GEOFF SCHUMACHER'S LAS VEGAS

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Schumacher Literary Hall of Fame

Here is a list of fiction writers who are among my personal favorites (with a representative book listed alongside). These are not the usual suspects, but some of the lesser-known writers I like. Richard Yates, "Revolutionary Road"; John Fante, "Ask the Dust"; Nelson Algren, "The Man with the Golden Arm"; Frederick Exley, "A Fan's Notes"; Charles Portis, "The Dog of the South"; John Williams, "Stoner"; Patrick Hamilton, "Hangover Square"; Richard Russo, "Empire Falls"; Richard Ford, "The Sportswriter"; Don DeLillo, "White Noise"; Jim Harrison, "True North"; Raymond Carver, "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?"; Willy Vlautin, "The Motel Life"; Michael Chabon, "The Wonder Boys"; Ian McEwan, "Atonement"; Colson Whitehead, "John Henry Days"; Orhan Pamuk, "Snow"; Junot Diaz, "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao"; Avram Davidson, "Vergil in Averno"

Recent reading: recommended fiction

The Secret of Lost Things (2006), Sheridan Hay; Absurdistan (2006), Gary Shteyngart; Five Skies (2007), Ron Carlson; Citizen Vince (2005), Jess Walter; On Chesil Beach (2007), Ian McEwan; We're in Trouble (2005), Christopher Coake; Returning to Earth (2007), Jim Harrison; The Lay of the Land (2006), Richard Ford

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Geoff Schumacher

What's a dogsbody?

It's British slang for "a worker who has to do all the unpleasant or boring jobs that no one else wants to do."

Fresh takes on the past in Nevada Historical Society Quarterly

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posted Mon, 06/22/09
The Nevada Historical Society Quarterly magazine does not have a large readership. Nonetheless, I am never happier about doing an occasional freelance piece than when it appears in the Quarterly. In the latest issue, Spring 2009, I have a long review of two books, Gus Russo's Supermob: How Sidney Korshak and His Criminal Associates Became America's Hidden Power Brokers and Gary Sleeper's I'll Do My Own Damn Killin': Benny Binion, Herbert Noble, and the Texas Gambling War. Both books added important bits to my knowledge of Las Vegas history.

Besides my occasional book reviews, the Quarterly contains lots of interesting articles about Nevada's past. A highlight of the Spring ’09 issue is Stephen Marino's heady discussion piece about the ambitious Marilyn Monroe/Clark Gable movie The Misfits, which was filmed in Northern Nevada.

In order to get a subscription to the magazine, one must become a member of the Nevada Historical Society. It's $35 per year for an individual. Send to 1650 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89503.

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