In our morning reading, revisiting the fiction of George S. Schuyler, indie press recommendations, and more.
Vol.1 Brooklyn’s September Books Preview
From work by acclaimed poets to novels tracing the collapse of civilization to unlikely studies of history, September will bring a host of highly-anticipated books. In a new monthly feature, we’re previewing some of the books we’re most excited about, including work from Saeed Jones, Emily St. John Mandel, Michael Robbins, Merritt Tierce, John Darnielle, Eimear McBride, and more.
Simultaneous Kettles Boiling, Too Hot to Touch: Various Writers at Age 26
Posted by Nick Curley Today I turn twenty-six years old. It’s only been my birthday for ten hours, but so far this has proven the best year of my life. In the hopes of finding inspiration, and satisfaction for gnawing trivia, I looked up various names upon my bookshelf, to see what they were up to at/by the age of twenty-six. Let’s keep it chronological, in blocks of text: us mid-twenties types can think in lists and narratives, all at […]
The Elif Batuman Lovefest Continues
I’m just copying the opening of this Elif Batuman piece straight from Book Bench, because I’m obviously obsessed: On February 8, 1837, in St. Petersburg, Georges d’Anthès fought a duel with Alexander Pushkin, whom he shot in the stomach. Pushkin died two days later on his sofa. So … what happened to the sofa? That is the question I address today, one hundred and seventy-three years and five days after Pushkin’s death. Until last week, the sofa’s fate was shrouded […]