As part of their This Means War series, which marks the centenary of World War I, The Irish Times published a short story by Belinda McKeon. Sample quote: “Strange the way the mundane memories are the ones to push through most forcefully.”
War Games
A Belated Welcome
A belated welcome to the newest Millions staff writer Janet Potter. Janet is a Chicago writer and indie bookstore vet who's already written several pieces for us on a number of books, most notably her controversial takedown of Stieg Larsson.
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New Edith Wharton Discovered
A new short story by Edith Wharton has been discovered in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscripts Library at Yale. The nine-page story, “The Field of Honour,” takes place in 1915. We reflect on Wharton’s work.
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Banning the Russian Language
If you want to read a book with obscenity in it in Russia after July 1, you'll find it in a sealed package with a warning label. The law is the latest in Vladimir Putin's censorship crusade and also bans swearing in films and live performance. Interestingly, the banned words are still up for the debate by the Ministry of Culture. At The New Yorker, David Remnick discusses just how unique and diverse the Russian language's profanity is.
A Profile of the Profilist
Whether you're a fan of the Boss or not, David Remnick's recent 17-page look at the life of Bruce Springsteen is a delight to read and a masterful example of the profile piece. Remnik joins Storyboard to talk about the art of the profile.
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New Releases: Foer, Coupland, King
Stephen King's latest, Under the Dome, is out today. It's 1,100 pages and is being compared to The Stand. Meanwhile, Generation A by Douglas Coupland is also hitting shelves. It's a sequel to Coupland's famous, influential debut, Generation X. Also out last week was Jonathan Safran Foer's treatise on vegetarianism, Eating Animals, which picked up a mixed review in the New Yorker.
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A History of Pen Names
This week in book-related infographics: "A History of Pen Names," from Robinson Crusoe to Dr. Seuss to Toni Morrison.
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