In our afternoon reading: thoughts on Mary Lattimore and Julianna Barwick’s collaboration, a new bestseller list, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Mary Lattimore and Julianna Barwick, Indie Bestsellers, Karl Ove Knausgaard’s Books, and More
The History of Sound: A Book, A Film, and the Unexpected Twists of Ben Shattuck’s Writing Career
It’s the classic writer’s dream: publish a book, win an award, write the screenplay, and then walk the red carpet at the film version’s premiere. During 2025, Ben Shattuck’s creative life appeared to reflect that dream exactly: his first work of fiction, The History of Sound, won the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature prize and the film version — for which Shattuck wrote the screenplay — debuted at Cannes.
Morning Bites: Sara Levine on “The Hitch,” Nicholas Royle’s Latest, Lori Rader-Day on Writing, and More
In our morning reading: Sara Levine on writing, the ins and outs of reading series, and more.
Sunday Stories: “Aping the Ark”
Aping The Ark
by Aug Stone
Just as the rumor persists that Noah’s actual name was Yoah and therefore an anagram of ‘Ahoy’, so do reports of other ark-itects attempting similar salvation at the time of The Great Flood. Including Noah’s childhood friend Antaeus who idolized him, imitating the righteous man in nearly all that he did. Truth be told, Noah was often annoyed by the misguided mimicry, as well as baffled by Antaeus’ bizarre choices for just about everything, such as the already urine-colored loincloth he gave Methuselah for his 500th birthday, but when the world’s ending and your buddy’s built a boat, well, you can rise above petty squabbles.
Weekend Bites: Sarah Moss on Books, Richard Matheson Revisited, Tom Verlaine’s Archive, and More
In our weekend reading: an interview with Sarah Moss, great science fiction novels, and more.
Recommended Books: December 2025 and January 2026
Hello! You might have noticed that we skipped doing one of these last month, due in part to some deadlines and in part due to a fairly sparse publishing schedule. That doesn’t mean the publishing schedule was completely bare, though — hence this serving as two months’ worth of recommendations.
Morning Bites: “Blackstar” at 10, Megan Milks’s Latest, Metrocard Museums, and More
In our morning reading: revisiting David Bowie’s final album, an excerpt from Megan Milks’s new book, and more.
Afternoon Bites: “Beckomberga” Reviewed, Great Home Libraries, Revisiting “A Wrinkle In Time,” and More
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on “Beckomberga,” great home libraries, and more.