The fiction we admired most in 2018 ran the proverbial gamut from thought-provoking surrealism to evocative realism. Some illuminated the present day or recent past, while others ventured into much more uncharted territory. Some took us to unimaginable psyches; others showcased how ordinary people dealt with the extraordinary. Here’s a look at ten of our favorite works of fiction this year.
In our morning reading: reviews of new books by Paul Tremblay and Aruna D’Souza, a look at Edmund White’s literary influence, and more.
Hundreds of Days, the new album by Mary Lattimore, is a stunning, sprawling work abounding with moving compositions anchored by Lattimore’s distinctive harp playing. It’s the result of a residency at the Headlands Center for the Arts, located in northern California, and the result is Lattimore’s most moving work to date. Her tour of the US begins today–she’ll be in NYC on May 29th, at Union Pool, for her record release show, and will be back on June 28th for […]
In our morning reading: a 2002 interview with Denis Johnson, new writing by Eugene Lim and Ta-Nehisi Coates, and more.
In our morning reading: a review of Denis Johnson’s new collection, fiction by Bud Smith and Kimberly Wang, and more.
In 2004, after over a quarter-century releasing music under the project named Jandek, Sterling Smith gave the world a glimpse. It wasn’t a complete biography, but the artist who had intentionally shielded his true identity while releasing sometimes two new albums of raw and ghostly folk music a year showed he was more than just a face that graced a handful of album covers. Since that first performance, Smith continues to perform live, but still little is known about him. […]
In our morning reading: interviews with Tayari Jones and Jeff Jackson, reviews of books by Denis Johnson and Nick Harkaway, and more.
In our morning reading: reviews of books by Hermione Hoby and Denis Johnson, poetry from Natalie Eilbert, and more.