Articles about Literature
The Lasting Effect of Peter Gent’s North Dallas Forty
Really interesting essay looking back on North Dallas Forty–the book and the movie–by Oregon State English professor Michael Oriard over at Deadspin. Oriard, a former player from the same era as Gent, compares the recently deceased author to fellow ’60s writers Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer. He also wonders if Gent ever smoked pot with Don Meredith. Breaking down the differences between the book and movie, Oriard writes that “the ‘truth’ of North Dallas Forty lay in its broad strokes rather than particular observations. The characters weren’t ‘real,’ but collectively they conveyed the brutality, racism, sexism, drug abuse, and callousness that were part of professional football.”
My New Favorite Dallas-Related iPhone App
I love the library. When I was little, the weekly trip to the library in the summer to get more books was the thing I looked forward to almost the most – the most would be the twice-weekly trips to the pool. Our car didn’t have AC, so I always associate libraries with the feel of cool air, the smell of bound print matter, and hushed tones of mothers whispering to their children as they hurried them toward the children’s section.
And now, as a grown up, I enjoy the library in my neighborhood. But as a grown up, sometimes I have issues making it back to the library on time to return a book before it’s due. Or I don’t have time to go look and see if my branch has a particular book. And then I found (and yes, some of you have probably had this app on your phones forever and will duly chastise me for wasting your time) the Dallas Public Library iPhone app. Seriously. If you have a library card, you can use the app to look for books, request books from other branches, and even renew books you have in your possession. It even stores the barcode on your library card, in case you forget it.
And frankly, I find it more user friendly than the library website, which doesn’t remember your card number.
So, besides D Recommends, what are some of your favorite Dallas-related apps?
Mantegna on Mailer, Warts and All
The director behind the great new Norman Mailer documentary–part of the Dallas International Film
Festival, and reviewed by Peter here–is a beefy, blunt-talking, middle-aged guy in a dark suit and tie who admires the late author but is also clear-eyed about his foibles. Joseph Mantegna, not to be confused with the Criminal Minds actor, calls Mailer the greatest writer of the second half of the 20th century, a “lover and a romantic” (he had five full-time girlfriends when he died), and the first true director of reality-TV films, like Maidstone. “Before there was the Kardashians, there was Mailer,” said Mantegna (pictured in photo by Jeanne Prejean).
A Message to the FrontBurnervian “Gotcha” Gang
The inimitable Stephen Fry takes on language pedants, and thereby provides a lesson for everyone. (Copy editors, please do not view):
Sarah Palin Does Dallas, Again
Just in case you missed her double feature with Rick Perry, Barnes & Noble says Missus Former Governor Former Vice Presidential Candidate Mama Grizzly TLC Realty Star Fox News Commentator Author Sarah Palin will be signing her latest book, and only her latest book, on Nov. 28 at the Lincoln Park location.
However, you will need to clear your calendar for the entire day. Skip church. Because you’ll need to be in line for a wristband at 9 a.m., and then come back at 6 p.m. for the signing.
What to Do in Dallas Tonight: Sept. 8
Good afternoon. I hope you’re able to ride out the monsoon in a dry location, in part because if you’re using your computer in the rain, you’re liable to get electrocuted. And we wouldn’t want that.
It’s Get Up and Give! North Texas Giving Day, and while I’m slightly disappointed to learn this has nothing to do with giving me gifts, it’s still a nifty concept. If you were going to give money to a particular cause anyway, today’s the day to do it. Make your donation today before 7 p.m., and Donor Bridge may match it. (Access to the site has been a bit sporadic today, so if you’re having problems, call 214-346-5500).
Once you’ve done your good deed for the day, it’s time to indulge your senses with music, coffee, and food items at Opening Bell. Tonight you can catch Cody Culberson at 8 p.m., followed by Dillon Chevalier at 9 p.m. As for the drinking and eating, I’d go for a cup of chai or Earl Grey and a slice of carrot cake (good for the eyes!), but that’s just me.
If you’re in a more literary frame of mind, however, you might check out WordSpace’s reading event at the Kessler Theater. Start the night with a happy hour, then head upstairs for poetry readings (one of which will be webcast) and a movie screening.
Not for you? Read on for more things to do in Dallas.
