Hangovers Archives - Page 32 of 53

36 Hours in Portland. Wishful.
Roger Sutton of The Horn Book revives the ongoing debate (though, frankly, this is the most interesting artifact of the n+1 blahblahblah so far) about blog reviews vs. their MSM cousins, and etcetera. Apropos likely of something else, Niall has a quote from George Zebrowski from a different back and forth that feels applicable: "Reviewing is a social occasion, run by people staking out turf; honest intellectual discussion is something else, and nearly extinct."
Ysabeau on literary themeparks, following the announcement of one bringing to life the works of Dickens. (Which really could only be fully accomplished if the designers were the Addams family.) Why does this remind me of EuroDisney?
Callie has some interesting thoughts on how people think of Jodi Picoult and a recent interview with her in which she said some things about writing I couldn’t agree more with at the moment. About it being really hard and easier to edit something than nothing.
John Klima is looking for a Wiscon roommate. Steal his Lush products.
This Book is For You is being let down by her favorite comics (I’m particularly troubled by the words about Fables). BTW, Willingham fans would be wise to hunt down the three issues of Coventry, aborted though it was.
Speaking of comics, go be all interstitial with your bad self at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in NYC next Monday evening. Justine and Doselle will be there. ‘Nuff said.

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Sunday Hangovers

Hangovers / By Gwenda / April 15, 2007

So, yeah, new LA Times Book Review Online? I’m definitely giving it the nod for now, what with Sarah doing the mysteries column and Ed Park doing one about SFF (yay!).
Literaticat’s recipe for slush.
The School Library Journal has podcasts of various writers reading their poetry, including the fabulous Julie Larios.
Greg van Eekhout weighs in on the world-building debate.
So that’s why I had Roberto Bolano’s Amazon page open: Matt and Carrie.

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Friday Hangovers

2 Comments / Hangovers / By Gwenda / April 13, 2007

Yes, I know things have been scattered and lame around these parts lately. Chalk it up to spring-that-feels-like-winter fever, or just being incredibly busy. I’m attempting to keep up with email, but am still running a few days behind.
Meg Rosoff applies the lessons she learned in her advertising day job to writing. (Via Literaticat, who rightly identifies the commenters as mostly boobs.)
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast interviews John Green.
Thoughts on science fiction as (not being) the literature of ideas and the work of Ted Chiang.
Freshly banned words in the capitol. (Via Maud.)
Meghan on the implicit assumptions underlying NYT articles about sex.
The fabulous Betsy has Ellen Klages’ Scott O’Dell speech. Being a writer is all about shiny things. It’s true.

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Wednesday Hangovers

4 Comments / Hangovers / By Gwenda / April 11, 2007

Cruise ship decorating. (Via Jenny D.)
A lovely brief account of a St. Paul panel on teen fiction featuring Tobin Anderson, Pete Hautman and Alison McGhee.
Please, someone pay Maureen McHugh to do a book just of food writing: "She has dark red hair and those black cat’s eye glasses which are hip now, but which were the bane of my existence in seventh grade. She was not born when I was in seventh grade. When I was her age, I was not making ragu. I still thought creamed spinach was a pretty big deal. I was working two jobs and writing stories that collected rejection slips and taking Chinese lessons so I could move to China. When I got home at night at ten (having left in the morning at seven) I sometimes had glazed doughnuts and beer for dinner. Oddly enough, I was quite slim. But not tall or, obviously, sophisticated." Do yourself a favor and read the whole post.
Rachel Swirsky wants to know what you love in short stories, and she’s also featured over at Scalzi’s Ficlets.
Why do I have Roberto Bolano’s Distant Star open in a tab? Anyone?
Why are plagiarists always so sloppy?

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Monday Hangovers (Updated)

5 Comments / Hangovers / By Gwenda / April 9, 2007

Just so you know, this is what happens when I play catch-up.
Josh Bell plays in a D.C. Metro Station and few people notice. See also: Chance’s dissent. Updated: And here’s a chat with the author’s article, Gene Weingarten, where he answers similar criticisms, and the full audio of Bell’s performance, which is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. To me, it’s not so much about beauty, as the inability to appreciate something extraordinary. I agree with the people (defensively) saying that beauty is everywhere, but the extraordinary isn’t, by definition. It’s worth keeping an eye out for.
The Ray Davis/Jonathan Lethem emails. (Via Matt Cheney.)
Tightrope Girl, who currently writes for House, has two excellent posts on point of view: the first, the second.
Betsy at Fusenumber8 wonders when the first great YA illustrated novels will appear, following several fantastic ones for younger readers. (Note: This is illustrated novels, not graphic novels.) I just read The Invention of Hugo Cabret and adored it; more on that soon.
I really am going to have to resub to New Scientist to get these fab articles Paul Collins is writing for them. Or at least visit the library more often.
Richard Larson seconds Kelly’s controversial recommendation of Slither. Guess I may have to break down and watch it after all.
China Mieville visits Bat Segundo — Un Lun Dun is another book I’ll be talking about when I finally manage a reading update. I had some issues with the beginning, but ending up adoring it.
Oh, and Ellen Klages also visits Bat Segundo — finally read her wonderful short story "In the House of Seven Librarians" (originally published in Firebirds Rising, but I read it in The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year antho) over the weekend. Seek it out. Bonus: Betsy has the goods on the award ceremony (party!) for Ellen for winning the Scott O’Dell Award for Gleen Grass Sea, which I still really, really need to read.
Jim Munroe, my karaoke hero, has some thoughts as the Perpetual Motion Roadshow comes to an end.
Little Prince illo in Japan.
Joan of Arc relics are forgeries. (Via Jenny D.)
Cynthia Leitich Smith on a book I MUST own — Don’t You Forget About Me: Contemporary Writers on the Films of John Hughes. (Hey, nice publicist…?)
Colleen on the dangers of adults reviewing books for teens.
Libba Bray has a glass eye. That is awesome.
Liz Hand’s Generation Loss is winning fans right and left.
Scalzi interviews Alma Alexander, whose Worldweavers is in the TBR stack.
RE: Oprah and The Road: What Darby said. Although I’m skipping The Corrections.
The ever-fabulous Literaticat interviews Justine about the Magic or Madness books.
Christopher’s teaching another SFF and allied genres’ workshop starting Wednesday night at the Carnegie Center. If the past is any indicator, you’ll get me as a "bonus" critiquer. Show up, sign up, have fun, local types. The info is here.

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Monday Hangovers

1 Comment / Hangovers / By Gwenda / April 2, 2007

Teen girls and the quest for perfection, and the perfect college.
This year’s Tiptree winners have been announced. There are two: Shelley Jackson for Half-Life and Catherynne M. Valente for The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden. Plus, a special recognition for Julie Phillips for her Tiptree biography. And an excellent short list (follow the link). Yay! (Updated: More here with pretty covers from juror Midori Snyder.)
Chris Barzak points to the guidelines for the summer issue of Tin House, which will celebrate women working with the fantastical. Check it out and send them something.
Terri Windling on Elizabeth Knox’s wonderful YA Dreamhunters duology, the second volume of which just came out and I’m dying to read. I love all Knox’s novels, and the first of this set was no exception.
Sorry to be lame, but I’m swimming in behindness. Better content later in the week.

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