A couple of weeks ago in celebration of Columbus Day, we discussed a series of books containing a quite unfavorable picture of the explorer, much of it written in his own words. Columbus clearly was, shall we say, insensitive to the well-being of the natives he found in the New …
Read More »Tag Archives: books
Nicolas Lemann on Daniel Ellsberg
Long New Yorker essay on Ellsberg and his new book on the Pentagon Papers: To anyone over a certain age (forty-five?), Daniel Ellsberg needs no introduction, but it would be quite a challenge to explain Ellsberg to someone who had never heard of him. There was this brilliant young man …
Read More »Bill Wyman Stones Book Out Today
PW Daily on the lavish new Stones memoir: Bill Wyman has been a great pack rat. In some 40 years touring with the Rolling Stones, he amassed a treasure trove of material, including rare photographs, tour posters and ticket stubs, letters and telegrams. These objects–combined with his surprisingly crystal-clear recollections …
Read More »No Real “Nirvana” for Cobain
The Observer has an ongoing series on Kurt Cobain’s diaries, including images of the actual journals, and Barney Hoskyns’ essay on his importance: “There’s something wrong with that boy…” noted William Burroughs when, in 1993, Kurt Cobain dropped in to pay his respects in Lawrence, Kansas. ‘He frowns for no …
Read More »Freedom of Information Act Lawsuit Filed Against the Justice Dept Over Patriot Act
The American Civil Liberties Union, The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Foundation have sued the Justice Department under the Freedom of Information Act in an effort to extract more information about the government’s application of …
Read More »Adolph Green Dies
Lyricist of classic Broadway and Hollywood musicals.
Read More »National Book Award Nomination Not Without Price
Steven Zeitchik writes in Publishers Weekly: When Copper Canyon marketing director Joseph Bednarik learned that two of his house’s books had been shortlisted for the National Book Awards this year, he went through the usual gamut of sweet emotions. But he also realized what many prize contenders have come to …
Read More »Houellebecq Acquitted in France
A Paris court shows surprising backbone and opts for free speech: A Paris court today cleared Michel Houellebecq, a best-selling novelist, on charges of inciting anti-Muslim hatred when he dismissed Islam as “the most bloody stupid religion”. The unqualified acquittal of Houellebecq, 44, a provocateur who specialises in sex-laden tirades …
Read More »This Weekend on Book TV
It’s three full days of bibliophilic fun on Book TV this weekend starting Saturday morning at 8 a.m. airing over C-SPAN2 Saturday, October 26 (All times Eastern) 8 a.m. Children’s Books. From Will Rogers Elementary School in Oklahoma City, Governor Frank Keating and illustrator Mike Wimmer read and discuss their …
Read More »Blogcritics Discussion Club Begins!
Since we are all about opinions, and our readers have just as valid opinions as we do, we are beginning a book, CD, movie, video, etc discussion group. We will discuss one topic each week on Fridays, rotating between books, CDs, new movies or TV, and DVD/video. One blogcritic will …
Read More »