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     |  The book that never leaves my side, Inside by Alix Ohlin, on sale June. This novel is so good, hard to ignore, searing, funny, impressively slick, that I can’t believe I’ve never read her books. If you poke around the blog you will see my reviews of her collection, Signs and Wonders, which goes on sale at the same time as Inside. Ms. Ohlin will also be doing a little blog work, keep your eyes peeled. Continue reading The Pile, or What I’m Reading Now. If you read the blog, you know how much I loved this collection. Full disclosure, the author sent me cookies. (after I reviewed the book) Continue reading Birds of a Lesser Paradise Video  What we’re up against is Alphaville, the deconstruction of the human which can’t be accomplished unless our everyday literary culture is dismantled first. That’s a world where no one can ask why only because. Where there can be no rebellion and words are systematically banned from the dictionary because they would encourage independent ideas. Continue reading Independent Bookstores and the Rise of the Zombie  The finalists for this year’s Story Prize are The Angel Esmeralda by Don DeLillo (Scribner), We Others by Steven Millhauser (Knopf), and Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman (Lookout Books). The Story Prize, which annually honors the top book of short fiction, chose the three finalists from a field of 92 books from 60 different publishers. The judges for this year’s prize are Sherman Alexie, Breon Mitchell, and Louise Steinman. Continue reading Story Prize Finalists  It’s like friendship really is if we could live out several dimensions of it at once. And do you really need to have the finished version? I’d rather have three or four versions of the same story without an ending than one story with a decisive conclusion. Love the mess. Continue reading Best of 2011, Part 3: Dennis Haritou  At first you might see this book as pornography. I suppose if it helps you pick the book up then that’s okay. This is a razor sharp snapshot of several families, circa: right now. It examines every inch of their personalities, from eating disorders to sexual frustrations to the local PTA. It also showers you with more graphic sex than anyone could possibly handle. In the words of Kate Christensen, “it’s unputdownable.” Continue reading Best of 2011, part 2: Jason Rice  So the volume I recommended is now in the process of disappearing from your local bookstore. When my rep told me that I couldn’t have a reorder, my response was: “Well, at least I have one”. I had bought it. I’m glad that I didn’t take the chance and ask for a review copy. I probably wouldn’t have gotten it. Continue reading The Perfect Gift  “Media fawning is addictive,” Lionel Shriver writes in The Guardian, “but not very nutritious… The world is teeming with hungry has-beens snuffling around for public acclaim with all the unseemly desperation of heroine addicts. Snort a few hits, just don’t start main-lining.” Continue reading Dispatch from the Story Prize Underdog  “Sure, the sales tax on books purchased at our store contributes to a better quality of life for all Californians, including social services for the elderly and disabled, but collecting sales tax kind of feels like overkill. We do enough for the community anyway,” Continue reading Green Apple Books to petition state government to become exempt from sales tax  I think that if you read the first story in this collection, you’ll have to read the next one. And once you finish that, you’re probably going to have to read the next one, and so on until you read the whole damn thing. Loory’s stories are quizzical, puzzling, magical little parables. Perfect. You should go out and get one. Continue reading Ben Loory Giveaway  The good folks at Knopf have offered Three Guys One Book three finished copies of The Last Werewolf to give to our readers. These are the lovely first editions with the blood red page edges. Awesome. Continue reading Last Werewolf Giveaway Just when I thought there was nothing more fantastic Good Reads could do for me Daniel Casey asked me to write a review for the great Baby and other stories. Check out this great journal. Continue reading Gently Read Literature  In case you haven’t heard, this book is relentless fun. Check back for more Three Guys One Book coverage on this one later in the month. Continue reading The Last Werewolf Book Videos  There’s an authenticity to great essays as if they are purged of any spin. any falsity of expression, any slander masquerading as a thirst for truth. The essay is an enlightened form. The writer can’t lie or cheat in an essay. They would be found out. The false essay sinks its author. It’s like you’re turning the camera on yourself. Continue reading Of Gossip and the Authenticity of Essays | |||
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