Fiction and the Busy Business Person

article posted 20 days ago

Here, in the “who woulda thunk it” file, is a case being made for the reading of novels by people in the business world.

Of course, the benefits accruing from such reading (empathy, emotional intelligence) are much the same as those accruing to anyone who reads novels, but… still… it’s interesting to see the argument framed in these particular ways.

What's Up With the Novel (Reprised)?

article posted 21 days ago

An interesting discussion of the possibilities of the novel is to be found in this piece at the New York Times. Ranging from Bourdieu’s idea of “cultural capital” to somewhat more soft-focused notions of literature’s ability to foster a sense of connectedness and reduce the pangs of “existential isolation,” the essay asks some interesting, and basic, questions about what the place of literature is and is becoming. Of course, it doesn’t offer much in the way of answers… but one isn’t seeing many of them anywhere these days.

And it’s certainly more edifying than yet another screed on the wonders (or threats, or limitations, or field-leveling power…etc.) of new digital publishing platforms and e-readers.

This is Your Brain on Art...

article posted 30 days ago

I found myself smirking (almost giggling at some points) as I read through this piece on neuroaesthetics this evening.

It seems like a sort of pointless exercise in some ways to worry about the mechanics of art’s effect… aside from the interest of the knowledge as knowledge, I guess. Assuming one accepts the notion of absolute values of that sort.

Does it matter where the blood and/or impulses are in the brain when we look at Leonardo’s St. John, for example, or hear the Eroica (or Coil, or Dusty, or whatever…)? Isn’t the experience the point… not the mechanics? It’s kind of like assuming we’ll have more appreciation of Versailles if we know its longitude and latitude.

But whatever… it may help some academic researcher’s career, and that’s not invalid.

Enjoy the reading!

A Very Nice Holiday Gift Indeed...

article posted 42 days ago

It was delightful to wake up this morning and find this review of my recent anthology online.

Sort of takes the edge off the over-eating hangover, for sure…

Enjoy!

Bookstores, Readings and How Books Get Promoted

article posted 65 days ago

Having attended a number of very dull readings over the years, I understand the sentiment behind trying to get authors to think differently about how they connect with readers that seems to underlie this article .
That said, it seems a little presumptuous for booksellers to tell authors how to conduct their business. Particularly when their position in the publishing ecosystem seems increasingly delicate. It seems to me this might be a time when less confrontational and more collaborative positions would be sought out.
Anyhow, some (sort-of) interesting ideas nonetheless…

Best Gay Stories 2011 Review

article posted 98 days ago

For some reason or other, I neglected to put up a link to this lovely review of Best Gay Stories 2011.

A most unfortunate oversight. So, here it is for your enjoyment.

Many thanks to the gang at Out In Print!

Oh... Canada

article posted 100 days ago

The perennial (or should that be cyclical… it’s never clear) debate about what makes “Canadian Literature” “Canadian” gets a new chapter in this piece over at the Globe.

I’m not sure what it brings to the table that’s actually new, but since the discussion seemed to have disappeared for a while, I thought it was worth drawing your attention to.

Language Use and Literature

article posted 189 days ago

Came across this interesting piece of analysis about language use in fiction and figured I’d pass it along.
I’m not sure about what it is supposed to mean in any significant way (for readers or writers) but there are some fascinating tidbits in it. “Bolting upright” okay… but who knew fictional characters played with their hair so much?

Gettin' Paid....

article posted 196 days ago

The Guardian asks a question that has surely crossed a lot of authors’ minds here .

Though I’m sure most of us want to help draw attention to important and/or interesting new books, organizers aren’t the only ones with bills to pay. (Volunteer-driven events aside, o’ course.)

And You Thought a Bad Review Hurt...

article posted 224 days ago

In an extraordinary — but sadly, not surprising — development, class action suits are being brought against books. I stumbled on this piece while surfing around, and after picking my jaw up off the ground thought it worth sharing.

One of them seems a clear assault on freedom of speech, and the other seems… well, you decide. Of course, and here’s a crazy idea, one could consider calling a story one made up “fiction” which could help prevent any misunderstanding.