Stimulating Reading Stimulating Reading
The economy of reading is rapidly collapsing. If we can bail out banks, why not the book industry?
Jan 22, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Katha Pollitt
Clair de Lune Clair de Lune
We revolt ourselves; we disgust and annoy us. The way we look at us lately chills us to the core. We become like those who seek to destroy us. We push ourselves into small tasks that employ us unrewardingly on purpose. We tire, we bore. We revolt ourselves; we disgust and annoy us. We rent ourselves to what force will enjoy us into oblivion: wind, drink, sleep. We pimp, we whore. We become like those who seek to destroy us. We cat-and-mouse, roughhouse, inflatable-toy us in our heads' red maze, in its den, on its shore. We revolt ourselves; we disgust and annoy us. We take offense at our being; we plot, we deploy us against us and flummox; we wallow, we war. We become like those who seek to destroy us. If in triumph, our defeat; in torture, our joy is. Some confusion so deep I can't fathom anymore. We appall ourselves; we disgust and annoy us into those we become we who seek to destroy us.
Jan 21, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Timothy Donnelly
Underground Man Underground Man
Nimrod Workman's craggy ballads of Mingo County coal country.
Jan 20, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Justin Taylor
Inaugural Journey Inaugural Journey
Traveling by train to Washington today, to witness an historic inauguration, summons memories of a very different inauguration, fifty-five years ago.
Jan 19, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Victor Navasky
Rock for Barack Rock for Barack
A concert unlike any Washington has seen unfolded Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial, expressing the hopes and dreams of a nation on the cusp of enormous change.
Jan 19, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Corbin Hiar
A Night at the Opera A Night at the Opera
How many people can you stuff in a stateroom the size of a steamer trunk? At least twelve, apparently.
Jan 17, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Mark Van Doren
A Very Different 100 Days A Very Different 100 Days
Many comparisons have been made between Obama and FDR. But the forty-fourth president will have a very different first 100 days.
Jan 17, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Nicholas von Hoffman
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
"Badges, we don't need no stinkin' badges." Who said one of the most famous lines in film history? As it turns out, nobody.
Jan 16, 2009 / Books & the Arts / James Agee
Jazz Is?: A Power Stronger Than Itself Jazz Is?: A Power Stronger Than Itself
A new book on the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians looks at jazz as a power stronger than itself.
Jan 15, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Franklin Bruno
Back Talk: Jill Lepore and Jane Kamensky Back Talk: Jill Lepore and Jane Kamensky
Jill Lepore and Jane Kamensky talk about how they wrote the occasionally racy historical novel Blindspot.
Jan 15, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Christine Smallwood