Monthly Archives: June 2011
Grab Bag: The Dead Father and the Faux Faulkner Competition
By Jim Thomsen One recurring feature on my Facebook page is called “What Do You Think Of This Sentence?” I’ll then pluck a sentence that caught my eye from whatever I’m reading at a given time—a newspaper, a magazine, a website, a novel, an instruction manual, whatever—and share it with my 800-some Facebook friends. They’ll … Continue reading
Another Page: ‘A Reader’s Manifesto’
This book is what I’ve been reading for the past few days. It’s not a new book; just new to me. And it entered my view at a time when I’ve really been struggling with some of the things I read, things that have received near-universal acclaim but leave me cold, never allowing me to … Continue reading
Progress Report: 6/28/11
Confession time: I have nothing to report. The short-story collection that has taken up the bulk of my time for the past year is finished and delivered to my editor. Ed Kemmick’s book is mostly out the door. I’ve done a couple of library gigs — Ronan (Montana) on June 16th and Columbus (Montana) a … Continue reading
Once More, With Feeling: An Interview With Paul Roberts of Sniff ‘n’ The Tears
By Jim Thomsen Last week, I rhapsodized about one of my favorite pop-rock bands, Sniff ‘n’ The Tears. But I was really giving mad props to just one person: Paul Roberts, the band’s founder, singer, songwriter and sole constant since the British group came together in 1977. I’ve always been a fan of auteur … Continue reading
Grab Bag: Notes on a Poem
I really don’t want to make a huge deal about my poem, Eastward Ho, that was recently published by The Montucky Review. I certainly never expected to publish a poem; I know how bad most of my attempts at the form truly are. But now that an editor has seen something in the work, my … Continue reading
Another Page: ‘Catcher in the Rye’
By J. Gregory Smith This past Father’s Day had me thinking about and missing my Dad, who passed away five years ago. I remember one of his early jobs in journalism. He was one of very few reporters granted an interview with the reclusive J.D. Salinger. Given that honor, you might think I would have … Continue reading
Sniff ‘n’ The Tears and “Driver’s Seat”: One-Hit Wonder? It’s No Wonder
“The second album by this intellectual minded English ensemble is filled with the same kind of quality music that graced its debut last year. Writer / guitarist / vocalist / painter Paul Roberts is at the forefront, writing songs that are both heady in content and poignantly melodic. His songs have an eerie kind of … Continue reading
Grab Bag: My Sunday night
You may have heard that I’m a Dallas Mavericks fan. And you may have heard that the Mavericks won the NBA championship Sunday night. (If you’re Facebook friends with me, you no doubt heard entirely too much of both things.) But Sunday night wasn’t spent on my couch, with a plate of pizza and a … Continue reading
Another Page: ‘The Wayward Bus’
Of John Steinbeck’s titles, I regularly re-read three. The first two aren’t likely to be surprises: Of Mice and Men (to remind me that a novel need not be long to be brilliant) and Travels With Charley (even though much of the rustic appeal apparently was embellished, if not outright made up, my heart was … Continue reading
