“His realism is the opposite of emotional luxury.” Sabra Embury on Atticus Lish’s Preparation For the Next Life.

At The Guardian, writers select their favorite books of 2014. Lev Grossman has also made his picks for the top fiction of 2014.

The Rusty Toque has new fiction from Amelia Gray.

The Village Voice has an excerpt from the book NYHC.

Listening to music with the guy behind Slice Harvester.

At The American Reader: notes on country noir and class.

Dan Kois makes the case for Helen DeWitt’s Lightning Rods.

Follow Vol. 1 Brooklyn on Twitter, Facebook, Google +, our Tumblr, and sign up for our mailing list.