-08-2009 |
Fiction
Book Quarterly: J.M. Coetzee, Zadie Smith, Stephen King, Nabokovnew
The discerning critics of Philadelphia City Paper review this season's most notable tomes: Summertime by J.M. Coetzee, Changing My Mind by Zadie Smith, Under the Dome by Stephen King and The Original of Laura by Vladimir Nabokov.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Katherine Hill, K. Ross Hoffman, Justin Bauer, Lauren F. Friedman |
12-08-2009 |
Fiction
Miss O'Dell Dishes on Music Legendsnew
A new book by tour manager Chris O'Dell tells behind-the-scenes details of the '60s/'70s music world.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
12-02-2009 |
Nonfiction
Lincoln Brought Politics into the War? Really?new
Poor Abraham Lincoln. Even in his 200th birthday year, the guy is still being sliced and diced, his every action scrutinized in an estimated 100 new books that have hit the shelves since the Lincoln Bicentennial festivities kicked off two years ago.
Illinois Times |
Julie Cellini |
12-01-2009 |
Books
Author Carol Ann Wilson on utopia and the man who brought it to Coloradonew
When alternative thinkers and restless souls go looking for utopia, where do they go? According to Wilson, one group of bliss-seekers in the early '70s chose Manitou Springs.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Jill Thomas |
11-30-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Revisiting W. Eugene Smith's Obsessive Archives from a Swinging Placenew
In the late '50s, world-famous (and drug-addicted) photographer W. Eugene Smith retreats to a Manhattan building at the artsy intersection of high-life and low-life, a building of artists' and musicians' lofts. Over eight years he shoots something like 1,500 rolls of film and records 1,700 reels of tape. A fascinating sampling of photos and tape transcripts is now available.
Metro Times |
W. Kim Heron |
11-25-2009 |
Books
Reclaiming Stolen History
Meet Boilerplate, History’s Mechanical Marvel.
The Inlander |
Ted S. McGregor Jr. |
11-24-2009 |
Fiction
Jazz Writer Ted Gioia Bites Off More Than He Can Chew in 'The Birth (and Death) of the Cool'new
Gioia presents convincing evidence that people trust brand names less than they did for many years. But he spends endless energy hard-selling the idea that brand-name obeisance has, or has ever had, anything to do with "cool."
Baltimore City Paper |
Michaelangelo Matos |
11-24-2009 |
Nonfiction
John Freeman Explores Email's Dark Side ... in an Email Interviewnew
Freeman has been busy lately, both as the new editor of the lit mag Granta and with the writing of The Tyranny of E-Mail, the subject of, LOL, this email interview.
Las Vegas Weekly |
Scott Dickensheets |
11-20-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Gift Guide: Consider Placing Some Great Indie Books Underneath the Treenew
Unemployment is still too high, which means many people are struggling -- so why not buy your friends and loved ones books for the holidays? After all, books are cheap, and if things get desperate, they make great kindling once the power gets turned off!
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
11-18-2009 |
Books
Tags: Books, Gift Guide
John Irving is Once Again in Full Control of the Narrative in 'Last Night In Twisted River'new
In his latest book, Irving entertains with the grace of a novelist who knows how to be funny without hitting the reader over the head.
NOW Magazine |
David Silverberg |
11-16-2009 |
Fiction
Stephen Elliott's Lacerating, All-Over-the-Place Memoir Pulls No Punchesnew
Whenever I read or hear "meta" or "postmodern" or "fiercely honest," I usually head for a lowbrow potboiler. But I'm not sure how else to describe The Adderall Diaries, a fiercely honest, postmodern work that's also more compulsively readable than the most pulpish thrillers.
Las Vegas Weekly |
Steve Friedman |
11-13-2009 |
Nonfiction
Barbara Kingsolver Makes a Misstep as She Tries to Make Her Point in 'The Lacuna'new
Kingsolver has created a reserved, unassuming character in Harrison Shepherd. He's so unassuming, in fact, that he becomes a cipher. Kingsolver's trademark nuanced characterization is not well-served by this collaged point of view.
Tucson Weekly |
Christine Wald-Hopkins |
11-11-2009 |
Fiction
Margaret Atwood Renders Today's Troubles into Absorbing Dystopian Tomorrowsnew
Atwood discusses her new novel, The Year of the Flood, today's environmental movement, and why no one can predict the future.
Santa Fe Reporter |
Julia Goldberg |
11-11-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Augusten Burroughs Gets Personal with Santa in 'You Better Not Cry'new
While discussing Christmas (his favorite holiday), Burroughs says he sees one common thread throughout his memories, "Each one has been horrible, worse than the last." He's recounted those laughably miserable memories in his latest book, a loose collection of Christmas stories spanning from his youth until just a few years ago.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Wyatt Williams |
11-10-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
