March 14, 2007
Short Takes
I would love to see essays from people responding to any one of these questions. Litbloggers, I am looking at you. If you’re like me, Jack Shafer is always a […]
March 13, 2007
Short Takes, The Somewhat Excitable Version
The ECONOMIST had an eggcorn. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO? But to be really in the spirit of Kerouac, you’d have to be swilling the pain pills down with […]
March 12, 2007
Riding the Crest of the Wave–Exciting and Scary
In addition to teaching my new class this spring on The Little Magazine in America, which has been just a blast so far, working back and forth from the early […]
March 12, 2007
Short Takes
“After becoming Lord Protector, in 1653, Oliver Cromwell quickly issued a proclamation against duelling, and also–according to Jonathan Swift, who had it on good authority–strongly encouraged his nobles to adopt […]
March 10, 2007
On Poetry Reviewing
Following is a version of a brief presentation that I delivered at the recent conference of the Associated Writing Programs. Several years ago it occurred to me that I write […]
March 9, 2007
Short Takes
“Sir John Tusa transformed the Barbican. I know this to be true because he tells us so himself, several times, in this book.” Seriously, this awards crap is getting out […]
March 8, 2007
Short Takes
“There are…no legitimate reasons why books in the humanities should be difficult or boring; wisdom does not require a specialized vocabulary or syntax.” New Panda Bear video (not to be […]
March 7, 2007
Short Takes
“Stop that,” shouts Granny Win. “No one should be allowed to write such bad sex scenes.” The long history of the leak. Bold. Very bold. BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE (OF […]
March 6, 2007
Short Takes
“To answer this question, I am going to talk about rectangles” (via AL Daily). The lit nerd March Madness. I don’t usually dig McSweeney’s, but this is hilarious. Best American […]
March 5, 2007
Short Takes
Another author with spies in his past. “Where is there any evidence that Faulkner felt remotely guilty about his enjoyment?” The Germany no one told us about in school. “The […]
March 2, 2007
Short Takes
You may begin betting now (if you haven’t already). Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung, because I am secretly a jerk. And now it’s over. So it wasn’t “Song of Myself.” […]
March 1, 2007
Short Takes
Don’t these people have anything better to do? These people also. A touch of class. “Alan Calcutt, a virginal 55-year-old professor of philosophy from Oxford, sits next to Ange Bedwell […]