This isn't about books per se, but I figured you literary types might be interested.

I'm looking for people to play poetry and word games with me via Livejournal.   In particular, I want to play the surrealist poetry game Exquisite Corpse.  I've developed a system using HTML, but my friends seem pretty confused.  Check that link and let me know if ( Read more... )

I'm going to be finishing up the works of Kobo Abe this week (at least, those published in English, short two plays which I don't feel like spending collectors prices on just yet) and posting something of a consumate review ( Read more... )

Hello there... I found this little gem of a community and felt the urge to join. Literary fiction is good.

I'm currently reading Anna Karenina and I'm in love. Sometimes I go into a "classic lit" phrase and need to read everything that's not modern on my "books to read" shelf. I seriously have a "books to read" shelf, too. There's something about ( Read more... )

The only Ishiguro novel I've read is "The Remains of the Day," which I continue to feel is one of the highlights of late 20th century literature. Ishiguro delivers the same tonal impact here. He has the ability to delliver a main narrative voice that is limited as a human being but is insightful in her own way. Although there were other components ( Read more... )

has anyone here read "the history of love" by nicole krauss?

im almost finished with it, and have been fascinated with its beauty since page one.

she is married to jonathan safran foer, and he is amazing too, as i assume all of you know.

any opinions on this novel?

I've just finished Marquez's Memories of My Melancholy Whores and have, once again, fallen completely in love with Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The novel is quite short, but poignant, and can easily (and enjoyably) be read in one sitting.

( Read more with spoilers... )

That's what Slate asked a number of influential people in this article. What's your answer?

x posted to booktards and litfic

I have a confession to make. I've read other E.M. Forster novels, but not "Howard's End," on which "On Beauty" is based. Though I imagine that the original must be quite different from this retelling of a story about two academic families with opposing ideological interests, finding their lives intertwined. The fact that one family consists of an ( Read more... )

I have to admit that, being a young writer, I tend to roll my eyes whenever a new author gets propped up by amazing reviews, and have been known to express my envy by not actually reading such books (I haven't managed to read Nicole Krauss for this reason, though my pettiness will subside soon enough I think). But I finally decided to get ( Read more... )

The thing that immediately strikes me about this novel is how wide-ranging it is, both chronologically and geographically. Rushdie also seems comfortable embodying the thoughts of men and women of numerous ages and races. I find this kind of ambition quite laudable, and if the execution leaves a bit to be desired, maybe it's partly because the task ( Read more... )