This week Karl Wolff reviews Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke’s book, “The Federal Reserve and the Financial Crisis,” a collection of lectures he had at George Washington University, where he talks about the history of the Fed and its missteps in dealing with the Great Recession. Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: The Federal Reserve and the Financial Crisis, Lectures by Ben S. Bernanke
This week, Karl Wolff returns to the NSFW Files to investigate “Naked Lunch,” by William S. Burroughs, the 1959 sensation that marked a watershed for free expression in literature and included Mugwumps, heroin, and lots and lots of sex. Continue reading The NSFW Files: Naked Lunch, by William S. Burroughs
An eccentric publisher from Wisconsin and a bizarro lit novel about a rampaging pig in Green Bay, Wisconsin are showcased in these two book reviews. Continue reading Man from Mars by Fred Nadis @ NYJB & The After-Life Story of Pork Knuckles Malone by MP Johnson @ CCLaP
This week at CCLaP, I review Wheatyard by Peter Anderson, a wonderful character study and a finely wrought coming-of-age novel, that one can also see it as a piece of pop culture archeology. Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: Wheatyard, by Peter Anderson
Today at CCLaP, Karl Wolff reviews the “Nebula Awards Showcase 2013,” edited by Catherine Asaro, a solid anthology of mainstream science fiction and fantasy writing from Nebula winners and nominees; also “Sauerkraut Station” totally rocks and there’s some bathypunk. Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: Nebula Awards Showcase 2013, edited by Catherine Asaro
This week at the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography, I review Our Lady of the Flowers, by Jean Genet, about a drag queen hanging around with criminals and murderers in pre-World War 2 Paris, along with being a classic of the Western Canon. Continue reading The NSFW Files: Our Lady of the Flowers, by Jean Genet
My mini-review of The Creative Fire, by Brenda Cooper, a book with grand ideas and bland writing. Continue reading CCLaP Mini-review: The Creative Fire, by Brenda Cooper
A general update on the business of the Driftless Area Review blog. Continue reading Driftless Area Review Metapost
This week at CCLaP, I review the Conduct of Saints, by Christopher Davis, a historical novel set in the immediate aftermath of postwar Italy involving a self-tortured hero reminiscent of Graham Greene’s novels. Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: The Conduct of Saints, by Christopher Davis
Today’s book review: Dennis Lehane and others edit “Boston Noir 2: the Classics,” bringing together a collection of Boston’s dark side, ranging from hard-boiled whodunits, out of print classics, and an excerpt from “Infinite Jest.” Says reviewer Karl Wolff: “For those unfamiliar with Greater Boston and its literary heritage, [this book] is a great place to start.” Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: Boston Noir 2: the Classics, edited by Dennis Lehane, Mary Cotton, and Jaime Clarke
The Driftless Area Review 