Month: April 2012

Currently Reading: or, April Hangover

April is a whirlwind of events, yet it seems as if I’m getting a decent amount of reading done. I hate to think this is a result of procrastination–those research essays won’t grade themselves…will they?

Ann Beattie is one of the most down-to-earth, pleasant writers I’ve had the opportunity to speak with. Beattie delivered the Keynote speech at the 2012 Townsend Prize ceremony this past Thursday. I purchased The New Yorker Stories. The book contains stories spanning from 1974 to 2006. I started at the beginning and am enjoying it—I love the humor and moments of awkward reality.

Thomas Mullen won the 2012 Townsend Prize for The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers, so that’s next in my to-read stack.

In the recent Southern Issue of the The Chattahoochee Review, I have an essay on Daniel Woodrell. I discuss The Bayou Trilogy, Tomato Red, Winter’s Bone, and The Death of Sweet Mister. Finally, I have in hand Woodrell’s newest release, a collection of stories titled The Outlaw Album. I’ve read two stories so far and can say the stories are artful and the characters are sufficiently depraved.

Even if you aren’t suffering from an end-of-semester hangover, what are you reading this spring?

–Amber

1

Technology and Books

I’m embarrassingly uninformed about the new complexities of e-books, new issues with copyrights, and hell, even e-readers. A notorious ‘late adopter’ of new technology, I don’t have an e-reader. There have been a couple of instances when I’ve wished I had an iPad; change is scary and I am one of those people that never carries around expensive sunglasses because I leave things places. So, no iPad for me. I’ve never owned a GPS or MP3 player; I print maps, listen to NPR, and still have CDs sitting around in jewel cases.

However, when I see great deals on e-books, often from the Kindle store, I feel like I am missing out on something. To be able to get that book right now for super cheap, namely. Or when I see campaigns for sales of e-book versions of new work by fellow writers, or newly recommended writers, I want to be able to participate right away–the convenience and value is appealing. However, I still love the heft of a book, I still love the library, and I still love real pages.

Betsy Morais examines the changing field of design for digital books at The Atlantic in “Has Kindle Killed the Book Cover?”

Shelf Awareness examines the Justice Department’s suit against Apple over the “agency model for e-books.”

At Granta, Toby Litt shares a wonderful essay: “The Reader and Technology.”

  • Do you own an e-reader? Are you enamored with it?
  • Morais uses the term digital books. The Wall Street Journal uses the term e-books. Which do you prefer?

—Amber

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When I was Young: 8 Books

I was thinking of books I wish to reread, Suzanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell topping that list, and I wondered if I would gain or lose something by rereading certain books. Specifically, would I gain or lose something by rereading books from my youth? Not just any books, but those that were important to me at the time. Very important, because everything in the world is especially important when you are a teenager.  Here are eight:

 

 
 
 
 
 
  •  Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
 
 

Portions of that list make me sound like I was a damn hippie, and that might not be inaccurate. An important aspect of reading as a teenager, at least for me, was being able to discuss books with friends.  The Vonnegut, Robbins, Hesse, Nabokov, and Quinn books definitely got passed around from friend to friend, additional copies joining the group when someone had a birthday or garnered some extra cash. I remember skipping an AP English exam to drive to Athens to hear Vonnegut speak at UGA.

I tried rereading Tom Robbins as an “adult,” and I got bored; it wasn’t the same, at all. I am really not intending to compare Tom Robbins and Ayn Rand here, but I give someone a “pass” if they are a Rand fan under the age of twenty—I assume they will grow out of it. I hate to think I’ve “outgrown” Robbins, but that may be the case. For the record, no one needs a “pass” for being a Robbins fan. Being a Robbins fan makes you awesome.

Do certain books (more than others) appeal to an adolescent perspective or need?

What were you reading as a teenager?

—Amber

5

10 Novels Deemed Unworthy By the Pulitzer Board

In light of this week’s goofiness regarding the Pulitzer Board’s rejection of the Fiction Committee’s nominees, here are some other lovelies that previous Fiction Committees have nominated and which previous Pulitzer Boards have deemed unworthy just in the past twenty-two years:

 
 
 
 
 
  • BIRDY by William Wharton
 

—Joshua Corin

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Miscellany: Part One

When I heard this story on NPR my impulse was to go and immediately order a set of the last print edition of Encyclopedia Britannica; many folks had the same idea. I thought better of it, and we’ll keep our sub-par set of Grolier Encylcopedias from the early ’90s. It’s kind of sad though. I find myself, too often, explaining to people in their twenties how to use an index.

