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Archive

June 29, 2022 by Simon Sweetman

Authors I Admire: # 18 David Foster Wallace

It’s become problematic to talk about David Foster Wallace, to rave about his literary prowess because of his behaviour. But there was a time when he loomed large for me. He was one of the best of his generation. A man who channelled irony and earnestness to write hilarious and dark stories, going to places […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Author, Authors I Admire, Authors I Admire started life as a series of posts on the Phantom Billstickers Facebook page Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, Authors I Admire: # 18, Authors I Admire: # 18 David Foster Wallace, Blog, Books, Brief Interviews With Hideous Men, D/FW, David Foster Wallace, Essay, Infinite Jest, Short Stories, The Girl With The Curious Hair, Writer, Writing ·

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February 22, 2022 by Simon Sweetman

Finding Delmore: Only In Dreams

Delmore Schwartz was an American poet, short story writer and scholar. His most famous story is In Dreams Begin Responsibilities. It was first published in 1937 and became the title for Schwartz’ first book. That was published a year later, he was 25. The story has been widely anthologised and is a classic piece of […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Academic, Author, Blog, Book, Books, Delmore Schwarz, European Son, Finding Delmore, Finding Delmore: Only In Dreams, https://linktr.ee/Simonsweetman, In Dreams Begin Responsibilities, Influence, Lecturer, Lou Reed, My House, Only In Dreams, Second Hand Books, Short Story, Stories, Teacher, Velvet Underground, Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, Whanganui, Writer, Writing ·

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February 18, 2022 by Simon Sweetman

R.I.P. P.J. O’Rourke

P.J. O’Rourke has died. He was a week off turning 75. He was one of my favourite writers, a towering influence, of huge importance to me in my teen years and early 20s. He was at the sophisticated end of Frat-Boy humour (Modern Manners, The Bachelor Home Companion) and of course he went far beyond […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Author, Eulogy, P. J. O'Rourke, R.I.P., R.I.P. P.J. O’Rourke, Writer, Writing ·

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January 2, 2022 by Simon Sweetman

R.I.P. Joan Didion

Just ahead of Christmas it was very sad to hear of the passing of Joan Didion. She lived a long and extraordinary life and wrote so beautifully, so dutifully also. She was a chronicler of times, putting art into journalism, putting her life down on the page alongside all she captured. She’s been one of […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Author, Book, Books, Essay, Essays, Eulogy, Joan Didion, Journalism, Non-FIction, R.I.P., R.I.P. Joan Didion, Tribute, Writer, Writing ·

Archive

September 3, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

The Ben Elton Interview

Earlier this year I spoke to Ben Elton. What a dream. I shared the audio as an episode of my podcast. But there was also a transcript and written piece (for my Sounds Good newsletter). So if you missed that at the time I offer it up here now. I feel like Ben Elton’s work […]
Posted in Blog, Interviews · Tagged Author, Ben Elton, Blackadder, Comedian, Comedy, https://linktr.ee/Simonsweetman, Interview, Podcast, PR, Promo, Sounds Good, Stage, Substack, The Ben Elton Interview, The Young Ones, Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, Writer ·

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July 30, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast # 268: Catherine Robertson

Hi and welcome to episode 268 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T and Yeastie Boys  and thanks to you readers and listeners. Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it […]
Posted in Blog, Podcasts · Tagged Acast, Advertising, Anchor, Apple, Art, Author, Book, BOOK/SHOP, Bridget Jones's Diary, Catherine Robertson, Chat, Conversation, Critic, Gabriel's Bay, Good Books, Hawke's Bay, https://linktr.ee/Simonsweetman, Interview, iTunes, Jethro Tull, Matthew Couper, Music, Novel, Novelis, Reviewer, RNZ, Romance, Romance Writer, Simon Sweetman, Soundcloud, Spotify, Sweetman Podcast, Sweetman Podcast # 268, Sweetman Podcast # 268: Catherine Robertson, Sweetman Podcast: Catherine Robertson, T Leaf T, Talk, The Listener, Wellington, Write, Writing, Yeastie Boys ·

