NOT MAUD NEWTON

Occasional literary links, amusements, politics, and rants


August 28, 2005
[The New York Times]

In The Sunday New York Times Book Review, Pulitzer prize-winning Michiko Kakutani offers a harshly delivered compare-and-contrast review of the latest works from mystery-fiction writers Janet Evanovich and Sue Grafton. In her piece, entitled “Missteries and Missed Opportunities,” Kakutani, who is 50, blasts both authors for promulgating protagonists who are “neither realistic nor relevant” and “aging badly.”

The article also features a sidebar in which Kakutani imagines a conversation between Evanovich heroine Stephanie Plum and Grafton stalwart Kinsey Millhone. The conversation goes nowhere, except to note that the Evanovich character can carry on through “infinity” while the Grafton heroine (featured in the soon-to-be-released, “S Is For Silence,” Putnam Books) is gradually running out of life, with only six letters left in the alphabet until the series must come to an end.

While we would never presume to roast a Pulitzer Prize-winner (in 1998, for Criticism) for running out of fresh ideas to keep her writing lively (her Holden Caufield review; her Elle Woods review), we here at Maud Newton HQ would like to point out that after the letter “s,” there are SEVEN letters left until the letter “z.”

Thank you.

(via The Sunday New York Times)

Posted by Maud at Sun, PM


[Publishing & Writing]

According to Talk of the Town in this week’s New Yorker, Jonathan Safran Foer was originally slated to star in the film version of “Everything Is Illuminated.”

“I was thinking that it should be someone who is up-and-coming, you know, an actor of little renown who could embody the character and really blow up and become a marvelous… like a young DeNiro or Adrian Brody type of thing. But then I figured that maybe I should just do it because I felt as if I knew this character inside and out. I kept going back and forth on the idea, but Nicole was all for it. Now it's Elijah Wood."

Thank God. But don't give up hope, Jonathan. Maybe you can voice the character in the Saturday morning cartoon series, currently in development. Still, somewhere in Brooklyn, Jonathan Lethem is pissed.

(via The New Yorker)

Posted by Maud at Sun, PM

August 25, 2005
[Personal]

Mr. Maud is in a tizzy and is refusing to leave the apt. until bidding is finished this evening at eBay on an auction for a letter-opener that once belonged to Edgar Allan Poe. Documentation is provided by a certificate from Sotheby’s, London, where the anonymous seller evidently purchased the letter-opener some years ago. According to the product description within the listing is this observation:

“…Poe is also known to have used the device to stir absinthe into his tea during prodigious fits of manic scribbling at his desk and sometimes used it to scratch his back.”

At the time of this writing Mr. Maud was the highest bidder, though tensions are running high as he in fierce competition with a woman from France who seems to be as oddly obsessed as he is. Bidding closes tonight at 2AM EST (10AM GMT).

I have pointed out to Mr. Maud that rent is due, but there is no talking to a man who has not showered for a day and a half.

Posted by Maud at Thursday, PM

August 24, 2005
[Literary]

The John le Carre Society is planning a fund-raising event to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the first printing of the paperback edition of “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” in Poole, Dorset where le Carre was born. However, an imbroglio has erupted within the Society as many members feel that the event should be held in Cornwall where le Carre maintains his residence. Further dissent has postponed the event planning as members of The Eton Society wish to hold the fund-raiser at the college, where le Carre taught for two years. Le Carre, notoriously disdainful of public accolades (he has refused knighthood in the O.B.E.), issued a terse statement to the BBC, saying:

“I am appalled; though I find it curious as to why anyone should wish to mark the anniversary of the publishing of a paperback over the first publishing of the hardback, which was in 1974. This is outright foolishness.”

The BBC article goes on to point out, “Further, they have neglected to identify the charity for which they intend to raise funds.”

Le Carre’s 2001 novel, “The Constant Gardner” has been made into a film starring Ralph Fiennes.

Posted by Maud at Wednesday, AM

[Amusements]

Paris Hilton is planning a book tour to promote her upcoming autobiography, “That’s Hot!” Rather than appear at various Barnes & Nobles across the country, Hilton will be making appearances at various Hilton Hotels across the country.

The New Webster’s Dictionary will be adding rap/gang/urban slang into its lexicon for the 2006 College Edtion. At last we have a definitive spelling for “Buh-dunk-a-dunk.”

Random House Publishing is looking for summer interns for its trade-magazine division.

Blackberry Wireless is launching a Medieval English version of its two-way text-messaging device, and also announced that Klingon-language character support is in the works. (Thanks to the excellent Sheila for the link.)

Posted by Maud at Wednesday, AM

August 23, 2005
[Categorization is a Conundrum]

Bookslut, Bookninja, Gawker and Bookblog are all reporting on the incendiary anonymous email making the rounds of the publishing world this week concerning the “fashion faux-pas” of certain chick-lit figures and the rank body odor of various male authors. While it might bear mentioning on my little website, I’m inclined to pass on linking it as it mostly concerns chick-lit writers whom I have little patience for and at this time it is already well-documented on the internet. However, I simply cannot resist this:

“…and Dan Brown’s breath stinks so bad he could take the paint off the Mona Lisa.”

View the email here
(via Bookslut)

Posted by Maud at Tuesday, PM

August 19, 2005

[Publishing & Writing]

As our microscopic hostess is away and supposedly hard at work on her manuscript, we are taking the helm to point out one thing and one thing only: Playgirl has announced that they have begun planning for the April issue of the magazine which is going to feature a nude pictorial called, “Bestsellers: The 10 Hottest Writers In America.” Among those in the running are Augusten Burroughs and James Frey. While we cannot wait to see James Frey with his clothes off, we are concerned that Frank McCourt and his brother Malachy are rumored to be posing together. It’s enough to make us gag on our Guinness.

Posted by Stephanie and Annie at Friday, PM

August 15, 2005

The Smart Set: Lauren Cerand’s weekly events
[Events]

MONDAY, 8.15: Jay McInerney will be at Odeon to read from his seminal breakthrough, “Bright Lights, Big City.” No word on whether Michael J. Fox will be attending. 7:00PM Odeon Restaurant, TriBeca. Free. (Bring your own blow.)

TUESDAY, 8.16: Bret Easton Ellis reads from his upcoming book, again. Q&A to follow. Barnes & Noble, 6th Avenue, Chelsea. 8:00 PM Free.

WEDNESDAY, 8.17: Anthony Bourdain, author of “Kitchen Confidential” will be at Les Halles tonight to premiere his latest memoir, “My Compliments To The Chef (And Other Lies).” 8:00 PM Reservations Required (Les Halles, 411 Park Avenue South 212.679.4111).

THURSDAY, 8.18: Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie Brown will be reading from their latest book, “Lesbian Cat Poems.” 7:00 PM. Admission, $5.00 (Proceeds to benefit the animal shelter. North Shore Animal League America 25 Davis Ave, Port Washington, NY 516.883.7575)

FRIDAY, 8.19: “The Recalcitrant Bastards of The Liberal Media” is the latest epic from Ann Coulter. Ordinarily I wouldn’t recommend attending such an event, but the chance to see the right-wing talking head get pied is too good to pass up. (Barnes & Noble 5th Avenue.) Reading and Q&A. Free. 7:00PM


Posted by Lauren Cerand, Tuesday PM