'The Second Plane' by Martin Amis Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 September 11: Terror and Boredom
IT would be too easy to read Martin Amis' slim book on Sept. 11 in a day and to dismiss it with a politically correct glare. The dozen essays, columns and reviews and two short stories in "The Second Plane: September 11, Terror and Boredom" are more illuminating than that, though deeply, sometimes self-indulgently flawed.
'The House of Widows' by Askold Melnyczuk Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Family secrets lie at the end of a dark and twisted path
FROM its puzzling opening line ("The most common grammatical error is the lie"), there's an ominous vibe to Askold Melnyczuk's third novel, "The House of Widows," and the sense of unease lingers until the final sentence. It's a mysterious, masterfully taut story in which dread plays a prominent role.
'Marco Polo' by Laurence Bergreen Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 An account of the adventures of the celebrated 13th century world traveler.
MARCO POLO was only 17 when he departed for China in 1271 with his father, Niccolò, and his uncle, Maffeo. Those two merchants of Venice were known to the boy primarily as storytellers of their fabulous exploits, writes award-winning biographer and historian Laurence Bergreen, for they had been absent more than 16 years, Marco's entire childhood. The pair had followed trade routes east, encountered exotic countries and customs and survived many perils; they had even lived for a time at the court of Kublai Khan, the leader of the Mongol Empire. Eventually they agreed to accompany his emissary west to the pope, vowing to return to Cambulac (Beijing) with several items the Great Khan had requested.
Roddy Doyle: "Sleep" Roddy Doyle Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:00:00 -0000 It was the thing he’d always loved about her. The way she could sleep. When they’d just started going with each other, before they really knew each other, he’d lie awake, hoping she’d wake up, praying for it, dying. But even then he’d loved to look at her while she . . . Gary Snyder: "Mu Ch’i’s Persimmons" Gary Snyder Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:00:00 -0000 There is no remedy for satisfying hunger other than a painted rice cake.
--Dōgen, November, 1242.
On a back wall down the hall
lit by a side glass door
is the scroll of Mu Ch’i’s great
sumi painting, “Persimmons”
The wind-weights hanging from the
axles hold it . . . Frederick Seidel: "Poem by the Bridge at Ten-shin" Frederick Seidel Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:00:00 -0000 This jungle poem is going to be my last.
This space walk is.
Racing in a cab through springtime Central Park,
I kept my nose outside the window like a dog.
The stars above my bed at night are vast.
I think it is uncool to call young women Ms . . .
London Review of Books
Cityphobia · John Lanchester: The Crash Byron wrote that 'I think it great affectation not to quote oneself.' On that basis, I'd like to quote what I wrote in a piece about the City of London, in the aftermath of the Northern Rock fiasco: 'If our laws are not extended to control the new kinds of super-powerful, super-complex and potentially super-risky investment vehicles, they will one day cause a financial disaster of global-systemic proportions.' The prediction was right, but the tense was wrong. The disaster had already happened, it just hadn't yet played itself out in the markets. Don't Ask Henry · Alan Hollinghurst: Sissiness The story of Belchamber's publication is probably better known than the book itself, which, like its author, has suffered the ambiguous fate of becoming an accessory to the life of a more important writer. It is his friend Henry James who keeps Sturgis's novel distantly in view, at the same time as casting a long shadow over it. James read it in proof, and wrote a characteristic sequence of letters to Sturgis about it, beginning with neat praise and mild demurrals, but quickly building up to such fundamental criticisms of the book that the demoralised author said he would withdraw it altogether; at which James protested and pleaded, successfully though not with any retraction of the criticisms he had made. Cut, Kill, Dig, Drill · Jonathan Raban: Sarah Palin's Cunning Sarah Palin has put a new face and voice to the long-standing, powerful, but inchoate movement in US political life that one might see as a mutant strain of Poujadism, inflected with a modern American accent. There are echoes of the Poujadist agenda of 1950s France in its contempt for metropolitan elites, fuelling the resentment of the provinces towards the capital and the countryside towards the city, in its xenophobic strain of nationalism, sturdy, paysan resistance to taxation, hostility to big business, and conviction that politicians are out to exploit the common man.
