In our afternoon reading: thoughts on books by Omar Hussain and Ron Currie, fiction from John Dermot Woods, and more.
“A Book About Endings”: John Dermot Woods on the Making of “Mortals”
When we’ve spoken with John Dermot Woods in the past, it’s been about his work in prose. This spring, another aspect of his work as a writer is coming to the forefront: a graphic novel called Mortals, created in collaboration with artist Matt L. Mortals follows the story of an aging stage actor named Francis, who’s found respect in his field but a general lack of commercial success. A supporting role in a film and the end of his marriage both force him to consider his legacy and his mortality, and the result is thoroughly moving. I spoke with Woods about the genesis of the project, his interest in comics, and what appealed to him about the form for this project.
Vol. 1 Brooklyn’s March 2022 Book Preview
And now, somehow, it’s March. We’re not sure how that happened, either. Nevertheless, it is the case, even as the weather decides to vacillate between “bitter cold” and “maybe picnic weather?” It’s a strange time. Our recommended books for the month also cover a lot of ground, from insightful looks into the art of writing to immersive forays into surreal landscapes. Read on for what we’re looking forward to this month.
A New Kind of Indie Publisher Opens its Doors in Brooklyn
This summer, I got the chance to correspond with Sarah Lopez, one of the co-owners of Radix Media, a new Brooklyn-based publisher that focuses on beautifully designed, illustrated books with a high attention to detail. So far, they’ve published speculative works by John Dermot Woods, Vera Kurian, Ashley Shelby, and others. All look and feel like collector’s items, objects that truly do justice to the ideas they contain.
Afternoon Bites: This Heat, Alice Bolin on True Crime, Revisiting “A Wrinkle In Time,” Brandon Hobson Interviewed, and More
In our afternoon reading: revisiting the music of This Heat, new comics from Lincoln Michel and John Dermot Woods, and much more.
Morning Bites: Kelly Link on Books, Meredith Graves Interviewed, John Dermot Woods, and More
In our morning reading: interviews with Kelly Link, Meredith Graves, John Dermot Woods, and Mike Pace; novels about Muslim life; inside AND Publishing; and more.
Weekend Bites: John Dermot Woods, Didion as Icon, Dwight Garner Interviewed, LA Novels, and More
In our weekend reading: interviews with John Dermot Woods and Dwight Garner, how Atticus Lish’s debut novel became a huge success, a look at Joan Didion’s iconic status, an excerpt from Steve Himmer’s new novel, and more.
Weekend Bites: A John Dermot Woods Playlist, James Baldwin, Matt Bell Fiction, Wire Revisited, and More
New fiction from Matt Bell; thoughts on 2014 in literature and comedy; notes on a reissued Wire live album; a playlist from John Dermot Woods; revisiting a series of interviews with James Baldwin; and more.