Books, Design and Culture
Writer and music critic Tom Piazza discusses his new collection of essays, Devil Sent the Rain: Music and Writing in Desperate America, on NPR’s Weekend Edition:
NPR WEEKEND EDITION: Tom Piazza Devil Sent the Rain mp3
(via Largehearted Boy)
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Author and comics writer Grant Morrison talks about superheroes and his new book Supergods with NPR’s All Things Considered:
NPR ALL THINGS CONSIDERED: Grant Morrison Supergods
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As follow up to yesterday’s post, here’s Mike Dempsey in conversation with industrial designer Kenneth Grange in a fascinating interview for the RSA from 2009:
RCA: Kenneth Grange 2009 Interview
Comments closedGoing to the library is one of my earliest memories. I don’t remember much about the books, but I remember the building — its steps and its smell — and I remember the funny pinkish orange library tickets for children. I think I could take out three books at once.
I also remember that the library was not that close to where we first lived. We must have gone on the bus. It was surely an adventure for me, but a pain for my parents.
We’re more fortunate now. My family and I can walk to the library. It takes about 5 minutes — longer if we are distracted by a friendly dog or the need to jump off a wall.
I borrow picture books and music for their kids; books, comics, DVD and CDs for me. I request most of things from the library website. I can do it whenever something comes to mind or I read about it online. The books (and it is mostly books if I am honest) come from libraries across the city and I get a call at home when they arrive at my branch. I don’t know how many books I can borrow at once — I’ve never hit my limit (not for lack of trying, however) — but I must have at least 7 or 8 things out at the moment. It is an amazing service.
Our library is always busy — no matter the time of day — with people of all ages and from all walks of life. Some, like me, are borrowing books, movies or music. Others are reading newspapers and magazines. Some are making use of the programs that the library runs. Some are using the only computers they probably have any access to.
But here in Toronto, as in many towns and cities in the UK and US, library cuts are now being seriously discussed by politicians who do not appreciate their value to neighbourhoods and who apparently wouldn’t recognise Margaret Atwood on the street. It is hard to imagine they have visited to a library recently, let alone made use of its services.
On yesterday’s CBC news show The Current there was a lengthy and interesting discussion of libraries and their future. Contributors included librarian Ken Roberts, local councillor Sarah Doucette, and Julia Donaldson, the UK’s Children’s Laureate and author of The Gruffalo:
CBC RADIO THE CURRENT: Whither the Library?
If you live in Toronto, you can sign an online petition in support of the public library system here.
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Author George Pelecanos talks to NPR’s Morning Edition about race, class and setting all his novels in Washington, DC:
NPR MORNING EDITION: Taking On Crime In A Racially Divided D.C.
George Pelecanos’ new novel The Cut is released later this month.
(via Largehearted Boy)
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The late Dame Muriel Spark, author of Memento Mori, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The Ballad of Peckham Rye among others, talks to Eleanor Wachtel about her life and work in this archive interview for Writers & Company from 1999:
CBC RADIO WRITERS AND CO: Muriel Spark
Muriel Spark died in 2006 at the age of 88. The cover art in the image above is by Terence Greer.
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Author and journalist Dorian Lynskey talks about his book 33 Revolutions per Minute: A History of Protest Songs with Ramona Koval on The Book Show:
THE BOOK SHOW: Dorian Lynskey — The History of the Protest Song
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Pentagram partner Angus Hyland has designed book covers for Canongate, Penguin and others. On the latest Design Matters podcast, Hyland discusses childhood brand recognition, Tintin, music, dyslexia, book design and his new book Symbol, co-authored with Steven Bateman, with host Debbie Millman:
Disclosure: Symbol is published by Laurence King and distributed in Canada by my employer Raincoast Books.
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In another great archive interview for Writers & Company, author David Lodge talks to Eleanor Wachtel about artificial intelligence, consciousness and his 2002 novel Thinks:
CBC RADIO WRITERS & COMPANY: David Lodge, Think
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Author Henning Mankell talks to Harriett Gilbert about Faceless Killers, the first novel featuring Inspector Kurt Wallander, for the BBC World Book Club:
BBC WORLD BOOK CLUB: Henning Mankell
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Paula Fox, storied author of Desperate Characters, talks about writing and her memoir Borrowed Finery with Eleanor Wachtel in this archive interview for Writers & Company from 2002:
CBC RADIO WRITERS & COMPANY: Paula Fox Interview 2002
The cover above, from Fox’s collection of stories and essays News From the World published earlier this year by W. W. Norton, was designed by Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich.
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