Incoming sophomores at my oldest son’s high school are given Kite Runner as a summer reading assignment (he is currently reading There Are No Children Here for his freshman assignment). Word circulating on the […]
Just Landed: Books on Chicago sports, Hong Kong cinema, and Illinois outlaws
A handful of new books landed on my desk in the past two weeks: –China Forever: The Shaw Brothers and Diasporic Cinema edited by Poshek Fu (August 11, 2008) –“Baad […]
Go Cubs, Go! by Elliott Gorn
Of course I want the Cubs to win the World Series. This year, 2008, would be great—exactly one hundred years after their last World Championship. But secretly, in my heart-of-hearts, […]
The Washington Post previews Roni Stoneman
The July 24 Fairfax edition of the Washington Post features a preview of Roni Stoneman’s upcoming weekend concert, background on this legendary performer, and a nod to her recent University of […]
LA Times losing book review section
PW Daily reported this morning that the Los Angeles Times is losing its standalone book section. “Nancy Sullivan, executive director of corporate communications at the paper, confirmed that the book […]
“You’re under arrest, Sugah!” Ms. features Stephane Dunn
[…]
The Wire lauds “John Cage”
UK’s The Wire magazine, modern music’s arbiter of good taste, recently reviewed John Cage, David Nicholl’s “very fine book” in our American Composers series. “To the casual cultural onlooker, John Cage is […]
Bloody Williamson Revisited
When I was a kid, I spent countless hours seeking out familiar places and unspeakable acts in the soldiers of local history standing at attention on my grandmother’s bookshelf: Gallatin […]
Free textbooks!
College students received much of the blame (or credit depending on your worldview) for starting the file-sharing tide that has fundamentally changed the music business. They’re back! The Boston Globe reports, “Faced with […]
“Fun in the fridge” by Denise
Today’s Chicago Tribune features a very funny article, “Who Moved My Cheese,” with a related link, “Top 10 fridge complaints.” Since I qualify as a “vigilante,” I thought I’d take a […]
University press book controversy
Inside Higher Ed has a piece this morning on SUNY Press taking over publication rights for Black Elk Speaks from University of Nebraska Press. “For most university presses, a book […]
Gift card
Last week I finally used a local independent bookstore birthday gift card that I had received in May. Last year I was excited to use a similar gift card on a Steve […]