… Is ridiculous, at best. At worst, it’s disturbing and sad. And the fact that other British politicians are using this situation as an opportunity to score points by feigning deep concern for Britain’s relationship with Pakistan is to be expected. The hardliners in Pakistan will take any excuse to steer the mob. As aContinue reading “The fact that anyone has to ‘defend’ the decision to knight Rushdie…”
Category Archives: Writers
7 Points About Writing
Inspired by LitLove. 1. I absolutely hate people who excuse writerly misdeeds by pointing out “but s/he’s an artist!” So bloody what? So because you’re an “artist,” as opposed to, say, a plumber, it’s OK to be perpetually drunk and pretentious and annoying? No! Doesn’t mean I’m never drunk or pretentious or annoying – butContinue reading “7 Points About Writing”
What Jill Fillipovic said… Well, maybe not
Excuuuuuuse me ladies, for liking the cover of Jessica Valenti’s book. Yep, liking it. Not tolerating it, or excusing it on grounds of potential marketability, but actually thinking that it was both funny and fun. As a person in love with book cover pop-art, as someone who regularly browses the “new arrivals” shelves just toContinue reading “What Jill Fillipovic said… Well, maybe not”
From “The Fourth State of Matter”
“There are stars and stars and stars. The sky is full of dead men, drifting in the blackness like helium balloons.” – Jo Ann Beard.
How strange and sad
When I watched the news on Virginia Tech last night, I was reminded of Jo Ann Beard’s nonfiction essay: “The Fourth State of Matter.” In 1991, there was a mass murder at the University of Iowa. The perpetrator was a graduate student named Gang Lu; he was in the Physics Department, where Beard was managingContinue reading “How strange and sad”
Natalia A. 