Every wondered how old books get that old-book book smell? Your question is answered.

Are you a writer who could benefit from the Rejection Generator?

The creators of the Rejection Generator recommend using it regularly to maintain a high RI, or rejection immunity.

You may choose a flavor of rejection: The Southern Gentleman, Big Chakra Dosing Agent, etc.

And lastly, some clarification of who is at fault for the lack of a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction this time around. I feel terrible for the nominees, not to mention Maureen Corrgian, Susan Larson, and Michael Cunningham, who did all the footwork.

–Amber

2

Brilliant Novels You Haven’t Read (But Really Should)

So many fine novels get published every month and so many of these many fine novels go unread because so many of us already have a backlog of novels from last month and last year and last century to get through and so many fine novels go unread. They are the Oliver Twists of literature (although OLIVER TWIST itself is not, please note, an Oliver Twist – let’s all be on the same page for this metaphor, thank you). And so I present to you ten novels which for whatever reason fell by the bedside but which certainly truly must deserve your eyeballs.

 

 
 

–from Joshua Corin
1

International IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award

The shortlist for the 2012 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award has been announced. The winner will be announced in June. This contest caught my attention for two reasons: 1) Dublin and 2) Jennifer Egan is one of three American finalists on the shortlist.

Librarians from around the world can nominate books, and the origin of the award is fascinating. From the FAQ on the website:

The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award was established by Dublin City, Civic Charter in 1994. It arose from an initiative of Dublin Corporation, the Municipal Government of Dublin City on the instigation of the then Lord Mayor, Alderman Gay Mitchell who commissioned an expert group to consider and report on the feasibility of organising a Dublin Literary Award. The expert group comprised of Chair, Mr. Sean Donlon (of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and GPA), Deirdre Ellis-King, Dublin City Librarian, Professor Augustine Martin of University College Dublin, Senator David Norris, Trinity College Dublin and Colm O’Briain, formerly Director of the Irish Arts Council. Their Report was adopted by the City Council and incorporated into the Report of the Lord Mayor’s Commission on Economic Development in Dublin.

Who wouldn’t like one hundred thousand euros? Here are the nominees:

  • Yishai Sarid (translated from the Hebrew by Barbara Harshav): Limassol
  • Cristovão Tezza (translated from the Portuguese by Alison Entrekin): The Eternal Son

 

Do YOU have any favorite book awards? Or, do you think awards are silly? I think awards are, at times, incestuous back patting and whatnot; however, most awards do nothing but breathe life into the literary world. Awards are good for books and writers. Some of my favorite awards are the Hugo, Nebula, Caldecott, and Newbery, because that’s how I roll; what about you?

—Amber

0

List: Townsend Nominees

We’re getting close to the Townsend Prize for Fiction: April 26th. Nominees were announced in January:

The 2012 finalists are:

Are you a Georgia writer with a book coming out (or that has been released) in 2012? Leave a note in the comments and we’ll add you to our “List: 2012 Books from Georgia Writers.” Thanks for reading.

0

Brilliant mini-poetry…

If you’re on the hunt for an objet d’art with brilliant mini-poetry…

 Laked, Fielded, Blanked by Brooklyn Copeland. alice blue press, 2010.

Click here for a review in which I plug it, Bookbillies.

-Gregg Murray

0

How to Write a Story: Vonnegut Speaks

A big thank you to the wonderful reader who sent me these links, a reader whom I’m not naming because I do know know if he or she wishes to be named.

Kurt Vonnegut narrates his 8 Tips on How to Write a Great Story:

 

The post over at Brain Pickings also includes links to Henry James’ 11 commandments, Jack Kerouac’s 30 beliefs and techniques, among others.

Or, we can also learn by examining the history of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit, over at Letters of Note.

Do you have any notable advice or story histories you’ve found? Let us know in the comments and if you have links we’ll add them to the post.

–Amber

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