In our afternoon reading: new writing by K-Ming Chang, some seasonal music, and more.
Morning Bites: Danez Smith, Kathe Koja Excerpted, Laila Lalami, Blanck Mass Interviewed, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on books by Danez Smith and Kathryn Scanlan, an interview with Blanck Mass, and more.
Morning Bites: Laila Lalami, Tolstoy’s Children’s Stories, Natalie Eilbert, Mike Davis Interviewed, and More
In our morning reading: interviews with Laila Lalami and Mike Davis, poetry by Natalie Eilbert, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Evie Wyld, Deb Olin Unferth Interviewed, Asiya Wadud, Laila Lalami’s Latest, and More
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on Evie Wyld’s new novel, interviews with Deb Olin Unferth and Asiya Wadud, and more.
Morning Bites: Nicholas Mancusi, Ann Quin Revisited, Bjørn Rasmussen, Taffy Brodesser-Akner Interviewed, and More
In our morning reading: new writing by Nicholas Mancusi, reviews of books by Bjørn Rasmussen and Laila Lalami, and more.
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.
Tragedy and Critique: A Review of Laila Lalami’s “The Other Americans”
Moroccan novelist Laila Lalami tackles the big stuff with her novels and characters—justice, race, class, familial identity, and religious sectarianism, among other weighty matters. Don’t even get her started on historical erasure. In her most impressive take on the topic, 2014’s The Moor’s Account (which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and a Man Booker Prize nominee) she narrated the story of Mustafa ibn Muhammad ibn Abdussalam al-Zamori, a Moroccan slave who traveled with Cabeza de Vaca and is considered the first black explorer of the New World, but who was reduced to a footnote in de Vaca’s writings. Lalami created a narrative and an interior life for al-Zamori in that book, animating him into what can only be his rightful place in history.
Afternoon Bites: Kate Hope Day Interviewed, Leanne Shapton’s Latest, Brian Eno, and More
In our afternoon reading: interviews with Kate Hope Day and Laila Lalami, revisiting a classic Brian Eno album, and more.