Tag: Oscar Wilde

Writer’s Desk: Keep Your Day Job

On By chrisbarsantiIn Books, Writing1 Comment

Oscar Wilde made this point in this letter from 1890, right around the time he was achieving success:

The best work in literature is always done by those who do not depend on it for their daily bread and the highest form of literature, Poetry, brings no wealth to the singer.

It’s great to not have a day job in some ways. Your whole day can be spent writing, nobody keeps track of your coffee breaks. And so on. But sometimes it can be nice to write for the thing itself, and not because the electricity bill is due.

Readers’ Corner: Francomania

On By chrisbarsantiIn BooksLeave a comment

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A modest proposal from Minh Lee over at Bookriot which deserves at least some consideration: Let’s put James Franco on all book covers. See his Franco-fied version of The Picture of Dorian Gray above and other classics (the best of which must be Lolita) here.

asilaydyingThe idea came from the waves of dismay that arose from many literate corners on the release of the movie tie-in cover for Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying. Franco directed and wrote the film adaptation coming out later this year. Any concerns about the book design, though, are overshadowed by the fact that the film is co-starring his buddy Danny “Eastbound and Down” McBride. Perhaps the film uncovers Faulkner’s funny side?

Judging by the trailer, probably not: