Book Book Book Book
Commentary Commentary RSS Reviews Podcasts_Audio Podcasts RSS Blog Links Archives Indexes

10-20-11: Lisa Goldstein Reads at SF in SF


The Bondmaid's Tale

One of the things about doing a lot of recording is that you find archives that have not been released, some of them jaw-droppingly good. Consider this: Lisa Goldstein reading at SF in SF, with part of her reading consisting of "The Bondmaid's Tale."

I recorded this back in June, and though I had podcasted it because I have broadcasted part of it, The Bondmaid's Tale, and I'll probably do so again, because it is that good.

But now, readers can finally have it in the vicinity of my review of 'The Uncertain Places.' Goldstein is, or should be a national treasure. Here's a link to an MP3 audio file of her reading to prove it!




10-19-11: A 2011 Interview with Lisa Goldstein at SF in SF

"I couldn't put it down, I had to finish it."

—Lisa Goldstein

Confession time: Lisa actually thanks me in the Acknowledgements for 'The Uncertain Places' for what to my mind is as close to proof of the supernatural as you are going to get in this world. Back in June of 2009, I hosted a panel at SF in SF so the indefatigable Terry Bisson could catch a break. Pat Murphy, Lisa Goldstein, and Michaela Roessner were the guests, and in the break, I was chatting with Goldstein who told me a bit about what would become 'The Uncertain Places.'

There was just one thing that she needed to know more about; winery history in Northern California. Just a couple of days before, Janet over at Capitola Book Café had asked if I wanted to interview Vivienne Sosnowski, who had a new book out that definitely seemed worth my valuable reading time titled, 'When the Rivers Ran Red: An Amazing Story of Courage and Triumph in America's Wine Country.' Unfortunately, it was happening during the time when I hosted my show on KUSP. But these things happen for a reason.

In this case, to enable the creation of another book that would prove to be worth my valuable reading time, and yours; 'The Uncertain Places.' It wasn't until I finally had time to write the review that I noticed the acknowledgement. Lisa, it's an honor; thank you! Every experience ends up as just one more story story. Readers and listeners who want to hear Lisa's interview can do so by following this link to the MP3 audio file.




10-18-11 UPDATE: Podcast Update: Time to Read, Episode 14: Lisa Randall, 'Knocking on Heaven's Door'

Here's the fourteenth episode of my new series of podcasts, which I'm calling Time to Read. The podcasts/radio broadcasts will be of books worth your valuable reading time. I'll try to keep the reports under four minutes, for a radio-friendly format. If you want to run them on your show or podcast, let me know.

My hope is that in under four minutes I can offer readers a concise review and an opportunity to hear the author read from or speak about the work. I'm hoping to offer a new one every week.

The fourteenth episode is a look at Lisa Randall and her new book, 'Knocking on Heaven's Door.'

Here's a link to the MP3 audio file of Episode 13: Time to Read: Lisa Randall, 'Knocking on Heaven's Door.'




10-17-11: A 2011 Interview with Russell Banks

Click image for audio link.

"They are in a sense, permanently marked and thrown into this darkness..."

—Russell Banks

Russell Banks has an air about him that is difficult at first to pin down. He's friendly, yes, and smart, yes, but that's not it, not entirely. After a while, though, it dawns on me. Banks exudes sympathy, a kind of no-nonsense clarity of vision that lets you reveal who you are while he observes everything, takes in everything. It's just what he needs to write about the characters who drive his novels.

I met with Banks upstairs at Bookshop Santa Cruz, and managed to find a much nicer setup for us to talk. Rather than using the couch, I wrangled some big puffy chairs around the corner of a desk and put my mic on the desk. It worked out to make me, at least, much more at ease, since I did not need to worry about mic stability.

Banks is a fascinating writer who understands his own writing process well. He talked about the origins of this story, which unfolded outside of his own window, and about his decision to ratchet the narrative into the almost dreamlike state he achieves. But these are waking dreams inspired by our own inability to ever truly know another person until we see from their eyes. The means we have to do this is reading, which moves us two steps away from life, but somehow infinitely closer. Readers can get closer to this interview by following this link to the MP3 audio file.



