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Schumacher Literary Hall of Fame

Here is a list of fiction writers who are among my personal favorites (with a representative book listed alongside). These are not the usual suspects, but some of the lesser-known writers I like. Richard Yates, "Revolutionary Road"; John Fante, "Ask the Dust"; Nelson Algren, "The Man with the Golden Arm"; Frederick Exley, "A Fan's Notes"; Charles Portis, "The Dog of the South"; John Williams, "Stoner"; Patrick Hamilton, "Hangover Square"; Richard Russo, "Empire Falls"; Richard Ford, "The Sportswriter"; Don DeLillo, "White Noise"; Jim Harrison, "True North"; Raymond Carver, "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?"; Willy Vlautin, "The Motel Life"; Michael Chabon, "The Wonder Boys"; Ian McEwan, "Atonement"; Colson Whitehead, "John Henry Days"; Orhan Pamuk, "Snow"; Junot Diaz, "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao"; Avram Davidson, "Vergil in Averno"

Recent reading: recommended fiction

The Secret of Lost Things (2006), Sheridan Hay; Absurdistan (2006), Gary Shteyngart; Five Skies (2007), Ron Carlson; Citizen Vince (2005), Jess Walter; On Chesil Beach (2007), Ian McEwan; We're in Trouble (2005), Christopher Coake; Returning to Earth (2007), Jim Harrison; The Lay of the Land (2006), Richard Ford

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Geoff Schumacher

What's a dogsbody?

It's British slang for "a worker who has to do all the unpleasant or boring jobs that no one else wants to do."

June 2007



"Studio 60" R.I.P.

Sat, 06/30/07 7:51 P GMT-08
"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" was a very good television drama produced by Aaron Sorkin, who created the great "Sports Night" and "West Wing." It ran for one season, finishing its run last week. "Studio 60" w
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By contrast . . . a beach in Hilo, Hawaii

Thu, 06/28/07 10:23 P GMT-08

Our Laguna Beach vacation spot

Thu, 06/28/07 10:13 P GMT-08
This is the Vacation Village Hotel on the beach at Laguna Beach. Not the greatest rooms but a perfect location, and very kid-friendly. 

2007 music: The mid-year rankings

Thu, 06/28/07 10:00 P GMT-08
1. Bruce Springsteen, Live in Dublin2. The White Stripes, Icky Thump3. Wilco, Sky Blue Sky4. Son Volt, The Search5. Dinosaur Jr., Beyond6. Kings of Leon, Because of the Times7. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Living with the Living8. Arctic Monkeys, Fav

DeLillo vs. McEwan

Fri, 06/15/07 9:18 P GMT-08
Two of the year’s most anticipated literary novels came out recently. I have read them both and have reached a verdict. Ian McEwan’s “On Chesil Beach” beats Don DeLillo’s “Falling Man.” They are very differe

Travelin' man

Sat, 06/09/07 7:56 P GMT-08
Tomorrow we leave for Laguna Beach. Six of us — four kids — in a rented Suburban. Yes, I am morally opposed to Suburbans but apparently this is how one best transports six people to Laguna Beach. I hear great things about Laguna Beach. It

L.A. Times Festival of Books: A Belated Report

Sun, 06/03/07 7:15 P GMT-08
The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books occurred at the end of April at UCLA. It's taken me more than a month to file a report from the scene. But it's still worth doing, I think.This was a great and amazing event. After all, it's 2007 an