Marly Youmans's Blog, page 103
December 22, 2012
A little mystery for Advent
A challenge still with us fifty years later from the woman who turned my head around when I was a mere child:
It is the business of fiction to embody mystery through manners, and mystery is a great embarrassment to the modern mind. About the turn of the century, Henry James wrote that the young woman of the future, though she would be taken out for airings in a flying-machine, would know nothing
It is the business of fiction to embody mystery through manners, and mystery is a great embarrassment to the modern mind. About the turn of the century, Henry James wrote that the young woman of the future, though she would be taken out for airings in a flying-machine, would know nothing
December 21, 2012
THALIAD and lake monsters
Luck has riotous marketing skills: it didn't occur to me until just now how odd it is that a post-apocalyptic epic in blank verse was catapulted into the world just at the solstice close of the Mayan calendar. Timing! It's a thing marketers are always going on about, and for once I have it--alas, if only I had realized, had thought ahead and made the requisite Mayan Calendar Apocalypse Marketing
December 20, 2012
Myers and more--
A THANKS
I am grateful to noted critic D. G. Myers, who first listed Catherwood with best historical novels, then put A Death at the White Camellia Orphanage on a list of best books of 2012, and afterward reviewed the novel.
I'm also glad of John Wilson, editor of Books and Culture, who introduced the novel to Myers (a fact I learned via Twitter), and who has consistently supported my books.
I am grateful to noted critic D. G. Myers, who first listed Catherwood with best historical novels, then put A Death at the White Camellia Orphanage on a list of best books of 2012, and afterward reviewed the novel.
I'm also glad of John Wilson, editor of Books and Culture, who introduced the novel to Myers (a fact I learned via Twitter), and who has consistently supported my books.
December 19, 2012
Culture transformation and inwardness
HIGH CULTURE, MASS CULTURE
"Proust is important for everyone"
In conversation with the sociologist Gilles Lipovetsky, novelist and Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa discusses the relative merits of "high" and "mass" culture in the contemporary world and defends the ideas explored in his recent book La civilización del espectáculo.
Mario Vargas Llosa: La civilización del espectáculo is an
"Proust is important for everyone"
In conversation with the sociologist Gilles Lipovetsky, novelist and Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa discusses the relative merits of "high" and "mass" culture in the contemporary world and defends the ideas explored in his recent book La civilización del espectáculo.
Mario Vargas Llosa: La civilización del espectáculo is an
December 18, 2012
Artists and writers and publishers on buying and selling books
Yesterday I received a blizzard of comments (via facebook) on this remark: You would think that I would know this by now, but... Am wondering what it is that makes most people actually go so far as to purchase a book (and hence support the writer's vocation and increase his/her ability to publish a next book with a publisher, if he/she so chooses.) It's slippery to me, that reason. But would no
December 17, 2012
On another book round-up...
I am pleased to have two books on John Wilson's annual book list: Favorite Books of 2012. He is the editor of Books and Culture and a formidably well-read man. Please hop over to the online annex to the magazine and see what they are and what he has to say...
The previous list for year's end was from critic D. G. Myers, Best fiction of 2012. His review was here.
The previous list for year's end was from critic D. G. Myers, Best fiction of 2012. His review was here.
December 16, 2012
Advent hymn commission--
Some time ago I had a commission to write words for a hymn celebrating the Bicentennial at Christ Church Cooperstown. It was first sung to the hymn tune St. Anne, though later to another that suited it better--I've forgotten which one it was and shall have to look it up.
And now I've had another request, this time to write words for an Advent hymn, this time to a particular tune, Merla Watson's
And now I've had another request, this time to write words for an Advent hymn, this time to a particular tune, Merla Watson's
Myrrh for innocence
Borrowed from Wesley Hill's Writing in the Dust tumblr log:
In the same way, the only thing that my religious tradition has to offer to the bereaved of Newtown today--besides an appropriately respectful witness to their awful sorrow--is a version of that story, and the realism about suffering that it contains.
That realism may be hard to see at Christmastime, when the sentimental side of faith
In the same way, the only thing that my religious tradition has to offer to the bereaved of Newtown today--besides an appropriately respectful witness to their awful sorrow--is a version of that story, and the realism about suffering that it contains.
That realism may be hard to see at Christmastime, when the sentimental side of faith
December 15, 2012
Stowaways! Or, mice twice, thrice--
Sent my daughter for birthday cake from our corner bakery, and she reports two little mice flashed by her feet when she got in the car. Drat! Southern forest mice invaded my Corolla again in Cullowhee. They build nests in my air filter, and I am forced to release the little Southerners into the cold Yankee wild or else snap their tiny backbones in mousetraps. Then I go get yet another clean air
December 14, 2012
2:27 a.m.
Back from shenanigans in Atlanta and Cullowhee...
2:27 a.m.
Back from shenanigans in Atlanta and Cullowhee... More anon.
Back from shenanigans in Atlanta and Cullowhee... More anon.
