- Happy Valentine’s if you observe it, and if you don’t: here’s to you anyway. And a special shout-out to my valentr sweetie-pies because y’all are wonderful. For my well-documented feelings on this holiday of doom, see this ancient–er, 2005–post at the first incarnation of S&S.
- There’s a new ZZ Packer short story–the unfortunately titled "Pita Delicious"–in last weekend’s WashPost Magazine.
- Two accounts of a recent Phillip Pullman talk on narrative: Scholar’s Blog and Niall Harrison.
- Tony Schlesinger on spiral staircases. (Via Jenny D.)
- A Maltese Falcon goes missing; look for a dame without a heart. (Via Pinky.)
- Nancy Pearl recommends one of my all-time favorite travel books, Redmond O’Hanlon’s In Trouble Again: A Journey Between the Orinoco and the Amazon. This reminds me that I never read Trawler.
- Colleen recommends a worthy cause to send books to in New Orleans. Send, send, send.
- Leila recommends my current advisor Tim Wynne-Jones’ new novel Rex Zero and the End of the World, which has been getting starred reviews all over the joint. (I guess I’ll have to wait until next semester to read it, sadly, because there’s something the tiniest bit awkward about annotating a book and turning it into the author for grading.)
- And while I’m on the subject of new books by Vermont College faculty members, Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith is now in fine bookstores everywhere (thanks to the lovely Carrie Jones for the reminder). I read it all the way back in August, when I vowed to do a more substantial post about it. I find I don’t have the time, so I’ll just point to what I said then: Simply put: FABULOUS. So good and dark. Best ending I’ve read in ages, and nicely feminist as well. If it reminds me of anything, perhaps a bit of Robin McKinley’s Sunshine, but with the focus and directness of the best YA.
- The Spring 2007 nominees for the LitBlog Co-op have been announced, and they include (drumroll) Alan DeNiro’s Skinny Dipping in the Lake of the Dead, and two other very worthy titles. Color me excited in advance of the discussion. (p.s. My crystal ball predicts some interesting things will happen at the LBC this year. Really.)
5 thoughts on “Wednesday Hangovers”
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I haven’t read that Packer story yet, so maybe I’ll change my mind? But right now, wow, yes, a totally unfortunate title.
I haven’t read it yet either, but I can’t imagine how any story could redeem it. I’m pretty sure that the word pita should not be in titles, period.
Just read it. It’s actually a really gorgeous, heartbreaker. But absolutely no justification for such a bad title. And yes, pita should not be in titles, period. I was hoping her brilliance would have saved this one, but alas, that’s a no.
Good story though!
I just finished Tantalize for the April column – I was surprised by how dark it was. It seems like the marketing describes it more as a romance (which I guess is what they think vamp fans will want) but you hit it right comparing it to Sunshine. I knew it was like something…but couldn’t remember what. That’s the comparison I was looking for (and I will steal it for my review! 🙂
Pita is a bread not a title. You don’t need to be an award winner to know that.
Packer used to live in Louisville, where there’s a restaurant called Pita Delicious. That’s probably where she got the title, tho’ knowing that doesn’t make the title any better.