Articles from April 2004

Mysteries Are Books, Too

April 20th, 2004 · Comments Off on Mysteries Are Books, Too

To the surprise of the literary establishment, mystery novels are creeping out of the genre ghetto and garnering respect. In celebrating this major shift in snobbery perception, authors are moving toward more “standalone” titles, standalones being, I suppose, more literary than series. Someday, I really need to sit down and figure all this what makes […]

File Under: Square Pegs

And Here I Thought It Was Because I’m Crazy

April 20th, 2004 · Comments Off on And Here I Thought It Was Because I’m Crazy

Okay, first, did you know there was a premier monthly magazine of opinion? And I’m not involved? The mind boggles. Turns out that Commentary magazine holds the title. Yet another calling missed…sigh. Joseph Epstein has written on article about writing and creativity and why people choose (ha!) to suffer for their art. While the article […]

File Under: Square Pegs

C’mon, Admit It, You’ve Read A Few

April 20th, 2004 · Comments Off on C’mon, Admit It, You’ve Read A Few

Publisher’s Weekly is reporting that, to nobody’s surprise, romance novels are the top sellers in the book world. Oh sure, general fiction makes a strong showing, but it’s the books that we don’t admit to devouring that top the charts. Romance Is Tops (Note: PW’s web content is for subscribers only. You can get a […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Fighting The Good Fight

April 20th, 2004 · 1 Comment

I don’t know Lynne Truss, but I think I love her. It takes a brave, bold woman to stand up to the insanity that permeates modern punctuation. Yes, I’m talking about the abuse of the serial comma. In her sure-to-be-a-bestseller Eats, Shoots and Leaves (if you haven’t heard the joke this title is based upon, […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Yeah, And How Big Was Her Advance?

April 19th, 2004 · Comments Off on Yeah, And How Big Was Her Advance?

There’s nothing like a celebrity bio — and accompanying advance — to get the struggling author’s blood boiling. Heck, we could do trashy sex videos if we wanted. Is it our fault that we’re too smart to leave the tapes in the hands of unscrupulous individuals? This Gawker.com piece only confirms the worst nightmares of […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Do They Really Still Call Them Bluestockings?

April 19th, 2004 · Comments Off on Do They Really Still Call Them Bluestockings?

By the way, what is the perjorative term for an intellectual male? Hmmm, nothing comes to mind. In discussing author Sarah Dunant’s bestseller The Birth Of Venus, the Guardian UK expresses shock that a readable historical novel (i.e., sex and violence and all the rest of the human condition) comes from such a highbrow author. […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Awards, Get Your Awards Here

April 19th, 2004 · Comments Off on Awards, Get Your Awards Here

The 2003 Nebula Award winners have been announced. I don’t know what is more shocking, the fact that Neil Gaiman won for a book I haven’t read…or the fact that Neil Gaiman has a new book out when I’m still trying to to squeeze American Gods into my reading schedule. Nebula Award winners Nebula Awards […]

File Under: Square Pegs

If You Didn’t See This One Coming, You Should Be Ashamed

April 19th, 2004 · Comments Off on If You Didn’t See This One Coming, You Should Be Ashamed

New American Library has cancelled the reissue of Lynne Cheney’s so-called racy book. Turns out the Vice-President (of the United States)’s wife didn’t think the novel was her best work. Really? A bodice ripper with brothel scenes and lesbian action? If this isn’t the pinnacle of creative writer-dom, what is? I think the public should […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Don’t Miss A Single Party

April 19th, 2004 · Comments Off on Don’t Miss A Single Party

It’s a known fact that printed directories are only good as of the day they’re printed (woe unto the poor soul who divorces and dumps her husband’s last name minutes after the presses start rolling). And in the age of wireless access and lighter-than-air laptops (would that my employer gives me one), people will be […]

File Under: Square Pegs

The Long Political Season

April 19th, 2004 · Comments Off on The Long Political Season

By my count, a lot of books with direct or peripheral connections to the upcoming presidential election will be released this year (I’d give an accurate count, but, well, I’m still too lazy). There are going to be a lot of partisan tomes and quite a few well-researched items. And I’m pretty sure that Bob […]

File Under: Square Pegs