If there’s a “holy grail” for the home gardener, it is the perfect, sun-warmed, vine-ripened tomato. In The Tomato Growers Handbook, Holly Farrell doesn’t just teach you how to grow a fruit; she provides a masterclass in horticultural joy.
What does it mean to translate the work of a Nobel laureate? That’s a task that writer and translator Adrian Nathan West has had to consider: among his body of work are translations of two novels by the late Mario Vargas Llosa. The two books — Harsh Times and I Give You My Silence — are tonally very different: one is a grim look at an inflection point in Latin American history, while the other follows one musicologist’s Quixotic quest to tell the story of a reclusive instrumentalist. I spoke with West about his experience with both books, and what he learned along the way.
In our morning reading: thoughts on Gwendoline Riley’s novels, an intriguing small press database, and more.
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on Dorothy Tse’s new book, a chat with Teddy Wayne, and more.
In our morning reading: an interview with Patrick Cottrell, cinematic Pynchon, and more.
This week brings with it the release of Twin Lotuses, a graphic novel from Xiaoyu. In their review, Publishers Weekly had plenty of good things to say: “The sweeping English-language debut from Chinese creator Xiaoyu brings the florid, raucous spirit of Peking opera, with a touch of Frankenstein, to the comics page.” We’re pleased to present this excerpt from the graphic novel.
Selfies
by X.C. Atkins
When I woke up, I reached for my phone. I really hated this about myself. This gross reflex.
In our weekend reading: inside the making of “The Devil in Silver,” Vincent Tirado’s bookshelves, and more.