May 26th, 2008
Book bits: Digested classics, DRB blog, William Trevor, Lloyd Jones…
* William Trevor turned 80 over the weekend. BBC7’s I Am A Storyteller celebrated the writer - you can listen back on the BBC iPlayer.
* Having gushed about John Crace’s Digested Read, I was pleasantly surprised to open Saturday’s Guardian Review and spot what appears to be a new section by Crace - Digested Classics. It kicked off with one of my favourite writers - Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway.
* The Dublin Review of Books has finally got its blog up and running. Another recently discovered literary blog full of interesting stories and links is Bookforum.
* Lloyd Jones - author of the Booker shortlisted and much hailed Mister Pip - will be in Dublin next week. He will read from Mister Pip, followed by a Q&A and book signing at Dubray books on Grafton Street, next Tuesday, May 27th at 6:30pm.
* I’m currently reading Elizabeth Taylor’s Angel, so thought I’d learn more about the publishers when I started reading Hilary Mantel’s apparent piece on Virago. Instead, she writes passionately about what women’s writing is and how domestic novels don’t have to be “small, or tame”. She also reminds me of one of the many reasons why I don’t like Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.
* First we had Spiderman and Star Wars figures, now you can get your very own Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and my favourite, Edgar Allan Poe. More here.
* Anne Enright is profiled in the Sydney Morning Herald.
* If you missed the most recent episode of Doctor Who, the doc met Agatha Christie.
*Ever wondered why your short story didn’t win that competition or get accepted for publication? Here are 27 possible reasons.
* Robert McCrum wonders if blogs have been good for books.
May 26th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Here Sinead,
What do you make of the announcement that Steven Moffat is to be Who’s new producer come Series 5?
May 26th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Angel is great, isn’t it? Although I wish Virago Modern Classics would start discovering new forgotten gems, instead of just reissuing the old VMC backlist. They haven’t published a “new” book in about ten years now. As Peresephone have shown, there are still plenty of neglected women writers out there who deserve to be rediscovered.
As for Steven Moffat, I am delighted, especially as I am currently in the middle of a Press Gang complete box set (still selling for just £25 on Amazon! I think it must be a mistake, but I’m not complaining) binge - we’ve now reached the beginning of series 3. I love it and Moffat’s Who episodes so much I can forgive him for the dreadful and unfunny Coupling.
May 26th, 2008 at 11:52 am
The reissues of the VMCs are beautiful - in Waterstones at the moment. I bought Barbara Pym’s Excellent Women (with an introduction by McCall Smith!) on Saturday and really, really want to buy them all, even though I have most of them already in less attractive covers. That’s how lovely they are. Sigh. Also, only finished Mr. Pip a few weeks back (thanks Sinead) and loved it.
May 26th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Sinéad thanks for that Short Story link. I’ve only glanced at it but a couple already stand out to me (unfortunately!) Back to the editing board…
May 28th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Great links there Sinead, thanks. I’ll be busy for hours now playing around in them, to the expense of stuff I need to get done, probably.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Leigh - it can only be a good thing.
Stellanova - I’m loving it, even if Angel herself is very annoying, but I can understand her frustration at her youth, her class and her situation. Totally agree re Virago. Amazing publishers, but they’ve gotten a bit lazy. And the Hesperus covers/designs are stunning. Are you getting commission on those Press Gang boxsets?
Edel - my copy of Angel is an old one and I have a heap of those green-spined editions lying around. Had read about the reissues, must check them out. So glad you enjoyed Mr. Pip. My mum just read it and loved it too.
TGWAOF - It’s spot on, and pretty invaluable for any aspiring short story writer…
Sam - glad to hear it/sorry for distracting you. Be sure to read the ‘27 reasons…’ article.