Tripping Toward Lucidity (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
So my birthday is coming up on November 10 th. The big 2-9. S ince the actual birthday is on a Tuesday, Chuck decided to take me out for a celebratory lunch today, and we did a bit of running around. I think we're also planning a birthday get together next weekend, but I'll report on the later. We started our day at the Clay Pit in Addison. It's one of my favorite Indian restaurants, and they have...
Tayari's Blog (Free subscription) | 11/06/2009
I actually have a lot of links to share, but I noticed a cluster on a particular theme. Many writers, mostly women, are speaking out against the ways that systems of power and opression are affecting artists and their art. These trends are very disturbing, but I am not sure what can be done about it... Victoria Chang points out what everybody noticed, but no one wanted to say: Black women and Asian-Americans...
Lorcaloca (Free subscription) | 11/06/2009
If someone were to call me "the next Amy Tan," it would not be because -- or not primarily because -- we have similar themes or subjects or styles. Let's be honest: it would be because we are both Chinese American. And to be fair, it might not be "the next Amy Tan." It might be "the next Maxine Hong Kinston," or "the next Lan Samantha Chang." Again, I'd be lucky...
The Huffington Post (Free subscription) | 11/02/2009
Let's focus on the writing itself: the characters, the language, the narrative style. Because if a review compared me to Amy Tan on those measures, rather than on just our shared culture, I'd be proud.
LibrarianInBlack (Free subscription) | 10/28/2009
IL2009: Connecting Through “Lights, Cameras & Action” Speakers: Michael Porter, David Lee King, and Sean Robinson Sean Robinson started by talking about storytelling. He showed us a video about the library, showing a woman finding a book at a library (an Amy Tan book incidentally) then read that book during her day — in the morning, at [...]
Katrina Denza: Illuminate; Ruminate; Create (Free subscription) | 10/25/2009
To hear what she says about planning a novel, click on "Watch Full Program" then scroll down to the appropriate section. You have to pause the original link or the introduction will keep going...
Gadling (Free subscription) | 10/23/2009
Filed under: Arts and Culture , North America , United States , Books , News It's appropriate that at Litquake -- the recent week-long celebration of books in San Francisco -- I'd find out about unconventional ways of honoring the written word. I came across the Bookmobile , parked on busy Valencia Street with its doors open wide, inviting visitors to come inside. 'Is it a library or a bookstore?'...
2 Blowhards (Free subscription) | 10/21/2009
Donald Pittenger writes: Dear Blowhards -- Edward Craig, back in Michigan after bravely braving San Francisco's City Lights Bookstore and living to report his findings here, now unearths for us a surprising nugget of ... well, let him report: * * * * * Michael Blowhard often lamented on this site about the lack of appreciation for the writing skills of popular novelists. These novelists often share...
New York Times (Free subscription) | 10/17/2009
An event to honor the novelist Amy Tan captured San Francisco literary life in a nutshell, especially its sense of community and school spirit.
Intelligent Travel (Free subscription) | 10/14/2009
Last month, our Trip Lit book critic Don George sat down with Amy Tan for the launch of our new "Journeys" series of live conversations with great writers at National Geographic headquarters in D.C. Tomorrow, Don will be chatting with...
SFist (Free subscription) | 10/14/2009
This just in: Project Runway winner Christian Siriano (author of Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self ) has canceled his Litquake event tonight in Corte Madera. Why? Because, sadly, he "won't cross the Golden Gate bridge in the bad weather. " . Alas. Although his CM appearance has been nixed, he's instead "moved his appearance to Book Passage in the Ferry Building today at...
Lesa's Book Critiques (Free subscription) | 10/13/2009
Hallie Ephron knows how to write books that satisfy a book addict's craving for another list. First, she gave us 1001 Books for Every Mood . Now, we have another comprehensive compilation, The Bibliophile's Devotional: 365 Days of Literary Classics . What reader won't be satisfied with 365 nutshell summaries of classics, ideas for future reading? In an attractive, gift-size book, Ephron offers readers...
Flavorpill San Francisco Events (Free subscription) | 10/09/2009
Oct 9–17 Daily @ Various locations Litquake has always been about cramming an absurd amount of talent into a small window of time, but the city's biggest literary event has pulled out all the stops for its tenth anniversary. Kicking off with tonight's Truman Capote-inspired black-and-white ball , Litquake 10 features plenty of juicy insider panels (Being Discovered: First-Time Authors Reveal...
Guide to Literary Agents (Free subscription) | 10/07/2009
This new series is called "Successful Queries" and I'm posting actual query letters that succeeded in getting writers signed with agents. In addition to posting the actual query letter, we will also get to hear thoughts from the agent as to why the letter worked. The 15th installment in this series is with agent Kristin Nelson ( Nelson Literary ) and her author, Jamie Ford, for his book,...
** Summer's Fragrance ** (Free subscription) | 09/29/2009
I'm suppose to invite you all over for a virtual dinner party. (What an unusual scenario eh?) The question is: If you were going to allow us to spend a night at your home, we'd like to know the following: 1. What books are on your favorite shelf? I only have one shelf in my room. I have a small collection of books... mostly the Harry Potter books, His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman, Dave...
Videos