Author Archives: bookdwarf

Oooh…

I may have failed to mention this before, but the man who is true to his name, Michael Kindness, our Random House rep, delivered to a lucky few of us some manuscripts of Haruki Murakami’s latest book Kafka on the Shore, due out next April (cannot find any links to it yet–too soon, I guess). Jess has already read it and shares her thoughts, having devoured it in one weekend. I have not gotten around to reading it, but its next on my list. I am about to finish Cloud Atlas, which is completely amazing. Anyway, TEV pointed out this article from the Japan Times, which says that the German translation of Kafka on the Shore became the No. 1 bestseller in Austria.

Great Story

I have been a fan of Steven Milhauser’s since I went to Skidmore College, where he is a professor of English. I used to go hear him read his short stories in the auditorium. I was very excited when I heard that he had won the Pulitzer in 1997. I read his last novel The King in the Tree when it came out last year. The current issue of the New Yorker has a story of his and here it is available online. Its called Cat ‘N’ Mouse and I am curious what others think about it. Oh, and here is a link to an interview of Millhauser by Jim Shepard, whose latest novel Project X I really liked.

So we go from winter straight into summer?

Those of you not in the Northeast may not realize that we have suffered up here weatherwise for the past months. Being in New England sucked. Big time. Cold and more cold and more rain and some sleet, etc. Finally had a nice weekend though, with temps in the 60s. And today’s high is 80-something. Don’t believe me? Check here. And to top off this beautiful day, the Red Sox came back after a loss to the Yankees yesterday, to win today’s final game. I watched three of the four games, and they were pretty exciting. Especially since A-Rod barely did anything. Heh. Anyway, that’s it for now. Got to get back to work.

I want comments people

So in the spirit of the Friday Five, whose questions I answer occasionally, I have a question to ask of my own. I have no idea if anyone really even reads this blog, but if you do, feel free to comment (Briana—I am talking to you). I want to know what movie or book most influnenced you as a teenager. For me, and I am embarassed to admit this, it was probably reading the Fountainhead when I was fourteen. I read a great deal as a kid, lots of the classics—-Dickens, Steinbeck, Austen, etc. But I had never really tackled much in the way of a philosophical novel. I realize I am leaving myself open here to attacks and ridicule. I know Ayn Rand is a complete freak show, but I still like her fiction. The Fountainhead was one of the first books to make me think about the struggle of being an individual and human corruption. Heavy stuff when you are thirteen. I am sure there are plenty of other books that influenced me, but this is a book that I actually remember reading for the first time.

Tooting my own horn

Not in a dirty way, mind you. I have decided that I should mention some of the book-related events that happen here, because some of them are pretty cool. So if you are in the Cambridge, MA are today, come to the Harvard Book Store and hear Lynne Truss discuss Eat, Shoots & Leaves today at 6pm. There is a bit more info on the event here. I know the book made a big splash around the holidays in the UK. Here is a review from the Guardian. Sounds like fun, but the Red Sox/Yankees first game is tonight, so it’s a tough call.

Quiet here

I have been quiet since Tuesday. Mainly because not much has been going on here. Trying to make it through the crappy-ass New England weather until Spring decides to rear its head. I am slogging my way through the two books in the left column. Q is too heavy to carry around, so I have to read it at home and the Wallace, well, you know. In good news, I have been informed that a new book by Haruki Murakami will be coming next April and the rep has kindly sent me a manuscript. I do not even know the title yet, but I will keep you informed. Murakami rules! So that’s it for now. I am going out for sushi with the rest of Team Discovery Channel tonight and am looking forward to a good meal.

Follow up

Uhm, I originally googled for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy when looking for the official website, which was listed first. And then I noticed some oddities: someone who really wants to meet Kyan, fans of Thom, and something called Girlzeye. Check it out.

I love Ted!

Searching for the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy website, I came across this quiz:
tedTed: Food & Wine Connoisseur
Which Member from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is your type?
brought to you by Quizilla

Tonight, they showed the pilot episode, which was filmed right here in Boston! Imagine if they still filmed it here? I wish they would do episodes outside of the NYC area. And I liked the culture guy better—not a big fan of Jai and his fashion mullet (I mean he has a teacup Yorkie!). And Lawson—the straight guy—was great, easy going and willing to take suggestions. God, I wish someone would come and do a makeover on me and my apartment sometime. Not really, of course. In theory it sounds great, but I think I would be embarassed to have people filming me. Anyway, good episode tonight. NIce to see where it all started.