When not practical, and even practicality has its deceptions, many people think in clichés, and even feel in clichés, and at their most rigorous they simply use one cliché to interrogate another, but in every generation, in every age, there are a few original people—and Streisand is original; and she often, if not always, has been fearless in art and politics.
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The Cultural Politics Discussion Group: Gestures Toward an American Utopia (featuring Experiments in Criticism)
This article commemorates the Cultural Politics Discussion Group (1989-1993) and offers comment on literature and literary criticism, Pirandello, John Stuart Mill, and also articulates questions about feminism and Jewish modernity.
A review of Salt and Dreaming Wide Awake by Lizz Wright
“My eyes burn, I have seen the glory of a brighter sun,” Wright sings in “Dreaming Wide Awake,” with its limpid beginning. Lizz Wright sings, “Who are you, stranger, to come here, and answer all my prayers?” and one might ask the same thing of her: and I imagine she may spend her entire career answering the question. It is something to look forward to.
Review of A Little Moonlight by Dianne Reeves
The album, A Little Moonlight, by Dianne Reeves is tasteful, intelligent, and pleasing; it is a collection of well-known songs, including “What A Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Darn That Dream,” “You Go To My Head,” “We’ll Be Together Again,” and “Skylark,” but it is impossible not to hear it, at least partly, as a gesture of nostalgia.
A review of Native Sons by James Baldwin and Sol Stein
Stein talks about Baldwin being late in delivering his work and the editorial process they shared; and it’s hard not to hear in these words Stein’s self-aggrandizement. Especially as Native Sons is an unnecessary book: Baldwin is one of the rare writers who told us what we need to know about himself, his philosophy, and his work. While this book Native Sons is not despicable, one wonders why it was published.
Gallows Songs by Christian Morgenstern and Selected Translations by W.E. Snodgrass
These are a splendid pair of books from a gifted writer who turns his hand to every possibility with the liveliness of fearless and abundant talent. For readers ready to expand their horizons, these are essential additions to their collections.…
A review of Theft by Peter Carey
Although the truth theme continues to be compelling, it never takes precedence to the original and natural integrity of the story, which is overwhelmingly entertaining, first and foremost. On pure plot and characterisation alone, Carey is a master. That Theft like all…
A review of Oulipo Compendium by Harry Mathews and Alastair Brotchie, editors
Consider for a moment, though, how it (or any other constraint, for that matter) works. It places a restriction on the expressions and phrases that can be used in a poem, and it determines to some extent what the poet…
A review of Life, Death & Bialys by Dylan Schaffer
Life, Death & Bialys is a very personal book. Dylan tells us much about himself, and what he tells us is the kind of thing that most of us can’t talk about. Dylan is fearlessly self-revelatory. He strips briskly and without…
A review of Jamie’s Dinners by Jamie Oliver
Clearly the impact of having a family has had a positive influence on Jamie Oliver and there is no hint of the dilettante about Jamie’s dinners. The food tastes superb, is easy to cook, is child friendly (really!), is nice…