Paul Combs
I’m a writer, podcaster, and bookseller whose ultimate goal (besides being a roadie for the E Street Band) is to make reading, writing, and books in general as popular in Texas as high school football. It may take a while.
Dads in Literature: The Best and Worst for This Father’s Day
There is no shortage of dads in literary works, unlike the surprising shortage of moms which I discussed in my literary moms post on Mother’s Day. As in life, some of these fathers are amazing and some should be incarcerated. For this Father’s Day weekend, let’s look at some of the best and the worst of them, starting with the worst (have to end on a positive note, after all).
Paul CombsPublished about 11 hours ago in Families
The Four US Presidents Who Won the Nobel Peace Prize
Most of the time US presidents get a bad rap, and much of the time it is completely deserved. However, there are four times where US presidents made such a significant contribution to the world that they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. We see the negative every day; let’s look at something positive for a change.
Paul CombsPublished 2 days ago in The Swamp
The Flabbergasted Trilogy: The Perfect Summer Read as We Go Back to the Beach
For the first time in what seems like eons people are finally starting to safely return to the beaches this summer, and beaches demand books to read. But after you’ve frolicked in the ocean in the morning and before the serious drinking starts around midday you want something light to read; there’s a reason you don’t see a lot of Thomas Pynchon or David Foster Wallace lying on the blankets next to the suntan lotion. This situation demands something funny but not mindless, preferably with a beach setting thrown in, and I have just the books for you.
Paul CombsPublished 4 days ago in Journal
The Angel’s Game: A Thrilling, Gothic Journey Into the Mind of an Author
The success of a book can be a very strange thing. Some books are huge bestsellers but are written quite poorly, while others are critically acclaimed yet sell very few copies. And there are some that achieve a cult following, sometimes years after the author’s death.
Paul CombsPublished 4 days ago in JournalWhat’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Divination?
Sal knows trouble when he sees it, and a petite blonde with a ponytail and a yoga mat slung across her back is always trouble. He hopes that she will veer off toward the bookstore’s tiny New Age section, but fortune does not smile on him this day: she is making a beeline straight for him.
Paul CombsPublished 9 days ago in FictionThe March of the Penguins
The Last Word Bookstore is busy on a late Tuesday afternoon. Jacob is deep in conversation with a man roughly his own age about the merits of Turgenev versus Chekov. Julia and Heather are ringing up customers’ purchases, and Camden is pleased to see that a small line has formed waiting to check out. Lines mean sales.
Paul CombsPublished 12 days ago in Geeks
Author Profile: Patrick Modiano, the Nobel Winner You’ve Never Heard Of
“Nice is a city of ghosts and specters, but I hope not to become one of them right away.” — Patrick Modiano, Missing Person
Paul CombsPublished 12 days ago in GeeksThe Five Albums That Perfectly Defined My Army Years
On August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. By August 3rd, I had decided that dying gloriously in combat beat the hell out of what I was doing at the time, so I called the Army recruiter. Events conspired to keep me from leaving for Basic Training until the very end of December, however, which radically altered the course my life would take.
Paul CombsPublished 14 days ago in Beat
