Recommended Reading: On the work of Aleksandar Hemon and how literature helps us cope.
A Literary Pathway
Carpal Tunnel is the new Broken Back
Parts of Mac McLelland's Mother Jones piece, "I Was a Warehouse Wage Slave," read like what Daniel Orozco might write had he worked in an major shipping warehouse instead of a human resources department.
●
●
Sherman Alexie’s ‘Part-Time Indian’ Turns 10
To celebrate its 10th birthday, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie’s National Book Award winning YA novel, is being reissued. The special anniversary edition features a new introduction by Jacqueline Woodson, family photographs, a new afterward, and an excerpt from the book's upcoming sequel, Rowdy, Rowdy, Rowdy. Also worth your time is Woodson's 2016 year in reading.
New Directions’ Birthday Bash
On a more optimistic note, New Directions, New York City's inestimable and long struggling (but "long dazzling!") publishing house, will be throwing itself a 75th birthday party on Thursday, October 27. (They just redesigned their website and colophon, too.)
●
●
Curiosities: Alternative Punctuation
Newsweek names "The Most Dangerous Man in Publishing."Adam Kirsch interviewed about his new bio of Benjamin Disraeli."Daily Routines: How writers, artists, and other interesting people organize their days." (via Jacket Copy)David Horvitz discovers several pages of his writing in this year's Dave Eggers-edited Best American Nonrequired Reading. He was not told that his work (pulled from his website) would be appearing in the book. Now he is peeved and has made several demands. (No permalinks, so check out the long Dec. 9 entry.) (Thanks Buzz)The LA Times unveils its Favorite Books 2008.Google's year-end "Zeitgeist" of 2008 search activity. Breaking Dawn the unsurprising top search.Recently discovered aggregators of quality content: The Browser and Give Me Something to Read.This week's Wikipedia treat: a gem of alternative punctuation: the "irony mark." In the history section of that entry, take note of the "doubt point, certitude point, acclamation point, authority point, indignation point, and love point."Scott gets to the bottom of the striking new cover designs on Dalkey Archive Press' books.NPR features an excerpt from Firmin, a Millions favorite (and former LBC pick) that is soon to be published in a new edition by Delta, a Random House imprint.The Association of American Publishers teams with several celebs to create BooksAreGreatGifts.com and accompanying YouTube vid. "Books make great gifts because they are an amazing way to kill time while your web site is buffering." - Jon Stewart. (thanks Laurie)
“I would leave everything here”
Recommended Reading: László Krasznahorkai’s “I Don't Need Anything from Here,” which might be one of the shortest sentences he’s ever written.