I’m really excited about my new project, which has me thinking about all things paranormal. Turns out, they’re all around us — almost, well, normal. The Bible is one source for images and ideas, but the appeal (some would say awareness) seems basic to our humanity. If we don’t believe, exactly, we are nevertheless captivated and strangely affected by the supernatural. There’s …
If most people don’t get the biblical references, why do the creators of popular tv, movies, music and lit still use them so much? Pondering this question over iced tea with a novelist, Ph.D.-candidate friend, we decided: it’s tough to say. Here are a couple of ideas that we bounced around: 1) Audiences do recognize the biblical …
Great day in Chicago, starting at 0’awfully-early with a TV interview at ABC-7. Nice folks there, a fun chat about “Lost,” among other things, then hello black coffee! Took the metro ez-pz up to Lincoln Square where I stopped in at the Book Cellar. That is one very cool indie bookstore! Back to the hotel to …
Living as a nomad, it was bound to happen: I left my computer behind. Bouncing between cities (two) and offices (four) as I’ve done the past semester, I rely on THE LIST — things to do before leaving the house (empty the kitchen compost, e.g.) and things to bring (er, that’d be the computer, e.g.). The list works great… if …
Heading south to Petersburg (VA)’s Life through Lit Fest. It’s a book lovin’ day to spend in the park. Live music, free books, author chats, and yes funnel cakes. Come if you can (noon-7pm in Poplar Lawn Park)! It’d be fun to see you there~
Wonderful to see so many people at the Charlottesville Barnes and Noble last Wed eve! As moderator David Bearinger noted, Winn Collier’s Holy Curiosity and my Bible Babel are very different projects, though both concern the Bible. The Virginia Festival of the Book (a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities event) has included panels on religion and spirituality in the past but not …
I was delighted to read Pulitzer-prize winner Michael Dirda’s review of Bible Babel in the Washington Post last week. He clearly read the book carefully through, and “got” it. That he liked it, too — how sweet! Meanwhile, check out some of Dirda’s own books, if you haven’t had the pleasure already. As an avid collector of quotes — …
Did you know that “Eli” means “my God,” in Hebrew? Yup. In one form, anyway. So, even if you’d missed all the previews, reviews, and commentary in between on the movie “The Book of Eli,” you still might guess that the book in question is the Bible. The English translation King James Version, to be precise. …
Huge snow in VA, cold days clear down to FL, these are the days for books. Any form, any genre, grab a fav or something new and settle in. Want something fun to share with family gathered over the holidays? Or maybe you need a break from the mayhem. Perhaps you’re going solo this year …
