There’s something incredibly rewarding about getting to watch a writer evolve in real time. Case in point: Gabriel Blackwell, whose first few books included memorable postmodern riffs on the works of Raymond Chandler and H.P. Lovecraft. Nearly all of Blackwell’s books to date have had some overarching thematic conceit — from the shorter works collected in Correction to the meditation on the film Vertigo in the novel Madeleine E.
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on Laraaji’s music, thoughts on Gabriel Blackwell’s writing, and more.
In our weekend reading: an interview with Jesse Ball, recommended works in translation, and more.
In our morning reading: an interview with Gabriel Blackwell, thoughts on Elisa Albert’s new novel, and more.
As the city segues further into spring, we’ve got books by a couple of old favorites due out this month. Our notable literary offerings for May tilt heavily on the side of fiction, though there’s also an important and incisive new history of New York to be found here, as well as a resonant memoir and an essential guide to an essential musician. Looking for something to read as the days grow longer and the trees turn green? Here are a few selections for your consideration.
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on novels by Alex Pheby and Maryse Condé, an interview with Gabriel Blackwell, and more.
Gabriel Blackwell’s fiction rarely treads the same ground twice. He has a particular skill at finding ways to turn the margins of stories and genres into thrilling works on their own, whether that’s cosmic horror or the film Vertigo. The last year has seen the publication of two new collections of Blackwell’s short fiction: Babel and CORRECTION. Babel showcases Blackwell’s writing at its most nimble and at its most structurally innovative, while CORRECTION wrestles with contemporary life in unexpected and jarring ways. Taken together, they’re a welcome return from a talented writer. Blackwell answered a number of questions about the genesis of these stories and how they came together in these two volumes.
In our morning reading: interviews with Lauren Oyler and Kayleb Rae Candrilli, new writing by Gabriel Blackwell, and more.