Morning Bites: Junot Díaz’s next steps, Mailer’s apartment, the “violent left,” Emily Gould on having a side business, and more

Animating Albert Camus. “Even if you’re a big fan of capitalism, you’ll at least concede that its greatest strength is probably not its capacity to reward artistic virtue fairly.” – Emily Gould on writers and other artists branching out, and trying to find other avenues to make money. More Jonathan Franzen essays on the way. Junot Díaz gives some insight as to what his next novel will be about. They’re having quite the hard time selling Norman Mailer’s Brooklyn Heights […]

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Bites: Blake on display, Philly libraries, Justin Taylor on Zak Smith, Princeton in the Times, Drew hearts Jens, and more

Lit. The Morgan Library and Museum is showcasing the watercolors, prints, and illuminations of William Blake for the first time in two decades.  The show, entitled “William Blake’s World: A New Heaven Has Begun” is on display through January 3rd. The entire Philadelphia Free Library System is scheduled to close on October 2. The Brooklyn Book Festival is today.  If you’re willing to confront the brewing cloudiness outside, PEN’s event looks good, and so does Housing Works’. Hooves on The […]

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Weekend Bites: Truman and Harry, David Byrne on Kindle, good friends-bad novels, Naked Lunch at 50, and more.

I always said Truman Capote knew the boy wizard, and nobody believed me. So I guess I shouldn’t buy Mastering the Art of French Cooking because “unfortunately, that will probably send even more Meryl Streep wannabes straight to bookstores looking for food porn. And they will be sold bibles.”  Bummer (Slate) David Byrne: Kindle DRM means “you are f*cked” (Thanks Boing Boing) Two A.V. Chicago writers ask if Ferris Bueller was true to it’s Chicago backdrop Jens Lekman will play […]

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Jens Lekman – “You Can Call Me Al”

There has been no shortage of worship for Paul Simon’s Graceland in the last few years, but there is something a little more special about our favorite Swede, Jens Lekman, covering what (due to the mentioned Chevy Chase involvement) might be the most misunderstood song on the entire album.

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