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Posts Tagged Essays

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June 14, 2022 by Simon Sweetman

David Sedaris: Happy-Go-Lucky

Happy-Go-Lucky David Sedaris Little, Brown and Company; First Edition A new David Sedaris book is a treat. If you’re a fan, a convert, you’re generally there for life – keen and waiting. He’s given us plenty already, and been very generous across the last few years with a bit of closet-cleaning resulting in two volumes […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Book, Book Review, David Sedaris, David Sedaris: Happy-Go-Lucky, Essays, Happy Go Lucky, Non-FIction, Review, Sedaris, Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, 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 ·

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December 13, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Books That Blew My Mind # 9: “Holidays on Ice” by David Sedaris

Holidays On Ice by David Sedaris I’m not really one for Christmas books. But there’s one favourite, one must, every year I read (and now re-read) David Sedaris’ story, The Santaland Diaries. It’s special to me for a couple of reasons – first of all it was my introduction to the world of Sedaris. I […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged “Holidays on Ice” by David Sedaris, Book, Books That Blew My Mind, Books That Blew My Mind # 9, Books That Blew My Mind # 9: “Holidays on Ice” by David Sedaris, Christmas, David Sedaris, Diaries, Elf, Essay, Essays, Holidays, Holidays on Ice, Macy's, Reading, Short Stories, Story, The Santaland Diaries, Xmas, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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July 6, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

In Praise of Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib is a writer of words, observer of worlds. He’s a poet, essayist, cultural critic. I remember reading some of his articles on pop music – and liking them, but things really came alive for me with the release of his second book, They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, a selection of essays. It […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged A Tribe Called Quest, Audiobook, Critic, Essays, Hanif Abdurraqib, Hip-Hop, https://linktr.ee/Simonsweetman, In Praise Of, In Praise of Hanif Abdurraqib, Journalist, Music, Performance, Podcast, Poet, Poetry, Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, Writer, Writing ·

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December 12, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Jenny Slate: Little Weirds

Little Weirds Jenny Slate Little, Brown and Company Jenny Slate’s had a busy year of recalibration – a Netflix special of so-so comedy mixed with her charming kookiness and some deep-cut home videos to soften the blow of mistimed punchlines. And now this book of “essays” – and the accompanying promotional book-tour. A few bit-part […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Actor, Book, Book Review, Comedian, Comedy, Essays, Jenny Slate, Jenny Slate: Little Weirds, Little Weirds, Movies, Netflix, SNL, Stage Fright, TV ·

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November 19, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Lindy West: The Witches Are Coming

The Witches Are Coming Lindy West Hachette Books/Allen & Unwin When I’ve read Lindy West’s work (Jezebel, The Guardian, NY Times) I’ve enjoyed it. I haven’t followed her as fanatically as many but I started – and must get back to finishing – her memoir Shrill and I look forward to seeing the TV show […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Book, Book Review, Chuck Klosterman, Essays, Feminsim, Lindy West, Lindy West: The Witches Are Coming, Rebecca Solnit, Shrill, The Witches Are Coming, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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October 9, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Emily Nussbaum: I Like To Watch

I Like To Watch: Arguing My Way Through The TV Revolution Emily Nussbaum Random House [This Review Originally Appeared At The Spinoff] What Emily Nussbaum knows is that dressing up to eat a burger and pay double is fine sometimes, if it makes you happy. But what a lot of us love is a glorified […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged #MeToo, Book, Book Review, Comedy, Critic, Emil Nussbaum, Emily Nussbaum: I Like To Watch, Essay, Essays, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/563025/i-like-to-watch-by-emily-nussbaum/, I Like To Watch, Reviews, Television, The Spinoff, This Reviewing Originally Appeared At The Spinoff, TV, TV Critic, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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July 26, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 126 – Helen Heath

Welcome to episode 126 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat. I had a chat with Wellington poet Helen Heath. She’s released two volumes of poetry, her first, Graft, was nominated for a science writing award and won Best First Book; her brand new collection, Are Friends Electric is a […]
Posted in Blog, Podcasts · Tagged Are Friends Electric, Better off Read, Books, Bookstore, Creative Writing, Episode 126 – Helen Heath, Essays, Graft, Grief, Grieving, https://www.helenheath.com/, IIML, It, La Petite Chocolat, Masters in Creative Writing, PhD, Pip Adam, Poem, Poems, Poet, Poetry, Reading, Science, Science Writing, Sweetman Podcast, Sweetman Podcast: Episode 126, Sweetman Podcast: Episode 126 – Helen Heath, T Leaf T, Technology, VUP, VUW, Wellington, Wgtn, Writer, Writing, Yeastie Boys ·

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March 3, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

Gabrielle Union: We’re Going To Need More Wine

We’re Going To Need More Wine: Stories Gabrielle Union Dey Street Books A memoir – in stories, We’re Going To Need More Wine is candid, well written. It’s both funny and heart-breaking. You know Gabrielle Union from so many movies and TV shows – but she was the ugly duckling at school, or so she […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Actor, Autobiography, Book, Book Review, Essays, Gabrielle Union, Gabrielle Union: We're Going To Need More Wine, Memoir, Model, Stories, We’re Going To Need More Wine, We’re Going To Need More Wine: Stories, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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January 14, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

PressPatron on Off The Tracks: Click to Donate and Support

As of today you’ll notice PressPatron on Off The Tracks, a banner button asking you to donate (if you wish) and a button in the side bar which tells you more specifically:
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Blog, Blog Post, Blogs, Click, Click to Donate and Support, Creative Writing, Donate, Essay, Essays, https://offthetracks.co.nz/, https://www.presspatron.com/, Off The Tracks, Patron, Podcast, Poetry, Posts, Press Patron, Press Patron on Off The Tracks, Press Patron on Off The Tracks: Click to Donate and Support, PressPatron, Reviews, Short Stories, Writing ·

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December 13, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib: They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us

They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us: Essays Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib Two Dollar Radio I don’t mean this to sound at all trite, I mean it as a huge compliment – even if it might feel a forced comparison, but Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib’s work here in this book of profoundly moving, politically urgent, poetic essays reads […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged America, Book, Book Review, Chuck Klosterman, Essays, Hanif Abdurraqib, Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib, Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib: They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, Music, Poem, Poet, Poetic, Poetry, Politics, Pop Culture, Race, Ta-Nehisi Coates, They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us: Essays, Writing ·

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December 3, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Ben Greenman: Dig If You Will The Picture – Funk, Sex, God and Genius in the Music of Prince

Dig If You Will The Picture: Funk, Sex, God and Genius in the Music of Prince Ben Greenman Henry Holt and Co. Beginning at the end – the sad, sudden end – Ben Greenman’s book about Prince is a celebration of his life and music, of what made him so special; written – unashamedly – […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Ben Greenman, Ben Greenman: Dig If You Will The Picture, Book, Book Review, Dig If You Will The Picture, Essays, Eulogy, Fan, Funk, Genius in the Music of Prince, God, Music, Prince, R.I.P., Sex ·
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