Christopher Zoukis's Blog, page 24

Don Winslow: Author

Don Winslow is the New York Times bestselling author of thirteen crime and mystery novels as well as short stories and film screenplays. What I like about him is his writing style, which is cheekily funny. His best known book is probably Savages because it was made into a movie. But some of his earlier works make for every interesting reading: The Death and Life of Bobby Z; The Power of the Dog; and Satori, which is thesequel/prequel toTrevanian's Shibumi.

Medical Alert: Prison Activist in Need

By Christopher Zoukis Sangye Rinchen and Christopher Zoukis

Today I bring a story that hits a bit too close to home that requires your immediate attention. For the past two years Sangye Rinchen, a close friend of mine, has been battling a serious, debilitating nerve injury to her leg. For years she -- Sangye's a transgender Buddhist, thus the feminine pronoun -- has tried to work with her prison's Health Services Department to resolve the issue, but medical care has not been forthcoming. Inst...

Consider The Lobster: DFW

This video contains an excerpt from DFW's breathtakingly delightful book -- Consider the Lobster. Originally published in the August 2004 issue of Gourmet magazine, this review of the 2003 Maine Lobster Festivalset off a firestormof controversy among the readers of the culinary magazine. The essay is concerned with the ethics of boiling a creature alive in order to enhance the consumer's pleasure. Whether one agrees with DFW or not, it's food for thought.

A Supposedly Funny Thing: David Foster Wallace

DFW discusses his delightful non-fiction book -- A Supposedly Funny Thing, which is a collection of essays and articles about various topics, places and almost-adventures. DFW was often commissioned by slick New York magazines to write articles about subjects like cruises, lobster festivals, tennis tournaments, etc.

Note the difference between DFW's articulation and the interviewer's articulation. The interviewer sounds like a pompous, stuffed-shirt, who obviously wishes he was as cool and t...

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David Foster Wallace discusses his viewsabout television's impact on authors and their novels. David Foster Wallace is one of my personal favorites, especially his non-fiction works, which are simultaneously amusing and informative and prophetical.

DFW had this to say about the use of ironic pop culture references in fiction: "Anyone with the heretical gall to ask an ironist what he actually stands for ends up looking like an hysteric or a prig. And herein lies the oppressiveness of institut...

Roberto Bolano

Roberto Bolano: Author of 2666 and many other acclaimed works, Roberto Bolaño (1953-2003) was born in Santiago, Chile, and later lived in Mexico, Paris, and Spain. He has been acclaimed "by far the most exciting writer to come from south of the Rio Grande in a long time."

In this video, two writers discuss how they came to 'discover' the pleasure of reading Bolano.

Image courtesy culturacolectiva.com

Swann's Way - Part 1

Proust is sadly overlooked in today's world. Many people have never heard of him or think he's a mime. This series of videos brings his true genius to the forefront.

A Few Things About Pigeons

This amazing video reveals three Things You Never Knew About Pigeons. As most of my regular readers are aware, I like pigeons and animals in general. You can read more about the Prison Pigeon Project over at prisonlawblog.com. But before that, please enjoy this short video about our feathered friends.

The Phenomenon of Man

This video discusses de Chardin's infamous book entitled The Phenomenon of Man. Some interpret the book as a metaphysical work. Others interpret it as a theological expression. And still others propose that the book is simply a scientific treatise. Each reader will have to come to his/her own conclusion. The video reflectsa scientific perspective of the book.

Teilhard de Chardin

By Christopher Zoukis Image courtesy cccprod.com

He was at a friend’s apartment in Manhattan when it happened – the “grace of all graces.” Looking out the friend’s window at the New York skyline, a sharp pain lanced through his chest. Unconscious, he fell to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Some time later he regained consciousness for a few fleeting moments. He had no memory of toppling.

When the doctor arrived, after a quick examination of the man, he looked up and shook his head. “Better...