Day: June 3, 2011

Follow Up: Lawrence Block Reading/Signing

Last post on Lawrence Block was here, referring to Ken Tucker posting at Entertainment Weekly about Block’s appearance on the Craig Ferguson show.

Thursday night – went to Partners & Crime for Lawrence Block’s book reading/signing.  I had a great time!  The reading and the Q&A were terrific; and I admired how Block was pretty even-handed about the e-book development (at least, from what I could tell; he was right about how the development is still not clear, especially about pricing, but it has been great for bringing back older books). 

In addition to signing my purchased copy of his A Drop of the Hard Stuff (the latest Matthew Scudder book, but apparently a good entry for new Scudder readers – which would include me, since I’m behind on many things), Block signed my copy of Telling Lies for Fun & Profit!  I can’t stop highly recommending this book, not just because it’s such a great title, but because there are great fiction writing tips. Block did say, though, that he felt Spider, Spin Me a Web was the better writing book, because it goes deeper into writing topics; either way, his tips are good stuff and he’ll be issuing more compilations of his Writer’s Digest columns (I think in ebook format).  Yay!

I’m eager to read the Scudder book – the Block tone is rich stuff as I noted previously, after reading The Girl With the Long Green Heart. 

See here for Amazon’s Lawrence Block page.

Plus, it never ceases to me how much great stuff is at Partners & Crime; I haven’t been there in so long, but I can’t seem to leave without buying something. Ah, those unique Lower Manhattan bookstores…

(cross-posted on sswslitinmotion.tumblr.com)

June Already?

Last Friday: saw Kung Fu Panda 2. Great movie – entertaining; great art. I thought it was missing a scene (plot-wise), but otherwise fun. However, I do wonder if 3D is going to be everything…

Emil Guillermo posts on the AALDEF blog about the retirement of Shaquille O’Neal (recalling the anti-Asian problems of Shaq) and the possible side effects of Goodwin Liu’s withdrawal; Guillermo notes:

I’m concerned for the young legal minds out there who may take D’Affaire Liu as the way not to act. Speaking out on behalf of the generally silent community? Against the nomination of Samuel Alito? Against the nomination of John Roberts?  What? And jeopardize my career?

But I’m also concerned for Asian Americans in general, who have trouble enough being what I call “Public Asians.” Voting? You mean taking a stand in a private booth?

It’s too easy for Asian Americans to lay back and do nothing. So when a Goodwin Liu stands up and loses, you’ll inevitably hear someone mention that age old quote about the nail that sticks out. The virtue of docility. You never get hammered.

But you never get to nail anyone either.

Dare to be the nail.

Hat tip to Angry Asian Man: the passing of Matt Fong, the first Asian American Republican elected to state-wide office in California; see also the obit in the L.A. Times.

Korean grocers are slowly decreasing in the demographics of NYC, as they decide (or their kids decide) not to continue the family businesses; as the article by Sam Dolnick notes, this is similar to the dilemma faced by other demographics of NYC-immigrant communities, such as the Italians and the Jews.

Last but not least: New York’s night court drama (particularly in small claims court) shall continue, despite cutbacks.