On Tuesday, Donald Rumsfeld—who, as defense secretary under George W. Bush, was a driving force behind the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq—died. Major outlets wheeled out pre-written obituaries. The AP’s, by Robert Burns, bordered on hagiography. Its headline initially declared Rumsfeld “a cunning leader undermined by Iraq war”; that language was later changed to “cunning leader who oversaw a ruinous Iraq war,” but the opening paragraph still says that “try as he might,” Rumsfeld “could not outmaneuver the ruinous politics of the Iraq war,” as if he had been forced to play chess against a supercomputer. The Iraqi death toll from the war is not noted; the American death toll is—but not before Rumsfeld’s charitable work on behalf of veterans, his “accomplished” college wrestling career, and colleagues’ recollections of his smarts and patriotism. The first words of the article’s URL are “Chicago Bears,” a reference to the football team Rumsfeld supported as a kid. Because the AP is a wire service, the obituary was republished widely. Other prominent efforts were better, but did not adequately foreground the human cost of Rumsfeld’s military aggression: The New York Times addressed Iraq only after mentioning the records he broke as defense secretary (he was the youngest person in that post, under Gerald Ford, then the oldest, under Bush) and his reputation as a “combative infighter” who challenged “military orthodoxies.” The Washington Post described him as “controversial,” but... Continue reading at 'Columbia Journalism Review'
[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2021-07-02 12:32:38 UTC ]
Keith McNally’s new memoir is full of revelations, but one stands out: His work is an underrated art form. Continue reading at The Atlantic
[ The Atlantic | 2025-05-06 15:25:00 UTC ]
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“More than that, political art that seeks only to speak to this moment tends to flatten narrative in its attempt to be relevant.” Kevin Nguyen doesn’t think we need timely novels. | Lit Hub Craft Jiordan Castle remembers navigating a complex and tumultuous relationship with her father. | Lit Hub... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2025-05-06 10:30:11 UTC ]
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If you're looking for something unusual and beautiful, thought-provoking and funny, tender and smart, this unconventional memoir is for you. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2025-05-05 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Natasha Williams shares three tips for exploring the art of imagination and using that to find voice in memoir. The post The Art of Imagination and Finding Voice in Memoir appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2025-05-01 19:09:09 UTC ]
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In her memoir 'Uptown Girl,' Christie Brinkley writes about the scary incident that led her to divorce Billy Joel. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2025-04-29 10:00:58 UTC ]
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Author John Bateson shares some of his experiences publishing five nonfiction books with different publishers (and a lot of rejections). The post Not for Me—But Thanks: How to Overcome Rejection in Book Publishing appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2025-04-28 23:11:50 UTC ]
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In the unsentimental memoir “The Golden Hour,” Matthew Specktor ponders, among others, the father who succeeded in a punishing business now in its waning glory. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2025-04-27 09:01:23 UTC ]
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A memoir on leaving a cult, a retelling of the legend of Achilles, a meditation on the American South, and more in this mega batch of book deals Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2025-04-25 16:37:48 UTC ]
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“Matriarch,” a memoir out Tuesday, explores the trials and hard-worn triumphs that shaped Beyoncé and Solange Knowles’s mom. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2025-04-22 13:00:08 UTC ]
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Lots of deals today! From an amazing southern mystery to an award-winning Puerto Rican American memoir to a Hugo Award-winning fantasy, and more! Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2025-04-20 11:30:00 UTC ]
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After several late nights scrolling through Instagram, I chance upon the perfect image for the cover of my memoir The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse. Taken by a Vietnamese street photographer, the image is a long shot of an intersection; at the top, a truck is entering the frame while a car is... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2025-04-17 08:58:14 UTC ]
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“Searches,” by Vauhini Vara, is both a memoir and a critical study of our digital selves. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2025-04-14 09:01:57 UTC ]
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Trevor Noah's memoir adapted for young readers, a female spy in the late '40s, a Christmas-time whodunit, fun fantasy romance, and more of the best book deals of the day Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2025-04-13 11:30:00 UTC ]
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Author Art Bell shares a quick exchange with Walter Mosley and how he went about writing his memoir as a thriller and vice versa. The post How to Write Your Memoir as a Thriller and Your Thriller as a Memoir appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2025-04-10 20:00:00 UTC ]
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Published in November, it will cover everything from Smith’s childhood to her rise as a punk rock star and later retreat from public lifePatti Smith has written a memoir that her publishers are describing as her “most intimate and visionary work” yet, which is due out this autumn.Bread of Angels... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2025-04-09 14:51:02 UTC ]
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Plus, the new memoir from Gisèle Pelicot's daughter, a puzzle book series, another season of Watson, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2025-04-09 12:30:00 UTC ]
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