April 19, 2013
by Dan
0 comments
Making Bird Noises — Dwight Garner profiles novelist John Le Carré, for the New York Times: In his lesser books, le Carré’s prose can thin out perilously, but at his best, he’s among the finest writers alive. There’s a reason … Continue reading
May 4, 2012
by Dan
0 comments
Under Paul Buckley’s art direction at Penguin US, UK-based illustrator Matt Taylor has produced two more stunning John le Carré covers. The type and design is by Gregg Kulick. You can see the previous covers in the series here, and, … Continue reading
March 5, 2012
by Dan
1 Comment
It is all hands to the pump at The Optimist HQ right now (meetings, deadlines, house maintenance, and vomit-propelled kids), but apologies for the missing links on Friday. Here’s a very quick Monday round-up to make up for it: Designer Stuart … Continue reading
November 16, 2011
by Dan
0 comments
Book Sniffing – Six writers on their book collecting habits, including Gary Shteyngart: I’m big on sniffing books. The old Soviet ones really have this strong smell, reminding me, for some reason, of tomato soup in a cheap Soviet cafeteria. Fear … Continue reading
September 14, 2011
by Dan
0 comments
Creative Review takes a look at the cover designs for the books shortlisted for the Booker Prize, including this beauty by the mighty Jon Gray for Jamrach’s Menagerie by Carol Birch. Let’s Get Critical — Long-form cultural criticism, essays and reviews, curated … Continue reading