No two books are written the same way, even if they share an author. For some writers, the process of writing one book can sharply influence the writing of the next; for others, the circumstances under which one work is created can be radically different from that work’s predecessor. The last year and a half has seen the release of new books by Janice Lee (Imagine a Death) and Mairead Case (Tiny). In the wake of both books’ release, Lee and Case discussed their own processes, the role of imagery in their books, and the power of names in fiction — among a host of other topics.
Afternoon Bites: Mairead Case, Michelle Zauner Interviewed, Henry Dumas, Bruno Lloret’s Recommendations, and More
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on Mairead Case’s new novel, an interview with Michelle Zauner, and more.
Morning Bites: Jeff VanderMeer Interviewed, Mairead Case, Philip K. Dick Award Winners, Alex DiFrancesco, and More
In our morning reading: interviews with Jeff VanderMeer and Mairead Case, thoughts on Alex DiFrancesco’s forthcoming collection, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Mark O’Connell Interviewed, Alex Ross on Richard Wagner and Comics, Famous NYC Trees, and More
In our afternoon reading: an interview with Mark O’Connell, when Richard Wagner met superheroes, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Mairead Case Interviewed, Scholastique Mukasonga, Patti Smith Live, Anika Pyle, and More
In our afternoon reading: an interview with Mairead Case, Patti Smith live in Brooklyn, and more.
Artifacts, Merch Tables, and Hauntings: Mairead Case on “Tiny”
Mairead Case’s first novel, See You In the Morning, was a moving and unpredictable coming-of-age story; I spoke with her about it in 2015. Her new novel, Tiny, uses a more formally inventive structure to tell a story of family, grief, and community. (It’s also a retelling of Antigone.) It’s a fantastic work in its own right and an impressive demonstration of what Case is capable of, a work that’s simultaneously intimate and epic. We checked in via email to talk about the book’s origins and the ways in which it resonates right now. Experimental post-punk bands/art projects came up as well, as they tend to do.
Afternoon Bites: Mairead Case’s Playlist, Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, Clifford Thompson on Memoir, Olivia Cronk, and More
In our afternoon reading: a playlist from Mairead Case, an interview with Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, and more.
Vol.1 Brooklyn’s October 2020 Book Preview
And it’s October, home of colder weather, heated political talk, and a growing number of Halloween decorations. Awards season shortlists are growing; so too are lists of seasonally-appropriate scary books. (We’ve got a few of those here as well.) So here’s a look at some of the October books that have caught our attention.