This week, the literary world was abuzz with the news of the reconciliation of Salman Rushdie and John le Carré after fifteen years of enmity, though we have to admit, we’re a little disappointed. You just don’t get that many good literary feuds these days, what with all the excessive apologizing and proper behavior (or maybe it’s just that there’s not enough drinking), and Rushdie is one of the last living writers ready for a dust-up, even if it’s just with Facebook. Still, we know our mothers would tell us that it’s better to be friends than enemies, so after the jump, we present a short list of famous literary feuds that went sweet and ended in truces. Click through to get the warm and fuzzies, and let us know who we missed in the comments. … Read More
Mario Vargas Llosa
10 New Must-Reads for June
It’s finally the first month of summer (whether it’s officially summer yet or not), which to us means lots of new excuses to hang out and read — look, it’s something you can do outside that doesn’t involve exercise and socializing, and sometimes that’s just the ticket. Plus, with all those extra hours of sunlight, you’re out of reasons not to spend at least a couple with your nose in a novel. Whatever your poison — biography, blockbuster fiction, graphic novels, or tales about the end of the world — we’ve got the perfect book to be your companion through the long days and warm nights. Click through to check out the books we’re most excited about this month, and let us know which ones you can’t wait to read in the comments. … Read More
Contemporary Authors We Think We’ll Still Be Reading in 100 Years
Earlier this week, we read a fascinating article over at The New Yorker that asked the question, “why is literary fame so unpredictable?” Apparently, in 1929, the readers of The Manchester Guardian were asked to vote on the authors they thought would still be read widely in 2029, and their top choice was John Galsworthy, who — though he won the Nobel Prize for The Forsyte Saga in 1932 — is now relatively unknown, or at least not very popular. The article goes on to discuss the difficulty in making predictions of literary prestige over long periods of time, noting a couple things that might give clues (a staunch but small readership of fellow authors, for one). While we concur that this kind of thing often rests on chance, fashion and unforeseeable future circumstance, we thought we’d take a stab at rounding up a few of the contemporary (read: living) authors we think we might still be reading in 100 years. Click through to see our predictions, and let us know your own in the comments. … Read More
A History of Fist-Fueled Author Feuds
Even some of literature’s most iconic authors were responsible for behavior more befitting a barroom brawl than intellectual provocation. In Writers Gone Wild, Bill Peschel has culled together the most notorious embarrassments, love affairs, and addictions of beloved literary heroes. In honor of the infamous feud that overshadowed recent Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa’s relationship with fellow laureate Gabriel García Márquez for 30 years, here are five other instances where the sword pulverized the less-than-mighty pen. … Read More
Mario Vargas Llosa Finally Wins the Nobel Prize in Literature
In contrast to the widespread puzzlement that characterized Herta Mueller’s Nobel Prize win last year, the international response to Mario Vargas Llosa’s honor is hardly one of surprise. Consistently topping out the Academy’s rumored short-list, the Peruvian author’s long-overdue tribute breaks a Euro-centric spell that has overly privileged European writers in the past six years. It is also the first time since Gabriel García Marquez’s win in 1982 that a South American author has won the prestigious prize — a fact made all the more timely with the recent news of Granta’s first ever “Best of Young Spanish-Language Novelists” issue. … Read More
The Morning's Top 5 Pop Culture Stories
1. Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa has been awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. He is the first South American to win the prize since Gabriel Garcia Marquez in 1982. [via NYT]
2. Christina Hendricks once sold a ticket to Johnny Depp’s birthday party for $50 in order to have money to… Read More
Recent Features
- 13h
- 14h
-
15h
The 10 Best Songs We Heard This Week: Boards of Canada, Talking Heads
-
15h
So Bad It's Good: Vintage '70s Cheese in 'Avenging Disco Godfather'
- 16h
-
17h
Exclusive Infographic: Which 'Arrested Development' Character Are You?
-
17h
The Extraordinary Liberace Deserves Better Than Textbook Gay Biopic 'Behind the Candelabra'
-
18h
The Most Hilariously Bizarre 'Arrested Development' Merch on Etsy
-
18h
Flavorwire Exclusive: Alissa Nutting on Her Favorite Short Story
- 19h
Popular Posts
- 2d
- 2d
Exclusive Supercut: All The 'Arrested Development' "Chicken" Dances - 2d
- 4d
20 Highbrow Books to Read on the Beach This Summer
11 Shows That Wouldn't Exist Without 'Arrested Development'
The 20 Most Beautiful Libraries on Film and TV



