Look for Marie Mockett’s marvelous novel, fall 2009
“My mother always said that there is only one way a woman can be truly safe in this world. And that is to be fiercely, inarguably and masterfully talented.”
2008 Tournament of Books concludes
In the final round of the Tournament of Books, we decided (12-4) between Junot Díaz’s Oscar Wao and Tom McCarthy’s Remainder.
The art of fake fiction
The latest Paris Review interview is with the fictional writer Constance Eakins.
The pink marbled notebook of Marguerite Duras
A collection of Marguerite Duras’ very frank wartime writings sheds light on her later work, Mary Dixie Carter finds.
Up from Alabama for 20 days with a $500 bill
“The day moved then into its splendid parts”: Toni Morrison, on cooking out, circa 1973.
The life and inspiration of Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende once took a potent hallucinogen to overcome writer’s block.
In defense of Big Ideas in fiction
American creative writing instruction, in my experience, tends to discourage would-be novelists from working with philosophical concepts. Large, abstract ideas are seen as the province of scientists and Nobel laureates. Everyone else, the thinking goes, should stay squarely in the realm of concrete troubles like adultery or thievery or murder.
But don’t the best [...]
Submissions etiquette
Rules for not making editors hate you: (1) Never show up in person.
Poets & Writers 2008
The relaunched Poets & Writers site includes searchable databases of literary magazines, jobs, and grants & awards.
Chris Lehmann on victim ‘hood
Seltzer’s I lived it, man claims are so offensive because they rely on pasteboard African-American characters. (See also.)
Friedrich Nieztzche will tell you a lot of things
Already benumbed by attack ads this election year? Never fear: the philosophers’ presidential campaigns will enable you to appreciate the absurdity of political machinations anew.
Recommended viewing order: the Kant Attack Ad, the Nietzsche Attack Ad (above), and then Kierkegaard in ‘08. (Thanks, Maximus.)
I’m already imagining the literary critics version.
Phonics now
Modern-day phonics for toddlers: Beware the word whammer.
The portable Laura Lippman: a Baltimore crime giveaway
Between Lush Life, Amok, and my granddad’s shooting, last week was unexpectedly devoted to crime here at MaudNewton.com.
Today I’m extending that theme by giving away a full set of my friend Laura Lippman’s fifteen Baltimore crime novels. (Another Thing to Fall, the latest in her Tess Monaghan series, appeared earlier this month.)
My favorite of [...]
After many a summer, Huxley revived
A new film based on Huxley’s seminal Brave New World means the rest of his work may also get some attention.
Feminists: dragooning all women into a big imaginary lesbian tent?
Anne Babeau Gardiner purports to survey feminist literary criticism for the Home of American Intellectual Conservatism. (Via.)
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