James Franco and when celebrity books go horribly wrong

Posted by Jason Diamond and Tobias Carroll Yesterday the Observer reported that Amazon had acquired James Franco’s debut novel, Actors Anonymous, and the universe exploded with shit talking pretty much all across the board. We aren’t sure if this is because the love affair with Franco has gone away, because Amazon is publishing it, or a combination of both.  What we do know is that James Franco still seems like a fun guy to hang out with, and we really love Freaks & […]

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Morning Bites: Love in the Time of Jarvis Cocker, DeLillo Live, Justin Taylor, Egyptian Hip Hop and More

Jarvis Cocker promises to read some Gabriel García Márquez at the start of his weekly BBC podcast.  Does he deliver?  Find out. Awesome morning starter: Don DeLillo Reads from Mao II Justin Taylor spurs some good old fashioned religious debate. James Franco’s favorite Criterion films. The Huffington Post lists ten library books frequently read more than others. Nothing surprising. You want some real revolution rock?  Hip hop from Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria.

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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: Nick Cave to MTV, Nonrequired Reading, Wesley Stace, Soros Responds to Glenn Beck and More

Remember that time that Nick Cave told MTV that he didn’t want their stinking award? NY Tyrant takes the Best American Nonrequired Reading books to task at Vice. Wesley Stace talks to the New York Times. The cult of the sentence. George Soros finally responded to Glenn Beck’s (anti-Semitic) frequent attacks. Home cooking with Amy Sedaris. James Franco asks Judd Apatow how to host the Oscars. William F. Buckley on pot. NY Times Sunday Book Review Highlights Joyce Carol Oates’s […]

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Happy Stephen Elliott Day

It’s a good day to be Stephen Elliott. According to the Observer, Perez Hilton (!?), and Elliott’s Twitter, James Franco has optioned The Adderall Diaries.  Not only that, but yesterday the book came out in paperback.

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James Franco is Back in My Good Graces due to His Good Taste in Books/The Totally Straight Man Crush is Back On

Once upon a time, I found myself blogging a lot about James Franco.  I don’t know if it was because I respected his ability to play a good stoner or if I harbored a secret crush on the guy, but his name used to appear on this blog quite ofter.  Glad to have him back: what’s on your bedside table right now? JF – I am in school so most of my reading is for school. Some of my recent […]

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Weekend Bites: Cusack on Hot Tub, Alex Ross Out of His Comfort Zone, Death of Journalism (School), NY Tyrant Does Franco, Will Self Debating, and More

Richard Metzger and John Cusack talk Hot Tub Time Machine: “I’ll quote David Letterman here: “I haven’t seen ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ but I know genius when I hear it, and ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ is genius.” I really prefer to think I’m committing new cinematic sins. With all of the rampantly heroic stupidity that can be mustered within the normal time constraints and the Hollywood studio system.” And you thought Alex Ross was all Bartók and Mahler… Is J […]

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