In our afternoon reading: thoughts on a Hüsker Dü live album, exploring punk history, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Hüsker Dü’s Live Album, Punk History, Revisiting “New Rose Hotel,” and More
John Freeman on the Perpetual Evolution of “Hit and Run”
It’s always daunting to talk with a writer who’s made a significant impact on you. Given that John Freeman’s How to Read a Novelist had a seismic effect on the way that I write about books, the opportunity to talk with Freeman about his new novella Hit and Run was both enticing and imposing. Thankfully, Freeman was a warm and engaging conversationalist, and I was happy to talk to him about this new book, which follows a character not unlike Freeman who witnesses a horrific incident and finds his life shifting in its aftermath.
Afternoon Bites: Lauren Elkin on Paris, “Johnny Mnemonic” Revisited, Donald Newlove’s Memoir, and More
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on Lauren Elkin’s new book, a discussion of zines, and more.
Morning Bites: Lincoln Michel’s Novel, Mary Miller Fiction, Rick Claypool Interviewed, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on Lincoln Michel’s new book, a story by Mary Miller, and more.
Morning Bites: Victoria Chang’s Latest, Chicago Underground Quartet, Stephen Franck Interviewed, William Gibson, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on books by Victoria Chang and Carmen Boullosa, talking with the Chicago Underground Quartet, and more.
Literary Events Go Virtual in the Time of COVID-19
To be a part of the literary community over the last few weeks has involved seeing months’ worth of events rescheduled, canceled, or shifted online. In some cases, this has been due to precautions taken to prevent coronavirus infection; in others, it’s due to writers canceling book tours. The Loft’s Wordplay Festival is shifting from an in-person event to one that will take place in a host of online spaces, for instance. As writers, publishers, and event planners look out at this shifting landscape, a host of questions come to mind. If events aren’t feasible right now, are there alternatives? Are live-streamed readings and discussions the new normal when it comes to literary events? Is there a way to capture that same sense of community that the best literary events held in a physical space can accomplish?
Afternoon Bites: Lucy Ellmann, Susan Choi Interviewed, Lisa Hanawalt, Shane Jesse Christmass’s Latest, and More
In our afternoon reading: a literary award for Lucy Ellmann, an interview with Susan Choi, and more.
Morning Bites: Augustus Rose’s Playlist, Deb Olin Unferth Interviewed, Lee Hazlewood, and More
In our morning reading: a playlist by Augustus Rose, interviews with Deb Olin Unferth and William Gibson, and more.