I don’t write many reviews these days. Ten years at Book World gave me my fill, and it was time to focus on on other kinds of writing. That’s been a happy decision, but I still read a lot of reviews (and write them once in a while), and I still find the push-and-pull between… Continue reading »
Blog
Can Writers and Critics Get Along?
It’s been a bad week for author-critic relations. First Alice Hoffman used Twitter to get back at a reviewer who made the mistake of not entirely loving her latest novel. Then Alain de Botton went after Caleb Crain–in the comments section of Crain’s blog–for not entirely loving his latest opus in a review for the… Continue reading »
Me and the AAUP (x2)
It has been busy around here: a podcast about Google Book Search to record, two AAUP conferences to cover (profs and presses–the American Association of University Professors and the Association of American University Presses), two feature stories and a Hot Type column to wrap up, and a guest-blogging stint for Bookslut (this week–come visit). I’ve… Continue reading »
Everything Old Is New Again
It occurred to me the other day that it’s become refreshing to hear someone drop a good old-fashioned cliche. Put the cart before the horse. Make a mountain out of a molehill, please. Let the wheels come off the wagon. (Just don’t throw me under the bus.) Why? I think it has to do with… Continue reading »
Ten Things I’d Rather Not Know About You Via Twitter
1. You’re hungry. 2. You’re sleepy. 3. You have figured out what you’re having for dinner. 4. You haven’t figured out what you’re having for dinner. 5. You’ve read an article that every third person online has already read/blogged about/tweeted. 6. Your email/ISP/Web site/smartphone is giving you trouble. 7. It is raining where you are…. Continue reading »
