In our weekend reading: thoughts on Anna Moschovakis’s new book; new writing from Rumaan Alam, Paul Tremblay, and Viet Thanh Nguyen; and much more.
Afternoon Bites: Basquiat’s Notebooks, Deborah Levy, Will Sheff on Bob Dylan’s Latest, David Graeber, and More
In our afternoon reading: news of an upcoming book of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s notebooks, notes on the new book from David Graeber, a new Deborah Levy essay, Will Sheff on the Bob Dylan’s new album, Mallory Ortberg on Harper Lee, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Elissa Schappell on Bars, Deborah Levy Reviewed, Gerard Way, New No Other, and More
Elissa Schappell talks bars, thoughts on a newly-revised book from Deborah Levy, chatting with Gerard Way, a playlist from Mike Meginnis, Jenn Pelly on her book on The Raincoats, and more.
Afternoon Bites: J.G. Ballard Tributes, Protomartyr, New Bonnie Jo Campbell Fiction, Rachel Zucker Interviewed, and More
In our afternoon reading: a host of J.G. Ballard tributes, when Patrick Hamilton inspires punk rock, new fiction from Bonnie Jo Campbell, and more.
#tobyreads: The Unreal is Here
Well, I tried. Given that the folks at Flavorwire are prompting the reading and re-reading of a number of Shirley Jackson novels, I figured I’d delve into a few myself, beginning with The Haunting of Hill House. Said novel fell into the category of books I’d been meaning to read for ages but hadn’t; after reading the first 50-odd pages of the used copy I’d bought earlier in the month, I could see why. Jackson’s command of mood and atmosphere was […]
A Harrowing Monologue, With Sentiment: A Review of Rodrigo de Souza Leão’s “All Dogs Are Blue”
All Dogs Are Blue by Rodrigo de Souza Leão; translated by Zoë Perry and Stefan Tobler And Other Stories; 117 p. Consider: the novel as rant, lament, or aria. Think Bolano’s short novels and Thomas Bernhard’s The Loser; think of Lydia Millet’s My Happy Life and Norman Lock’s The King of Sweden and Robert Lopez’s Kamby Bolongo Mean River. All feature protagonists whose minds are somehow askew, whether through a long and embittered life, mental illness, severe isolation, or some other condition that sets […]
Afternoon Bites: Dum Dum Girls and Strawberry Switchblade, “Tomorrow” Arrives, Adapting “A Wrinkle In Time,” and More
Douglas Wolk on the Dum Dum Girls and Strawberry Switchblade. (Literary bonus: there’s an Ursula K. LeGuin cameo.) Blake Butler has a list of things he probably won’t do before he dies. It involves a G.G. Allin cover band, a dead wolf, and shaving Robert Smith’s head. Sean T. Collins talked with David Clowes, Chris Ware, Jaime Hernandez, and Gilbert Hernandez for Rolling Stone. Sylvain Chauveau & Stephan Mathieu recorded an album of Smog songs. Tomorrow magazine is now available […]