davidfcooper

"Ai's poems are not to everyone's taste. If you prefer the Rolling Stones to the Beatles, Howling Wolf to Muddy Waters, the gritty realism (including graphic violence and strong sexual content) of HBO's Sunday night original series to PBS' British dramas you'll probably enjoy Ai's poetry; if not, stay with safer, tamer, less edgy poets." Also see my NYJB review: http://goo.gl/0IjEa

The Jewish Book Council's 2012 book of the year is not one book but three: the three volume box set City of Promises: A History of the Jews of New York published last September by New York University Press.

"You can show your support for the poet by emailing the embassy in Washington D.C. as we did, however, I believe the emails go unread. You can also call the embassy and leave a message at (202) 274-1600 (press 1 four times to leave a message with the ambassador’s office)."

The Pulitzer, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award are considered the triple crown of American book publishing. Although I am a voting member of the National Book Critics Circle I have not read any of these books (see my previous article 2012 Books Retrospective for the 2012 books I have read and reviewed). My own book reviewing schedule leaves me little time to read books that have already been published with my eyes, but I do have time to listen to audiobooks and will keep the above list for future reference.

“Why can’t I be an empty house falling into decay, unaware of myself? Why can’t I be the sky empty or the river flowing into the sea senselessly or an empty plate or knife or fork, whatever is but does not feel itself? If I were the grass that covers the graves I could forget being human. I want it taken away. The sun is sparkling on the waters. Why should I not be the sparkle rather than the eyes that show me the difference in myself. Shine upon me, sun, so that I become lit up like a sunbeam.”

—David Ignatow, “Why Can’t I Be…”
Art Credit Ellie Ga, Fissure 5: 83N, 2E, 2008–11, Digital C-print.

3:04 pm  •  9 January 2013  •  127 notes

 Anyone who thinks congressional Republicans will roll over on the debt ceiling or gun control or other pending hot-button issues hasn’t been paying attention.

But the President can use certain tools that come with his office – responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution and in his capacity as the nation’s chief law-enforcer — to achieve some of his objectives.

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via robertreich.org

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