In his 1990 novel, The Music of Chance, Paul Auster explores the use of stones and barriers as plot and metaphorical devices in telling the story of two men, Jim and Jack, who are forced into the construction of an ornamental stone wall after accruing a gambling debt to a pair of eccentric millionaires. If this sounds a bit wild, it is certainly meant to, for the novel toys with absurdity. But The Music of Chance, when paired with Auster’s […]
Afternoon Bites: Philip Glass on Film, Charlie Parker Biographies, LA Art Book Fair, Mitchell S. Jackson Interviewed, and More
Philip Glass talks about writing music for films, Mitchell S. Jackson talks to The Paris Review, a guide to the LA Art Book Fair, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Tim Kinsella, Justin Taylor’s Year in Lit, “The X-Files” at 20, Paul Auster, and More
This afternoon: a look at Paul Auster’s latest, thoughts on the twentieth anniversary of The X-Files, Justin Taylor provides some literary recommendations, and more.
Celebrating “Swann’s Way” in Brooklyn Bridge Park
As part of the Books Beneath the Bridge at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Community Bookstore and Vol. 1 Brooklyn will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Marcel Proust’s Swann’s Way.
Afternoon Bites: Terry Gilliam & Paul Auster, Hobart’s Baseball Issue, The Achewood/”Hunger Games” Connection, And More
In this interview with Terry Gilliam, the director mentions that he has plans to adapt Paul Auster’s Mr. Vertigo. Which is something we’d gladly shell out $13 for. Hobart‘s annual baseball issue is out, and includes notable literary types (Rick Moody! Stewart O’Nan! Owen King!) predicting the 2012 season. Chris Sims looks at the uncanny parallels between Achewood: The Great Outdoor Fight and The Hunger Games. Andrey Kurkov talks penguins. Would you like to see a list of rejected titles for […]
Morning Bites: Paul Auster Vs. A Head of State, Ben Smith can’t quite quit, Mike Kelley, Downton Abbey displays, and more
In today’s morning news: a bunch of great people dies yesterday, Paul Auster goes up agains the Turkish PM, a leper colony rots away, and much more.
He Said That He Said What Was Said: 1,868 Words On Paul Auster’s “Sunset Park”
Posted by Nick Curley Thumbing through the new Paul Auster novel he’d finished that morning, the reviewer’s fingers tap danced on the protagonist’s name: Miles Heller. The pairing evoked a kind of jazzy Catch-22. Such was Auster’s nature in this new book, Sunset Park: long sentences, simple words, referential and feigning depth, but ultimately stuck with mere sketches of characters and a meretricious climax.
Weekend Bites: 21st Century Sherlock, Paul Auster Reviewed, Franco as Bruce Nauman and More
At The Daily Beast: The 21st Century Sherlock on Masterpiece Mystery. At The New York Times: The Paris Review opens up it’s archives. At Telegraph: Paul Auster’s Sunset park is reviewed: “While there are moments of intensity, beauty even, these are fleeting, bright flashes, like silver fish in a grey and weltering sea.” At Flavorwire: Citing that James Franco’s “Cultural Ubiquity Tour must roll on,” a video of the actor, writer, student in sixteen MFA programs, as Bruce Nauman. At […]