BookBlog [dot net]an online book club in weblog formatThis Week in Audiobooks- November 21, 2007 I have been meaning to write a wrap-up post about the NBAs, but at this point I feel as though all my strength is going toward surviving until the four-day weekend. Although I believe a relative is expecting me for the holiday, I think I'm going to beg off and hole up at home. In the meantime, I have been devouring audiobooks because the arrival of winter weather has nearly doubled my commute. A book on tape makes the drive bearable. It took to about halfway through Stephen King's...http://bookblog.net/bbarchives/2007/11/this_week_in_audiobooks.php An NBA Video- November 19, 2007 Although I cringe in horror at seeing myself on video, here is Jason Boog's video of bloggers talking about the NBAs. When I said, "I think that maybe 20 years is about the right time to actually have a fiction book written that gets it right," I meant 30 years. It's been roughly 30 years since the Vietnam War ended. I should definitely stick to blogging because a post could have been easily edited as soon as I realized the error.http://bookblog.net/bbarchives/2007/11/an_nba_video.php A Few More NBA Pics- November 15, 2007 Here are a few more photographs before I drag my exhausted behind to work. First, a shot of the ballroom: This is Walter Mosley, who I recognized right away without any outside assistance—probably because of the hat. Not long ago, I read The Man in My Basement, which started out strong but turned into a disappointment in the end: And here's my attempt at capturing Christopher Hitchens: Eh, that one's pretty bad. But think about it: glass of wine...Hitch...glass of...http://bookblog.net/bbarchives/2007/11/a_few_more_nba_pics.php And the Winner Is...- November 15, 2007 Francine Prose is about to announce it... Denis Johnson for Tree of Smoke... Levi and I were right!http://bookblog.net/bbarchives/2007/11/and_the_winner_is.php The Chase- November 15, 2007 So then I tried chasing Toni Morrison through the cocktail hour, but those Nobel prize winners move pretty fast:http://bookblog.net/bbarchives/2007/11/the_chase.php Another Stunning Photograph- November 15, 2007 Right after I took the headless picture of Joan Didion, Toni Morrison chatted with her for a few moments. They posed for a few photographs together, but it should come as no surprise that I didn't get the shot:http://bookblog.net/bbarchives/2007/11/another_stunning_photograph.php Oddsmaking- November 15, 2007 Michael Cunningham presented the award to Joan Didion, and I have no idea what he said because he nearly put me to sleep. After Joan Didion gave her acceptance speech, Ira Glass awarded Terry Gross The 2007 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community. During all the speech-making, I started receiving text messages and a phone call from one of my old educational publishing cronies. She just happens to be in town for NCTE and—major, major...http://bookblog.net/bbarchives/2007/11/oddsmaking.php Oops- November 15, 2007 Since someone was designated as an official "stuff watcher," I headed down to the cocktail party for drinks and hors d'ouvres. I managed to nab three glasses of red wine and one bite of something called "lobster pudding." And I recognized no one. I'm sure I was in the presence of many great writers, but I had no idea. Thankfully, Levi and Sarah were readily able to match up names and faces. They've been pretty pleasant so far about my constant question, "Who's that" At one point, I saw a..http://bookblog.net/bbarchives/2007/11/oops_1.php Chilling at the National Book Awards- November 15, 2007 I'm sitting at "the blogger table" at the National Book Awards at the Marriot Marquis in New York City, chilling with Marydell of BookBlog, Jason "Publishing Spot" Boog, Ed "Ed Rants" Champion and Sarah "Sarah Weinman" Weinman. There are decent sandwiches, wine and drinks, lots of literary schmoozing (I just chatted with two of my favorite writers, Fran Lebowitz and Ken Kalfus, and met several interesting people). We're now waiting for the ceremony to begin, and below us on the main floor is.http://bookblog.net/bbarchives/2007/11/chilling_at_the_national_book_awards.php Live from the NBAs- November 14, 2007 Okay, so I'm sitting here in the press balcony at the National Book Awards...and feeling incredibly under-dressed. Going clockwise around the table, we have Sarah Weinman, Levi Asher, and Ed Champion. Jason Boog is off wandering with his video camera. Harold Augenbraum, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, just stopped by our table. Apparently, the judges for the NBAs only get a small stipend for their efforts, but their perk is being able to choose any restaurant in NYC for..http://bookblog.net/bbarchives/2007/11/live_from_the_nbas.php |