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01-03-14 UPDATE: Podcast Update: Time to Read Episode 140: Tad Williams, 'Happy Hour in Hell'

Click image for audio link.
Here's the one-hundred fortieth episode of my series of podcasts, which I'm calling Time to Read. Hitting the two-year mark, I'm going to make an effort to stay ahead, so that podcast listeners can get the same sort of "sneak preview" effect that radio listeners get each Friday morning. This week, I seem to be on top opf the game, but who knows what the hell might happen. I am hoping to stay back up and stumbling.

The podcasts/radio broadcasts will be of books worth your valuable reading time. I'll try to keep the reports under four minutes, for a radio-friendly format. If you want to run them on your show or podcast, let me know.

My hope is that in under four minutes I can offer readers a concise review and an opportunity to hear the author read from or speak about the work. I'm hoping to offer a new one every week.

The one-hundred fortieth episode is a look at Tad Williams and 'Happy Hour in Hell.'

Here's a link to the MP3 audio file of Time to Read, Episode 140: Tad Williams, 'Happy Hour in Hell'




01-03-14: A 2013 Phone Interview with Russell Banks

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"...my dominant interest in writing stories has to do with character."
—Russell Banks

I really enjoyed the stories in 'A Permanent Member of the Family,' and a large part of that Banks' focus on ordinary and economically challenged characters. It was an early question and his answer; that he was writing about the 99%, made me like the stories even more.

Having recently spoken to T. C. Boyle about short stories, it was interesting to see the contrasts between the two writers. For Boyle writing short stories and novels at the same time was anathema. For Banks, it was the default setting, but not in this case. When you speak with writers, you quickly learn that everyone makes — and breaks — their own rules.

While I generally try to stay away from talking about the plots of and events in books, it usually seems almost unavoidable. But this time around, it was easy, and I can't really put my finger on the reason why, other than the fact that Banks clearly thinks a lot about how he writes what he writes. That said, we did touch on a couple of stories, "Blue" and "Former Marine."

Readers can hear some great advice on the art of short story writing from Russell Banks, a master by following this link to MP3 audio file.




01-03-14: Three Books With Alan Cheuse, Special Edition : The Horror Genre in 2013

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"It's like a little literary vacation for me; the Bates Motel vacation..."

—Alan Cheuse

Alan Cheuse dropped by to see some very local sights, including the cement boat, and while he was here, I managed to get him behind the microphone to discuss the horror genre in 2013.

To my mind, we're heading into some great times for the genre, the best since the 1980's, with old names and new names both offering readers a selection of outstanding genre fiction. While I think some of the best is yet to come, there was certainly enough to talk about, and to discover some differing opinions on why we're getting this crop of horror fiction.

Alan put forth the idea that bad times inspire happy fiction — musicals at the movies, while for me, it seems that bad economic times inspire horror fiction. I don't think it is as simple as either reade3rs seeking catharsis or schadenfreude. I think it is a lot more complicated and interesting than that.

We're also in the midst of the rise of a new crop of independent publishers, all of whom off readers a selection of work that might not otherwise find publication, but, really, REALLY should.

Readers who want to hear some thoughts on the best horror fiction of 2014, can follow this link to the MP3 audio file.




01-01-14 UPDATE: Podcast Update: Time to Read Episode 139: Russell Banks, 'A Permanent Member of the Family'

Click image for audio link.
Here's the one-hundred thirty-ninth episode of my series of podcasts, which I'm calling Time to Read. Hitting the two-year mark, I'm going to make an effort to stay ahead, so that podcast listeners can get the same sort of "sneak preview" effect that radio listeners get each Friday morning. This week, I seem to be on top opf the game, but who knows what the hell might happen. I am hoping to stay back up and stumbling.

The podcasts/radio broadcasts will be of books worth your valuable reading time. I'll try to keep the reports under four minutes, for a radio-friendly format. If you want to run them on your show or podcast, let me know.

My hope is that in under four minutes I can offer readers a concise review and an opportunity to hear the author read from or speak about the work. I'm hoping to offer a new one every week.

The one-hundred thirty-ninth episode is a look at Russell Banks and 'A Permanent Member of the Family.'

Here's a link to the MP3 audio file of Time to Read, Episode 139: Russell Banks, 'A Permanent Member of the Family'




12-30-13: A 2013 Interview with T. C. Boyle

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"I'm the type of writer for whom anything can be a story."
—T. C. Boyle

I believe that this is the fourth time I've spoken with T. C. Boyle, and every time we sit down, it seems like more and more fun. This time around we were doing double duty, talking about both his novel from last year, 'San Miguel,' now out in paperback, and his latest collection of story collections, 'T. C. Boyle Stories II.'

Boyle is a brilliant writer, and we really would not want him to be doing anything else. That said, when I have time to sit and speak with him, I'm always struck by his prowess as a performer and a speaker. I feel like he should have his own talk show, and I'm certain that if he did, he would knock everyone else out of the water.

