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Instant Listen:  Kaui Hemmings   David Mitchell Robert K. Massie   Jonthan Lethem     Keith Donohue
Instant Review:  The Descendants        Cloud Atlas     Catherine the Great   Ecstasy of Influence   Angels of Destruction

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02-06-13 : More Life in the Bush of Books

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Blurring the Edges of the Ineffable

Genre is a much-maligned friend to readers. While no writer or publisher wants to see a book limited to this or that audience, the thumbnail description offers readers a one or two word review, But there is a presumption in the assignment of genre by both publishers and booksellers that should, I hope, offend most readers. The presumption is that readers choose their reading by topic or subject or tone as opposed to quality. But if you enjoy reading, it really does not matter what the genre of a book is. The reading experience is impossible to duplicate.

These thoughts were occasioned by an NPR round-table discussion of 'The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao' by Junot Díaz. spacer


Readers who want to help The Agony Column, and see video intervews before I manage to get the audio versions posted can now find them via Authors @ Google. Visit the sites listed below, leave your comments. I'm working to get the audio for these (and the as-yet unaired Lee Child interview I did after the show) into the podcast. Here are links to the current videos:

Junot Diaz                      Tom Wolfe                      Lee Child
--> Recent Commentary
• Ian Rankin is 'Standing in Another Man's Grave' : Rebus Reborn
• My Life in the Bush of Books : Brian Lumley, James P. Blaylock, Edward Ball & Gheorgie Sasarman
• Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd Write 'Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction' : The Story of Writing
• Commentary Archive
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spacer Standing in Another Man's Grave
Ian Rankin

Layered, detailed and tense.

Reviewed by
Rick Kleffel


Review Archive
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Tracy Kidder & Richard Todd
Reviewed by
Rick Kleffel
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Jojo Moyes
Reviewed by
Rick Kleffel
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Laird Barron
Reviewed by
Rick Kleffel


What is The Agony Column?

"He took down the great book in which, day by day, he filed the agony columns of the various London journals. "Dear me!" said he, turning over the pages, "what a chorus of groans, cries, and bleatings! What a rag-bag of singular happenings! But surely the most valuable hunting-ground that ever was given to a student of the unusual!"

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes, The Adventure of the Red Circle

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NEW 01-31-13: Time to Read Episode 83: Ian Rankin, 'Standing in Another Man's Grave'

02-04-13: A 2013 Interview with Ian Rankin

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"Everything I know about writing I've learned from reading books." —Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin looks impossibly young to have written as many books as he has, from his first Rebus novel to the latest, 'Standing in Another Man's Grave.' I learned during the interview just what that is, but when he arrived at KQED, I had to re-adjust my expectations. spacer
02-06-13: Panel Discussion with Steven Gould and Laura J. Mixon Moderated by Terry Bisson from SF in SF January 19, 2013

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"...the very difficult choices women still have to make between their career and their kids..." —Laura J. Mixon

As first, Laura Mixon, then Steven Gould read from their respective works, you could probably see where this panel discussion was going. Here were two engaging married authors, whose science fiction readings both addressed family issues in a very clear manner. Obviously, for this family, science fiction is a means of telling stories about families. spacer
Recent & Notable Podcasts
•A 2012 Interview with Tracy Kidder : "I always have a reader in mind, and that's Dick Todd."
•A 2013 Interview with Jojo Moyes : "...it would not have been true to his character..."
•A 2012 Interview with Laird Barron : "I kind of rejoice when I wake up from a dream..."
Podcast Archive
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The Agony Column for February 10, 2013: ...? Seeking your request! ... Email me.

You can help support KUSP and The Agony Column. Follow this link! What do you want to hear? Email me!
 
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