Author: GR

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Black Sparrow Press Is Back

Joshua Bodwell is glad he doesn’t have to personally deal with Charles Bukowski. Or Wanda Coleman. Or Paul Bowles. Or, for that matter, any of the late, legendary writers synonymous with Black Sparrow Press — the avant-garde publishing house established by John and Barbara Martin in 1966, in Los Angeles, and shuttered in 2002, in Santa Rosa. Bringing the long-dormant Californian imprint back to life is already more than enough pressure.

“It would be a lot of anxiety if one were tending to some of those legacy authors,” admits Bodwell, who, after being appointed editorial director of Boston-based publisher Godine in the winter of 2019, began working that July to relaunch the imprint under its umbrella. Starting with the spring 2020 publication of Coleman’s Wicked Enchantment, he’s tried to quietly oversee the release of 10 new additions to Black Sparrow’s 600-plus-title catalog. He’s held off on making a big announcement about the press’s rebirth, choosing to build up a body of work he could be proud of first. Read more

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‘Confess, Fletch’ Coming to Theaters & Digital On September 16th

In this delightful comedy romp, Jon Hamm stars as the roguishly charming and endlessly troublesome Fletch, who becomes the prime suspect in a murder case while searching for a stolen art collection. The only way to prove his innocence? Find out which of the long list of suspects is the culprit – from the eccentric art dealer and a missing playboy to a crazy neighbor and Fletch’s Italian girlfriend. Watch trailer

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Chokepoint Capitalism by Rebecca Giblin and Cory Doctorow

Melbourne Law School professor Giblin and Boing Boing cofounder Doctorow deliver a lucid and damning exposé of how big business captured the culture markets. Contending that anticompetitive practices are hollowing out the music, literature, video game, journalism, film, and TV industries, the authors untangle the complex web of contracts, regulations, and legal arguments deployed by corporations to maximize their profits and prevent new competitors from entering their markets … The book’s broad scope, expert policy recommendations, and flashes of wit (Disney executives are “cartoon villains” for refusing to honor science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster’s contracts) make it a must-read for anyone involved in these industries. Read more

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ICYMI Merriam-Webster Added 370 Words and Phrases to the Dictionary

ICYMI, “lewk,” “pumpkin spice” and “janky” are among the 370 new entries that have made it into the latest update of the Merriam-Webster dictionary … Notable additions include COVID-19-era words like “subvariant,” “booster dose,” “emergency use authorization,” “false negative” and “false positive.” The dictionary also prepared a full plate of food-centric words, such as omakase, birria, oat milk and bahn mi. Meanwhile, some of the slang-sourced words might need a little more explanation. Sus (“suspicious” or “suspect”), baller (“excellent, exciting or extraordinary, especially in a way that is suggestive of a lavish lifestyle”) and cringe (“so embarrassing, awkward, etc. as to cause one to cringe”) all made the cut, as well as abbreviations like FWIW (“for what it’s worth”), and ICYMI (“in case you missed it”). Read more

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11 Books to Read During Hispanic Heritage Month

Some names will be familiar, others new. Of course, no reading list is ever complete, no list ever able to capture the range of our collective experiences as a people. But I chose these, a mix of conventional and unorthodox narratives, to illustrate the scope of our literary capabilities. Read more

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Murder by the Book: Mysteries for Bibliophiles

Sixteen reprints from 1933 to 1973 showing golden age–inspired puzzle masters doing what they do best: bringing together readers, books, and felonies. Even more than in other entries in the British Library Crime Classics, the hallmarks here are urbane literacy and unfettered conceptual invention … Perhaps the single best collection yet in this blue-chip series. Read more

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