Bites: Taylor on Sampsell, Jersey Shore Vs. Joshua Ferris, Iggy Pop Writes a Letter, and More

Justin Taylor pens a “peer review” of Kevin Sampsell’s wonderful book, A Common Pornography.

“Some of it’s funny, and some of it’s touching, and some of it’s sad–and a lot of it is two or more of these things at once–but I think what it really succeeds at doing is creating an atmosphere that encompasses all of those states without forcing the reader to choose one”

• Boston Globe reviews a new Gabriel García Márquez biography.

• Jersey Shore vs. Joshua Ferris: who wins?

• Fictionaut talks to Todd Zungia of Opium Magazine/Literary Death Match.

• Dear Mike Carey, I like that Okkervil River song also.

• Iggy Pop wrote a nice letter.