Last week–despite mountains of grading and student conferences–I spent time with Troncoso’s sweeping novel From This Wicked Patch of Dust and found so much to admire. I admired the form as well as the content. Told in a third person limited omniscient narration the story drops into the thoughts, feelings and questions of each member of a MexicanContinue reading “quick note on troncoso’s from this wicked patch of dust”
Category Archives: book reviews
notes: composite novel, novel-in-stories or just plain stories
I’ve been obsessing over this question for weeks now. What to label the book? I’m putting the final touches together for my first book and after reading more and more on the subject of genre I seem to be more confused than ever. After reading The Composite Novel–The Short Story Cycle in Transition I amContinue reading “notes: composite novel, novel-in-stories or just plain stories”
some thoughts on the rum diary
I’ve long been a fan and admirer of Hunter S. Thompson’s work. I’m also a big fan of literary adaptations and so when a new version of Thompson’s work comes out, especially in wide release, I’m always excited. It began with Where the Buffalo Roam, the Bill Murray, Peter Boyle and Art Linson/John Kaye adaptation wayContinue reading “some thoughts on the rum diary”
the composite novel : the short story cycle in transition
I want to read this book as I am more and more thinking I write composite stories rather than chapters. The composite novel : the short story cycle in transition (Book, 1995) [WorldCat.org].
reading the ice at the bottom of the world by mark richard
This morning I’m reading the stories from Mark Richard’s book The Ice at the Bottom of the World. I’m doing it because Amy Hempel advised us to do it in her summer workshop and because it came in the mail last week–usually I try not to read so much when I am revising. My firstContinue reading “reading the ice at the bottom of the world by mark richard”
fictive spaces and frank waters’ otherworlds
I should be reading the sixth essay in Bringing the Devil to His Knees. I still want to get through that book but the brain of school has me and I also wanted to finish up the Frank Waters memoir I’ve had on my desk for months. Interesting that the last two books I’ve read haveContinue reading “fictive spaces and frank waters’ otherworlds”
sixth essay: joan silber’s “weight in fiction”
Spent a few nights revising course syllabi for the upcoming spring term so I wandered away from my goal to read through Bringing the Devil to His Knees. And I did want to finish before the term but the brain of school and work is here so I’ll press on, and perhaps this will inspireContinue reading “sixth essay: joan silber’s “weight in fiction””
salinger and chuck wachtel’s “behind the mask”
Took a few nights away from reading through Bringing the Devil to His Knees to reread Paul Alexander’s biography of Salinger. I received it as a holiday gift and wanted to reread because New Years Day is Salinger’s birthday and also because it helps me reconnect with Salinger and his material. The work means soContinue reading “salinger and chuck wachtel’s “behind the mask””
fourth night of notes: steven schwartz’ “finding a voice in america”
Tonight I am taking a look at the fourth essay of Bringing the Devil to His Knees–the Craft of Fiction and the Writing Life. And apart from the essay I am seeing just how slow my reading process can be at times–almost as slow as my writing process. I have such a stack of books onContinue reading “fourth night of notes: steven schwartz’ “finding a voice in america””
where’s iago? by susan neville
Vonnegut has come up again and again to me the last couple of days–his novels at the used bookstore I decided against and the interview with his wife on cspan at 3am that made me regret–and I find him once again as one of the catalysts to Susan Neville’s essay “Where’s Iago?” I’m still tryingContinue reading “where’s iago? by susan neville”
richard russo’s in defense of omniscience
A few posts back I mentioned how I wanted to read through my tattered copy of Bringing the Devil to His Knees edited by Charles Baxter and Peter Turchi and while on holiday break from school I finally have the time and energy to reread and give some sort of classification and summary to thisContinue reading “richard russo’s in defense of omniscience”
maxwell’s so long, see you tomorrow
I’ve written about the achingly beautiful book by William Maxwell before but tonight my students will be concluding their Lit 111 experience with this book–the last lecture anyway. This will be our final discussion before they head off to complete their term papers and prepare for their presentations. I hope I can convey to themContinue reading “maxwell’s so long, see you tomorrow”
fat city
I’ve been obsessing over the novel Fat City and the film Fat City over the last couple of days. I should be reading So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell. I should be grading my Lit students’ second formal essay. But instead I am rereading scenes and watching scenes from the film. The filmContinue reading “fat city”
tracy daugherty “a character’s skin”
I’m thinking about this fine essay “A Character’s Skin” by my old mentor Tracy Daugherty. I’m also sitting here wondering how my students will react to his ideas concerning characterization. I’m hoping they will also have ideas on how it relates to the selections from Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson I also gave them. AndContinue reading “tracy daugherty “a character’s skin””
didion’s minimalism
In my lit course we’ve been reading Joan Didion’s novel Play It As It Lays and there is so much for the young writer to learn from this book. I have to preface this review or response or whatever you want to call it by saying I’m a writer and not a literary critic. Mostly IContinue reading “didion’s minimalism”