Confessions of a Guilty Freelancer
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Indiana University Press
Published:19th Jun '12
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Lively essays with a personal twist
William O'Rourke's singular view of American life over the past 40 years shines forth in these short essays on subjects personal, political, and literary, which reveal a man of keen intellect and wide-ranging interests. They embrace everything from the state of the nation after 9/11 to the author's encounter with rap, from the masterminds of political makeovers to the rich variety of contemporary American writing. His reviews illuminate both the books themselves and the times in which we live, and his personal reflections engage even the most fearful events with a special humor and gentle pathos. Readers will find this richly rewarding volume difficult to put down.
O'Rourke's 'personal' writing doesn't simply mean how the subject relates to him; his writing is literary, without a doubt, but his style is conversational, rhythmic and leavened by a dry sense of humor that engage the reader on an intimate level.
* South Bend Tribune *O'Rourke is that rarest of increasingly rare birds, a writer's writer. . . . O'Rourke brings an artist's critical thinking to his political writing, providing him angles of attack on players from both parties that help reframe the issues in ways not available through the most mainstream press outlets.
* NUVO *[T]hose who enjoy a good romp through some of our country's most pivotal times in the company of an astute observer who is unafraid to offer a penetrating, and sometimes scathing, critique of the state of the nation, will find themselves well matched.
* ForeWord Reviews *O'Rourke's descriptions of the writing life have the ring of absolute truth.
* Review of Contemporary FictiISBN: 9780253001818
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 431g
384 pages