Hughes The Environmentalist

Charleston, SC, is a splendid little city — we lived there for five years — but as far as the seasons are concerned, it lacks drama. Since we’ve been here in Seattle we’ve experienced 100 degree heat, steady rain, and today, the winter’s first hard frost. Such meteorological diversity makes us grin. If Ted Hughes were alive he’d certainly approve. After all, he chronicled the ebb and flow of the seasons in many of his poems. Everyone knows the seasons influence the way we think, see and smell, which might explain our present desire to breathe deeply the musty aromas of an antiquated book. The LA Times eases our urge. Speaking of old books, Poe’s first published title — Tamerlane and Other Poems — is expected to fetch six figures when Christie’s brings it to auction. Elsewhere, earning money is something Murakami is used to. But one writer for the Guardian feels the author’s value is shrinking. Instead of writing novels, Murakami might consider writing pornographic screenplays. Slate explores this rousing industry. Or maybe such writing is better suited for Roger Avary, the jailed co-writer of Pulp Fiction. Quick, get Uma on the phone! In other news, it’s the end of the year, which begins the season of quantifying the merit of many, many books. Hop over to The Millions for a complete summary. Us, we’re looking forward to spring. — Kevin Murphy

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The Heavyweights

Big time. In one way or another it’s what many of us crave. Years pass and we aspirants continue to tote around delicious, elusive illusions: The moment we’re gonna make it and hit the Big Time. Recently the National Book Awards recognized a couple of scribes, which pretty much signals the arrival of some new big timers in the literary world. Iowa City is big time — it’s even dubbed the City of Literature. But is it living up to its reputation? Find out more in the Press-Citizen. Good old Carlos Fuentes emerges from his Latin lair and has some sage advice for authors: Lie, damn it. Ever hiked the Smoky Mountains? No? That’s cool, because now you can cradle that would-be experience in the palm of your hand. Lastly, a derelict office worker writes a novel in the bathroom, and the events that inspired In Cold Blood — a big, tough novel from a small, wobbly man — reach their 50th anniversary. “I’m on my way I’m making it…” — Kevin Murphy

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Let The Dust Settle

Too many sentences have already been written about Reality TV. So we’ll avoid the topic and instead direct you to Vanity Fair, where James Wolcott eloquently shreds this generation’s favorite form of entertainment. Still, one can’t help wondering how, if most everyone with whom you speak supposedly detests Reality TV, the form exists at all. We call hogwash, everyone watches the damn stuff. More ridiculous news you can’t help but investigate: Eagle-eyed computers posit Hemingway and other famous authors wrote at subpar levels. Elsewhere, Steve Almond venerates Vonnegut in The Rumpus, a new book shares the stories behind everyday inventions, and Kim Stanley talks time travel in his kitchen. In closing, America’s recent literary heartthrob, Roberto Bolaño, gets his reputation scrubbed, and a scribe in Granta lays down the laws for writing about Africa. Turn off the TV, this is reality. — Kevin Murphy

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Who Doesn't Love A Hard Life?

Hard living — God knows we’ve seen our share. Many authors exorcise and/or celebrate their hard lives through books. For better or worse, readers are hungry for such literature. Mary Karr can attest. Her novel, The Liars’ Club, sent shivers up the morally righteous spine of America. Now she’s moved on to new material. But will it resonate? Gawker Media is a big fat Internet success story. One of their bloggers even gets to work from afar, in LA. Media Bistro explains. Bob Arum is an intelligent man. He’s such a whiz, in fact, that much of the boxing world is throwing in the towel. But what about those of us who don’t want to work? Stab yourself, of course. And blame it on the Hispanics. Don’t believe us? Head over to the Smoking Gun for confirmation. Esteemed writers are happy to share their influences, reading online is killing reading, says the Times Online, Márquez’s early life is exhumed in a new biography, and musicians tell the tale of their literary tastes with reverential albums. It’s a hard life indeed. — Kevin Murphy

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Vidal Consults The Dome

Gore Vidal is an irascible pug. He’s not a shabby writer, either. Throughout his long life he has hobnobbed with America’s best and brightest, as well as quite a few highfalutin international personalities. He is an opinionated man, happy to direct a quip toward writers, politics and movie stars. His signature volubility is on display in a recent interview with The Atlantic. Also today we have the world’s largest book, which documents the culture and history of Bhutan. The online portal Fictionaut, celebrated for its support of the short story, is praised in Media Bistro. Publishers Weekly announces the best books of 2009, Safran Foer talks about writing and complains about people who eat animals, Hemingway’s Cuban papers are coming to the JFK Museum, and Marianne Moore, along with a host of other highly regarded 20th century poets, go ’round the table on Silliman’s Blog. Read on, it’s candy for the mind. — Kevin Murphy

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