Once again I’ve jumped into the MarchXness music + essays bracketology, which this year features 32 one-hit-wonders of the ’80s. My song is the brilliantly perfect “Mickey” by the incomparable uncanny valley cheerleader Toni Basil. Who appeared in and choreographed the Monkees movie “Head,” but Mickey is NOT about Mickey Dolenz, she swears.
If you read this before Wednesday morning, you can vote for my essay — which includes that tidbit, plus some folderol about me in high school — over at March Fadness. “Mickey” could be the ultimate ‘80s one-hit-wonder, and it deserves your vote. Don’t you kind of want to watch the video right now? You can over at March Fadness.
Books
Recently I’ve written about Salman Rushdie’s new novel Victory City, the marvelous, clever novel My Nemesis by Charmaine Craig and talked to Rebecca Makkai about her latest blockbuster, I’ve Got Some Questions for You.
House
Someday I’m going to take down a crappy ceiling fan and not find myself faced with a mystery wrapped in a conundrum. Today is not that day.
Upcoming
I’ll be at the L.A. Times Festival of Books in April doing a little moderating but the news of that is still under wraps. More soon, like actually before it happens, really.