He’s Martin Amis…and We’re Not
Sean MurphyReading Martin Amis's non-fiction is like riding in a plane. As you cruise over miniaturized skyscrapers, crop circles, mountains, even oceans, you recognize—and remember—how tiny and insignificant your own piece…
IT’s Good to Be KING: Stephen King at 70
FACT: STEPHEN KING, the most successful author of our time, arguably toils more diligently than any other writer. For this alone he deserves recognition and respect. To the haters: Yes,…
How to Kill a Cliché: Celebrating Sam Shepard
Lee: …That’s stupid. That’s one a’ those?—?whadya’ call it? Whadya’ call that? Austin: What? Lee: Whadya’ call it when somethin’s been said a thousand times before. Whadya’ call that? Austin: Um?—?a…
Celebrating Sam Shepard and the Artistic Life
First off, before reading anything I have to say, do yourself a favor and check out this beautiful, eloquent tribute from Patti Smith. Sam Shepard is one of my literary…
So It Goes: Reflections on Kurt Vonnegut (Ten Years Later)
Kurt Vonnegut would say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. Often, he was asked: Have any…
Sui generis on the rocks: Christopher Hitchens, Five Years On
The best way to compliment a writer, as a reader, is to recommend their work to others. That I wholeheartedly do --and have done. The best way to compliment a…
Thom Jones: The Pugilist at Rest (in Peace)
i. HERE’S THE THING about clean-up hitters: they strike out a lot. Then again, consider some of baseball’s most prodigious home run champions: Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth,…
In Defense of Stephen King (Revisited)
(For the remainder of the month, I’ll be revisiting some personal favorites, all of which are available in my recently-released collection, MURPHY’S LAW VOL. ONE, which is available NOW!) FACT: STEPHEN…
Rage Against the MFA Machine (Revisited)
(For the remainder of the month, I’ll be revisiting some personal favorites, all of which are available in my recently-released collection, MURPHY’S LAW VOL. ONE, which is available NOW!) The people…
Straight, No Chaser (Revisited)
This Sunday's New York Times magazine features a lengthy, but worthwhile appraisal of John Cheever by Charles McGrath. The piece reassesses Cheever's current status (McGrath correctly concedes that Cheever, who…