Here’s an excerpt from Denis Johnson’s forthcoming novel The Laughing Monsters.

Smart thoughts on reading and gender from Alexander Chee.

LGBT authors share the books that inspired them to come out.

Nell Zink’s The Wallcreeper was reviewed at Bustle.

Brittle Paper wrote about Wainaina Binyavanga’s issues with The Caine Prize for African Fiction.

Elizabeth Kadetsky wrote about her experiences with distraction.

Pitchfork reviewed Goats, the debut from Xylouris White.

At The New Yorker, notes on translation, book sales, and the Nobel Prize.

Jennifer Kelly wrote about the new album from Iceage at Dusted.

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