**Interesting Articles on Books, Authors, Reading, etc. - September/October 2010

I got nothing! Start linking!

Here's something - the 2010 Man Booker Prize shortlist! http://www.themanbookerprize.com/news/stories/1451

Belletrista 7 is up - http://www.belletrista.com/2010/issue7/index.php

Its the first anniversary issue! Congrats Lois and all!

I don't know if this has been highlighted before but the BBC have released some of their archive material of writers being interviewing, broadcasting, etc - BBC Archive

Today's Guardian Review features an interesting article by Andrew Motion, the chair of the judges for the 2010 Booker Prize, on the selection process:

The Man Booker prize: Andrew Motion, chair of the judges, on the shortlist

Today's Observer, the Sunday paper associated with the Guardian, includes an commentary about the challenges and barriers facing Hindi women writers in a patriarchal society:

'Whore' comment on Indian writers can't be ignored

Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell discusses women's roles in J.R.R. Tolkien, in a 2003 CSPAN Book TV episode. About 42 minutes long:

www.c-spanvideo.org/program/179705-1

Here's an interesting article about the over-use of the present tense in contemporary novels.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/7991553/Opinion-Philip-Hensher.html

I've been reading some of the articles and blog posts about this extremely contentious topic and I'm pleased to see people being overexcited and shouty about literature.

>8 RidgewayGirl:, You know, its funny, I read a similar article right when I was in the middle of reading Mockingjay, which is written in present tense, but I seriously don't think I would have consciously noticed that if not for the fact of the ongoing debate. Clearly I am not an observant reader!

I wandered around several articles on the subject and had to agree with one that said that you really don't notice tense unless you're teaching a fiction workshop or reading for the purpose of critiquing the book.

I did notice it in Wolf Hall, but mainly because it added such an immediacy to the tone of the story.

Here's another contentious issue: http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/2010/09/22/sell-the-girls/

There are, again, numerous articles and blogs about the issue, but this one put it best, I thought.

The Guardian reports that the UK edition of Freedom by Jonathan Franzen was printed from a computer file containing an older draft of the book. HarperCollins will pull and pulp the currently available copies, and provide exchanges or refunds to those who purchased the book.

Jonathan Franzen's 'book of the century' pulped over print error

I'm not happy to hear about this, since I purchased a copy of the book last week at a bookshop in Gatwick Airport on my way back from London to the US, and especially because I'm already halfway through the book.

I feel I would be remiss if I did not mention that my favorite Jane Austen blogger has returned and is now tackling Mansfield Park.

http://bitchinabonnet.blogspot.com/2010/09/mansfield-park-chapters-1-3.html

>6 kidzdoc: that's a really interesting article. Thanks for that.

I feel I would be remiss if I did not mention that my favorite Jane Austen blogger has returned and is now tackling Mansfield Park.

Interesting. I don't agree with a lot of what he says, but it's still interesting. He's really got Mrs Norris's number though! And Lady Betram--except I love Lady Bertram. She's one of my favourite characters in all of Austen.

Funny commentary on the Franzen pulping mentioned by kidzdoc@11. Found via Brad DeLong.

I came across this link on another website, as a review of a book on the historical meaning of writer's programs! It does have some zingers.

Today's Observer has an interesting article by Caryl Phillips, one of my favorite authors, about his early struggles in establishing himself as a writer:

Once upon a life: Caryl Phillips

Not an article, but a cute video that an Arizona bookstore made of books lined up like dominoes and toppling into each other. Time: 47 seconds. Via boingboing.net

>19 dukedom_enough: that was cute, though I winced when they had some falling off the top of the shelves...

Today's New York Times has an article about tomorrow's reopening of the McKim Building on Madison Ave & 36th St in NYC, which includes the Morgan Library & Museum. The article includes a slideshow of photos of the restored library.

Let There Be Light, and Elegance

Belle, Issue 8 is up.
http://www.belletrista.com/2010/issue8/index.php

Take a peek. Books to add to your TBR piles! Reviews from some of your favorite LTers:-)