The novel that had Scarlett Johansson filing charges of “fraudulent and illegal exploitation of (her) name” is due out next month in its English-language iteration. The First Thing You See by Grégoire Delacourt is ostensibly about a garage mechanic who ends up falling for a Johansson lookalike. For more on the legality of literature, here’s an essay for The Millions on J.D. Salinger and U.S. copyright.
Fiction or Defamation?
Gary Shteyngart, Viral Video Star
It seems like Gary Shteyngart may be embarking on a new career as a viral video star (remember his wacky book trailer for the hardcover of Super Sad True Love Story?). Here he is with Paul Giamatti in a "buddy comedy" touting the paperback.
What He Said
Those interested in a fuller critique of Reality Hunger than our comments section affords - and a useful set of questions about the purpose of art - should check out Marco Roth's sterling essay, "Throwback Throwdown."
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Where Everyone’s a Cardsharp
Edward "The Godfather" Thorp has been widely recognized as the "father of card counting" since the publication of his bestselling book Beat the Dealer in 1962. Today, at 70 years old, the man's impact on the card game is ubiquitous, but perhaps nowhere moreso than at Las Vegas' annual Blackjack Ball.
Tuesday New Release Day: Levine; Birch; Wieringa; Boland; Plumly
Out this week: My Lost Poets by Philip Levine; Orphans of the Carnival by Carol Birch; These Are the Names by Tommy Wieringa; A Poet's Dublin by Eavan Boland; and Against Sunset by Stanley Plumly. For more on these and other new titles, go read our latest fiction and nonfiction book previews.
“Does it help writers to drink?”
Writing for The Guardian, Blake Morrison ponders the eternal question: “does it help writers to drink? Do they drink any more heavily than any other social group – doctors, lawyers, shop assistants or … advertising executives?”
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