Richard Silberg and Joyce Jenkins stand in the offices of Poetry Flash on Fourth Street. The 43-year-old publication may have to find a new home because the landlord wants to raise the rent more than 27%. Photo: Francesca Paris By Francesca Paris Poetry Flash, a Berkeley-based poetry magazine established in 1972, faces a threat to […]
Northern California Book Awards
Posted inObituaries
The man behind the Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival: Mark Baldridge, 1948-2014
Mark Baldridge, who has died. Photo: Baldridge family By Sharon Coleman For decades, Berkeley has been enriched by a vibrant literary community with poetry at its heart, as we see in downtown Berkeley’s Addison Street Poetry Walk. At the heart of the poetry community since 1972 has been Poetry Flash, a hub for reviews, articles, […]
Posted inArts
Wit and grace are hallmarks of book awards ceremony
Berkeley author Michael Pollan: “I’m not that old.” Photo: Ken Light Berkeley author Michael Pollan: “I’m not that old.” Photo: Ken Light By Karen Laws Michael Pollan, taking the stage at the 31st Annual Northern California Book Awards on Sunday June 10, accepted the Fred Cody Award for Lifetime Achievement with two caveats: first, he’s not that old. […]
Posted inArts
Legendary Beat Poet David Meltzer up for an award
David Meltzer: “Nobody can riff like him” David Meltzer: “Nobody can riff like him” By Karen Laws When Joyce Jenkins, the editor of Poetry Flash magazine, wants to describe poet David Meltzer, she uses language evoking his love of jazz music and association with the San Francisco Beat and Berkeley Renaissance poetry movements: “He’s a colorful cat,” she […]
Posted inArts
Adam Hochschild on flour power as strategy for activists
Adam Hochschild would like to remind us that Berkeley has the fourth largest library in the country By Karen Laws The denizens of other cities can snicker all they like, but Berkeley historian Adam Hochschild has no problem with Berkeley’s foreign policy. “If the citizens of Berkeley were in charge, our country would be better off,” he […]
Posted inArts
Berkeley economist offers perspective on financial crisis
Barry Eichengreen, UC Berkeley professor, is up for a 2012 Northern California Book Award By Karen Laws “It’s important not to forget what happened in 2008 and remain angry,” says Barry Eichengreen, professor of economics and political science at UC Berkeley. One of ten East Bay authors who will be honored at the Northern California Book […]
Posted inArts
Accolades for Edie Meidav and other East Bay authors
Edie Meidav, author of Lola, California, which is nominated for a Northern California Book Award By Karen Laws The East Bay Literary scene is heating up. Never before in the 31-year history of the Northern California Book Awards have the Fred Cody Award for Lifetime Achievement, plus ten nominations for book awards, all been given to East Bay writers. […]
Posted inArts
Berkeley authors write winning books
Frank Portman, author of King Dork and Andromeda Klein Michael Chabon’s collection of essays, Manhood for Amateurs, is up for a non-fiction award from the Northern California Book Reviewers, as well as the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association. Chabon is one of a handful of Berkeley authors whose books have been singled out for praise. […]