Books | guardian.co.uk
Frankfurt Book Fair: Orhan Pamuk denounces Turkish oppression Alison Flood Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:49:32 -0000 Nobel prize-winner Orhan Pamuk, tried in 2005 under Turkish law for criticising the state, used his opening address at the Frankfurt Book Fair to decry the "oppression" of Turkey's writers Maya Jaggi: Milan Kundera and the struggle of memory against forgetting Maya Jaggi Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:00:11 -0000 Maya Jaggi: Milan Kundera denies a claim he betrayed a spy in Communist Czechoslovakia, but lying now would be the greater betrayal Which are the best books that never existed? David Barnett Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:00:01 -0000 David Barnett: Come over to my imaginary flat and discuss the books that writers have only dreamed about
NPR Topics: Books
Saving America Through Energy Innovation Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:42:00 -0400 Fossil fuels are damaging our economy and national security, in addition to altering the world's climate. A green revolution, says Thomas Friedman, "is not about the whales." It's a competitive necessity. The Upside Of 'Factory Girl' Life In China Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0400 Author Leslie Chang followed two girls from their rural homes in China to a city called Dongguan, where they became "factory girls." Life in these makeshift cities can be quite lucrative for hard-working ladies, she finds. Shining A Light On The NSA's 'Shadow Factory' Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:47:00 -0400 Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the National Security Agency stepped up its efforts to collect intelligence domestically by filtering millions of phone conversations and e-mail messages. In his new book, The Shadow Factory, journalist James Bamford reveals that the ultra-secret agency has half a million people on its watch lists.
Slashdot: Book Reviews
Nagios 3 Enterprise Network Monitoring samzenpus Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:15:00 -0000 jgoguen writes "Nagios, originally known as Netsaint, has been a long-time favourite for network and device monitoring due to its flexibility, ease of use, and efficiency. Nagios provided, and still provides today, a low-cost, versatile alternative to commercial network monitoring applications. Nagios 3 takes a huge step forward compared to Nagios 2, providing improved flexibility, ease of use and extensibility, all while also making significant performance enhancements. Due to its extensibility and ease of use, no device or situation has yet been found that cannot be monitored using Nagios and a pre-made or custom script, plug-in or enhancement." Read on for the rest of jgoguen's review.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
OpenGL ES 2.0 Programming Guide samzenpus Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:05:00 -0000 Martin Ecker writes "Mobile phones and other embedded devices are getting more and more powerful each year. The availability of dedicated hardware for 3D rendering is becoming increasingly ubiquitous, and the latest mobile phones come with 3D hardware acceleration that rivals the power of desktop graphics hardware. OpenGL ES 2.0 is the latest version of a cross-platform, low-level graphics API to utilize these new resources available in embedded devices. The OpenGL ES 2.0 Programming Guide published by Addison-Wesley Publishing aims to help the reader make use of the full power of OpenGL ES 2.0 to create interesting 3D applications." Keep reading for the rest of Martin's review.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Advanced Excel for Scientific Data Analysis samzenpus Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:02:00 -0000 cgjherr writes "If the recent financial meltdown has left you wondering, 'When does exponential decay function stop?' then I have the book for you. Advanced Excel for Scientific Data Analysis is the kind of book that only comes along every twenty years. A tome so densely packed with scientific and mathematical formulas that it almost dares you to try and understand it all. A "For Dummies" book starts with a gentle introduction to the technology. This is more like a "for Mentats" book. It assumes that you know Excel very well. The first chapter alone will have you in awe as you see the author turn the lowly Excel into something that rivals Mathematica using VBA, brains, and a heaping helping of fortitude." Read on for the rest of Jack's review.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Books
A whale of a debate over ‘Moby Dick’ Please, spare us any more giant mammal jokes! Here in Massachusetts we've had to listen to every possible commentator refer to it as a "whale of a debate," but, after a lively discussion in our state House of Representatives we are now a step closer to having a new "official ...
Who needs Kindle? Now you’ve got your cellphone… You thought it was just the Japanese, but starting today there may be commuters on your own train line devouring novels on their cell phones.
