Commotion of the Birds: New Poems by John Ashbery
In John Ashbery’s final book of poetry “Images coagulate and dissolve in a kaleidoscope of language.” Continue reading Commotion of the Birds: New Poems by John Ashbery
Category: modernism
Translation Tuesdays: For Two Thousand Years @ NYJB
“For Two Thousand Years” by Mihail Sebastian is a hidden gem in European literature, shining a light on what happened in Romania between the wars. Continue reading Translation Tuesdays: For Two Thousand Years @ NYJB
Translation Tuesdays: Vampire in Love, by Enrique Vila-Matas
“Vampire in Love” represents another innovative voice in Spanish language literature. With this collection, Vila-Matas can join the likes of Roberto Bolaño, Severo Sarduy, and Carlos Fuentes. Continue reading Translation Tuesdays: Vampire in Love, by Enrique Vila-Matas
American Odd: Pack of Lies, by Gilbert Sorrentino
This week I conclude my essay series American Odd by looking at Gilbert Sorrentino’s postmodern masterpiece “Pack of Lies.” Continue reading American Odd: Pack of Lies, by Gilbert Sorrentino
Translation Tuesdays: Story of Love in Solitude, by Roger Lewinter
“[Lewinter’s] unique literary voice . . . is that of an obsessive, a philosopher, and a miniaturist.” Continue reading Translation Tuesdays: Story of Love in Solitude, by Roger Lewinter
Buck Studies by Douglas Kearney @ NYJB
“Buck Studies” is “a potent cocktail of political anger and radical formal experimentation.” Continue reading Buck Studies by Douglas Kearney @ NYJB
Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster 1887–2058, by Emma Lavigne @NYJB
“The past and the future are her playground, and she relays an open invitation to all who seek a daring museum experience.” Continue reading Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster 1887–2058, by Emma Lavigne @NYJB
Gerhard Richter: Panorama: A Retrospective: Expanded Edition, by Mark Godfrey @ NYJB
“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
William Merritt Chase: An American Master, by Elsa Smithgall et al. @ NYJB
The Directors’ Preface announces that “This exhibition is the first retrospective on Chase in thirty years.” Continue reading William Merritt Chase: An American Master, by Elsa Smithgall et al. @ NYJB
The Art of Reviewing: Critics, Monsters, Fanatics, and Other Literary Essays, by Cynthia Ozick
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
The Driftless Area Review 