Lit: It's In The News

 Clearly I'm not one to turn to my local newspaper for all of my book news. Still, I've been disappointed in the ever shrinking coverage they offer. There will never be a review of a book by a local columnist unless it's a local author but it's still interesting to see what reviews they've pulled from other papers.

This week the paper featured a St. Louis Post-Dispatch review of Ron Rash's latest collection of short stories, Nothing Gold Can Stay. I've read and loved Rash's novels Serena and The Cove but I've never read any of his short stories. Reviewer Amanda St. Amand called Rash's writing "elegant" and said he has a "muscular way with words." I I know Rash can write books set in the past and North Carolina is always a strong character in his novels. Here his stories span eras and places and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in other times and locations.

" Whether it’s a tale of a woman’s dowry or the fallout from a young girl’s drowning, the author creates a slice of life so authentic you can hear the rushing water and see the falling tears."

Any Don DeLillo fans out there? Apparently he was awarded the first Library of Congress Award for American Fiction...in September. Back in the day, it might not be that surprising that literary news was making it's way to Nebraska months after it happened. But in this day and age? Surely they could have found a way to work that into the paper in year that it happened? Congrats to DeLillo and to the Library of Congress for creating this award.

Far away from home, The Guardian today posted this interview with Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl.  I was particularly interested in reading her response to charges that her writing shows "a deep animosity towards women." Flynn says:

" Isn't it time to acknowledge the ugly side? I've grown quite weary of the spunky heroines, brave rape victims, soul-searching fashionistas that stock so many books. I particularly mourn the lack of female villains."

Have you read any of Flynn's books? More than one? What do you think of her portrayal of women?