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"Luke Ford reports all of the 'juicy' quotes, and has been doing it for years." (Marc B. Shapiro)
"This guy knows all the gossip, the ins and outs, the lashon hara of the Orthodox world. He’s an [expert] in... all the inner workings of the Orthodox world." (Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff) LATEST POSTS:
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- Bernard Haykel: A Life Between the Text and the Gun
- Walker Connor (1926-2017)
- Benedict Anderson and the Nation as Imagination
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- Dominic Cummings: A Biography
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- * The Enlightenment Wasn’t Enlightened (6-23-26)
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* 'Improving on Democracy' (6-17-26)
* People Leak To People Who Are Fun (6-11-26)
* Why Does Australia Produce So Many Great Journalists? (6-11-26)
* Steve Wynn and the Press: Power, Litigation, and the Contest Over Las Vegas (6-3-26)
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Category Archives: Diana Spechler
Diana Spechler – Going Off
In February 2015 the New York Times runs a column by a novelist most of its readers do not know. The title is “Going Off.” Each week Diana Spechler (b. 1979) reports on what it takes to come off the … Continue reading
Posted in Diana Spechler, Jewish Literature
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I Don’t Like To Look At Fat People
Unless the person has some extraordinary qualities or proximities to me, I don’t like to look at fat people. If I see the person in shul or at work or in a writer’s group or at yoga and I get … Continue reading
Posted in Diana Spechler, Personal
Tagged emotional truth, jewish book, new novel, odd jobs, shul, two novels
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Skinny – Diana Spechler’s New Novel
On April 21, I interviewed by phone novelist Diana Spechler about her new book Skinny. In 2008, I interviewed Diana in Brentwood about her debut – Who By Fire. Luke: “Give me an overview.” Diana: “In early 2006, I decided … Continue reading
Posted in Diana Spechler
Tagged camp director, emotional truth, fiction fiction, good writing, new novel, water aerobics
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Skinny
I just interviewed novelist Diana Spechler about her new book on a fat farm and I’m just dying to stuff my face with wholewheat matza, cream cheese and chocolate spread while watching Winds of War on Netflix and sipping milk.
Posted in Diana Spechler
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The Joys Of Literature
Here are excerpts of novelist Diana Spechler’s recent blog posts: The book club was held around a long wooden table in the library of the retirement home. The members (all women) trickled in, dressed to the nines in khaki pants … Continue reading
Posted in Diana Spechler
Tagged graphic sex scenes, khaki pants, old person, open seat, retirement home, white hair
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Everyone Thinks They Can Write A Book
On the flight home to New York from Los Angeles, Diana Spechler felt exhausted from her two month book tour. Too many late nights. Too many hours in hotel bars. Too many questions. Too many people "trying to climb inside … Continue reading
Posted in Diana Spechler
Tagged book tour, diana, flight home, late nights, old man
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Diana Spechler Reading II
Complete video here. We did this Thursday night at Diesel Books in Brentwood. Luke: "What has the publication and success of your novel meant to you?" Diana: "It’s tangible reward which is amazing. I toiled for years on this novel … Continue reading
Posted in Diana Spechler
Tagged adult life, emotional person, horror movie, quot quot, reading ii, tangible reward
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‘Luke, You Bucket Of Mouse Urine’
James emails: This was a cheeze, PUA tactics… The HUGE emotional ‘cookie’ compliment you handed her. Luke: "You strike me as breathtakingly levelheaded." Diana: "Thank you, Luke." Luke: "Are you breathtakingly levelheaded?" Diana: "No. I think I am often ruled … Continue reading
Posted in Dating, Diana Spechler
Tagged attention whore, interviewing technique, mouse urine, seducing women, tom leykis, torah jew
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My Interview With Novelist Diana Spechler
Here’s Diana’s website. Here’s video from our interview. I am deeply impressed by this young woman. It’s the subliminity of her prose, the profoundity of her thoughts, and the beauty of her eyes. Not sure which is most important to … Continue reading
Posted in Diana Spechler
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At Diesel Books in Brentwood, Diana Spechler Talks About Her First Novel ‘Who By Fire’ V
Full interview here.
Posted in Diana Spechler, Jewish Literature
Tagged diana, novel
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