Better Than It Has Any Right to Be

I just finished reading Michael Chabon's first novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. It's better than any first novel has the right to be, especially since Chabon started it when he was only 21 years old.

No, it's not perfect. The ending, especially, feels rushed. That's not unusual: most fiction authors write more-or-less in order, first chapter to last. The author has had the early chapters long enough to revise them over and over, but less time to work on the last chapters. Nevertheless, it's damn good.

Years ago, when I read Ramond Radiguet's Devil in the Flesh and realized that the author was only 18 years old, it made me feel like I know nothing about love.

Reading The Mysteries of Pittsburgh make me feel like I know nothing about writing a witty and engaging story.

I'll be thinking about that when I do a bookstore reading of my witty and engaging work this Sunday.

The First Full Day of Autumn

The autumnal equinox was yesterday, so this is our first full day of autumn. It's always been my favorite season.

This year, however, has had very odd weather. We had a very wet spring in Chester County, PA. Then the rains disappeared, and the state declared a drought on August 5th. This was followed by record rainfall, which included rain from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

August - which began with a drought - ended with 13.12 inches of rainfall in the county.

And the rains kept coming in September. The ground is saturated, right when it's usually drying. Wet ground provides poor support for the trees, which may blow over in winter storms.

You can't say that we haven't had interesting weather in 2011.

My Book Is Mentioned in Today's NEW YORK TIMES

One of the business books that I co-wrote is mentioned (favorably) in today's NEW YORK TIMES.

Of course, I can't tell WHICH version of KISS, BOW OR SHAKE HANDS the article is referring to. By the end of this year, there will have been six with that title. Different sub-titles, of course.

Why so many? That title sells. The lifeless titles picked by publishers (e.g., THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION) didn't sell.

You go with what works.

Dear Parents

A note to parents: Starbucks is not a playground for your kids. There are people trying to work here. Don't bring your kids here, feed them caffeinated drinks, and park them at a table while you wander off.

Yes, I understand that you're tired of your hellspawn and need a break. I've only known your progeny for ten minutes, and I'm tried of them too. But this isn't the place.

Instead, take them to a McDonald's with a playground. Wherever there's a Starbucks, there is probably a McDonald's nearby. And the McDonald's playground has an iron cage around it. Which is what your munchkins belong in.

Why You Should Never Clean Your Bathtub

I cleaned my bathtub yesterday. Without all that grime, the tub was slick again. Today I slipped in the shower and twisted my bad knee. The lesson: never clean your bathtub. Or never shower. One or the other.

My Quantitative Easing

July was a particularly unprofitable month, so I'm engaging in my version of quantitative easing: I went over to my Dad's house and cadged dinner from him.

It's All Relative

My car is thirteen years old and has suffered every possible misfortune, from being attacked by a deer to having a child throw up in it.

Lately, stinkbugs have invaded my car. Surprisingly, they're making it smell better.