September 8th, 2011
With shrinking reviews pages — blah, blah, blah — authors have had to find alternative ways to promote the existence of their books. And since some people’s lives are too boring even for the “Lives” column (believe it or not), some number of these authors will decide to “take on” the issue of ebooks. They will do this whether or not they read them or know anything about them. And if they really know nothing about them, their publicists will pitch their perspective as “fresh.” The smell of books may be mentioned, although even the Times is getting tired of that. And these essays will mostly appear in the Times, under that new “Mechanic Muse” rubric that seems to have been created just to contain these, um, musings.

In today’s “Plus Ça Change” column on Google+, I try to come to terms with the ebook essay surplus.

plus ça change
lit

PRAISE FOR
WHY THEY CRIED



"... demonstrates real insight into the way we live now."
 –The Rumpus

"Reminiscent of George Saunders and James Thurber, Why They Cried is a great collection of modern tales."
–Hannah Tinti, author of The Good Thief and co-founder of One Story

"Jim Hanas has a remarkable talent for imagining and crafting uncanny little worlds that make me vaguely nervous. And yet I never want to leave."
–Rob Walker, co-founder of Significant Objects

"A tender and smart assembly of fiction about people trying to communicate—with each other, the world—and all the ways they fail. Fail better, fail beautifully."
–Fiona Maazel, author of Last Last Chance

Jim Hanas is the author of the short story collection Why They Cried (Joyland eBooks/ECW Press) and social media editor at The New York Observer.

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