This book reaction was written by Friday blogger Annie Reid: Just finished Bitter Fruit by Achmat Dangor, short-listed for the Booker this year. Ostensibly, it’s the story of one mixed-race family — a father, a mother and a son; Silas, Lydia and Mikey — haunted by her rape at the hands of an Afrikaans policeman twenty years earlier. But . . .
This post was written by Friday blogger Annie Reid. There’s really no point in only reading people who agree with you. I love Andrew Sullivan’s blog because although I disagree with him on many, many things, he at least seems like an ethical, thoughtful guy. Also, he’s appalled at the adminstration’s implicit stance on torture, and he’s a big fat . . .
This post was written by Friday blogger Annie Reid. Like you, I’ve been feeling a little Maud-lin lately. But she’ll be back soon. In the meantime, I present to you several super special exciting fantasy triple features, as sent in by particularly astute, clever, and/or neurotic readers. Spike, my fave lady masseuse, recommends the following “Feral Children and Their Adults” . . .
My grandmother died this morning. She went peacefully, holding my aunt’s hand. I’m sad, of course, but relieved she’s not suffering, and glad I went down to Nashville for the weekend. I think she understood most of the things I told her. I fly back to Tennessee tomorrow. Unfortunately, the handbook I’ll need for the funeral — Being Dead Is . . .
The Smart Set is a weekly feature, compiled by Lauren Cerand, that appears Mondays and highlights the best of the week to come. Special favor is given to New York’s independent booksellers and venues, and low-cost and free events. Please submit details to lauren@maudnewton.com. MONDAY, 3.14: Walking is apparently so rare in Los Angeles (where I am at the moment) . . .