February 19, 2008
Forthcoming Jewish books
A few interesting titles coming out in the next few months:
• Cynthia Ozick has a new collection of four stories coming out in April called “Diction: A Quartet.” I’m already intrigued by the description of the title story. According to Publishers Weekly, the tale “follows the female secretaries of Henry James and Joseph Conrad, both of whom take dictation from the two egoist titans. When the authors meet in London, their two amanuenses collude to make their own mark on their masters’ work; in so doing, they exalt, with an undeniably sexual glee, that they will thus attain immortality.”
• Michael Chabon’s first book of nonfiction, “Maps and Legends,” will be published by McSweeney’s in May (that’s according to the listing on Amazon; McSweeney’s Web site says February). The book has been described thusly:
Michael Chabon’s sparkling first book of nonfiction is a love song in 16 parts: a series of linked essays in praise of reading and writing, with subjects ranging from ghost stories to comic books, from Sherlock Holmes to Cormac McCarthy. Throughout, Chabon energetically argues for a return to the thrilling, chilling origins of storytelling, rejecting the false walls around “serious” literature in favor of a wide-ranging affection.
Sounds like Chabon is still on his don’t-fence-me-into-serious-literature kick.
• In honor of the 125th anniversary of Franz Kafka‘s birth, Penguin Classics will publish a new translation of “Metamorphosis” at the end of this month. This version was translated by Michael Hofmann.
• Lara Vapnyar, author of the 2003 short story collection, “There Are Jews in My House,” will have another short story collection published in June. Her new book will be called “Broccoli and Other Tales of Food and Love.” But, if you look closely at the cover, you will notice that the word “broccoli” is missing. According to the broccoli photographer, that was done on purpose.
• Last, but certainly not least, my old friend Benyamin Cohen has just completed work on his first book, “My Jesus Year: A Rabbi’s Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of Faith.” Back in the day, Benyamin and I worked together as cub reporters at the Atlanta Jewish Times. We’ve both moved on to other ventures but we’ve stayed in touch over the years and I’m happy to say that he’s promised me one of the first copies of his book when it comes out. For those of you who are not on such familiar terms with Benyamin, you can follow the above link to Amazon and pre-order your copy.
Of course, you can also read lots of Benyamin’s writing at the magazine he edits, American Jewish Life. Or, check out Benyamin dishing all the latest Jewish celebrity gossip on The Yada Yada Yada blog.