In our afternoon reading: an interview with Bill Callahan, Verso’s fundraising campaign, and more.
Morning Bites: Juan Martinez Fiction, Thomas Kendall’s Latest, Endangered Languages, and More
In our morning reading: fiction by Juan Martinez, the endangered languages of New York City, and more.
Morning Bites: Juan Martinez and Eden Robins, Republic of Consciousness Prize Shortlist, The Tubs’ Album, and More
In our morning reading: Juan Martinez and Eden Robins in conversation, thoughts on The Tubs’ new album, and more.
A Hotel Turns Horrific: Juan Martinez on Writing “Extended Stay”
Six years ago, I spoke with Juan Martinez about his excellent collection Best Worst American, a genre-spanning work that encompassed a host of styles and tones, with a pronounced sense of the ominous. Now, Martinez is back with a new novel, Extended Stay. What begins as a novel about a brother and sister on the run from familial trauma gradually turns into something much stranger and more horrific. The Alicia, where both take refuge, turns out to have several qualities that distinguish it from other Las Vegas hotels — including more than a few suggestions that the hotel itself is alive. I spoke with Martinez about the genesis of this book, its connection to his earlier collection, and more.
Weekend Bites: Juan Martinez’s Latest, PEN Literary Awards Longlists, Daisuke Shen and Vi Khi Nao on Collaborating, and More
In our weekend reading: thoughts on Juan Martinez’s new novel, fiction by John Madera, and more.
Vol. 1 Brooklyn’s January 2023 Book Preview
Would you look at this — it’s 2023. Even more intriguingly, there are a whole bunch of new books due out this year. 2023 is off to an excellent start, we’d argue, with a couple of books we’ve been looking forward to reading for years. This month brings with it an impressive assortment of styles, including formally inventive poetry and politically incisive tales of the uncanny. What are we most excited about? Read on to find out.
Morning Bites: James Baldwin on Film, Juan Martinez, Joshua Cohen Interviewed, Jim Jarmusch, and More
In our morning reading: news of a James Baldwin novel adapted for film, interviews with Juan Martinez and Joshua Cohen, and more.
Supermarkets, Capes, and Secret Societies: Juan Martinez on Writing “Best Worst American”
The stories in Juan Martinez’s collection Best Worst American abound with stylistic leaps, acute observations about popular culture, and eccentric characters. Martinez is equally adept at chronicling contemporary anxieties as he is venturing into the surreal–one story’s protagonist is aided in everyday tasks by a sinister ghost child straight out of Ring, for instance. Martinez will read on Saturday at Spoonbill & Sugartown; in advance of this event, we talked with him about the making of his collection, writing for […]