What’s selling best in independent bookstores this week PAPERBACK FICTION
1. The Shack, by William P. Young, Windblown
2. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz, Riverhead
3. Loving Frank, by Nancy Horan, Ballantine
4. Out Stealing Horses, by Per Petterson, Picador
5. Run, by Ann Patchett, Harper Perennial
6. Bridge of Sighs, by Richard Russo, Vintage
7. Water for Elephants, by ...
American Library Association - Book/media awards and notables lists offered by various divisions, committees, and roundtables of the ALA. Links to awards pages, and to winners lists. Further links to other awards, grants, scholarships and honors offered by the ALA.
BCALA Literary Awards - The Black Caucus of the ALA presents several awards each year for works relating to the African diaspora - fiction and non-fiction. There are special awards for first-time novelists and for outstanding contributions to publishing. Entry details and winners lists. Further links to the BCALA and its resources.
Book Sense Bestsellers - From the American Booksellers Association, based on sales reported by independent bookstores in the USA. There are current lists for hardcover and paperback, fiction and non-fiction, and children's books. Further links to the ABA.
BookBrowse.com - Provides hardcover and paperback bestseller lists from the USA, Canada and UK. Offers excerpts, reviews, interviews, reading guides, and author biographies.
Meta Description: [ A literary feast of book reviews, book excerpts, reading guides/discussion guides, author interviews & author biographies. ]
Discover Great New Writers Award - Annual presentation by Barnes and Noble, for exceptional new authors making strong literary debuts. One winner is selected for each of fiction and non-fiction. Judges comments, excerpts, and author profiles. Links to program details, and previous winners.
Independent Publisher Book Awards - Annual awards for the best titles, in various categories, by independent authors and publishers, including university, small press and self-publishers. Links to guidelines and entry forms, and to IP Online resources.
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International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award - International literary award for new works of high literary merit in the English language. Managed by representatives of Dublin City, its Public Library System and IMPAC. Information on the award and its sponsors.
Koret Jewish Book Awards - Annual presentation by the Koret Foundation, for new books on any aspect of Jewish life - biography, literary study, fiction, and philosophy. Special award for a new young writer. Current and prior winners. Further links to the Foundation and its initiatives.
Lettre Ulysses Award - A new annual, international, multi-lingual award, offered by Lettre International, for the best published work of reportage writing, or 'creative non-fiction'. Books or outstanding magazine articles are eligible. Information on the conceptualisation, jury, organizers, and award timetable.
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Man Booker Prize - Official site for the annual contemporary fiction award, to writers from the British Commonwealth and Ireland. Offers information about the prize, judges, and history.
Meta Description: [ The Man Booker Prize for Fiction represents the very best in contemporary fiction. One of the world's most prestigious awards, and one of incomparable influence, it continues to be the pinnacle of ambition for every fiction writer. It has the power to transform the fortunes of authors, and even p... ]
National Book Critics Circle Awards - Presented yearly for the finest books published in English, in five categories: fiction, general non-fiction, biography/autobiography, poetry and criticism. Winners, calendar, newsletter, information on NBCC, and links to related resources.
National Outdoor Book Awards - Annual presentations for full-length books on outdoor adventure activities, nature, or the environment. There is a special award for books of lasting significance in the field. General information, winners lists and reviews, press releases, entry requirements, and application forms.
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New York Times: Best-Seller Lists - Current bestseller lists, and searchable archives. Covers fiction and non-fiction, hardcovers and paperbacks, childrens books, and links to business bestsellers. Detailed lists require NYTimes membership - free registration.
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Nobel Prize Internet Archive - List of Nobel Prize Laureates in literature, with associated links. Links to other Nobel Prize lists.
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NYFA Source - Literature - The New York Foundation for the Arts' searchable database of awards, services and publications, for literature. Various types of awards, international and by US state. Links to information on NYFA awards and activities.
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PEN American Center - The American branch of International PEN - an association of writers and editors, offers a variety of prizes for excellence among American authors. Background and entry requirements for each award. Further links to PEN and its activities.
