Sandhill Trek

Googling Hedda Gabler

Some critics have been greatly troubled as to the precise meaning of Hedda's fantastic vision of Lovborg "with vine-leaves in his hair."

Project Gutenberg

Lulu Blooker Prize

If the blogosphere is the world's largest vanity press, then it stands to reason that... that... hell.  There's nothing reasonable about it.  Suffice it to say that the Lulu Blooker Prize will be awarded on April 3rd.  Sponsored by Lulu, the event is timed to coincide with the 450th anniversary of Frau Gutenberg's original run of cookbooks, printed off hours when Johannes wasn't busy with the bibles.  Cory Doctorow is one of the three judges (along with Robin Miller and Paul Jones).

Tom Evslin's "hackoff.com" is one of the fiction finalists.  "Belle De Jour" is on the non-fiction shortlist.  Go Tom!  Go Belle!

Thanks to Lulu's mom for turning me on to this event.

Numa, numa...

Sometimes it's important to return to the classics.

Other people's business...

Dave says, "... I'm thinking fiction might be fun. I'm thinking about dialog, and how a novel is a continuum, and a bunch of short stories hanging off a tree, and a few diversions to keep the reader on his or her toes. I'm thinking about the craft of writing in ways I've never done before." 

Here's a guy who has been polishing his writing every day for at least ten years... a guy with a strong voice and a sense of drama... a guy who understands structure and who has lived conflict... a guy who can make the time to do the work and who has the discipline to finish what he starts.  How can he miss? 

bêtes seller...

...books as exhibits in my planned trial of dangerous morons v. the people. I despise Martin Seligman and his fucking "learned optimism," both on principle and irrationally -- as is my God-given prerogative as a non-academic who owes no lipservice allegiance to fictions like fairness and critical distance. The very existence of this book makes me want to break things.

Over at Mystic Bourgeoisie, the narrative thread becomes ever more clear, the prose is tightening up,  Chris Locke looks like he has another best seller in the works.

Waiting for my man...

I'm informed by Antonia that it is John Cale's birthday.  One shudders to think how ancient he has become, primordial man, permanent, hoary, worn, yet ageless...  he wrote

And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow's parties
A hand-me-down dress from who knows where
To all tomorrow's parties
And where will she go and what shall she do
When midnight comes around
She'll turn once more to sunday's clown
And cry behind the door

And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow's parties
Why silks and linens of yesterday's gowns
To all tomorrow's parties
And what will she do with thursday's rags when monday comes around
She'll turn once more to sunday's clown
And cry behind the door

And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow's parties
For thursday's child is sunday's clown
For whom none will go mourning
A blackened shroud, a hand-me-down gown
Of rags and silks, a costume
Fit for one who sits and cries
For all tomorrow's parties

[and, from the rolling stone interview of 1996...]

Have you ever surfed the Internet?

Yes. I've been looking for crime statistics in China. I want to find out about the problems they have there with youth. They have a serious unrest problem because of all the entrepreneurship and the disparity between different provinces.

If you had to give Lou Reed a job reference, what would it be?

Hard worker.

What do you want your epitaph to be?

No talking in the library.

Best American Kids

Guess who's son has had a piece selected for inclusion in Best American Sports Writing 2006?  I don't think I'm allowed to brag in any detail at this point...  Meanwhile, nephew Tony's UN essay advances through the national competition (they'e down to sixty nation-wide) and niece Catherine has been invited to join Phi Beta Kappa.  I live for this kind of reflected glory.

Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossanna

I'm happy for them.  McMurtry has always been this humble "I'm a minor regional novelist" guy while pumping round after round into the belly of the beast.  I met him at a book signing in Denver.  He seemed kind of surly.  I was impressed.

I've been a fan since I read Leaving Cheyenne in the sixties.  He knows about love and honesty and dis-.

I've been a fan since I saw Hud, and I didn't even know it.

 

Legally Brunette, ain't it...

I just got to repeat... she's the best.

Ms. Reese Witherspoon, best actress.

Jack Pendley

He gets the crap done.