Michael dirda book recommendations

Michael dirdas picks include alberto manguels packing my library and revenge of the nerd, by the actor who played booger. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Mysteries, science fiction and classics sure to delight all the book lovers in your. Michael dirda is a weekly book columnist for the washington post and the author, most recently, of browsings. Jan 10, 2012 we asked michael dirda to select books of the past 50 years that will be remembered a half century from now. In these delightful essays, pulitzer prize winner michael dirda introduces nearly ninety of the worlds most entertaining books. Dec 11, 2017 michael dirdas wondrous holiday book recommendations. For more than fortyfive years she has been steadily producing novels, short stories, poems, essays, plays. Which is perfectly fine, because what hes assembled is a fine little meditation on reading and life that makes an accessible and inspiring way. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world and the author of the memoir an open book and of four collections of essays. Michael dirda pulitzer prizewinning critic, writer and lifelong sherlockian gives us his personal choice of the best sherlock holmes books and tells us more about their creator.

Michael dirda is a fulbright fellowship recipient and pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world. Michael dirda in 2009 amelia beamerlocus publications michael dirda born 1948 is a book critic for the washington post. A year of reading, collecting, and living with books new york. But in 50 years, they will have done something new that the next generation will appreciate in ways we cant predict. Pettit discuss the storytelling of sir arthur conan doyle. Arthur conan doyle wrote 56 short stories and four novels starring his fictional sleuth. Michael dirda is a columnist for the washington post book world. Currently, he is a book columnist for the post in 2002, dirda was invested as a member of the baker street. The wand of the enchanter by michael dirda the new. We asked michael dirda to select books of the past 50 years that will be remembered a half century from now. Mar 16, 2017 join us march 23 to hear book columnist michael dirda and rosenbach programs manager edward g.

From the outset of this easyreading book, its clear dirda invested a lot of time and thought. Classics for pleasure by michael dirda zezee with books. In 1978 dirda started writing for the washington post. Since i was broke with no job prospects, i thought it best to spend my time reading the classics. Joyce carol oates still bothers peoplein all kinds of ways. Recommendations for a different sort of beach read. Books of 2019, featuring our favorite reads in more than a dozen categories.

He is the author of the memoir an open book 2003 and several collections of essays, including book by book 2005 and classics for pleasure 2007. Dec 17, 2017 in the washington post, michael dirda recommended books as presents. Between the beginning of 2000 and the end of 2005 she published nineteen books. Writing with affection as well as authority, dirda covers masterpieces of fantasy and science fiction, horror and adventure, as well as epics, history, essay, and childrens literature. The article was michael dirdas wondrous holiday book recommendations. Michael dirda books list of books by author michael dirda. For some time now, the best book critic in america has been michael dirda. In this casually brilliant collection of great book recommendations, dirda, a pulitzer prizewinning critic for the washington post book world, discusses titles ranging from wellknown. The sophie kerr prize is awarded annually to the graduating washington college senior judged to show the most literary ability and promise and is based on portfolios submitted by the students. A year of reading, collecting, and living with books. Even if the book recommendations and used book shops are not inherently of interest, theres something fascinating in reading whatever a brilliant critic wants to write about. I first read this book last year when i rescued it from a borders sale. From pulitzer prizewinning book critic michael dirda comes a collection of his. Sep 20, 2012 my views changed after reading michael dirdas classics for pleasure.

Join us march 23 to hear book columnist michael dirda and rosenbach programs manager edward g. One of my favourite images is from a memory of a long ago book buying trip in upstate new york, where he found a booksellers office that was half book barn, half gentlemans study, and. Norton, 2003 winner of the 2004 ohioana award for nonfiction. Nov 27, 2017 dirda is a bookbuyer par excellence and there are many enjoyable accounts and rationalisations of his fruitful browsings in used bookstores. Two collections of dirdas literary journalism have been published. May 02, 2006 book by book is a goulash of recommendations, opinions, quotations and other gems of literary, visual and musical arts michael dirda has compiled or written. Isaak, 1894 1940 russian literature russian fiction russo polish war 1919 1920 soviet union. Dirda is a bookbuyer par excellence and there are many enjoyable accounts and rationalisations of his fruitful browsings in used bookstores. Organized by significant life events and abounding with quotations from great writers and thinkers, book by book showcases dirdas capacious love for and understanding of books. She has written over seven hundred short stories, more than maupassant, kipling, and chekhov. A pulitzer prizewinning critics often surprising meditation on those places where life and books.

