City of Bookstores
Michael Lewis’ Man Cave
Here's a sentence I never thought I'd type: A seersuckered Michael Lewis shows off his "man cave" for ValleyGirl.tv. You can skip ahead to 9:20 for the tour. (via)
The “Chicken Breast” of Spirits
How has a spirit legally defined as being "without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color" flourished in today's economic climate? Victorino Matus' Weekly Standard article explores the history and ubiquity of vodka. Perhaps this article is best paired with something from NPR's list of "Great American Writers and Their Cocktails."
Write a Turtle Story, Win a Turtle Diary
NYRB Classics just reissued Russell Hoban’s Turtle Diary, and in honor of that occasion Levi Stahl is giving away a free copy. All you have to do is write “the best turtle story” in his comments section before June 20th. Are you up to the task?
●
●
“Jeff Koons poses next to a pig, grinning”
The recent opening of the Jeff Koons retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art has occasioned a number of rave reviews. They’re so good, in fact, that they’ve inspired Los Angeles Times writer Carolina A. Miranda to comb the write-ups for “evocative turn[s] of phrase, political metaphor[s], and references to lady parts” in order to assemble a standalone poem. Or, rather, it was standalone until artist William Powhida made a drawing out of it. (Full size drawing here.)
●
●
“Most of my hike was saying, this is a black body, and it belongs everywhere.”
"There is no divorcing the lack of diversity in the outdoors from a history of violence against the black body, systemic racism, and income inequality," writes Rahawa Haile in her description of hiking the full length of the Appalachian Trail. Along the way, Haile documented her journey and the books she carried — books written by black authors. In a debrief interview, she explains her motivation: "I want[ed] to bring these books places no one likely has. I want[ed] to document where black brilliance belongs."
●
●
The Art of Fielding
Vanity Fair shares an excerpt from n+1 co-editor Chad Harbach's debut novel The Art of Fielding. The book appeared on our Great Second-Half of 2011 Book Preview, and it is presently available with each new subscription of n+1.
●
●