Last week, A. Igoni Barrett, Idra Novey, and Mark Doten discussed their debut novels as part of a panel discussion held at The Strand and moderated by Vol.1 Brooklyn managing editor Tobias Carroll. The conversation ranged from their use of language to the different ways in which each encompassed an international perspective in their work. You can watch the whole thing here, or below.
Morning Bites: Notable Literary Debut, Great Experimental Albums, Guadalupe Nettel’s Latest, and More
In our morning reading: notable literary debuts and experimental records, new writing from Bijan Stephen and Chris Randle, and more.
We’re taking a short holiday break. Normal posting will resume on Saturday.
Morning Bites: Erase Errata Interviewed, Mark Doten, Lincoln Michel’s Latest, Ales Kot, and More
In our morning reading: checking in with the members of Erase Errata, Spencer Ackerman on comics, an interview with Kristin Hersh, and more.
The Best Debut Novels of 2015 So Far
So far, 2015 has offered more than its share of excellent debut novels. Some of these were the first works we’d heard of from the authors in questions; in other cases, we found ourselves looking at works that fulfilled the promise of the fantastic short fiction that preceded it. Whether on presses large or small, these are some of the debut novels that have caught our attention so far this year.
Language For the End of Time
How do you write about the end of the world? Take that question at face value: how does one’s prose suggest that something cataclysmic has occurred in society, some rupture that has altered our means of communication? Consider it the flip side of Octavia E. Butler’s short story “Speech Sounds,” in which society as we know it crumbles after a biological condition causes humans to lose the ability to speak. The landscape that emerges in Butler’s story is an combination […]
Afternoon Bites: Mark Doten Interviewed, Luc Sante on Basquiat, Replacements Collection, Parul Sehgal on Nonfiction, and More
In our Friday afternoon reading: an interview with Mark Doten, new Amelia Gray fiction, Parul Sehgal on recent nonfiction, Gay Talese on Selma, the announcement of the Lambda Literary Award finalists, and more.
Weekend Bites: Merritt Tierce on Elisa Albert, Mitchell S. Jackson on Gordon Lish, Kim Gordon Interviewed, and More
In our weekend reading: Merritt Tierce on Elisa Albert, Mitchell S. Jackson on Gordon Lish, Jenn Pelly interviews Kin Gordon, thoughts on Mark Doten’s novel, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Laura van den Berg, Jynne Dilling Martin Interviewed, Mark Doten on “The Infernal,” Kwame Dawes on African Poetry, and More
In this afternoon’s reading: interviews with Laura van den Berg, Mark Doten, Jynne Dilling Martin, and Kwame Dawes; notes on the latest from Sir Richard Bishop; and more.