Tag Archives: Book Reviewing

Phillip Roth Hangs Up His Pen, While Kent Haruf and George Saunders Have New Books in the Offing

Posted on November 29, 2012 by williamjcobb

So on the literary beat there’s an interesting tidbit in the news this week (delayed, as you’ll see, from our attention), in that the great American novelist—he did name one of his books that: The Great American Novel (1973)—Phillip Roth … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Reading Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" for the First Time (Maybe)

Posted on November 19, 2012 by williamjcobb

So I’m reading Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) for the first time ever (maybe: I might have read it in high school because we did get assigned books like that, but I’ve seen the film many times, and … Continue reading →

Posted in books | Tagged | Leave a comment

On Finishing David Quammen's "Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic"

Posted on November 15, 2012 by williamjcobb

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 , , | Leave a comment

Review of "The Bird Saviors" in the San Antonio Express-News, and Miles & Miles of Texas

Posted on October 22, 2012 by williamjcobb

So I’m on a book tour of Texas right now, and have actually driven 1,400 miles so far, from Texline in the northeast part of the Panhandle to South Padre Island at the very southern tip of the state. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, books, The West, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

"The Bird Saviors" Texas Tour 2012: Just like ZZ Top, Only Different

Posted on October 17, 2012 by williamjcobb

So starting on Thursday I’ll be promoting my novel The Bird Saviors at various events in Texas. Just like ZZ Top, only minus the beards, the guitars, the groupies, and . . . well, okay, nothing like ZZ Top. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, books, The West | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

On Jessica Karbowiak's "These Things I Know" & Simon Winchester in the NY Times

Posted on October 3, 2012 by williamjcobb

So one of my former students, Jessica Karbowiak, has a knockout book out right now, titled These Things I Know. And though I know much about the book I don’t want to be a Spoiler and give it all away, … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, books, The West, writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

On Bogus Book Reviews, Facebook Hoopla, & Why Book Reviews Even Matter

Posted on September 1, 2012 by williamjcobb

So I read with some amusement and (tempered, jaded) dismay a good piece in the NY Times about bogus, “bought” online book reviews, here. I didn’t know about any of this, exactly, but I’m not too surprised. The ‘net is … Continue reading →

Posted in books, The West, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment