Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes at The Literate Man, or Learning the Lessons of Blog Single Parenthood

I have been a bad blog parent.  I admit it.  It has been three weeks since I have posted anything of substance (see The Corrections, September 7) and even that was a middling review of a great book.  I am genuinely concerned that blog social services (a division of Google) will be knocking on my door at any moment, with an order to remove my TLM baby from my custody for neglect.    

The truth is that I have a very large case headed toward trial, and it is literally sucking the life out of me.  But that is no excuse--we all have our crosses to bear and most are much, much more burdensome than my own.  I do have to say that this whole blogging thing is much more time-intensive than I had imagined.  It is also much more rewarding, and I very much appreciate all the friendly connections that I have made as a result.  But I have determined that, if I go it alone, I run the risk of dropping off the map whenever a particular case blows up, which does tend to happen, that being the very nature of cases.

Fortunately, I have friends, and some of my friends happen to be men, and some of my friends that happen to be men happen to read (take that, reading gender bias).  Even better, they've agreed to stand by my side, to shoulder the burden, to carry the flame, to spread the word, and to continue the tradition of The Literate Man for as long as their hearts shall beat and their lungs draw breath. Or whenever they decide to stop.  Whatever.  Just kidding--I know that they're in for the long haul.

So, without further ado ... readership, Aaron and Greg ... Aaron and Greg, meet the readership.

[Begin Dating Game Theme Music]

Aaron is a business type and freelance writer from Miami.  His prior (super secret) TLM credits include the following: My Invented Country by Isabel Allende, To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway, and Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky.  His more recent (public) credits include Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas Sparks, Paris Trout by Pete Dexter, and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carre (TLM obviously loves this book, having reviewed it twice, and with good reason).  In his spare time, Aaron wears funny t-shirts and enjoys libations of the barley, malt, and hops variety.

Greg is a lawyer type (though much more of a real lawyer than yours truly) and hails from our nation's capital, Washington, DC.  His contributions thus far include Peace Like a River by Leif Enger and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.  A devoted father and hockey fan, Greg enjoys long walks to the DC Metro and cherry blossoms.

So, we here at TLM central will try to redesign and get up Top Five Books for Men listings for both Aaron and Greg as soon as possible (or as soon as they give them to me--guys?).  In the meantime, enjoy the variety.  I sure hope this bringing-in-the-responsible-uncles thing allows me to keep my baby.