In our afternoon reading: a playlist from Nicola Griffith, an interview with Vanessa Saunders, and more.
From Bereavement to Betterment: A Review of Charles Bock’s “I Will Do Better”
Charles Bock hails from Las Vegas. And it’s clear right from the opening pages of this memoir, that he’s been dealt a tough hand. He’s a reluctant father and working novelist, and his beloved wife Diane has just passed away from leukemia, leaving him to care for his three-year old daughter, Lily. And things will only get worse before you leave Chapter One. The book has a Sisyphean feel to it because nothing is ever easy in this story, except the clear, persistent love the writer has for his daughter. That drives the narrative and allows you to see struggle, self-doubt, and sacrifice as the essential journey we’re on with this family.
Morning Bites: Chris La Tray’s Memoir, National Book Award Winners, Forrest Gander on Poetry, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on Chris La Tray’s memoir, a report from the National Book Awards, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Isle McElroy Interviewed, Blake Butler’s Fiction, Revisiting TV on the Radio, and More
In our afternoon reading: an interview with Isle McElroy, revisiting the music of TV On the Radio, and more.
Political Histories: On Ronnie A. Grinberg’s “Write like a Man”
Increasingly, the podcast Know Your Enemy has become one of my go-to sources for book recommendations. Sometimes this involves going to the backlist, particularly when it comes to Garry Wills; sometimes it involves checking out a more recent work, particularly when its author was a KYE guest. That’s how I came to read Ronnie A. Grinberg’s Write like a Man: Jewish Masculinity and the New York Intellectuals. That’s an imposing title, but the book itself is eminently readable; more than that, it’s also deeply relevant, chronicling a compelling blend of literature, politics, and interpersonal rivalries.
Morning Bites: Brian Evenson Interviewed, Paula Bomer on Writing, Painkiller Returns, and More
In our morning reading: interviews with Brian Evenson and Paula Bomer, jazz-metal band Painkiller returns, and more.
Sunday Stories: “Possibly Goldenmouth”
Possibly Goldenmouth
by Andrew Farkas
“There will be no explanations.”
That’s what the Villain might have said, when the corpse of the Superspy lay sprawled out before him. That’s what he might have said, if he spoke at all.
But he doesn’t speak. Ever.
Weekend Bites: Claire Rousay Interviewed, Revisiting Whit Stillman, Justin Taylor on Bob Dylan, and More
In our weekend reading: talking money with Claire Rousay, new writing from Justin Taylor, and more.