The Review’s interviews reviewed October 26, 2010: Since taking the helm of the Paris Review, editor Lorin Stein has made a number of changes at the storied publication. Here's one we love: the archives of the Review's renowned interview series are now available electronically. Compelling conversations with Hunter S. Thompson, Mary Karr, Philip Larkin, and many, many other writers, poets and [...] by Harriet Staff

Process Notes October 26, 2010: Poetry has always been a matter of courtship for me. I have often felt as if I were waiting for it to appear, hoping for something epic (in structure if not always in length) or impressive I should say, vaulted ceilings, knowing you are on your way to build a monument of sorts. But over the past few years this ritualistic aspect has not hung so [...] by Cedar Sigo

Nick Flynn diffused October 26, 2010: The photos of the Abu Ghraib torture victims struck a cord in poet Nick Flynn, and he followed the feeling until he found himself traveling to Istanbul to meet them personally. The Ticking Is the Bomb, a memoir about the dark places he visited both across the world and within himself, emerged from this experience. The Paris Review dialogues with [...] by Harriet Staff

The Beat honeymoon is officially over October 26, 2010: Looks like all the moonbeams and starshine are starting to wear off. In an article titled "Even when I loved it, I secretly knew Beat poetry was rubbish,"Lucy Jones reveals a sobering truth: despite being enamored with the romantic idea of the Beats, she couldn't suffer through On the Road and doesn't find "Howl" particularly impressive if not [...] by Harriet Staff

Rap=poetry=rap=poetry October 26, 2010: Professor of African American and African Studies Alexs Pate compares the structure and flow of rap lyrics to that of poetry in In the Heart of the Beat: The Poetry of Rap. Pate makes a compelling case for why the former should carry just as much cultural currency as the latter, writes critic Kerri Shadid in the Seattle Pi: He goes to great [...] by asalario

Brave (yet slightly angsty and overly emotional) voices October 25, 2010: Preview There's no other literary event that combines showbiz glitz, adolescent angst, celebrity co-hosts and slam poetry quite like this. The Russell Simmons-produced documentary chronicling "Brave New Voices," the National Youth Poetry Slam competition, aired on HBO last weekend. Troy Jollimore of the Washington Post provides a play-by-play [...] by Poetry News

Introducing Cedar Sigo October 25, 2010: This week, we're excited to start a new feature on Harriet called “Craft Work.” "Craft Work" will give over a portion of the blogging space to a rotating cast of poets, translators, editors, and publishers, each talking in weekly posts about the creative work done in their respective fields. Harriet will host each featured writer on a [...] by Poetry Foundation

Words per minute October 25, 2010: Charles Olson thought of the typewriter as a tool capable of notating language’s relationship to the physical body, due to its ability to "spatialize" the page. Now the Boston Typewriter Orchestra (!) is using that archaic instrument to spatialize the audio field. Listen and watch here. by Poetry News

Poetry is the secret to The Awl’s success (right?) October 25, 2010: An awl is  a tool for scratching marks on wood. The Awl is an eclectic Web site featuring a potpourri of arts, culture, silliness, snark, and poetry. Yes, poetry! Do the two awls have anything in common? Maybe, maybe not, but that's beside the point. From the New York Times: In an age of hyper-targeted vertical sites, The Awl is all over the [...] by Poetry News

Alice Walker, health, happiness, and sanity October 25, 2010: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker discusses her new poetry collection, Hard Times Require Furious Dancing, with NPR's Michel Martin. She talks devastation, loss, seeing the glass half full, and dancing through even the most crippling pain. Here's an excerpt from the collection: Calling All Grand Mothers We have to [...] by Harriet Staff