Quick Hits
October 29, 2008
Bolaño’s Big Book Makes Landfall 5
by Garth Risk Hallberg
Today in my mailbox, I found a hardcover edition of Roberto Bolaño’s 2666. Longtime readers of this blog may recall that I’ve become something of a Bolaño-phile in the last year… in fact, I already read the English translation of 2666, the late Chilean author’s magnum opus, this summer, in galley form. And so the [...]
October 28, 2008
If You Want To Be Happy For The Rest of Your Life… Be a Republican 6
by Emily Colette Wilkinson
According to a new PEW Research Poll published last week, Republicans are still – in spite of the nation’s economic woes, their epically unpopular current president, and their party’s doubtful prospects for the upcoming election – happier than Democrats: 37% of Republicans versus 25% of Democrats consider themselves “very happy” – and more of them [...]
October 24, 2008
On The Atlantic’s Redesign 1
by Garth Risk Hallberg
In early 2002, the mogul for whom I worked began reimagining his prize property, The Atlantic Monthly. For a few weeks, I and other David Bradley employees at The Advisory Board Company received emails asking how The Atlantic might be improved. Would expanded political coverage make us more likely to subscribe? How about an expanded [...]
October 21, 2008
Tonight on 4th Avenue: Paul Beatty and Matthew Sharpe 1
by Garth Risk Hallberg
Tonight’s installment of the Pacific Standard Fiction Series here in Brooklyn features two Millions favorites: Paul Beatty, author of Slumberland and The White-Boy Shuffle, and Matthew Sharpe, author of Jamestown and The Sleeping Father. Books will be for sale on-site, and drink specials will be chosen by dartboard. The reading starts at 7 p.m. at [...]
October 8, 2008
Two New Long-Form Journalism Collections Hit Shelves 2
by C. Max Magee
I’ve never been shy about my love for long form journalism – my love for the New Yorker is based on it – so I was intrigued to hear about a pair of books that collect some recent stand-out examples of the work from two other venerable magazines: New York and Harper’s. The former is [...]
September 26, 2008
Going Underground 1
by Andrew Saikali
A few years ago, I was standing on the platform at College subway station in downtown Toronto. It was 9 pm, well beyond the evening rush. Further along the platform and also waiting to board the next train was someone I recognized – a colleague from work – older and embittered, a grumbling and grouchy [...]