New to the Agony Column

09-05-15: Commentary : Susan Casey Listens to 'Voices in the Ocean' : Science, Empathy and Self

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Susan Casey : "...the reporting for this book was emotionally difficult at times..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 213: Susan Casey : Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins

08-24-15: Commentary : Felicia Day Knows 'You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)' : Transformative Technology

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Felicia Day : "I think you have to be attention curators for audience in every way."

08-22-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 212: Felicia Day : You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)

08-21-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report : Senator Claire McCaskill is 'Plenty Ladylike' : Internalizing Determination to Overcome Sexism [Incudes Time to Read EP 211: Claire McCaskill, Plenty Ladylike, plus A 2015 Interview with Senator Claire McCaskill]

Agony Column Podcast News Report : Emily Schultz Unleashes 'The Blondes' : A Cure by Color [Incudes Time to Read EP 210: Emily Schultz, The Blondes, plus A 2015 Interview with Emily Schultz]

08-10-15:Agony Column Podcast News Report : In Memory of Alan Cheuse : Thank you Alan, and Your Family, for Everything

07-11-15: Commentary : Robert Repino Morphs 'Mort(e)' : Housecat to Harbinger of the Apocalypse

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Robert Repino : "...an even bigger threat. which is us, the humans..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 208: Robert Repino : Mort(e)

07-05-15: Commentary : Dr. Michael Gazzaniga Tells Tales from Both Sides of the Brain : A Life in Neuroscience Reveals the Life of Science

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Michael Gazzaniga : "We made the first observation and BAM there was the disconnection effect..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 208: Michael Gazzaniga : Tales from Both Sides of the Brain: A Life in Neuroscience

06-26-15: Commentary : Neal Stephenson Crafts an Eden for 'Seveneves' : Blow It Up and Start All Over Again

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Neal Stephenson : "...and know that you're never going to se a tree again..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 207: Neal Stephenson : Seveneves

06-03-15: Commentary : Dan Simmons Opens 'The Fifth Heart' : Having it Every Way

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Dan Simmons : "...yes, they really did bring those bombs..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 206: Dan Simmons : The Fifth Heart

05-23-15: Commentary : John Waters Gets 'Carsick' : Going His Way

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with John Waters : "...you change how you would be in real life...”

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 205: John Waters : Carsick

05-09-15: Commentary : Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD and 'Shrinks' : A Most Fashionable Take on the Human Mind

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD : "..its influence to be as hegemonic as it was..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 204: Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD : Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry

04-29-15: Commentary : Barney Frank is 'Frank' : Interpersonally Ours

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Barney Frank : "...while you're trying to change it, don't ignore it..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 203: Barney Frank : Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage

04-21-15: Commentary : Kazuo Ishiguro Unearths 'The Buried Giant' : The Mist of Myth and Memory

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Kazuo Ishiguro : ".... by the time I was writing this novel, the lines between what was fantasy and what was real had blurred for me..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 202: Kazuo Ishiguro : The Buried Giant

04-17-15: Commentary : Erik Larson Follows a 'Dead Wake' : Countdown to Destiny

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Erik Larson : "...said to have been found in the arms of a dead German sailor..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 201: Erik Larson : Dead Wake

04-15-15: Commentary : Peter Bell Reflects 'A Certain Slant of Light' : Strange Stories of Modern Scholars

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2014 Interview with Peter Bell : "...I looked up some of the old books..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 200: Peter Bell : Strange Epiphanies and A Certain Slant of Light

03-14-15: Commentary : Marc Goodman Foresees 'Future Crimes' : Exponential Potential

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Marc Goodman : "...every physical object around us is being transformed, one way or another, into an information technology..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 199: Marc Goodman : Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected, Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can Do About It

Commentary & Podcast Archive
Archives Indexes How to use the Agony Column Contact Us About Us