The long, long awaited posthumous publication of Ralph Ellison’s Three Days Before the Shooting… has arrived. Also newly out today (in the States) is William Boyd’s Ordinary Thunderstorms.
It’s Tuesday! It’s New Releases
Javier Sicilia’s Movement
Mexican poet Javier Sicilia founded the Movement for Peace With Justice and Dignity as a means of combating the horrific slew of drug-related murders plaguing his country. As he explains in this translated letter to Mexico’s government, his cause is personally motivated.
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English Hangs Over Me
The January issue of Asymptote is out, featuring an excellent interview with Year in Reading alumnus Junot Díaz about language acquisition and diasporic identity. As he puts it, “I live a life where both English and Spanish are in italics in my brain. It costs me no extra effort; it doesn’t feel unusual; it doesn’t feel like an infirmity, but it does strike me every now and then that there are people who don’t pick over their language the way I do, who aren’t so self-conscious of what they’re saying, who have a natural tongue.” Pair with Thea Lim’s Millions essay on race and gender in Díaz’s books.
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Everything Is Fine, Part Deux
The second issue of Little Brother Magazine (edited by Millions emerita and Toronto resident Emily Keeler) features excellent fiction about scandal-plagued mayor Rob Ford. At The Atlantic Cities, Mark Byrne talks with Emily, who describes herself as “addicted” to the drama surrounding the mayor.
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“Full, unfettered pomp”
On Friday, I wrote about the British writer William Boyd, whose new play, Longing, debuted last week at London’s Hampstead Theatre. The play is based on two of Chekhov’s short stories, one of which (according to Boyd’s new article in The Guardian) sheds light on the great author’s love life. Apparently the young Anton had “at least two dozen” affairs.
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Where She Was From
For only $1.65 million, you can have a piece of Joan Didion’s childhood. Her high school home, The Didion House, is on the market in Sacramento. Before you make a bid, it might be good to brush up on California with Didion’s 2003 memoir, Where I Was From.
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“Writers have always been whiners.”
With just a few more weeks to go until the end of the world, here’s an argument for the golden age of writing – right now.
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Question: If I click on your amazon link to purchase a given title but want the kindle version will you still get credit for the purchase?
Amazon doesn’t pay commissions on Kindle ebooks (see here), but anything else you buy on Amazon via those links does help us. And (it’s not worth going into the details) but there is a slight benefit to folks buying the kindle versions via those links (it’s better than nothing, essentially). Thanks for your support! We appreciate it!
Good to know. I hope that Amazon will change its stance and pay commissions on everything, one day.
That Ellison is good and fine, but if “Three Days” doesn’t feature a talking monkey riding a talking donkey on a fantastic quest, count me out.
I’ll stop now.