“Gerhard Richter: Panorama” offers a means to delve into the artistic practice of an iconic figure in modern European art. Continue reading Gerhard Richter: Panorama: A Retrospective: Expanded Edition, by Mark Godfrey @ NYJB
Like Updike, Anthony Burgess, and Vladimir Nabokov, Cynthia Ozick writes reviews with lush prose, each essay a stimulant to those seeking the beautiful interplay of ideas, language, and strong opinions. Continue reading The Art of Reviewing: Critics, Monsters, Fanatics, and Other Literary Essays, by Cynthia Ozick
“For those interested in an introductory volume about the Jewish people and Israeli history, this book is highly recommended.” Continue reading Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn, by Daniel Gordis @ NYJB
“The German War” is an important scholarly achievement in the field of modern German history, and it is written with an epic narrative sweep. Continue reading The German War: A Nation Under Arms, 1939–1945, by Nicholas Stargardt @NYJB
Compelling passages, notable quotables, bon mots, disjecta, ephemera, and miscellany. I admire those very broad people who through the decades become broader and broader yet do not give in. But the unyieldingly narrow are horrible. [1957 – 1959] A ceremonial beast, assembled from tiaras. [1960] That the behavior of dictators is perfidious is no longer surprising. But that mankind still craves authoritarianism, despite their appalling record of failure, is incomprehensible. With these monstrous examples right before our eyes, how are we so stupid, and how it is possible, faced with all that has happened, for us to lie to ourselves … Continue reading Commonplace Book/Translation Tuesdays: Elias Canetti on minds and monsters
Hey Milwaukee, the latest edition of “Alcoholmanac” is here! Lots of great stuff inside, including cool recipes, a feature I wrote on SE Wisconsin distilleries before Prohibition. Continue reading The latest edition of Alcoholmanac is here!
Jim Marrs takes us on a wild ride into secret societies, Nazi wonder weapons, and why the Council of Foreign Relations is responsible for every bad thing ever. Continue reading American Odd: The Rise of the Fourth Reich: The Secret Societies That Threaten to Take Over America, by Jim Marrs
When I wrote “On Being Human,” I wrote an essay on Mike Mignola’s “Hellboy.” “Frankenstein Underground” expands on Mignola’s pulpy universe, giving us a fun graphic novel about Frankenstein’s monster. Continue reading On Being Human Redux: Frankenstein Underground, by Mike Mignola and Ben Stenbeck
I review books on Hitler’s domestic spaces and how Germany deals with 4 centuries of history over at the New York Journal of Books. Continue reading 2 books on Germany @ NYJB
“Of Earth and in Hell” by Thomas Bernhard represents “a fascinating peek into the genesis of Austria’s controversial literary figure.”. Continue reading Translation Tuesdays: Of Earth and in Hell, by Thomas Bernhard @ NYJB
The Driftless Area Review 