The Virgin Mother's been called some unusual things: I've heard her likened to the Egyptian goddess Isis. I've read comparisons of her to the Greek maiden Leda (both, the comparison goes, conceived after a divine encounter). I suppose I expected something just as startling or subversive in a new short book by Colm Toibin, "The … Continue reading Leda and the New Testament?: new in bookstores
Category: Books
Books, new and old, in fiction and nonfiction.
Battle of the Buddhas: new in bookstores
Standing in a retail line on this infamous day, Black Friday, I heard someone (couldn't help hearing) on their cellphone behind me. "It's crazy, but I'm good. I've done a lot of shopping," the person said. "I'm just trying to be Zen about it." That's a great goal for dealing with the shopping madness, but … Continue reading Battle of the Buddhas: new in bookstores
Making Dante go Bang: new in bookstores
Does Dante Alighieri look mad in this picture? Well, if he is, it's not because he just finished reading a new "translation" of "Inferno" (Graywolf Press) by poet Mary Jo Bang. On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise me if that was the reason behind his surly expression. Bang's new translation of "Inferno" either impresses … Continue reading Making Dante go Bang: new in bookstores
Nick Owchar 
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