What’s shaking in the metropolis

On Saturday, three authors read from their entries in the 33 1/3 album-focused series: above, Hayden Childs reading from his book on “Shoot Out the Lights” by Richard and Linda Thompson. I didn’t get pictures of Kim Cooper (Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea”) or David Smay (“Swordfishtrimbones” by Tom Waits). From what I understand, the reading followed a bus tour of Tom Waits sites around Los Angeles; I came for the books. Let me say, as I’ve said before, Metropolis Books is a fantastic bookstore in downtown Los Angeles. Tons of literary fiction, beautiful cookbooks, all the best about-LA books in a space that’s the size of Vroman’s greeting card section but still manages to include some comfy seating. Go there, my fellow book-loving Angelenos.

On Sunday my review of John Berger’s From A to X ran in the LA Times. Although this takes me by surprise, I believe I captured it better than Ursula K. Le Guin.

Big congratulations to Laila Lalami, who has finished work on her first novel, Secret Son.

Of the list of literary maneuvers, I like “Pulling an Austen” best: gossiping about socially sensitive topics, falling for someone who seems complicated but is in actuality a dark-haired douchebag. (via)