In our afternoon reading: an interview with Jeanne Thornton, fiction from Amber Sparks, and more.
Getting the Band Back Together: Jeanne Thornton on “A/S/L”
I’m a longtime reader and admirer of Jeanne Thornton‘s work, so I was thrilled to be able to talk with her about her new novel A/S/L. It’s a book about a lot of things: online communities, creative collaborations, fraught friendships, and video game design among them. Before the book’s debut, we met up at a Midtown bar to discuss, well, everything.
Morning Bites: Jeanne Thornton Interviewed, Sumac and Moor Mother’s Collaboration, Soft Boys Revisited, and More
In our morning reading: an interview with Jeanne Thornton, notable 21st century short stories, and more.
Weekend Bites: Nettie Jones Revisited, Han Kang’s Latest, Jeanne Thornton’s Fiction, and More
In our weekend reading: thoughts on Nettie Jones’s bibliography, revisiting a Shudder to Think album, and more.
Sunday Stories is off this week; normal posting will resume Monday.
Recommended Books: April 2025
Greetings, friends. It’s April and we’re reading books. Sharply written fiction, incisive nonfiction, and a 70s-style photo novel are all on our list; there are debut books here and new work by old favorites. Here’s a look at 10 of the books we’re most excited to check out this month.
Visceral Mythology and Transformational Songs: A Conversation With Jeanne Thornton and Alex DiFrancesco
Alex DiFrancesco’s collection Transmutation abounds with moments of intimate revelation and transforming bodies. Jeanne Thornton’s novel Summer Fun draws inspiration from a legendary rock band and takes it to a wholly unexpected place. Both books are among the best I’ve read this year, and I chatted with both authors over Zoom one summer evening. The conversation covered a wide range of subjects — from pandemic coping mechanisms to the music of Tom Waits — and an edited version follows.
Afternoon Bites: Jeanne Thornton Interviewed, Marguerite Duras Revisited, Michael Cisco’s Collection, and More
In our afternoon reading: interviews with Jeanne Thornton and Paisley Rekdal, thoughts on Michael Cisco’s new collection, and more.
Vol. 1 Brooklyn’s July 2021 Book Preview
This July, your reading might get weird, with a host of new books dealing with mythical history or bizarre futures. Your reading might get insightful, unlocking a new way of seeing the world or an insight about yourself. Or your reading might be relevatory, prompting you to see or hear something familiar in a brand-new way. Here’s what’s on our reading list for this month.