After thirty years, Larry Kramer has finished his novel The American People, which he prefers to consider a new form of nonfiction. In the novel, a narrator based largely on Kramer writes a historical expose, also titled The American People, in which numerous American icons are described as having been gay. As Kramer says, he wrote the book in part out of a feeling that gay people are excluded from history books.
A People’s History
Where Are All the Middle Age Women?
"Here’s a challenge for you: find a book jacket that features an image of a woman over 40." Despite being one of the biggest consumers of books, The Guardian writes about the lack of middle-aged women on book jackets. Pair with: an essay on the sexy-backed, faceless-woman book cover trend.
Listening in on The Missouri Review
Recommended Listening: The Missouri Review's new weekly podcast, Soundbooth, which will feature interviews and readings with authors, editors, agents, and more. The first episode is a conversation between editor in chief Speer Morgan and marketing director Kris Somerville on the research they do for the journal's feature section. You can subscribe here.
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Google Map Tourism
Google Maps now allows users to take 3D photo tours of more than 15,000 popular sites around the world. Here's Yosemite's Half Dome, and here's Trevi Fountain.
Finding Frances
Recommended Reading: Laura Van Prooyen's poem at The Missouri Review “Location: Frances.” "When I say Frances, I mean a woman. I mean/a place. The dead cling to the land."
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Looking Over the Shoulders of Giants
Ever want to watch someone write a novel? Nows your chance. Sorta. Silvia Hartmann, UK author of thriller novels, is inviting readers to observe as she types up her next novel in a Google doc.
Double Shot of Dominican Poets
The Fortnightly Review has English-language translations of poems by Homero Pumarol and Frank Báez, two Dominican poets you should really check out.
Eating Well
David Lebovitz, author of The Perfect Scoop, suggests 10 ways to improve your cooking. Not so sure I agree with whole wheat pasta, but I certainly support calls for fresh herbs and lots of shallots... (via)
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DFW, Edited
The changes between the transcription of David Foster Wallace reading 'A fragment of a longer thing' in 2000 and the version of that story 'Backbone' as published in the recent New Yorker. (via The Paris Review)
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