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Monday Tally: Criticism, Campaigns, and Profiles

Monday Tally: Criticism, Campaigns, and Profiles post image

Awhile ago, maybe all the way back in 2011, I did a week link round-up post on Monday’s called “Monday Tally.” I’ve been reading a lot of great stuff online lately and wanted a way to share it, so I decided to bring this one back semi-regularly. Enjoy!

Book bloggers are either detrimental to literature or critical to literary criticism. Take your pick on thoughts from British dudes.

Here’s another example of why it’s usually a bad idea for authors to respond to critical reviews, this time from Ron Hogan, with this gem of an observation:

Word of advice, authors: Never state publicly that any of your readers are more or less important than any of your other readers, even if you’re foolish enough to actually believe it. Yes, there are some readers who can “do more’ for your literary success if they like your book, whether they’re reviewing books for a major newspaper or buying fiction for a national chain of bookstores. To circle back to Elle Lothlorien, though, every reader is a customer, and even an unsatisfied reader can be a repeat customer—unless you’re actively condescending and dismissive to them.

This West Wing-inspired campaign ad is my favorite video of the week:

However, this video of a valiant pig saving a drowning baby goat at a petting zoo is a close, close second.

Jeffrey Eugenides gave a particularly sad response to questions of women and literature and book reviews in an interview. This response from Linda Holmes at NPR Monkey See is a much better read.

Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short and and Moneyball and The Blind Side, published an in-depth profile of President Obama in Vanity Fair that is, I think, a must-read piece. It’s a wry and thoughtful and candid look at what it’s like to be President of the United States, full of paragraphs much like this one, about what it’s like to play basketball with the president:

And he chattered constantly. “You can’t leave him open like that!” … “Money!” … “Take that shot!” His team jumped ahead, mainly because it took fewer stupid shots. When I threw one up I discovered the reason for this. When you are on the president’s basketball team and you take a stupid shot, the president of the United States screams at you. “Don’t be looking to the sidelines all sheepish,” he hollered at me. “You got to get back and play D!”

Arnold Schwarzenegger is releasing a memoir called Total Recall. I can’t stop giggling.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Jessica @ Quirky Bookworm October 8, 2012, 8:50 am

    Oh West Wing. How I miss you.

  • Jeanne October 8, 2012, 9:55 am

    Uh, oh, Caught in the act of trying to dumb down literary criticism!

  • susan October 8, 2012, 3:40 pm

    I miss West Wing too! Yeah and Arnold looked pretty foolish on 60 Minutes last Sunday about his book.

    • Kim October 9, 2012, 7:45 pm

      He was on 60 Minutes? Hilarous. I just love the title 🙂

  • Laurie C October 9, 2012, 4:22 am

    Thanks for these links! I love this kind of post, except I spend more time than I actually have checking out all the links, and then the stories THEY’RE linked to, etc., etc. I never watched West Wing, so at least I could skip that video!

    • Kim October 9, 2012, 7:46 pm

      Never watched The West Wing? The horror! I love that show, although I’ve only watched through S4.

  • Sara October 9, 2012, 6:59 am

    Gaaah! The West Wing video. Hilarious (It’s an Apocalypse Now?) and good – even if Sorkin didn’t write it, it’s good to see those folks again. Like visiting with old friends.

  • Charlie October 9, 2012, 6:59 am

    I knew about the drama and wrote on it, but I missed Ron Hogan’s post, good to see it. Same as Laurie, though it’s better to read news that’s already been found to be interesting.

    • Kim October 9, 2012, 7:47 pm

      I really liked Ron Hogan’s post and just a general discussion of readers/authors and relationships.

  • Stephanie October 9, 2012, 5:01 pm

    Great links — thanks! It’s very funny to me when professional authors and critics bash amateur book bloggers. Have they actually read any book blogs? There is some amazing writing and book/film criticism in the blogging world. Often better than the pros.

    • Kim October 9, 2012, 7:47 pm

      Yeah, I always wonder that too. I think it’s too general to say one is better than the other, but to dismiss one just because it’s different it’s a disservice.

  • Vasilly October 9, 2012, 5:39 pm

    The profile of the prez sounds so interesting! That paragraph left me laughing at the end. I will check it out!

    • Kim October 9, 2012, 7:50 pm

      It was, I loved it! Lewis did a really great job shows the emotional and intellectual range it takes to be president on a day-to-day basis.

  • Jenny October 9, 2012, 5:58 pm

    That West Wing clip is delightful AND it is pleasing to me that the dudes have all aged really dramatically and the women barely at all. The years have been kind to CJ Cregg. Probably because of her great hilariousness and charm.

    • Kim October 9, 2012, 7:50 pm

      Ha, yes! I noticed that too.

  • katiejonesoneword October 11, 2012, 9:51 am

    Can’t wait to watch the West Wing clip when I get home – it’s totally okay that you’ve only watched through season 4, Sorkin left after that season and my heart with it 🙂 Some really great links, especially the one on President Obama. In NPR’s efforts to be even on coverage I think I’ve heard more about Mitt Romney’s personal beliefs (read: BEING MORMON) while the President stays in the background, like, oh yeah, we already know all about him.