Morning Bites: Downton Abbey, Colin Meloy on NPR, Hitchens on Didion, St. Marks in the NYT, post-Borders, and more

Just what makes Downton Abbey the most popular costume drama in years? Colin Meloy of The Decemberists/writer of The Wildwood Chronicles, Book 1, was on this week’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! Do you have what it takes to be the managing editor of Rookiemag.com?  Tavi Gevinson is looking for a managing editor, and it could possibly be the funnest job ever. Christopher Hitchens on Joan Didion’s new book, Blue Nights, at Vanity Fair. Sylvia Plath is getting her very own […]

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Morning Bites: Lethem’s Newest, LA Times Book Prizes, Blake’s Grave and More

Mr. California, Jonathan Lethem, gives us an excerpt from his upcoming book about the movie, They Live. Christopher Hitchens, Jonathan Franzen, and Patti Smith are among the finalists for the 2010 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes. Jami Attenberg talks to Wesley Stace. William Blake’s grave will be protected. James Franco’s banned Oscar song. Uzbekistan finally catches on to our Western devil music.

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Weekend Bites: Syd Barrett Biography, Nora Ephron, Fox News Reliable Source, Shteyngart + Moody And More

At Boston Globe: Talking about a new a new Syd Barrett biography. At The New York Times: Nora Ephron is the 69-year-old that I’d most like to hang out with. At The Guardian: Christopher Hitchens may have cancer, but he can still kick Tony Blair’s ass at a debate. At Mediate:  Fox News is finally using The Onion as a source. At Beatrice: Shteyngart and Moody to do some sci-fi.

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Christopher Hitchens and Salman Rushdie get Cozy at 92Y

By Todd Krieger I’m a Californian and that’s a confession and a truth all wrapped up in one. It’s pertinent as this is the lens through which I view a conversation with Christopher Hitchens and Salman Rushdie at the 92 Y which may differ slightly than one who dwells in the Five Boroughs. And while both boys most certainly did lay claim to be cunning linguists and there was the requisite literary name-dropping (though no mention of Kingsley), the marked […]

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Letting Other People Review Christopher Hitchens for Me

I respect Christopher Hitchens.  He doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything or anybody; god or man, etc.  I don’t always agree with everything he has to say, but usually if I see one of his articles on Slate or in The Atlantic, I’ll probably read it due to the fact that the guy is at least engaging and interesting. Now he has published his memoir, Hitch-22.  It’s 435 pages of Hitchens talking about a subject I assume is his […]

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Weekend Bites: Nietzsche’s Dessert, Hitchens on Ballard, Brian Eno, Music From Haiti, and More

Nietzsche’s Angel Food Cake Zeek/The Forawrd continues their brilliant translation series with Israeli author Etgar Keret’s story, “Patrol”. Wait, so does this mean that there will be no more Book vs. Kindle videos??? Christopher Hitchens on J.G. Ballard. Brian Eno tells you basically everything you need to know. Music for Maniacs lists some great music from Haiti.

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