I cant begin to tell you how many books ive bought based on dirdas recommendations. A popular lecturer and commencement speaker, he lives with his family in silver spring, maryland. Readings, bound to please, book by book and classics for pleasure. Michael dirda, a book columnist for the washington post, received the 1993 pulitzer prize for criticism. A year of reading, collecting and living with books will be published in book form in 2015. Home services handpicked professionals happiness guarantee.

Michael dirda born 1948, a fulbright fellowship recipient, is a pulitzer prizewinning critic. Washington post book critic and author dirda shares his recent reading. Washington post book critic baby boomer from lorain, ohio michael dirda was impressed by the eclectic list put together by mustich during a 14 year period of research. The gloomier essays, though, are still peppered with dirda s charm. Winner of the 2012 edgar award for best criticalbiographical work. A positively, final appearance ending up book projects money a dreamers tale let us now praise dover books books for the holidays christmas reading in praise of small presses poe and.

Anyways, classics for pleasure is a great source if youre seeking recommendations of what classics to read. Dirdas latest volume collects fifty of his witty and wide. Mar 24, 2009 washington post book critic and author dirda shares his recent reading. Michael dirdas picks include alberto manguels packing my library and. From the outset of this easyreading book, its clear dirda invested a lot of time and thought in preparing this broad compendium of his favorites. Dec, 2019 michael dirda, a book columnist for the washington post, received the 1993 pulitzer prize for criticism. The wand of the enchanter by michael dirda the new york. Michael dirda, a longtime staff writer for the washington post book world, received the 1993 pulitzer prize for criticism.

We asked michael dirda to select books of the past 50 years that will be remembered a half. Recently, i realized that i hardly ever read good literature. He is the author of a memoir, five collections of essays, and a prizewinning book about arthur conan doyle. From a first reading of beckett and faulkner at the feet of an inspirational high. He is the author of the memoir an open book and of four collections of essays. Its essays originally appeared on the home page of the american scholar. His latest book, on conan doyle, was published in 2011 by princeton university press. Jul 20, 2014 while i was at readercon, i had a chance to sit down with the washington posts pulitzer prize winning critic michael dirda to talk about science fiction and fantasy dirda has long been a reader. Reading this book is like having a chat with a great friend, you know the. Book recommendations for people who like red cavalry by isaac babel, michael dirda. Book by book is a goulash of recommendations, opinions, quotations and other gems of literary, visual and musical arts michael dirda has compiled or written. The gloomier essays, though, are still peppered with dirdas charm. Augustus carp, by himself henry howarth bashford 5.

Dirda was the keynote speaker at a special event at baltimores enoch pratt free library on the evening of may 14. A brief divergence from the historicalpolitical books this week i read the latest john dunning mystery and gregory maguires confessions of an ugly stepsister over the weekend, to comment on book critic michael dirdas newest work, book by book. Sorted into 11 categories loves mysteries, lives of consequence, etc. All that kid wants to do is stick his nose in a book, lamented steelworker eugene dirda about his son michael, a shy, bespectacled boy who preferred the pages of thoreau to dating or sports.

I suspect that these, for the most part, strike us today as strange, idiosyncratic, he says. In the washington post, michael dirda recommended books as presents. Michael dirdas wondrous holiday book recommendations the. After earning a phd in comparative literature from cornell university, the joined the washington post in 1978. A year of reading, collecting, and living with books by michael dirda online at alibris. Having studied at oberlin college for his undergraduate degree in 1970, dirda took an m.

Each entry includes a brief and eloquent essay on the book and offers suggestions for further reading, as well as recommendations for audio versions and film adaptations. With its short, snappy chapters, book lust is a must for any serious readers bedside table, a literary nightcap sure to prompt sweet dreams. A popular lecturer and commencement speaker, he lives with his family in. Then i discovered a series of books by michael dirda, literary critic for the washington post. Life among the original anticonsumerists in grant hotel abyss october 6, 2016 at 3. Michael dirdas wondrous holiday book recommendations. Michael dirda of the washington post discusses his science fiction reading list. Favoring showing as much as telling, dirda draws us deeper into the classics, as well as lesserknown works of literature, history, and philosophy, always with an eye. This was a book dirda had read before, and the kind of glossy candy hed just advised me to avoid. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning critic for the washington post and the author of several collections of essays, including classics for pleasure and. He has been a fulbright fellow and won a pulitzer prize in 1993. Michael dirda is currently considered a single author. A useful little collection of quotes, short essays, lists and commentary, this book will find a. I like books and i like lists and im a baby boomer so ive got a bucket list, which is why this book got my attention.