October 2004
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"Women hold themselves up to ridiculously high standards, it’s true of every aspect of our lives, but it’s really there when we become mothers. We see the celebrities and we read all the books and I think more and more -- well, statistically women are having children later in life, so you feel like by the time you have this baby you should know how to be a parent, and if you’re ready, and if this is what you want. And then, God help you if you’re not happy! You can’t talk about being tired, or you can’t talk about feeling isolated, or you can’t talk about missing your job and talking to other grownups about something other than what my kid ate last night. Like those human transactions -- like water cooler conversations. I can’t talk to my kid about what happened on Survivor because A, it’s past her bedtime and B, she doesn’t talk."
by
Gena Anderson
On September 30, the best-selling children's book team of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith appeared at the Old Orchard Barnes and Noble.
by
Gordon McAlpin
"[Slightly Foxed] ranks as one of the more unusual publications I have ever come across and manages to be both literary and easily readable. I consider myself fairly well read but Slightly Foxed never fails to dazzle me upon its arrival. The books reviewed within its pages are always unique and original but never intimidating. They are the kind of books that appeal to any reader because they cover every subject imaginable. As Publisher and Co-Editor Gail Pirkis explained in a recent e-mail, 'The articles in Slightly Foxed cover everything from serious fiction to comic novels, history and biography, travel, science, letters and memoirs, children’s books and books that simply defy classification.'"
by
Colleen Mondor
"There’s just a tsunami of books that have come out, and you know it’s that time of the year when publishers pump out whatever they consider to be noteworthy -- it’s the equivalent of the Christmas movie season, but not as much money is involved and writers, even the best ones, are really D-list celebs when it comes down to it. Next month, I will analyze more fall/winter releases. Just bear with me."
by
Sharon Adarlo
"Novels are solitary and real slow burns. I like the solitude. I hate it when writers say they can't stand being alone for all that time. Then don't write! I love the solitude of writing and miss it terribly now that I'm between novels. What is more gratifying than the leisure of being alone with your work and in your own head all day and then, the delight of getting on the train at night to go out and be in the world when everyone else is coming home and doing a reverse commute."
by
Janine Armin
"The biggest influence on me was Pale Fire, but nothing in or about Pale Fire other than the perfect Sphinx that is Pale Fire, the experience of how Pale Fire knocks me on my ass. I have read it three times now and I finally read the intrusive introduction which I had been avoiding and after three times -- and I am not a dullard -- there were parts of the plot I just never even noticed, stuff happened that I didn’t know happened. God bless him. When I got to the end of it the first time, I thought, well, I’ve got to read that again immediately. I would like people to get to the end of The Egyptologist and say: Wait, I have to go back to page one again."
by
Laura Leichum
I can live fifty years in France and my affection will always be with Iran. I always say that if I were a man I might say that Iran is my mother and France is my wife. My mother, whether she’s crazy or not, I would die for her, no matter what she is my mother. She is me and I am her. My wife I can cheat on with another woman, I can leave her, I can also love her and make her children, I can do all of that but it’s not like with my mother. But nowhere is my home any more.
by
Annie Tully
"Some people criticize the strip for having so much profanity, and I’ve noticed other cartoonists hate what I do because I’m not drawing; I’m just slapping these pieces of computer art on the page. Sometimes I identify myself as a cartoonist and I feel like I am part of a community; other times I feel like I am outside of that community -- looking in, wishing that I was part of the big cartoonist posse."
by
Sharon Adarlo
The first in a series of comic strips chronicling the literary scene in Chicago, IL.
by
Gordon McAlpin
It’s fall 2004 and that means a veritable shower of new releases. Some I don’t like all that much, and some I find myself burning incense to and trying to pin down an available virgin to sacrifice in their honor.
by
Sharon Adarlo
