“Genre snobbery conceals a deeper stupidity” – that quote drew me into this tantalizing interview with essayist John Jeremiah Sullivan. I will have to read Pulphead now, to see if the adoring descriptions of the interviewer do the man justice! Well, and because I’m thoroughly intrigued, too, of course.
- Oh, Huffington Post, did you really need to hold a Best Novel Ever Written competition? I like your piece on The Best Book Reviews Money Can Buy much better.
- Interviews! The Guardian has gone on an interview spree! They speak with Zadie Smith (regarding her latest novel NW), the multifaceted Sandy Toksvig (whose latest novel is Valentine Grey), André Brink (author of the 2012 Man Booker Longlisted Philida), James Gleick (a video interview, this, about his latest book The Information), and László Krasznahorkai (who apparently bewitched the Edinburgh International Book Festival crowd with Sátántango).
More visual proof that authors are just like us, really: Last week’s Bookbits featured an author gallery from the Edinburgh International Book Festival, and here’s another one, just as fabulous.
- Awards! The UK’s eldest literary awards, the James Tait Black Prizes, went to Padgett Powell for You & I (Fiction) and Fiona MacCarthy for The Last Pre-Raphaelite: Edward Burne-Jones and the Victorian Imagination (Biography). The 2012 Lyttle Lytton Contest for Most Atrocious Opening Sentence was won by the doesn’t-hold-up-to-any-editorial-scrutiny “Agent Jeffrey’s trained eyes rolled carefully around the room, taking in the sights and sounds”. Thank you JeroenW for your tip…
- China Miéville’s keynote speech at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Please read his books; he has a lot to say, and an amazing (if convoluted) way to say it! (<– unsponsored plug. I’m just a fangirl.).
- And finally: Japanese covers for Science Fiction/Fantasy/Children’s Book classics (via buzzfeed.com)(again, thanks JeroenW).
Have tips for the Bookbits? Mail blog@abc.nl!
Tags: ABC Talks To..., author photos, awards, buy yer book reviews 'ere!, china mieville says thought-provoking things, japanese bookcovers, JeroenW