NBCC president John Freeman looks at “The Death of the Critic” and concludes that “that eye-catching but perhaps overstated title is a bit of a misnomer.” He’s also been on Minnesota Public Radio this week talking about what he’s reading, and blogging for The Guardian on John updike’s first book, “The Carpentered Hen and Other Light Creatures,” a book of light verse published 50 years ago. And at noon today he picks up the 2008 Association of American Publishers Honors award on behalf of the NBCC. In announcing the award, AAP President and CEO Pat Schroeder said: “Since its founding more than three decades ago, the NBCC has played a central role in this country’s literary dialogue, but never has its voice been stronger or more urgently needed.”
The New York Times visits NBCC winner Nicholson Baker at his home in Maine and helps him lug books back to the library.
Michiko Kakutani loves “Lush Life,” the new novel from Richard Price, the subject of this week’s Critical Mass “In Retrospect.”
NBCC member Adam Kirsch compares Clinton and Obama “by the book.”
NBCC finalist Michael Chabon remembers being a boy.
NBCC member Leora Skolkin-SmithR#8217;s novel “Edges,” which was published by Grace Paley’s press, has a movie in the making, to be called “The Fragile Mistress.”