I’m currently at the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association conference, which has been fun so far although the conference hotel does not have free internet access. This afternoon I took a stroll through the book fair and picked up a few things (plus ordered several more that I will write about when I receive them):Continue reading “Books Acquired Recently: Rocky Mountain MLA Edition”
Author Archives: danielshankcruz
Junot Diaz’s This Is How You Lose Her
I just finished reading Junot Diaz’s new book, This Is How You Lose Her. I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. The stories basically all have the same plot–an incredibly sexy woman leaves an idiotic man (usually Yunior) who cheats on her–but Diaz’s language, especially his gift for dialogue andContinue reading “Junot Diaz’s This Is How You Lose Her”
Books Acquired Recently
Child, Lydia Maria. Letters From New-York. 1843. Ed. Bruce Mills. Athens: U of Georgia P, 1998. I picked this up from the “free book box” at school. I’ve never heard of Child, but I love books about New York City and I am also interested in the Abolitionist movement as an extension of my scholarshipContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently”
Katie Baker on Mike Francesa
Katie Baker has a hilarious column on grantland.com about Mike Francesa’s show this past Monday: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8452270/the-jets-giants-mike-francesa-bad-weekend-nyc-sports. Some of my happiest childhood memories are of listening to WFAN, New York City’s all-sports radio station (the jingle comes into my head immediately: “Sports radio sixty-six, the FAN! W-F-A-N, New York!”), in the afternoon after coming home from juniorContinue reading “Katie Baker on Mike Francesa”
Somewhere Else by Jan Guenther Braun
I just finished reading Jan Guenther Braun’s 2008 novel Somewhere Else. Although the prose is a bit uneven in the first half of the book, reading it was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had with literature. I felt physically uneasy while reading most of the book, which speaks to just howContinue reading “Somewhere Else by Jan Guenther Braun”
Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master
I saw Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film The Master last night, and while I’m still processing it, here are a few initial observations and reactions: It is not as good as Boogie Nights, which has the memorable characters of The Master while also having a more engaging plot, but there is more nudity. It mightContinue reading “Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master”
Thoughts on the New Site Photo
About a month ago, I changed the cover photograph (to appropriate the Facebook term) of this blog, but I didn’t provide an explanation for the photo, so I thought I would do so now. I decided that it was necessary to have a photo of books from my personal library rather than continuing to useContinue reading “Thoughts on the New Site Photo”
Books Acquired Recently
Braun, Jan Guenther. Somewhere Else. Winnipeg: Arbeiter Ring, 2008. A friend who knows that I like Stephen Beachy recommended this to me; apparently it’s another Mennonite novel dealing with queer issues. I will read it as soon as I have time, hopefully by the end of the week. Califia, Pat. Public Sex: The Culture ofContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently”
Some Random Sunday Thoughts
As I sit in front of my computer on this lazy Sunday morning that has now meandered into the afternoon, these are three of the things I am thinking about while I procrastinate working on revisions to an essay: I am glad that Manchester United finally converted a penalty kick after missing their last three, with RobinContinue reading “Some Random Sunday Thoughts”
Books Acquired Recently: Melville
Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick: A Norton Critical Edition. 1851. Ed. Hershel Parker and Harrison Hayford. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 2002. I am thinking about teaching Moby-Dick in a literary criticism course in the spring, so I requested an exam copy of the Norton edition because it includes some critical essays on the novel. The first NortonContinue reading “Books Acquired Recently: Melville”
Daniel Shank Cruz 