PEN New England - Presents the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, for a distinguished first book of fiction by an American author, and the L.L. Winship Award. Winners, entry guidelines, and application forms. Further links to PEN-NE and their activities.
PEN/Faulkner Awards - Annual prizes presented by the PEN/Faulkner Foundation, for the best published works of fiction by American authors. Winners, submission guidelines, and calendar of events.
Poetry Society of America Awards - Presented annually for original poetry - includes awards for first books and small press, the Frost Medal for lifetime achievement, and the Shelley Memorial Award. Winners, guidelines, PSA activities, and various literary links.
Prize Stories 2000: The O. Henry Awards - Article from Bold Type Magazine, on the annual prize for the best short stories published in American and Canadian magazines, by American or Canadian authors. Winners lists, winning stories, history, articles on previous years' awards, various related links.
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The Academy of American Poets - Awards, prizes and grants for poetry. Information and links for other major poetry awards. Also presents poems and poets, events and exhibits, discussion forums, and various related links.
The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza - Showcases various lists of bestsellers and recommended books, and links to information on a variety of book awards.
The Bram Stoker Awards - Presented annually by the Horror Writers Association, for outstanding work in twelve different categories of the genre. History of the awards, and winners lists. Links to the HWA, other HWA awards, a variety of resources and literary links.
The Dilys Award - Presented by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association for the year's favorite mystery, as chosen by the IMBA membership. Lists nominees and previous winners. Links to fiction and non-fiction bestsellers lists, and the 100 favorite mysteries of the century.
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards - Awarded by the Mystery Writers of America, for distinguished work in the mystery genre - novels, television, and motion pictures. Links to winner and nominee lists, and to other MWA awards.
The Kingsley Tufts Poetry Awards - Designed to support the working poet. For original poetry in English by a U.S. resident. There is a special award for a first book. Winners and entry requirements.
The Kiriyama Prize - International prize awarded each year by Pacific Rim Voices, for fiction and nonfiction books that contribute to understanding and cooperation among the peoples and nations of the Pacific Rim and South Asia. Winners, reviews, author biographies, articles, and rules.
Meta Description: [ Website of the Kiriyama Prize, an international book prize worth US$30,000, awarded each year to one fiction and one nonfiction book that will contribute to a greater understanding of and among the peoples and nations of the Pacific Rim and South Asia. ]
The Literary Prize Winners - Articles and discussions on literary prizes, prize winners, and their works, and links to various related sites.
Meta Description: [ The Prize Winners, a look at the books and the authors, past and present,that are the leading edge in the world of literature. - dewey decimal 809.3 ]
The National Book Awards - Presented annually in the USA, by the National Book Foundation, to recognise achievements in fiction, non-fiction, poetry,and young people's literature. Winners lists, biographies, excerpts, and entry guidelines.
500The Nobel Channel - Collaborative effort by Swedish Television and IMG/TWI. Variety of multimedia productions and archives on Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Prize and Laureates. Includes an Interactive Learning Studio, Laureate lectures, events calendar and related web links.
The Nobel Prize in Literature - Official Nobel Foundation site, for literature. Awarded for an outstanding body of work 'in an ideal direction'. Presents Laureates and Symposia, articles and educational links, the Swedish Academy and selection process. Links to other Nobel Prizes.
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Official Website of the Nobel Foundation ]
The Pulitzer Prizes - Annual awards by Columbia University. Prizes in Letters are for books published in the US - fiction, biography, general non-fiction, history and poetry. Searchable database, history of the prize, guidelines and entry forms, and related links.
The Stonewall Book Awards - Formerly the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Book Award. Offered annually by the GLBT Round Table of the ALA, for fiction and nonfiction books of exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered experience. Current and previous winners, award history, committee and selection process. Further links to the ALA and GLBTRT.
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USA Today: Top 150 best-seller list - Weekly updated list of 150 bestselling books based on sales, as reported by a number of booksellers. Includes fiction and nonfiction books - presents authors, titles, brief book descriptions, current and previous rankings on the list.
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