Fenwick vs. Felicity
Students earn scholarships
Minster vs. Southeastern
Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2007 > April > 18 > Entry
scribbles and scraps-chapter 3
Most interesting book to cross my desk today: “In Europe—Travels Through the Twentieth Century” by Geert Mak (Pantheon Books). This is an advance copy of a book that has recently been translated from the original Dutch. Weighing in at 876 pages, it sold over 350 thousand copies in Holland. Wow! Now I know what to read on vacation. It will be published in August in the U.S.
Worst book I have read this week: “7—The Mickey Mantle Novel” by Peter Golenbock (The Lyons Press). This book should have died a merciful death before publication. It was slated to come out on the now defunct Regan Books imprint. Lyons bought the rights and published 250 thousand copies. I wonder if there are that many 13 year-old boys out there who want to read about baseball? OK, it’s mostly about Mickey Mantle’s imagined sexual adventures and it is beyond tacky. I felt compelled to wash my hands after reading it. EEch!
Buddy’s day: He spent the day catting around in the shrubbery. Now he’s tired and he’s taking a cat nap.
One good reason to live in a small town: I went to the post office today. About 30 minutes later I realized that the last time I saw my wallet was in the post office. I went back there and found it sitting right where I’d left it, untouched.
Favorite music to read by: “Jorma Kaukonen’s Stars in My Crown” (Red House). The former Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna guitarist now resides at the Fur Peace ranch outside of Athens. He went to Antioch here in Yellow Springs and I have interviewed him several times. Jorma can play that guitar!
Notable paperbacks out this week: “Suite Francaise” by Irene Nemirovsky (Vintage). The author wrote this novel before she was taken to a death camp during the Holocaust. Poignant-powerful, it sold well in hardcover…..also…”Everyman” by Philip Roth (Vintage). A legendary novelist faces mortality.
Beverage that pairs up well with a book: Bell’s Oberon Ale. It also goes well with baseball, barbecue, badminton, and bocce ball.
Scribblin’ and scrappin,’ I’m Vick Mickunas.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: scribbles and scraps
Comments
By vick mickunas
April 25, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
Thank you, Meg. Ian Rankin is quite a fellow. That was my 4th interview with him and we always talk about music. He is a HUGE music fan. I think he mentioned the libretto? He just wrote a song for the Scottish band, Saint James Infirmary. He is also working on a project with the guy who used to have the band Arab Strap. He’s writing some lyrics for that. He also suggested some bands that I might like. One band is mentioned several times in THE NAMING OF THE DEAD, Rankin’s latest book. The band is English and they are called Elbow. He says that he is going back and listening to some music that he loved in his youth. He mentioned the band Caravan and the Supertramp album, “Crime of the Century.”By megofcleves
April 25, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this
Hey Victor, I’m a huge Ian Rankin fan and enjoyed your article. Saw a news blip that Mr. Rankin will be contributing to a libretto in Scotland. Did he have any insight on that subject? Wish I had a signed copy and Bush falls off his bike around page 265. MegofclevesBy vick mickunas
April 22, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this
If NPR had brought back Bob Edwards that would have indicated a reversal in management style that might have heralded a more progressive, open-minded approach. Putting him out to pasture the way that they did was a public relations disaster. The public radio system suffers from some poor management decisions on the national and the local level. Unfortunately, I speak from experience.By Page Turner
April 19, 2007 7:53 PM | Link to this
To clarify, the interview of Jorma Kaukonen by Bob Edwards I heard last week was indeed a syndicated PRI show broadcast on an NPR affiliate. No mystery - it was clearly identified. Ironic in view of the circumstances of Mr. Edwards’ departure from National Public Radio: Too old to work for NPR - 59 - but his work is still good enough that affiliates will buy it from another source. Jorma mentioned that he is 66 y/o. Play on, Jorma! Interview on, Bob! Keep up the good work, Vick!By Mark from St. Paul
April 19, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this
Minnesota Public Radio occasionally runs PRI content during NPR breaks, but that doesn’t make it NPR content. I suspect that’s what happened here. Local NPR affiliates aren’t real good at distinguishing between different sources of content and it does get confusing at times.By vick mickunas
April 19, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this
Bob Edwards is back on NPR? If that is true then that should have been front page news-I had not heard that. Bob is still doing his show on the public radio channel on XM and he does other radio work but since NPR decided that Bob was too old and they forced him out to pasture I cannot imagine that NPR would decide to do the right thing and bring him back with a profuse public apology. That, would be unthinkable, admitting such a gross error. What would happen next? Dick Cheney admitting that the Iraq quagmire was a huge mistake? George Bush breaking with the NRA? Barry Bonds coming clean about his steroid abuse? Check (none of the above). Bob Edwards is doing just fine without NPR and if you heard him on NPR it was some syndicated show on an NPR member station, right? Does anybody know different?By Page Turner
April 19, 2007 7:55 AM | Link to this
Jorma seems to have made the smoothest landing of all The Airplane. Heard Bob Edwards interview him last week (ironically, on NPR - syndicated by PRI).