Putting together this list of standout fiction published so far this year wasn’t an easy task, mostly because it could just as easily have been twice as long. It’s been a very good year for fiction, whether your tastes head more towards classical storytelling, or narrative innovation, or incisive societal observations. What follows is a list of some of the books published in the first half of 2016 that have impressed us the most.
Morning Bites: Steve Gunn’s Latest, Monica Drake, Alexis Coe Nonfiction, Kelly Luce Interviewed, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on new work by Monica Drake and Steve Gunn, an interview with Kelly Luce, and more.
Morning Bites: Monica Drake Interviewed, Dzanc Prize, Carlos Velásquez’s Playlist, and More
In our morning reading: an interview with Monica Drake, Dzanc Books launches a new literary prize, a playlist from Carlos Velásquez, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Mona Awad Recommends Books, Roxane Gay, Monica Drake Fiction, Notes on Seltzer, and More
In our afternoon reading: Mona Awad recommends books, new writing from Roxane Gay and Helena Fitzgerald, and much more.
Vol.1 Brooklyn’s March 2016 Books Preview
This March brings it with a host of books that we’re eager to read–everything from thought-provoking and incisive nonfiction to unexpected national histories to transportive, unpredictable fiction. Some come from authors whose work we’ve come to trust; others fall into the category of highly anticipated debuts. Here’s a look at some of the books that have us most excited for the upcoming month.
A Monica Drake Short Story Collection Is On the Way
Monica Drake‘s first novel, Clown Girl, memorably took readers into a surreal and comic universe as it followed the trials and tribulations of a young woman working as (as the title may suggest) a clown. Her follow-up, The Stud Book, examined the dynamics of a group of friends in Portland as they grappled with questions of work, intimacy, and parenthood.
Afternoon Bites: Coney Island Library, Wes Anderson Lessons, Monica Drake Interviewed, “The Counselor” Reviewed, and More
The Coney Island Library has re-opened; Roxane Gay talked with Monica Drake at The Rumpus; Matt Zoller Seitz shared what he learned from writing about Wes Anderson’s films; Blake Butler on Amina Cain’s new book; and more.
Afternoon Bites: What Scares Benjamin Percy, Gun Outfit’s Latest, Monica Drake, Ben Greenman’s Playlist, and More
Ben Greenman’s Book Notes playlist for The Slippage has a particular emphasis on songs about the suburbs. “Gun Outfit’s connection to folk music is also clear; those albums’ radical bent came through on occasional anti-capitalist lyrical statements, like Sonic Youth covering Woody Guthrie.” Jenn Pelly on Gun Outfit’s Hard Coming Down. Benjamin Percy on what he considers to be the scariest passage in all of literature. That time Charles Mingus toilet-trained his cat. “My belief is that if we put up an arbitrary […]