The Elegant Variation

TANENHAUS RESPONDS

Sam Tanenhaus has responded to my open letter in the comments section. I reproduce his reply here.

Point taken. Here’s our reasoning. First, we’re trying to make the Book Review a timely and lively publication that connects books to the broader culture in the best tradition of American literary sections going back to Partisan Review, the New Republic, and the Nation in the 1930s up through The New York Review of Books today. Our hope is that by making the Times Book Review more relevant week to week we'll draw more readers into the world of books. Beyond this, the back page has historically been a place to widen the discussion and explore different aspects of the literary-intellectual life. That life, I might add, has many dimensions, no less so today than in prior eras, and we want to do justice to that multi-dimensionality in our pages (not only on the back page). This is why we did an issue on music books a while back and followed up soon after with an issue in which prime space went to four short-story collections. We also recently published a “Chronicle" on first novels (and then singled out two of those novels for our Bear in Mind feature). And stay tuned: you’ll see fiction prominently reviewed in the weeks to come. Thanks for watching us so closely.
Best regards,
Sam Tanenhaus
Editor
New York Times Book Review

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. We'll continue to watch and see what happens. And thanks for watching us, as well.

NAMECHECKED

TEV (and Tingle Alley) receive mentions in this Rochester Post-Bulletin column on blogging.

And for the record, Ed's a pretty hot number hisself ...

REMINDER - LISA GLATT AT SKYLIGHT

Stop by and say hello to us tonight at Skylight Books. We'll be there looking awkward and out of place as we check out Lisa Glatt's reading from her novel A Girl Becomes a Comma Like That. The reading starts at 7:30.

ROTH REPORT DAY 9

We're almost finished with The Plot Against America (yes, we're slow, we know but we're reading more than one thing at a time AND turning in screenplays AND writing a book AND blogging AND experiencing some personal upheaval, so shoot us already), and we're pleased to report that it delivers fully on its early chilling promise.

Roth's shrewdest move may be the restraint that he shows throughout. It would have been very easy to play everything large and overwrought but the moves toward American fascism are quiet and incremental (and thus all the more credible) - rather than cattle car deportations to death camps, Jews are "relocated" (with the cooperation of corporate collaborators) to the American heartland to be assimilated and learn American Christian values. Notorious moments, events and places find remarkable parallels. Kristallnacht American style takes the form of a riot in the wake of Walter Winchell's Democratic presidential campaign. In one of the most chilling sequences in the book, young Roth is locked into his upstairs neighbor's tiny bathroom. His resulting panicked attempts to get out - including accidentally triggering an icy shower - are horrifically - and effectively - evocative of death in the gas chambers.

The book will be released in October.

CHECKPOINT LEGALITIES

CSM book editor Ron Charles looks at the legal questions raised by Nicholson Baker's controversial forthcoming novel Checkpoint.

"There are really strict legal standards on what constitutes a threat, and certainly a fictional conversation between fictional characters - it's almost impossible to imagine that that could rise to the level of a legal threat against the president," says Larry Siems, director of the Freedom to Write Program and of international programs for the PEN American Center. "Characters in novels don't kill presidents."

But, he notes, "there have been encroachments recently on the terrain of creative freedom that are connected with people's fears and anxieties.

"We know the Secret Service has visited high school classrooms where students have produced art that has made reference to violence. The whole atmosphere has shifted enormously."

The Supreme Court has been very clear about the rights of authors to write whatever they want so long as they are not intentionally inciting imminent violence, according to ACLU president Nadine Strossen. She says, however, that under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, "Mr. Baker wouldn't know and he wouldn't be able to find out if he's under surveillance. And anybody the FBI asks about him would be forced to be under that veil of secrecy."

Clearly the readers of CSM have the right idea, if the poll results attending the story are accurate.

CITY BEAT ON L.A. LIT

Local freebie paper City Beat takes a look at the local lit scene with a pair of pieces, one on the recent additions to the literary journal scene, and the other about readings around town. Nice little pieces both but you read it all here months ago ...

Still, we're glad they're paying attention.

L.A. EVENT - BRIDGET HUGHES AND T.C. BOYLE

We are incredibly bummed that we won't be able to make tomorrow night's Skylight event. The discussion between Boyle and the new Paris Review editor sounds like a four-star literary outing. Someone go and drop us an account via e-mail, ok? (Skylight Books, Los Feliz, 5:00 p.m.)

SEEKING NOMINEES

Recent guest blogger MJ Rose sends us along this solicitation from The Writer magazine.

Please help The Writer magazine recognize writers who, through their writing, have contributed to the field of writing or to their communities. We encourage you to nominate writers you know who have made a difference in one [or more] of the following ways:

• Who have helped and influenced other writers either through their writing or teaching
• Who have been instrumental in bringing about changes in the publishing field that benefit all writers
• Who have increased awareness of issues of concern to writers
• Who have used their writing to help communities or humanitarian causes
• Who have been innovative, introducing new forms, subject matter or perspectives

We are looking for writers in all areas: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, copywriting, business writing, other. inners will be announced in our January 2005 issue. Send your nominations to: [email protected] Nomination deadline is Aug. 15. Please include:

Name of nominee
Works published, where published
Your reasons for nominating the writer
How the writer made a difference
Where we can reach your nominee (name of publisher, publication or organization)
Your name and e-mail address

007 SALAD DAYS

The Scotsman looks at the upcoming teen 007 series with a Scottish angle - Bond was educated in Edinburgh.

According to references in Ian Fleming’s original novels, Bond spent most of his formative years at Fettes College in the Capital.

And while Fleming never detailed any hair-raising adventures of the sort Bond would face later in life, the new books will throw the future agent up against more evil plots and deadly enemies.

Aimed at teenage readers, the novels are being written by Charlie Higson, co-creator of the Fast Show and a successful film and thriller writer.

The article also talks about Pierce Brosnan's now-official departure from the film series, revving up the speculation machine once again. We're voting Clive Owen. We think. For now.

L.A. EVENTS - ISHERWOOD ALOUD, NERUDA POETRY & PEN EMERGING VOICES

On the radar for the week ahead, a few outings of note:

* Chris Abani hosts a PEN Center co-sponsored Evening of Emerging Voices, including Taylur Thu Hien Ngo, Melissa Roxas, Natali Petricic Escobedo, Candice L. Harper, Mae Respicio and Eduardo Santiago. (Los Angeles Public Library, Aug. 4, 7 p.m.)

* The Isherwood Aloud celebration "features a reading of Christopher Isherwood’s work by actors Michael York, Mickey Rooney and Gloria Stewart" (Huntington Library, Aug. 1, 2:30 p.m.)

* The Poetry of Pablo Neruda: Selections of the Chilean poet’s Nobel Prize–winning work are read in both Spanish and English. (Book Connection, Long Beach, July 31, 7 p.m.)

* Also, if you're a Coldplay fan, Gary Spivak will be reading and signing his book Coldplay: Look at the Stars on Aug. 5 at 7:30 at Village Books in Pacific Palisades - where we are hoping to find a nice apartment, so if you know anyone, drop us a line.