I don’t know why, as a secular Jew, I am fascinated with crises of faith, and with Catholicism in particular, but the topic is a lifelong preoccupation. In this light, I was eager to dive into Christopher Beha’s Why I am not An Atheist: The Confessions of a Skeptical Believer.
There’s a particular challenge that comes from writing a book in the world of another artistic discipline. Why? The usual challenges that apply to writing fiction apply, but so does the task of accurately depicting a very different creative word. In the case of Martha Anne Toll‘s new novel Duet for One, that world is classical music. Set in the wake of the death of an acclaimed pianist, Toll’s novel explores how her loved ones grieve and reflect on their own artistic triumphs and frustrations. I talked with Toll to learn more about book’s origin and the difficulties she faced while writing it.
In our morning reading: new writing by Marlon James, a playlist from Colin Winnette, and more.
In our morning reading: Denis Johnson on film, thoughts on George Saunders’s new collection, and more.
Unlearning the Law: Novel Lessons
by Martha Anne Toll, former lawyer, current novelist
Myriad lawyers transition from litigating to literature. I am no exception: I recently published my debut novel, THREE MUSES. Before that, I attended law school, practiced law, and worked for many years in social justice and the nonprofit world. Each of those jobs involved intensive writing where I had to learn how to present arguments clearly on the page, and to advocate for strategy and policy positions. I sharpened my research and analytic skills as I tried to present the incontrovertible. However, as I was becoming a novelist, I realized I had to unlearn the writing practices I found most useful in my time in the corporate and non-profit world. I have thus identified three rules in fiction that may come in handy for others following a similar path:
We’ve entered the final weeks of summer. In practical terms, that means that it could turn brisk at a moment’s notice — or that a heatwave might be upon us before long. All of which means that this month’s array of books take a similarly wide-ranging approach, encompassing everything from taut poetry to maximalist fiction. Here are some recommendations to get your fall reading started.
In our morning reading: an interview with Laura Warrell, notes on good writing conferences, and more.
In our morning reading: thoughts on Patrice Nganang’s trilogy, an interview with Martha Anne Toll, and more.