Mark Stevens's Blog, page 31
September 27, 2017
James Lee Burke, “The Jealous Kind”
Waves “sliding over me as heavy as concrete.” Jellyfish with “gossamer tentacles that could wrap around your neck or thighs like swarms of wet yellow jackets.” And the beautiful Valerie Epstein’s shoulders “powdered” with sunburn. James Lee Burke’s style is … Continue reading →
September 8, 2017
“The Pure Artistic Path”
Check out George Saunders’ thoughts about work and art. Post for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ blog is here. Filed under: Books
September 5, 2017
Q & A #58 – Keir Graff & James Grady, “Montana Noir”
You could make a life reading project out of the Akashic Books “noir” series. You might soon need a sturdier shelf. By my count, there are 90 titles now. Multiply times 12 or 14 stories per book and you’ve got … Continue reading →
August 14, 2017
Robert Kurson, “Pirate Hunters”
Shiver me timbers, another terrific non-fiction book about a grueling, exhausting search for a piece of history. Last time it was Douglas Preston’s The Lost City of The Monkey God, uncovering a hidden archaeological gem in Honduras. This time, it’s … Continue reading →
August 3, 2017
Douglas Preston, “The Lost City of the Monkey God”
The Lost City of the Monkey God is fascinating, start to finish. Part one, the high-tech search that led to finding a “lost,” pre-Columbian city. Part two, a medical thriller. Part three, a cautionary tale about climate change. The third … Continue reading →
July 5, 2017
Independence Day
Independence Day and writing fiction. Some connections on the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers blog. Paul Revere was the third of 12 children. Why him? Filed under: Books Tagged: Fiction, writing
July 2, 2017
Q A #57 – Brad Newsham, “Free Ride: Mercy and Madness on the Streets of God’s Favorite City”
Brad Newsham is a writer, a thinker, a traveler, a seeker, a cab-driver, a protester, a reader, and a fan of San Francisco like few others. He’s also a helluva nice guy. I knew Brad a little bit in college–he … Continue reading →
June 26, 2017
David Shields, “Other People: Takes & Mistakes”
David Shields makes it look easy—turning thoughts, experiences, attitudes, insights, personal history, wounds, slings, arrows, literary criticism, film criticism, and random reminiscences into compelling prose. Open the dictionary to a random page, throw a dart and give David Shields a … Continue reading →
June 23, 2017
Ian McEwan, “Nutshell”
Yes, he pulls it off—an occasionally raunchy murder mystery and contemplation of existence told from the point of view of an unborn child. Nutshell is at once hilarious, witty, smart, and unbelievable. You don’t want to go with it. There’s … Continue reading →
June 19, 2017
Lessons Learned
A few things I’ve learned along the way, written for the Amy Rivers website: Filed under: Books
