Moving On…
There are a few items in the print media that I thought that I’d share, being the parasite that I am. (Although I’ll link to their web sites, because it is easier – and cheaper – than obtaining a hard copy, photocopying it, and mailing it to you. I’m truly sorry.):
The new Khaled Hosseini reviews are pouring in and much to my chagrin, everyone loves A Thousand Splendid Suns. I wasn’t entirely the fan of The Kite Runner that the rest of the free world appears to have been. The new book is reviewed at the LA Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, and even – wait for it — the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (!). If Hosseini is your bag and you are near the Hot-lanta area, you can see him read at Georgia Perimeter College next Monday. (Apparently he will also be reading at a Sam’s Club in Alpharetta, but I’m going to forget that I ever read anything about that.)
The Guardian favorably reviews a Prince biography, but the NYT is less than impressed with Don’t Hassel the Hoff – the David Hasselhoff autobiography.
Speaking of The Guardian, those guys have either been under a rock or Dave Eggers’ What is the What has just been released in the UK. Probably the latter. In any case, they have a review.
The San Francisco Chronicle reviews the new Chabon. He’s reading in town this Thursday. I’d say more, but it’s already going to be an effing circus. The Chronicle also reviews Nathan Englanders’ The Ministry of Special Cases.
There’s plenty more where this came from, of course, and that’s worth noting. That’s all I have time for now though. Viva the print review!
Books, To Checkout | Tim | 
May 22, 2007 10:30 am
Subscribe
By Herman Glimscher, May 22, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Dear Parasite,
Isn’t the Hosseini reading at Sam’s Club the extra huge, family-size one? He’ll be reading right next to the kegs of mayonnaisse.
Your pal,
Maggot
By Beth (The Decatur One), May 22, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
Chabon here? WHERE? WHEN?
By DJ Cayenne, May 22, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
Herm: Now that you mention it, it should be a theatre of the absurd kind of thing to check out. I might have to check it out after all.
Beth: Keep it under your hat, but he’ll be at the Barnes and Noble on Peachtree in Buckhead at 7 PM. Don’t tell anyone else.
By flavawheel, May 22, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
I’m really finding myself increasing baffled by the author-blog backlash. The funny thing is the irony of it all, because despite their bile and venom about “untrained” bloggers, the only way they would be a real threat is if they genuinely ARE as good as the pros.
I suppose there aren’t too many business major/authors out there, but their entire argument runs contra the whole “invisible hand” premise, in which reviewers will review, bloggers will blog and everyone will be the better for it — the cream will always rise. If someone out there is posting dozens of inane, inaccurate reviews, why the hell would anyone bother to read them?
Which brings me to the next bizarre point of their rant, which is that EVERYONE is blogging about books, whether they have any real interest in them or not, which is in turn diluting the “real” reviews. I’m sorry, but I haven’t run across too many extreme motocross/book review blogs: “Dude, I stuck a 40′ nak-nak backflip off a gnarly-ass ramp! Oh and the new Hosseini book, like, totally sucks.”
Call it a hunch, but I’d image that most people who go out of their ways to construct, support and post on literature blogs are at least somewhat passionate and knowledgeable about books. So while the posts on these sites may not always be shining examples of subtle wit and flawless structure, they are certainly honest and valid.
Which is a long way to go to say that you can’t preserve free speech by condemning free speech and, bluntly, that these people really need to chill. The fuck. OUT.
By Arukiyomi, May 23, 2007 @ 7:45 am
oh no not more Hosseini-hype… I was disappointed with the Kite Runner probably more so because the hype led me to expect so much. I hope he’s improved his story telling!
By Herman Glimscher, May 23, 2007 @ 9:28 am
flava: Well said.
The World: Having no interest in either kites or running, I’ve never read The Kite Runner. Or am I getting the gist of it wrong? Is a kite runner like a drug runner or gun runner only with kites? Or is it about a kite that trains for and runs a marathon? Maybe I should try to sneak into the Sam’s Club reading of A Thousand Splendid Suns and ask him. I think you just down to the tanker truck of olive oil and take a left. He’ll be reading in front of the boxcar of laundry detergent.
By DJ Cayenne, May 23, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Aruk: The AJC review suggests that some of the writing problems that bugged me in the Kite Runner are still there.
Herm: The book was only tangentially about kites and running. What does it say about your product when you choose to read at a wholesale goods warehouse store?