Friends Fete New Josh Alan Friedman Book
Josh Alan Friedman, a talented Dallas writer and musician, spent his early years in New York, where he was the only white kid attending the last segregated black school on Long Island. Now he’s written an “autobiographical novel” about the experience called Black Cracker. So last night Dawn Rizos, owner of The Lodge gentlemen’s club, hosted a dinner and book-signing there for Friedman and 75 or so of his friends, plus assorted media types like the Dallas Observer’s Robert Wilonsky (that’s Big Bob just below Friedman’s left arm in this photo by Scott Mankoff) and Alan Peppard of The Dallas Morning News.
Yearbook Scandal!
Some good stuff is going on over at the Park Cities People blog. Merritt Patterson broke the news about the Bradfield Elementary yearbook scandal a couple days ago. (I know. I’m late getting to it.) Apparently, a volunteer says she spent a lot of time designing the book. Then as it was going to print, she was told her design was not allowed. So she got it copyrighted. Then the PTA decided to make its own version of the yearbook to avoid legal fees. The school says the volunteer knew all along her design wouldn’t work, and various people offered to help with a redesign. But the volunteer ignored the offers.
Patterson has the e-mails that went out to parents from both the principal and the volunteer. It’s all very fascinating.
NY Magazine Touts New Jonathan Woods Book
Dallas writer Jonathan Woods gets a major plug this week on the magazine’s Approval Matrix for his Bad Juju and Other Tales of Madness and Mayhem, which the magazine calls
“hallucinatory, hilarious, imaginative noir.”
Which will fit very nicely in bold letters above the title of the paperback edition.
Woods will do a reading at Legacy Books on April 29 at 7 pm.
Harry Hunsicker To Speak Tonight at HP Town Hall
Our favorite lo
cal crime writer, creator of the justly famous Lee Henry Oswald, will be doing the honors tonight at 7 pm. Except that he tweeted about an hour ago that he’s sick. So maybe not.
Larry McMurtry Hates Giving Interviews, Dislikes His Own Books
An interview with Texas literary icon Larry McMurtry aired on KERA during Morning Edition today, and it was excruciating—you can listen to it here. Linda Wertheimer tried to praise the author for his career achievements, but he pretty much trashed his famous novels and left Wertheimer hanging. When asked about Lonesome Dove, McMurtry replied, “I don’t hate it or anything.” As for The Last Picture Show: “It wasn’t a very good book. I’ve never liked it much, and I think I’ve written a dozen novels that are better, maybe more.”
Our own Glenn Hunter interviewed McMurtry this summer, and says McMurtry was “terse and not terribly friendly.” I think Wertheimer would agree.
Jack Benny In Dallas: The Rest Of The Story
Dimples did a nice job yesterday of reporting an excerpt from Tom Alexander’s soon-to-be released Stanley Marcus: The Relentless Reign of the Merchant Prince on legendary comedian Jack Benny’s last performance. But it didn’t cover the behind-the-scenes activities that took place the night that Jack didn’t go on with the show.
SweetCharity has the full story.
Sandra Crenshaw Gets Her Due in the Urban Dictionary
The term “cactus juice” figured in our contest yesterday. We have Sandra Crenshaw to thank for teaching it to us. And now, as an alert FBvian notes, the term has made it into the Urban Dictionary. I know I speak for Ms. Crenshaw when I say that the Texas two-step is a Western dance.
Where You Should Be Tonight: D Reading Room at Legacy Books
We’re having a cocktail-y thing at Legacy Books tonight from 6 to 8. It’s part of our Reading Room series. Tonight, you get free cheese, wine, and Laura Kostelny, who will be on hand to discuss the last D Reading Room selection, Wonderful World, and unveil the next selection, Evidence-Based Practice of Cognitive-Behavorial Therapy, by Deborah Dobson. I hear the first 400 pages are hard to get through, but after that it’s a real page-turner!
Shauna Glenn to Get Saucy at Plano’s Legacy Books
About two months ago, I called Shauna Glenn my new favorite writer. I’m a sucker for funny stories about marital aids. What can I say? (And to set the record straight, as I had to with Shauna at a recent Dallas Press Club happy hour, she is not my favorite writer, period. Even though she let me have one of her cheese fries. No, she was my new favorite writer back in May. I’m fickle and have moved on. Shauna and I are working through this difficult period in our relationship.) In any case, if you are similarly entertained by people who write saucy things, you ought to stop by Legacy Books tomorrow at 7 p.m., when Shauna will read from her book Heaping Spoonful.
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