As we head into the long weekend, now’s probably a good time to point you in the direction of New York‘s website: Ann Beattie, Aimee Bender, Joshua Cohen, and others contributed short summer-themed essays to the magazine in question.

• Robert Christgau takes a critical look at two books that touch on the legacy of Hüsker Dü.

• At The Book Bench: Elizabeth Minkel on the work of Allan Hollinghurst.

• Matt Feeney on “the Canadian Wire.”