Jason Pettus's Blog, page 30

Stalking the Behemoth: "2666," by Roberto Bola��o

2666 By Roberto Bolao Editorial Anagrama, 2004 Reviewed by Chris Schahfer All things must come to an end, and this includes my Stalking the Behemoth series. This is the last entry in that, which is a bit of a shock to me. Where does the time go? Well, time notwithstanding, I'd like to take a moment to offer up a few suggestions for further reading if this series got your attention or if you like long books. Among the great behemoths that didn't make the list were Don DeLillo's Underworld, Wi...

The CCLaP Weekender for September 4th is here!

It's Friday, which means it's time for the newest issue of the Pushcart-Prize-nominated CCLaP Weekender! This week's issue features a new original piece of fiction by Joseph G. Peterson; a photography feature by Natalia Shlyakhovaya; and a look at the next seven days of literary events happening all across the city. The PDF is completely free to download, using the links below, or can be viewed online in its "flippable" form at Issuu.com (or just use the embedded version above, if your part...

American Odd: "Zippy Stories," by Bill Griffith

Zippy Stories By Bill Griffith Last Gasp (1986) Review by Karl Wolff The late journalist Hunter S. Thompson once said, "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Among contemporary comics characters, none are weirder than Zippy the Pinhead. Zippy is the eponymous star of Bill Griffith's long-running newspaper comic. Wearing a polka dot muumuu, a bow tie in his head, and occasionally driving a Nash Metropolitan, Zippy cuts a bizarro profile across our otherwise ordinary lives. Created...

Book Review: "City of Brick and Shadow," by Tim Wirkus

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 12 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) Tim Wirkus City of Brick and Shadow Tyrus Books, 2014 Reviewed by Chris Schahfer Well, I can certainly say I...

The CCLaP Weekender for August 28th is here!

It's Friday, which means it's time for the newest issue of the Pushcart-Prize-nominated CCLaP Weekender! This week's issue features a new original piece of fiction by Denis Bell; a photography feature by Nev Nels; and a look at the next seven days of literary events happening all across the city. The PDF is completely free to download, using the links below, or can be viewed online in its "flippable" form at Issuu.com (or just use the embedded version above, if your particular device is abl...

Book Review: "Welcome To Your New Life With You Being Happy," by Rachel Bell

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 18 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) Welcome To Your New Life With You Being Happy By Rachel Bell Pioneers Press Reviewed by Jason Pettus Rachel B...

Book Review: "Speak Now: Marriage Equality on Trial," by Kenji Yoshino

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 18 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) Speak Now: Marriage Equality on Trial By Kenji Yoshino Crown Reviewed by Karl Wolff Kenji Yoshino opens Sp...

Book Review: "Between the World and Me," by Ta-Nehisi Coates

(CCLaP is dedicated to reviewing as many contemporary books as possible, including self-published volumes; click here to learn how to submit your own book for possible review, although be warned that it needs to have been published within the last 12 months to be considered. For the complete list of all books reviewed here, as well as the next books scheduled to be read, click here.) Between the World and Me By Ta-Nehisi Coates Spiegel & Grau Reviewed by Chris Schahfer I think it's safe to s...

American Odd: "California Crazy and Beyond: Roadside Vernacular Architecture," by Jim Heimann

California Crazy and Beyond: Roadside Vernacular Architecture By Jim Heimann Chronicle Books (2001) Review by Karl Wolff As a kid I sat in the backseat of the Oldsmobile station wagon as our family took the annual trip "up north." Road trips could become boring affairs, the rolling hills of Wisconsin farm country not exactly riveting to someone raised on Transformers, dinosaur books, and Choose Your Own Adventure. "Another farm? Are we there yet?" Cue eye-roll and audible sigh. Luckily the r...

Stalking the Behemoth: "Infinite Jest," by David Foster Wallace

Infinite Jest By David Foster Wallace Little, Brown, 1996 Reviewed by Chris Schahfer It's hard to talk too much about David Foster Wallace without mentioning the huge cultural moment he's having right now, and it's hard to talk about that cultural moment without feeling dismayed that it's him and not his books that are having that moment. The path his reputation's on now, which to my way of seeing things ends with him reduced from a writer to an image of a writer (as has happened to Kerouac...