This time, for the first time, we talked about Boyle's short stories, which made for an interesting change of pace. They're a major part of his work, and it was nice to have the excuse to talk about more than his latest collection. We dialed back the focus a bit and discussed short stories in general, and his just a bit further to take in fiction in general. Boyle generously offered up a few fabulous anecdotes, and yes, I asked once again the question about short stories versus novels.

We also discussed 'San Miguel,' a companion piece to 'When the Killing's Done.' It' a bit of a departure for Boyle, in that it is a straightforward, realistic, non-satiric novel set in two separate streams of history on an island close to where Boyle lives in Santa Barbara, California. San Miguel is a tiny rock with a bit of dirt and might be offered up as a definition for bleak and inhospitable, as regards being a place for humans to live.

Boyle's novel manages the neat trick of taking the stories of two families who lived in this semi-hellhole and make them compelling, intertwined reading. He also goes off the Boyle plantation by telling the story from the perspective of the women who lived there. It's a ripping yarn, with a powerful emotional heft, and a portrait of human living in an essentially alien landscape right here on earth.

T. C. Boyle made me laugh a lot during our conversation, and I imagine that he'll have the same effect on you, when you follow this link to the MP3 audio file.



New to the Agony Column

09-18-15: Commentary : William T. Vollman Amidst 'The Dying Grass' : An Epic Exploration of Simultaneity

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with William T. Vollman : "...a lot of long words that in our language are sentences..."

09-05-15: Commentary : Susan Casey Listens to 'Voices in the Ocean' : Science, Empathy and Self

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Susan Casey : "...the reporting for this book was emotionally difficult at times..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 213: Susan Casey : Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins

08-24-15: Commentary : Felicia Day Knows 'You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)' : Transformative Technology

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Felicia Day : "I think you have to be attention curators for audience in every way."

08-22-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 212: Felicia Day : You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)

08-21-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report : Senator Claire McCaskill is 'Plenty Ladylike' : Internalizing Determination to Overcome Sexism [Incudes Time to Read EP 211: Claire McCaskill, Plenty Ladylike, plus A 2015 Interview with Senator Claire McCaskill]

Agony Column Podcast News Report : Emily Schultz Unleashes 'The Blondes' : A Cure by Color [Incudes Time to Read EP 210: Emily Schultz, The Blondes, plus A 2015 Interview with Emily Schultz]

08-10-15:Agony Column Podcast News Report : In Memory of Alan Cheuse : Thank you Alan, and Your Family, for Everything

07-11-15: Commentary : Robert Repino Morphs 'Mort(e)' : Housecat to Harbinger of the Apocalypse

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Robert Repino : "...an even bigger threat. which is us, the humans..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 208: Robert Repino : Mort(e)

07-05-15: Commentary : Dr. Michael Gazzaniga Tells Tales from Both Sides of the Brain : A Life in Neuroscience Reveals the Life of Science

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Michael Gazzaniga : "We made the first observation and BAM there was the disconnection effect..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 208: Michael Gazzaniga : Tales from Both Sides of the Brain: A Life in Neuroscience

06-26-15: Commentary : Neal Stephenson Crafts an Eden for 'Seveneves' : Blow It Up and Start All Over Again

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Neal Stephenson : "...and know that you're never going to se a tree again..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 207: Neal Stephenson : Seveneves

06-03-15: Commentary : Dan Simmons Opens 'The Fifth Heart' : Having it Every Way

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Dan Simmons : "...yes, they really did bring those bombs..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 206: Dan Simmons : The Fifth Heart

05-23-15: Commentary : John Waters Gets 'Carsick' : Going His Way

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with John Waters : "...you change how you would be in real life...”

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 205: John Waters : Carsick

05-09-15: Commentary : Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD and 'Shrinks' : A Most Fashionable Take on the Human Mind

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD : "..its influence to be as hegemonic as it was..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 204: Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD : Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry

04-29-15: Commentary : Barney Frank is 'Frank' : Interpersonally Ours

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Barney Frank : "...while you're trying to change it, don't ignore it..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 203: Barney Frank : Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage

04-21-15: Commentary : Kazuo Ishiguro Unearths 'The Buried Giant' : The Mist of Myth and Memory

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Kazuo Ishiguro : ".... by the time I was writing this novel, the lines between what was fantasy and what was real had blurred for me..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 202: Kazuo Ishiguro : The Buried Giant

04-17-15: Commentary : Erik Larson Follows a 'Dead Wake' : Countdown to Destiny

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Erik Larson : "...said to have been found in the arms of a dead German sailor..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 201: Erik Larson : Dead Wake

04-15-15: Commentary : Peter Bell Reflects 'A Certain Slant of Light' : Strange Stories of Modern Scholars

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2014 Interview with Peter Bell : "...I looked up some of the old books..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 200: Peter Bell : Strange Epiphanies and A Certain Slant of Light

03-14-15: Commentary : Marc Goodman Foresees 'Future Crimes' : Exponential Potential

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Marc Goodman : "...every physical object around us is being transformed, one way or another, into an information technology..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 199: Marc Goodman : Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected, Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can Do About It

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