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Category Archives: books/film
Life Imitating Art, But Softly: Russian Meteor a Mini-Version of the Fireball That Ends Civilization in Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
So I’ve been teaching Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian (1985) for the last two weeks, although the more I know about the novel, the more I’m struck that it needs an entire semester to cover thoroughly—though if I did that, I … Continue reading
Posted in books/film, Climate Change, Cormac McCarthy, The West
Tagged Book Reviewing, Climate Change, Cormac McCarthy, Good Fiction, The West, Wildfires
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Review of "The Bird Saviors" in the High Country News, and a Literary Find in Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian"
So there’s a nice review of The Bird Saviors in the High Country News (not to be confused with High Times, which is a fuzzy horse of a different color), a great journal about the West, here. I’ve been too … Continue reading
Posted in books/film, Cormac McCarthy, The West
Tagged Book Reviewing, Cormac McCarthy, Good Fiction, The Bird Saviors, The West
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Greetings from Planet Flu, and a Few Thoughts on the Virus in "The Bird Saviors"
So I should say “Greetings, Fellow Flu Victims!” as it seems everyone I know, have ever known, or will know has the flu right now, which is to some extent why I haven’t posted anything in a while. My bout … Continue reading
On Finishing David Quammen's "Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic"
So I’ve finished David Quammen’s excellent new book of nonfiction, Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic, about zoonotic viruses and the danger we face from new pandemics originating in crossover viruses leaping from animals to humans. At 520 … Continue reading
Posted in books/film, Climate Change, Uncategorized
Tagged Book Reviewing, Climate Change, David Quammen's Spillover
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Good Review of "The Bird Saviors" in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Cormac McCarthy News
So there’s a good review of The Bird Saviors in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (or “SeattlePI”), here. I’m not thrilled with the word “meandering,” but then again, the reviewer gives much praise, so I’ll set aside my quibble. Here’s a pic … Continue reading
Standoff With Sam Shepard at Ten Thousand Waves: Guest Blogger Elizabeth May's Brush With Greatness
Standoff with Sam Shepard at Ten Thousand Waves On a recent trip to Santa Fe I took my mother to Ten Thousand Waves, a gorgeous, serene Japanese spa located on Hyde Park road. I first read about the spa when … Continue reading
"Prometheus" at a Cinema in Santa Fe, An Experience in Intensity
So while I was in Santa Fe I caught Ridley Scott’s prequel to Alien (1979), the flashy and eye-catching Prometheus, which is certainly trippy, even if it doesn’t all add up. I guess if I were rating it as such, … Continue reading
Posted in books/film, Film, Photography, The West
Tagged Photography, Prometheus, Santa Fe
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"The Bird Saviors" Playlist at Largeheartedboy.com, Live From the El Rey Inn in Santa Fe
So I’m at the El Rey Inn in Santa Fe, a supercool motel in the (greatly upgraded) motor-court mode on the historic Route 66, on this the official debut day of The Bird Saviors. Part of the debut is a … Continue reading
John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces" Finally to be Filmed, With Zach Galifianakis playing the Inimitable Ignatius Reilly
So one of the funniest American novels EVER is about to (finally) make it into a film version (in which Hollywood will no doubt muck it up, but so it goes): John Kennedy Toole’s (infamous) A Confederacy of Dunces (1980), … Continue reading
Posted in Art, books, books/film, Film, writing, Zach Galifianakis
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On Alex Prudhomme's "The Ripple Effect," Plus My Very Own Drinking Problem
So I have a confession to make: I have a drinking problem. But no, it’s not that kind, the James Frey kind (greatly exaggerated, we later learned), the sadsack rehab kind. Like the weepy drunk on the barstool next to … Continue reading
Posted in books, books/film, Climate Change, The West
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