Lev Raphael's Blog, page 26
February 15, 2016
Michigan Book Awards Ignore LGBT Books
Every year since 2004 the Library of Michigan has publicized as many as 20 Notable Michigan books "reflective of Michigan's diverse ethnic, historical, literary, and cultural experience."
But that diversity seems to have a major blind spot. No book with major LGBT content has ever been among the books annually celebrated and publicized statewide. That fact was confirmed to me by one of the judges, who had no explanation.
The 2016 Library of Michigan press release had this to say about t...
But that diversity seems to have a major blind spot. No book with major LGBT content has ever been among the books annually celebrated and publicized statewide. That fact was confirmed to me by one of the judges, who had no explanation.
The 2016 Library of Michigan press release had this to say about t...
Michigan Notable Book Awards Are Discriminatory
Every year since 2004 the Library of Michigan has publicized as many as 20 Notable Michigan books "reflective of Michigan's diverse ethnic, historical, literary, and cultural experience."
But that diversity has a major blind spot. No book with major LGBT content has ever been among the books that are celebrated and publicized statewide. That fact was confirmed to me by one of the judges, who had no explanation.
Here's what the 2016 Library of Michigan press release has to say about the...
But that diversity has a major blind spot. No book with major LGBT content has ever been among the books that are celebrated and publicized statewide. That fact was confirmed to me by one of the judges, who had no explanation.
Here's what the 2016 Library of Michigan press release has to say about the...
"Michigan Notable Book Award" Ignores LGBT Writers
Every year since 2004 the Library of Michigan has publicized as many as 20 Notable Michigan books "reflective of Michigan's diverse ethnic, historical, literary, and cultural experience."
But that diversity has a major blind spot. No book with major LGBT content has ever been among the books that are celebrated and publicized statewide. That fact was confirmed to me by one of the judges, who had no explanation.
Here's what the 2016 Library of Michigan press release has to say about the...
But that diversity has a major blind spot. No book with major LGBT content has ever been among the books that are celebrated and publicized statewide. That fact was confirmed to me by one of the judges, who had no explanation.
Here's what the 2016 Library of Michigan press release has to say about the...
February 7, 2016
Downton Crabby
Carson doesn't like anything his wife does, whether it's cooking or making his bed. They must have a grand time making the beast with two backs.
Daisy can't abide Mrs. Patmore horning in on her own private farmer.
Downtrodden Baxter looks to be falling back under the spell of the man who turned her into a thief.
Barrow would rather suffer accusations than just spit out the truth about tutoring Andy.
Lord Grantham et al. love the money they made from the Open House but regret the hoi...
February 5, 2016
Why I Quit My Book Group
Okay, the snacks were great, and so was the wine.
But the books were awful. I wanted to have fun, but everyone kept voting for books that were depressing. They called them "classics." I guess that's code for boring books where nothing really happens to people you don't care about, and books that leave you feeling there's no point being alive.
Like Wuthering Heights. What a mess those people were! They really needed serious chocolate or therapy or a week at an all-inclusive resort or even...
February 1, 2016
Downton Abbey is Too Exciting!
Season Six is thrilling beyond measure. The show is going out in a blaze of glory. I had to take Valium midway during last Sunday's episode because I thought I'd never get to sleep after the non-stop excitement.
There were two baskets prepared by Mrs. Patmore. Two! And they were big.
The dreaded trial didn't happen! Another anti-climax. Hurray! Bring 'em on. Nothing like dashed expectations in a gorgeous setting to get the heart racing.
Barrow discovered a weakness in Jug-ears and didn't...
There were two baskets prepared by Mrs. Patmore. Two! And they were big.
The dreaded trial didn't happen! Another anti-climax. Hurray! Bring 'em on. Nothing like dashed expectations in a gorgeous setting to get the heart racing.
Barrow discovered a weakness in Jug-ears and didn't...
Downton Abbey is Too Damned Exciting!
Season Six is absolutely thrilling beyond measure. The show is going out in a blaze of glory. I had to take Valium midway because I thought I'd never get to sleep after the non-stop excitement.
There were two baskets prepared by Mrs. Patmore. Two! And they were big.
The dreaded trial didn't happen! Another anti-climax. Hurray! Bring 'em on. Nothing like dashed expectations in a gorgeous setting to get the heart racing.
Barrow discovered a weakness in Jug-ears and didn't do a happy dance...
There were two baskets prepared by Mrs. Patmore. Two! And they were big.
The dreaded trial didn't happen! Another anti-climax. Hurray! Bring 'em on. Nothing like dashed expectations in a gorgeous setting to get the heart racing.
Barrow discovered a weakness in Jug-ears and didn't do a happy dance...
January 27, 2016
Susan Cheever's Alcott Biography Is a Hot Mess
When a friend told me she was reading Susan Cheever's book American Bloomsbury about Emerson and his circle in Concord, I was intrigued, because I'd read Cheever's memoir about her father years ago and had lost track of her career after that.
I went to Amazon, but was drawn to Cheever's biography of Louisa May Alcott instead. I didn't know much about Alcott and I'm a huge fan of biographies (I have hundreds in my study). The book grabbed me based on the sample: Alcott didn't want to write Li...
I went to Amazon, but was drawn to Cheever's biography of Louisa May Alcott instead. I didn't know much about Alcott and I'm a huge fan of biographies (I have hundreds in my study). The book grabbed me based on the sample: Alcott didn't want to write Li...
Reading Henry James Changed My Life
I had an amazing senior year of college reading (and reveling in) George Eliot, Edith Wharton, D.H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf, Lawrence Durrell, Fitzgerald, and Henry James.
While all of them inspired me to be a better writer of fiction--my goal in life--it was James who was the catalyst for perhaps the deepest change.
I was reading The Portrait of a Lady--which many critics consider The Great American Novel--at 3 AM when I came to the famous Chapter 42.
(Nicole Kidman in Jane Campion's 1...
While all of them inspired me to be a better writer of fiction--my goal in life--it was James who was the catalyst for perhaps the deepest change.
I was reading The Portrait of a Lady--which many critics consider The Great American Novel--at 3 AM when I came to the famous Chapter 42.
(Nicole Kidman in Jane Campion's 1...
January 25, 2016
Andie McDowell and Her Chihuahua Will Star in a New Film
Andie McDowell got
But the furious back and forth over her tweet is done.
And Samuel L. Jackson has come to her rescue.
He's announced that he's financing a movie that they'll co-star in, a sequel to the immortal Snakes on a Plane. It'll be a combo thriller-chick flick. The best lines will be his of course:
"Enough is enough! I...
But the furious back and forth over her tweet is done.
And Samuel L. Jackson has come to her rescue.
He's announced that he's financing a movie that they'll co-star in, a sequel to the immortal Snakes on a Plane. It'll be a combo thriller-chick flick. The best lines will be his of course:
"Enough is enough! I...
