A Few Things

• This interview with Gore Vidal in the New York Times is pure reading enjoyment:

How did you feel when you heard that Buckley died this year? I thought hell is bound to be a livelier place, as he joins forever those whom he served in life, applauding their prejudices and fanning their hatred.

Do you read a lot of contemporary fiction these days? Like everyone else, no, I don’t.

• Bookgasm is a fun site that reviews fun books, books like Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow and Kill Whitey, by Brian Keene. (Thanks to Anne for both of these links!)

• Joseph O'Neill at Vroman's last night:

We have several signed first edition copies of O'Neill's Netherland in stock. They didn't do a huge print run of this, so these first editions are actually pretty rare (They're already on the third printing). Email me if you want to order a signed first.

Collectors are crazy about his book, and after last night's reading, I can see why. He read a beautiful passage describing a rooftop party during the blackout of 2003. The Millions is running dueling reviews of O'Neill's book. Be sure to read the comments on Kevin Hartnett's review.