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July 8, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast # 265: Ben Elton

Hi and welcome to episode 265 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T and Yeastie Boys  and thanks to you readers and listeners. Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it […]
Posted in Blog, Podcasts · Tagged 2021, Acast, Apple, Author, Ben Elton, Blackadder, Books, Chat, Comedian, Comedy, Conversation, ep.265, https://linktr.ee/Simonsweetman, Interview, Off The Tracks, Phone Interview, Phoner, Podcast, Simon Sweetman, Soundcloud, Sounds Good, Spotify, Stand Up, Substack, Sweetman Podcast, Sweetman Podcast # 265, Sweetman Podcast # 265: Ben Elton, Sweetman Podcast: Ben Elton, T Leaf T, The Young Ones, Tour, TV, Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, Writer, Yeastie Boys ·

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June 19, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

R.I.P. Janet Malcom

Janet Malcolm has died. She was 86. I only ever wrote about Janet Malcolm as part of a university essay – that is where I met her work. I’m so pleased to have met with it, the best of her work stays with me forever. She wrote several books – many of them great, two […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Author, Books, Eulogy, Janet Malcom, Journalist, Psychoanalysis, R.I.P., R.I.P. Janet Malcom, Sylvia Plath, Ted Huhges, The Journalist And The Murderer, The Silent Woman, Writer ·

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April 24, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Authors I Admire: # 17 Owen Marshall

I’ve been thinking about Owen Marshall a bit lately. I feel like, in some way, I’m often thinking about him, have been since I was about 15 or 16. That’s when I met him – er, on the page, that is. I’ve never met him. I’d like to. I’d love to interview him one day. […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged #17, Admiration, Author, Authors I Admire, Authors I Admire: # 17, Authors I Admire: # 17 Owen Marshall, Authors I Admire: Owen Marshall, Kiwi, Marshall, New Zealand, Novel, Novels, NZ, Owen, Owen Marshall, Poem, Poetry, Short Stories, South Island, Timaru, Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, Writer ·

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April 22, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast # 254: Steve Braunias

Welcome back for another week and another new guest, this is episode 254 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T and Yeastie Boys  and thanks to you readers and listeners. Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can get to […]
Posted in Blog, Podcasts · Tagged Anchor, Apple, Author, Chat, Conversation, ep.254, Herald, Interview, Journalist, Kiwi, Missing Persons, Newsroom, NZ, Podcast, Simon Sweetman, Soundcloud, Spinoff, Spotify, Steve Braunias, Stitcher, Sweetman, Sweetman Podcast, Sweetman Podcast # 254, Sweetman Podcast # 254: Steve Braunias, Sweetman Podcast: Steve Braunias, T Leaf T, Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, Write, Writer, Writers, Writing, Yeastie Boys ·

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April 12, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Charlotte Grimshaw: The Mirror Book

The Mirror Book: A Memoir Charlotte Grimshaw RHNZ Vintage / Penguin Charlotte Grimshaw’s memoir is a wild ride – a must. But it’s also rather ludicrous. Perhaps that’s what makes it such a good time while you’re reading it. I have tried to forget it ever since – the fact that I can’t, quite, is […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Author, Book, Book Review, Charlotte Grimshaw, Charlotte Grimshaw: The Mirror Book, CK Stead, Karl Stead, Kay Stead, Kiwi, Literary, Memoir, Memoirs, NZ, Penguin, The Mirror Book, The Mirror Book: A Memoir, Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, Writer ·

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March 26, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

R.I.P. Larry McMurtry

The author and screenwriter Larry McMurtry has died. He was 84. McMurtry is best known for his sprawling old west novel, Lonesome Dove. Released in 1985, it won the Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into a multi Emmy-award winning TV mini-series in 1989 – and remains much loved to this day. McMurtry’s other great novels […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Author, Eulogy, James McMurtry, Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove, R.I.P., R.I.P. Larry McMurtry, Terms of Endearment, Texasville, Writer ·
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