Elmore Leonard is an American treasure and a major influence. I use these all the time. Thank you, Mr. Leonard.
Latest Entries »
New story in a great Philly based Journal.
http://apiarymagazine.com/eric-mckinley-this-story-is-nobodys-fault/
This story is published in The Quotable. Here:
http://issue9.thequotablelit.com/fiction/seven-days-a-week-in-winter/
Happy Mother’s Day.
Zadie is the shit. This novel is well done. It requires commitment and concentration. It has subtext and depth. It is unconventional. Her other works are more accessible, and this is not a perfect narrative, but the characters here are rich and compelling. There’s a Big Pun reference in here. A Wire reference. Some Salt n Pepa. Yeah.
I got nothing clever. Buy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/aug/26/nw-zadie-smith-review
I read recently at Rosemont.
I’ve been mad busy with stuff but I haven’t stopped reading books. So, here are some quick five word reviews:
The Politician by Andrew Young
This book was entertaining in its salaciousness, despite the fact that the author came off like a complete fraud. He was complicit in John Edwards’ nonsense the entire time. He was the lead architect of the cover up. Then, when he got caught and threatened with indictment, he grew a conscience. Then he wrote a book. Total punk, snitch move. Can’t support it.
I believe in Omerta. Skip.
Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
I read this during election time. The Chicago sections were slow and tedious. The Kenya sections were interesting and revealing. It’s worth a read but not a buy.
Bartlet for America, yo. Library.
Buddha by Deepak Chopra
Yep, that Deepak Chopra. He wrote a “novel” fictionalizing the life of the Buddha. It actually wasn’t half bad. It was overwritten and overwrought in places. But it’s not a long book and there were some very entertaining scenes and characters.
Be still and know. Library.
Dogfight, A Love Story by Matt Burgess
This is a well-conceived, well-executed novel about two brothers in the drug game (and the violence game) who get caught up in a lot of street shit and try to find their way out. Strong characters, an authentically drawn setting (Jackson Heights, Queens) and vivid descriptions made this a pretty cool read.
Hope for a Movie. Buy.
Osama Van Halen by Michael Muhammad Knight
I saw this book in an old used bookstore and bought it strictly for the title. It’s about Taqwacores which are Muslim punk rockers. It was On the Road-esque. This is a weird book. Matt Damon gets kidnapped. There are ghost and zombies. I mostly enjoyed it, particularly for its originality. It’s a little raw and not for the faint of heart. So, if you’re not into raw, you should pass.
Didn’t land on Plymouth Rock. Library.
Happy Holidays!
By popular demand, Blessed Sons is now available for your Kindle.
http://www.amazon.com/Blessed-Sons-ebook/dp/B009UNYF90/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1350962362&sr=8-2&keywords=blessed+sons
Go get it. It will make you feel big and strong.
I did an interview on Blessed Sons. Check it out here:
Upcoming Events. Come say what’s up to me and other WragsInk talent. Hear me read. Maybe buy a book. Maybe even get me to write something heartfelt inside.
Tuesday, 9/25, Mermaid Inn, 7673 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, 7:30 pm.
Saturday, 9/29, Mugshots, 1925 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, 4:00 pm.
Friday, 10/5, Coffee Beanery, 100 West State Street, Media, PA, 7:30 pm.
Saturday, 10/6, Collingswood Book Festival, Collingswood, NJ, 1-3 pm.
Saturday, 11/17, Mugshots, 1925 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, 4:00 pm.
See you soon.
ericmckinleyfiction 