Everyday everyday everyday sunshine
Before I ever wrote about books, I wrote about music. And before I wrote about music, I just loved it. Like Fishbone. How many times did I see Fishbone play? More than I could count.
That’s why I was delighted that I finagled my way into writing an essay for March Plaidness, the annual contest of literary-music matchups, about Fishbone, given an awkward berth in this year’s contest of Grunge (and its adjacents). There is only 24 hours to vote for the essay/song you love in each contest. If the song advances, there’s another match, yes. But I fear the countdown is on for Fishbone, whose “Sunless Saturday” is right this very moment facing off against “Cannonball” by the Breeders. But if you read and vote maybe it will have a chance to advance to the next round. Don’t delay. The contest ends tomorrow at 11am Eastern, 8am Pacific.
Chances are you signed up for this newsletter because I write about books and have edited other people writing about books and served on committees and whatnot that read books and give a few of them prizes.
Lately I’ve been reviewing mostly nonfiction. I reviewed Paisley Rekdal’s Appropriate for the LA Times and Paul Farmer’s Fevers, Feuds and Diamonds for the Boston Globe.
“Feuds” is one of those words I have to spell 3 times to get right. Also “weird.”
But of course I also love fiction, and one of my great joys last year — a year of few joys — was writing about David Mitchell’s Utopia Avenue (LA Times again) and including a little set of Easter eggs that only one reader emailed me about. They’re not that secret, maybe you’ll spot them. If you do, let me know.
More soon. But for now, Fishbone and I need your help. Go vote!
Carolyn