A Modest Construct

The “network’s down here at work” edition

1. Univers Zero • Rêve Cyclique
2. And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead • Wasted State of Mind
3. Old Man Gloom • Something for the Mrs
4. Sondre Lerche • Things You Call Fate
5. Hauschka • Kreuzung
6. Regina Spektor • Somedays
7. Emerson Lake & Palmer • The Sage
8. Grails • Dead Vine Blues
9. Rufus Wainwright • Leaving for Paris No.…

Wired magazine is running a fascinating article about the plight of Hans Reiser.

Hans Reiser is waiting for me, standing on the other side of an imitation-wood table. The room is small, the concrete walls bare. A guard locks the steel door from the outside. There is no sound. Reiser is wearing…

The “Oh no, my cat’s missing! My cat’s back!” edition

1. A Hawk and a Hacksaw • At Dusk
2. Isis • Wrists of Kings
3. Bozzio Levin Stevens • Situation Dangerous
4. Sondre Lerche • John, Let Me Go
5. A Hawk and Hacksaw • God Bless the Ottoman Empire
6. The Snake The Cross The Crown • Gates of Dis
7. Comity • Untitled 89
8. Six Organs of Admittance • Regeneration
9. Do Make…

It’s Superman! by Tom de Haven

Publisher: Chronicle

Year: 2005

Pages: 384

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What is 52 Books in 52 Weeks?

№27

I should preface this review by saying that I’m not a Superman fan. I never read the comics; I never read more than 20 or so pages of The Death and Return of Superman;…

Boomsday by Christopher Buckley

Publisher: Twelve

Year: 2007

Pages: 336

See the rest of this year’s listings

What is 52 Books in 52 Weeks?

№26

I’ve previously covered Christopher Buckley’s book from more than a decade ago, Thank You for Smoking (which was recently turned into a major motion picture that more or less defanged it). I was fascinated with Buckley, wondering…

The Buried Book by David Damrosch

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.

Year: 2007

Pages: 336

See the rest of this year’s listings

What is 52 Books in 52 Weeks?

№25

I’m far from being a historical scholar; I’ve only read Gilgamesh once, and that was years ago. In fact, my interest in history lies more in the development of Northern and…

The “long time away” edition

1. Sörskogen • Mordet i Grottan
2. Mar de Grises • Be Welcome Oh Hideous Hell
3. The Devin Townsend Band • Vampira
4. Sleeping at Last • All That Is Beautiful
5. The Fire Theft • Rubber Bands
6. Cult of Luna • Vague Illusions
7. Jason Mraz • Bella Luna
8. Rachel’s • Water from the Same Source
9. The Spheres • Cordate
10. Giant Squid • Neonante

All I can bring you is…