It’s December, apparently. Are we reading? We’re still reading. What are we reading? Books. Which books? Maybe some of these. The end of the year traditionally brings a very intriguing assortment of titles, and this year is no exception. Looking for strange, genre-defying work? We’ve got that, sure. Seeking sharply-written nonfiction? We’ve got that covered as well. Here are some December books that have caught our eye.
Afternoon Bites: Jami Attenberg on Bookshelves, Amber Sparks, David Berman Remembered, Corporate Dystopias, and More
In our afternoon reading: new nonfiction by Jami Attenberg, a review of Amber Sparks’s new collection, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Pola Oloixarac’s Latest, Kathryn Scanlan, Chuck Wendig on “Wanderers,” De’Shawn Charles Winslow, and More
In our afternoon reading: reviews of novels by Pola Oloixarac and Cody Goodfellow, an interview with De’Shawn Charles Winslow, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Cody Goodfellow’s Latest, Dávila 666 Returns, Kid Congo Powers, Binnie Kirshenbaum Interviewed, and More
In our afternoon reading: a review of Cody Goodfellow’s new novel, delving into the discography of Team Dresch, and more.
“A Novel Should Be As Overwhelming as Life”: An Interview With Cody Goodfellow
Cody Goodfellow’s sprawling novel Unamerica is a heady, indescribable work of fiction. It’s literally a cult novel: Unamerica focuses on the conflict between two warring factions within a massive underground city located on the border between the United States and Mexico. It’s a surreal place abounding with strange subcultures, corporate overlords, and weird drugs. And, despite this novel’s size, it never lags: visions, violence, and a pervasive sense of danger are constants across the narrative. I talked with Goodfellow about the novel’s genesis and its overlap with the current state of American politics.
Vol.1 Brooklyn’s June 2019 Book Preview
What does the month of June have in store for us? When it comes to books, plenty. A few debut novels we’ve been excited about since they were first announced, some new works by longtime Vol.1 Brooklyn favorites, and some works in translation that promise to expand our horizons. Here’s a look at some of the books that have us most intrigued for the month to come.
Afternoon Bites: Laila Lalami, Juliet Escoria’s Latest, Ben Okri Interviewed, Cody Goodfellow, and More
In our afternoon reading: interviews with Laila Lalami and Ben Okri, a review of Juliet Escoria’s new book, and more.
Violence, Kitsch and Bizarre Crime in Hawaii: A Review of Cody Goodfellow’s “Repo Shark”
Repo Shark by Cody Goodfellow Broken River Books; 300 p. Cody Goodfellow’s Repo Shark kicks off with a man making an entire hotel nervous. This bizarre opening is followed by a fight with a Hawaiian prostitute, a healthy dose of Michael Bay-worthy destruction, an episode of autofellatio with an unfortunate teeth-related mishap, accent-slathered conversations with a few strange characters, a briefcase full of weed and coke, and enough cursing to satisfy fans of Martin Scorsese’s F-bomb wiseguy masterpiece Goodfellas. Then […]