Tayari's Blog: Some Links, Just In Case...

Posted by TayariJones on July 28, 2008 10:27 AM
Filed under Travels & Rambles

Not to be a pessimist, but the computer guy is coming to look at my machine and I have a baaaad feeling that he is going to take it away. I figured that I should post my links etc. now while I still can.


  • Emmanuel Constant, the leader of a Haitian death squad has finally been found guilty-- of real estate fraud. Constant is said to be the inspiration for Edwidge Danticat's novel, The Dew Breaker, in which Hatian-Americans are traumatized by seeing their torturer walking the streets of NY, a free and happy man.
  • The Washington Post really really dug Breena Clarke's new novel, Stand The Storm. This takes gushing review to a whole nother level.
  • More and more writers are supplementing their incomes with speaking gigs.
  • An author asks The Ethicist what to do when a friend hands you a manuscript to read and it's "clearly autobiographical, abounding in self-aggrandizement and intimate sexual details".
  • Got Slang? If you are kind of over American urban slang, Ed has a nifty guide to a Northern English dialect.
  • Attention Illinois poets. It's time to apply for your state artist grant. There's $7000 out there with your name on it! (This and other goodies posted over at Erika's house.)
  • That's all I have today. I need to go and back up my stuff and get ready for the repairman. Wish me luck!

    • [divider]

    There are 2 comments on "Some Links, Just In Case...". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.

    Comment #1, by Jackie [TypeKey Profile Page]

    Isn't Gail Buckley, the reviewer, Lena Hornes' daughter?

    July 29, 2008 08:08 AM

    Comment #2, by Wildcat Queen [TypeKey Profile Page]

    I read the article written to The Ethicist about the manuscript. I think a way that the friend could have communicated the idea that the writer needed help without discouraging the writer to continue is to suggest some workshops or other readers.Aside from the technical part of it, why is it that everyone is interested in writing autobiographical sex pieces? Maybe this is very wrong of me but when I go to the "African American" section of a bookstore or chainstore, I really don't understand why the majority of the books are about the sexual prowess of some young lady and her pride in promiscuity. Sometimes I think we forget that Langston Hughes or Gwen dolyn Brooks ever existed. Not to say that there was not mention of sex in their works, but they talked about other things too. I just don't understand.

    July 29, 2008 08:01 PM

    Your Comments

    You are signed in as (sign out)

    Please keep comments relevant to the topic. Inappropriate and offensive comments may be edited and/or removed without warning. Comments found on this site don't necessarily reflect the views of Tayari Jones.

    (optional)

    (required)