In our morning reading: thoughts on Rosalie Knecht’s new novel, new writing by Richard Chiem, and much more.
Afternoon Bites: Svetlana Alexievich, Yaa Gyasi Nonfiction, Gabino Iglesias, Lisa Prank Interviewed, and More
Thoughts on books by Svetlana Alexievich and Gabino Iglesias, new writing from Yaa Gyasi, and more.
Morning Bites: Victor LaValle, “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party” Revisited, Ruth Ozeki, Alina Simone’s Latest, and More
In our morning reading: Lincoln Michel conversed with Victor LaValle, an excerpt from Ruth Ozeki’s latest, and much more.
Morning Bites: Samuel R. Delany’s Birthday, New D. Foy Fiction, Paul Beatty, Janaka Stucky Televised, and More
In our morning reading: celebrating Samuel R. Delany’s birthday, thoughts on Paul Beatty’s new novel, Maura Johnston on Tidal, a trailer for a Jonathan Franzen-produced film, and more.
Chicago Indie Bookstores and Notable Incentives
Sometimes, literary happenings bring together a fantastic abundance of things we like. Take this year’s Independent Bookstore Day, for example. (That’s happening on May 2, for the record.) An expansion of a California-wide event, this will now involve a host of indie bookstores across the nation. And if you’ll be in Chicago on May 2, it might be a wise choice to pay a visit to one or more of the 12 stores taking part in that city. Why, you […]
“I Was in a Little Theatre and I Was the Only Audience”: An Interview with Dmitry Samarov
I interviewed Dmitry Samarov three times. The first time, my device did not record. The second time, my device did not record. I am entirely blameless I’m sure, acts of an indifferent god both times and, anyway, the third time was a charm. Luckily, either through natural disposition or the years driving a taxicab in both Boston and Chicago, as documented in his books Hack and Where To, Samarov was more than a little patient with my endearing incompetence. Samarov’s […]
Dmitry Samarov’s “Where To?” Book Tour Diary, Part 2
Albuquerque, 10/16-17 The West Coast leg of my book tour starts in Albuquerque. My friends Bud and Jessica invited me to come to town and suggested Bookworks to host a reading. They’ve been out here for years now. They moved from Chicago for the weather and an attraction to the desert. I’ve visited a few times and have never quite figured out what the place is about. This time around I notice signs all over town marking former “Breaking Bad” […]
Dmitry Samarov’s “Where To?” Book Tour Diary, Part 1
Before Leaving Town I’ve never gone on book tour before. When my first book, Hack: Stories from a Chicago Cab, came out three years ago, touring didn’t seem like an option. That book was published by University of Chicago Press, which opened up a lot of opportunities for me. I got to be a guest on NPR’s Talk of the Nation, wrote a guest column for Chicago magazine for a month, and got some pretty positive reviews. The book […]