"...so much has been written about Harry Houdini..." —Steven Galloway
Steven Galloway is upbeat and outgoing from the moment we meet at KQED to talk about his novel 'The Confabulist.' He seems more like a guy on vacation than an author on tour.
For, me it is a vacation to talk to Galloway about his Houdini-oriented novel. I've read a bit about the famous man, but not much, and Galloway's novel is exciting, informative and, now and again, speculative about Houdini's life. Of course, there are lots of twists to be found here, and the devil in the details is to talk about the novel without giving away the best parts.
The matter at hand, magic itself, does provide a really interesting topic, especially as dissected by Galloway. Galloway has created a sort of breakdown of what stage magic is and how it works on us and what we bring to the show. Galloway's insights into magic are at the core of the novel and he has some very unique thoughts on the matter.
There's also the technology of magic as opposed to the act of magic. Magic tech is fascinating because the trend is generally to find simple ways to create complex illusions. Galloway discusses some of this in the book, and I was intrigueds to talk to him both about the tech and his feelings about revealing the tech.
Much of Houdini's life is in the public domain, so to speak, and what makes the book work so well is Galloway's skill at evoking the man in a manner that brings him to life for those of us in the 21st century. Galloway and were easily able to spend some time talking about the extensive writing already in existence about Houdini, including his own many journals and autobiographies. Of course, one aspect of Houdini's character was that he created himself as a character from whole cloth out of the life of Erich Weiss.
I must admit that I was struck in my recent interviews by the similarities, in this regard, between Mark Twain, Charles Lindbergh and Harry Houdini. Each of these men made major contributions to our modern concept of "fame." Where would civilization be without them?
The political essay is a lot harder to write these days, given that the facts behind any assertion have become so malleable. But we're lucky enough to have Thomas Frank, author of 'The Wrecking Crew' and 'Pity the Billionaire' on the job, and in his latest essay for his new home at Salon.com, "Off With Their Heads!" — the facts, they just keep on coming.
Thomas has such a great sensibility, and it's fun to talk to him because you can hear his prose voice in his spoken voice. There's a certain breezy intelligence, a playful perspective that just gets me laughing from the get-go and I pretty much don't stop till the conversation's over, and even after I get the giggles.
This time around, we're back in the current (in)version of the French Revolution, where the peasants are standing up for the wealthiest, because, well, they're brothers in arms. It's a game of continual overthrow, a scenario where the equal are replaced by more equal whoa re replaced by even more equal, and so on, into infinity — and beyond!
06-18-14 UPDATE:Podcast Update: Time to Read Episode 167: Steven Galloway, 'The Confabulist'
Click image for audio link.
Houdini and an unknown "confabulist"? Who could resist? Not Me!
Here's the one-hundred sixty-seventh episode of my series of podcasts, which I'm calling Time to Read. Hitting the two-year mark, I'm going to make an effort to stay ahead, so that podcast listeners can get the same sort of "sneak preview" effect that radio listeners get each Friday morning. This week, I seem to be on top opf the game, but who knows what the hell might happen. I am hoping to stay back up and stumbling.
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 one-hundred sixty-seventh episode is a look at Steven Galloway and 'The Confabulist.'
"..but it was as nothing compared to the noise of planes landing..."
—Geoff Dyer
I was intrigued with 'Another Great Day Day At Sea' pretty much from the moment it landed in my hands. Geoff Dyer's prose voice was delightful and the subject seemed so odd and yet so obviously fascinating.
This wasn't my first experience with Dyer, though. I'd read another odd little book by him titled 'Zona,' about one of my favorite movies of all time, Stalker, by Andrei Tarkovsky, based on the novel 'Roadside Picnic' by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky.
I did manage to keep my focus (mostly) on the matter directly to hand, and talking about Dyer's book was as fun as reading it. Here's an interview where hearing the author's voice will enable you to hear him speak when you read the book. We did make certain to talk about the book in a manner that left reading the book more appealing. Once you hear Dyer speak, you'll hear him tell you the whole story as you read the book.
For such a small book, there was a lot to talk about and the hour flew past. Dyer was a great sport, having just left one interview with the superstars to come talk with the podunk local guy.
I have to say Dyer was a bit surprised when I brought up 'Zona,' but there are not a lot of people who even know about the movie, much less revere it in the manner that Dyer (and I) do. Dyer's book is a fascinating look at the power of art, and a hall of mirrors for anyone who is interested in how art makes you, well — human.
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]
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..."
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 : 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
