Celebrated artist of the female form, Peter Paul Rubens, was “a man of controlled appetites, with a modest disposition and a reputation for tact and discretion.” He was also a diplomat, spy, and peace-maker, according to Mark Lamster’s new book “Master of Shadows.” Other Book Review Highlights: A history, slightly obsessive, of Strunk & White’s little style book.(NYT) Michael Chabon’s new essays: “First Person Masculine”?(NYT) Has anyone else noticed that James Joyce has been tryin’ to change a lot of […]
Bites: L Mag Dislikes Tao Lin, Depressing Books, Rewrite of The Prince, the Polanski Problem, Chicago, Ahmadinejad, Conde Nast, and more
L Magazine wouldn’t like Tao Lin. Apparently only two people came to one of Lin’s readings at a bookstore in California, and the tiny magazine rejoiced. To contrast, here is what Vol. 1 has said about Lin’s latest novel and publishing imprint. Lit. The Top 10 Most Depressing Books. Another list, The National Book Foundation’s “Top 5 Under 35.” The Millions has a charming essay about one writer’s experience at an artist’s retreat in Wyoming. The Millions, also, interviewed Tao […]
Bites: Herzog’s La Bohème, Why Blog?, New Maugham Bio, Prometheus’ Authorship, more
Werner Herzog’s characteristically bizarre short film The Millions thinks the New Yorker’s been exceptional lately. We cosign, wholeheartedly. Emdashes proposes a panel called “Why Keep Blogging?” for next March’s South by Southwest interactive festival. Help her out by showing your support. There’s a new biography of Somerset Maugham: The Secret Lives of Somerset Maugham by Selena Hastings. Revisiting the question of authorship in Frankenstein. How much carbon dioxide are you helping emit RIGHT NOW?