Morning Bites: Why Steinbeck matters, NYT Notables, Norton Records, possible Dirk Nowitzki haikus, and more

Why John Steinbeck matters now more than ever (not counting the last time around he matter more than ever).  Maud Newton backs this up. The New York Times 100 notable books of the last 365 days. Mark Cuban is publishing an eBook. We’re hoping that it’s all haikus about Dirk Nowitzki. Jon Cotner and Claire Hamilton take a trip to Fire Island, and they put together a beautiful slideshow for The Believer. Ronan Farrow, the son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, is […]

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Maud Newton and Emma Straub on film

Posted by Jason Diamond It’s nice to wake up to separate e-mails containing videos featuring two of our absolute favorite people on a rainy day.  In this case,  inReads talks to Emma Straub, and Maud Newton sums up Crime and Punishment in a minute at Lit Drift.

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Bites: The Dantean inferno of Brooklyn, Dickens Christmas Bummer, Granta Picks, Todd P in Mexico, Best Metal, and More

I loved this Gawker quote about the “ironic trailer park” they are building in Bushwick: “Every year they add a new level to the Dantean inferno that is artistic living in Brooklyn.” Lit. “What a wonderful thing it is, that such a great success should occasion me such intolerable anxiety and disappointment!” Charles Dickens on A Christmas Carol.  The Guardian discusses why the book didn’t give the writer a surplus of holiday cash. Taschen will bring you back to the […]

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Bites: Proust and a six pack, literary revolution, James Brown, Neutral Milk Hotel, caffeine suppositories, and more

Proust liked to knock a few cold ones back.  So what?  You think he subsisted on madeleines alone?   Just look at that picture of him.  He’s looking at you and saying “Heineken?  Fuck that shit!  Pabst Blue Ribbon!” (via Maud Newton) Lit. You should probably go over to The Millions and see their list of  “The Best Fiction of The Millennium (So Far)“ I feel like we should have a countdown to #1. Dan Brown taking on the Daughters of […]

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