Recently I was reminded what an incredible writer Jonathan Lethem is. The New Yorker magazine ran a short story of his a week or two back called “The King of Sentences”.  The story is amazing and points out how talented and versatile the author is. In short fiction I find I like at least three out of five of his stories. There are only a few other people I can honestly say that about.  Also in novella format he is strong. For example read “As She Climbed Across The Table”. Just right as a short novel.
I have heard people say they had trouble getting into “The Fortress Of Solitude” which is his biggest and best work. It to be one of the most memorable books I ever read, but I can understand it is not for everybody, or perhaps just not for all occasions. This book changed how I regarded fiction. I think back to my favorite parts often, but I can see that many readers would be more comfortable with “Motherless Brooklyn”. The ease with which he tells a story is elegant, his characters vivid and unique, but not caricatures  in any way, though odd characters they certainly may be.
Jonathan Lethem makes for good read-aloud material also. Hearing his sentences, his words aloud lets the listen hear how perfectly matched and balanced the language of the stories actually is. Which is your favorite?

by – Doug Mathewson

I completely love music. Music provides incredible secret worlds in which to imagine. It is so interesting to see how musically talented people creates such beauty . While I enjoy music very much I do not write about it. While it is dear to me, all I can offer is fan opinion. “I like to drive fast when I listen to this” or “it makes me sad and romantic when I listen to that”. ” I love listening to The White Stripes, Amy Winehouse, Archade Fire and others, but so do a lot of people. It is not news. I have nothing intelligent or interesting to add. Nothing insightful to say.
Let me now make an exception. Please listen to Rasputina. Info at www.rasputina.com also see their www.wikipedia.com entry. As the bands website states it is all about cellos and corsets. They are loud, musically aggressive, discordant, punk in spirt, and lovely. Their musical style matches their “steam punk” appearance. Over the edge Victorian without the vampire campiness. They seem to arrive from the worlds of Paul D’Filippo. They could well be in opening act in favorite story of his “Little Worker”.
Buy Rasputina’s music, visit them online, look at their images, see if they have a recital scheduled near you. They are a must have for anyone who love cello music, but finds classical too limiting in structure.

by – Doug Mathewson

The attacks were sudden. Nobody knew. Some died at first, most died later on. What is left of the government blogs daily. Why we few are immune is unknown. But here we are. The rest are dead and gone. It’s quiet on our street now. Outside the kids make “Ash Angels” in the radioactive dust.

by- Doug Mathewson

“The Bird Artist” by Howard Norman is a well written and intriguing account of a small Newfoundland village around 1910. The characters are direct and unadorned but far from simple. This could well be a stripped down prequel to Annie Proulx’s “Shipping News”. The story has a very strong meter or cadence in both character development and language. I found myself engaged in the story from the very first paragraph. The ending might be a little weak, but I liked how things worked out and would recommend this book highly.

little2say.org is launching a new page today. One that I hope would be used as a writers resource. I dislike web site that have sophomoric features like Valet Parking, Admit One Tickets, or Operators Standing By. It is just “too cute”. That having been said here is “Lost and Found” Many story ideas come to me that I do not develop. Maybe I like the idea, but just do not feel moved to write about it, or have nothing thoughtful to say on the topic. Story ideas will be posted here and available to anyone who would like to use them. Posting these stories at little2say.org is always an option. In no way is this a contest. I once had commercial web site that ran contests and would only do it again for solid mid-six-figures. Comments on this idea are most welcome.