At some low level, I always imagined Joseph Heller sounded more or less like Norman Mailer. I was wrong. Here the Catch-22 author talks about the United States’ political system (“ludicrously funny”). It’s disgusting, he says, to realize that there are organizations devoted to grooming candidates — telling them what to wear, how to speak, and the like — but . . .
The Smart Set is a weekly feature, compiled and posted by Lauren Cerand, that usually appears Mondays at 12:30 pm, 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 send details to Ms. Cerand at lauren [at] maudnewton.com by the Thursday prior to . . .
Margaret Drabble may have laid down her pen, but many novelists are continuing to write into their 80s and 90s.
My latest contribution to NPR’s Books We Like is an appreciation of Will Elliott’s The Pilo Family Circus: Fans have waited more than 20 years for another book from the great Katherine Dunn, whose amazing Geek Love centers on a family of circus freaks and sets the standard for the literary Big Top novel. She’s still working and won’t be . . .
Empire of the Sun author J.G. Ballard has died. The Telegraph obituary is the best I’ve seen.