THE BIG SLEEP by Raymond Chandler

Reviewed by Ryan Bradley

An old millionaire named General Sternwood lies on his deathbed. His two daughters rack up gambling debts, fall into blackmail plots, get men killed and see men killed. They giggle, bat their eyelashes, sway their hips, and jump into bed with all the racketeers and two-bit hoodlums that populate the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles circa 1939. Rain pours, daylight rarely comes, and Philip Marlow—private eye—attempts to undo the damage the Sternwood girls have wrought. “The Big Sleep” is death. That is, to sleep the big sleep is to die. It is a hard, harsh world that Raymond Chandler manifests, one in which the hero (Marlow) limps home, alone, to nurse a bottle of whiskey and never gets the girl. (more…)

Ben Dolnick’s Zoology

For a first time novelist Ben Dolnick is sure getting a lot of press. His debut effort, Zoology, the story of college student Henry Elinsky who moves back in with his parents and takes a job at the Central Park Zoo after flunking out of college, has garnered largely positive reviews. In publications ranging from The Boston Globe, OK!, Radar Magazine, to the The Los Angeles Times Zoology is characterized as a warm, relatable, coming of age tale. Which can’t be all bad for Dolnick’s burgeoning career. Check out the reviews and check out the book, which is sure to be a fun summer read.

THE HOTTEST STATE, coming to a screen/ipod near you

Add another notch to Ethan Hawke’s belt. The actor, writer, and now second time director is bringing his 1997 debut novel, The Hottest State, to a screen near you. Hawke wrote, directed, and stars in the semi-autobiographical film, which is expected to hit theaters on August 24th. While the jury is still out on whether the film is good, (so far it’s made the rounds at the Venice Film Festival and at Cannes) the accompanying soundtrack is sure to be. Featuring songs from artists including Willie Nelson, Norah Jones, Cat Power, and Feist, the soundtrack will be coming out on August 7th.

 Hottest State Soundtrack

THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE by Haruki Murakami

Reviewed by Francisca Hu

Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is an ominously dreamlike and contemplative look at the powerful reach of evil and those who are scarred by its effects. The story begins with the seemingly ordinary disappearance of a household cat. Toru Okada, an unemployed man uncertain of his purpose in life, is given the task of finding the cat by his malcontented and distant wife, who also takes off without any explanation shortly after the novel starts.

(more…)

THE UNBINDING by Walter Kirn

Reviewed by Melissa Fish

Let’s face it – I’m a sucker for novelty. That, in fact, is what first piqued my interest in Walter Kirn’s : its format is so utterly unique. Kirn first published the novel in January 2006, not in hard-copy format, but as an “Internet novel”, with new updates added every week. Taking full advantage of all the bizarre, interesting, and slightly creepy phenomena available on the Internet, Kirn provides links at certain phrases throughout the story to different videos or websites, some of which seem totally irrelevant and others absolutely crucial to the understanding of the plot. An interactive book! I thought. If nothing else, this will be fun! And it certainly was fun; the prose is very accessible, the plot is infused with intrigue, the characters are quirky, and the web links provide their own continual entertainment.
(more…)