Have Words–Will Write 'Em

On Books, Writers, Most Things Written, Including My Light Verse.

Archive for August 25th, 2010

How Do You Decide What to Read Next?

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A while ago, Jane Ciabattari, President of the National Book Critics Circle, asked NBCC members to submit pieces on “How Do You Decide What to Read Next?” I wrote this piece a while ago; it was published on the NBCC site on August 20, 2010.

If you’re a reviewer, you probably choose what you read next about the same way I do. If you don’t review books, but want to, here’s what you’re in for. 🙂

What I’m going to read next depends on which books I’d like to review. For me, those books will usually be literary fiction (although, currently, I’ve been assigned a memoir to review.) So, that means scanning Publisher’s Weekly, the Library Journal, and publisher’s catalogues, looking for interesting novels or short story collections that I’d like to share, and it means taking notes. Every now and then, a writer on Facebook will suggest books that I should review, too.

Click the NBCC logo to read the piece. Elda and I had fun commenting on the article.

Written by Joe Peschel

August 25th, 2010 at 2:51 pm

Posted in News

My Review of Emmanuel Carrère’s Memoir, “My Life As A Russian Novel.”

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You would think that a story that takes place in France and Russia, one that includes love affairs, betrayals, dream sequences, Russian secret police, a mysterious disappearance, and an erotic short story would be a fictional potboiler.

Read my review in The Boston Globe

I think I’m the only reviewer writing in US newspapers to cover Carrère’s new book.

Written by Joe Peschel

August 25th, 2010 at 1:58 pm