I’ve known Chris Kelso for a while now, and we’ve discussed everything from horror fiction to the ups and downs of the Scottish Premier League. This time out, our conversation was about the evergreen topics of books and movies: specifically, Kelso’s book about the film Possession and its lingering effects on him.
In our morning reading: literary award news, an appreciation of James Sallis, and more.
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on Constance Debré’s new book, an interview with Sara Levine, and more.
In our morning reading: interviews with Namwali Serpell and Wallace Shawn, notes on Prospect Park, and more.
Three Articles of Clothing I Decided to Keep
by Meghan Lamb
Full-Length Binder
I bought this on a bad day, on a crowded train. I was pushed up against a steel pole, and shifting in pair of pointed heels. My underwire, digging into me. Chest heavy, waterlogged. I dreamed of shedding all these stiff bits, looking sleek and streamlined.
In our weekend reading: an interview with Nancy Lemann, the winners of this year’s NBCC Awards, and more.
In our afternoon reading: revisiting Ishmael Reed’s work on screen, Paul Elie on nonfiction, and more.
Weird shit can happen when you’re far from home. To be clear, similar phenomena can also be experienced in your own backyard; still, there’s a long tradition of vacationers and expatriates making bad decisions while overseas. At their best, these stories can memorably evoke different forms of alienation; at their worst, they can play into alarming or nativist tropes.