Annie Proulx's new collection of short stories Fine Just the Way It Is is getting good reviews--with a common element. The New York Times says, "Her sense of story is admirable, her sentences are artful, and she writes like a demon. " The folks at the New West book review also smell brimstone. They say, … Continue reading Wyoming… Hell on Earth?

The finalists for the 2008 Man Booker Prize have been announced. The six contenders areAravind Adiga--The White TigerSebastian Barry--The Secret ScriptureAmitav Ghosh--Sea of PoppiesLinda Grant--The Clothes on Their BacksPhilip Hensher--The Northern ClemencySteve Toltz--A Fraction of the WholeWhat's most unusual about this year's shortlist is who's not on it. Salman Rushdie's longlisted book Enchantress of Florence … Continue reading Booker Shortlist Announced

Photographer David Maisel's new book, Library of Dust, has just been published. Its eighty photos depict copper canisters, each of which holds the unclaimed, cremated remains of a patient at the Oregon State Hospital.--David E(With thanks to Book Patrol, who got it from the inimitable boingboing.net.)