Douglas Rushkoff on Apple and Steve Jobs

Yes, we all love our Apple gadgets- are we secretly whiny brats? Media theorist Douglas Rushkoff says so on the Daily Beast.

Calvin and I went to a party for his new book Life Inc on Thursday- some pix.

Lush Life

I just read Richard Price's novel about clashing cultures on the Lower East Side Lush Life. It was great. Here's an interview with Price on NPR's Fresh Air.

Price was one of the writers on The Wire, one of my other current obsessions.

Books, Beer, and Baths

Over the weekend, Neilson and I went to visit our friends Susie and Naftali. A few years ago they moved to Glens Falls, NY, to open Red Fox Books. It is a great bookstore, very Rivers Endian. In fact, they studied The Rivers End as a model in their planning stages. If you are ever in the area, check it out; they also accept online orders, with free shipping over $30.



On Saturday, Michael Harney of Harney and Sons tea gave a talk about tea, and oversaw a tea tasting, to a standing room only crowd. Did you know tea bags are filled with dust left over from processing the loose tea? I didn't. We also visited the two microbreweries in town. By far the better one was Coopers Cave Ale Company. The store sells beer out one door (with free tastings) and ice cream out of the other; soon the owners are opening a pub out back.


On Sunday, we went to the Roosevelt Baths in Saratoga Springs, where we "took the waters." I had no idea those mineral water spas still existed in the area. The water's color may make it look unappealing in this picture, but it was completely relaxing experience.

More NYCC

More pictures of NY Comic Con

Esther Smith, who teaches at BMCC, after her DIY panel at NYCC with her books, How to Make Books and Magic Books and Paper Toys

Adorable Isabelle and Sophie with friend.

Junot Diaz

I have to put in a plug for the new book by Junot Diaz- "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao". I seem to mostly read comic books now- this is a big fat book with no pictures, but there are pop culture references galore, including many asides about comics (and ...LOTR!) A novel with footnotes about the history of the Dominican Republic, it relates funny and horrifyingly sad stories about several generations of a Dominican family, in New Jersey and on the island.

Michiko Kakutani's review in the Times

I found A. O. Scott's review somewhat irritating- just the way I often feel about his movie reviews.

Diaz wrote a review of Adrian Tomine's new graphic novel "Shortcomings" for Calvin for PW.

Rest in Peace, Madeline L'Engle

I was sad to hear Madeline L'Engle died on Thursday. I vividly remember reading A Wrinkle in Time for the first time. I also loved her series about the Austin family, especially A Ring of Endless Light. A few years ago, I read one her novels for adults--A Severed Wasp--which was a little strange. It contained some proselytizing, a randy Catholic priest, and a sympathetic Nazi. But it was also set in New York and had vivid depictions of Greenwich Village and St. John the Divine. And it was nice to spend some time once again with Ms. L'Engle's prose. I love Harry Potter, but Meg Murray will always be first in my heart.

Book Expo America

I attended Book Expo America Saturday afternoon- walking the floor was somewhat overwhelming. Among the highlights were listening to one of the many graphic novel panels with Kate, hearing Calvin briefly talk at the African American pavilion, getting a preview of Stephen Colbert's new book (no not Tek Janson, he has another one) and getting some new Viz bags, which are finally in a new color- purple!