“Her 23-year-old protagonist, Francis, is not particularly sympathetic—he’s callow, selfish, cruel to those who care about him, and probably a little bit crazy. Yet somehow, from Francis’ floundering attempts to accept the terms of adulthood, Arnold-Ratliff has drawn a beautifully compelling and utterly original novel.” At the Portland Mercury, Alison Hallett reviews Kate Arnold-Ratliff’s novel Bright Before Us, which looks quite good.

• The best critical quote you’ll see today: “I’m thinking of Moon Knight like jazz legend Thelonious Monk here…”

• Ted Leo is recording a live album, which may include his “Dancing In the Dark” cover.

• The NYTBR talks with authors who are also booksellers, including Jami Attenberg and Emma Straub.

• At HitFix, Katie Hasty talks with Beirut’s Zach Condon.

• Ben Donnelly on Mike Watt’s latest, Hyphenated-Man: “Watt’s salty presence makes Hyphenated-Man feel like art rock made by Popeye characters…”