In our afternoon reading: exploring the music of DeYarmond Edison, revisiting the life of Ralph Ellison, and more.
Todd Dills on “Shining Man,” Southern Literature, and the Search for Joy
Some of the first readings I ever did were with writer Todd Dills, who was and is one of the most engaging people to see read from their work in front of their audience. (I still have fond memories of watching Todd shaking an upside-down mic stand at an event at an Atlanta coffee shop.) The guy’s a fantastic writer as well, and when his latest novel Shining Man was published in 2019 — it’s a followup to his earlier Sons of the Rapture, which I also highly recommend — I eagerly read it and sent him some questions on it. And then the pandemic happened and the interview was paused for a bit. And now it’s complete — and features Dills discussing everything from the literary influence of Ralph Ellison to the role NASCAR plays in his work.
Afternoon Bites: Ram V Talks Comics, Chris Forsyth’s Music, Marisa Siegel’s Poetry, and More
In our afternoon reading: talking comics with Ram V, a look inside bookish algorithms, and more.
Morning Bites: Larissa Pham Interviewed, Revisiting “Invisible Man,” Inside Loyalty Books, and More
In our morning reading: an interview with Larissa Pham, the making of a classic by Ralph Ellison, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Ralph Ellison, Michael Farris Smith’s Bookshelves, Soft Plastics, Inside 11:11 Press, and More
In our afternoon reading: revisiting Ralph Ellison’s fiction, a look at notable 2020 books so far, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Howard Fast, Ralph Ellison’s Letters, Mimi Lok, Natalia Ginzburg Revisited, and More
In our afternoon reading: fiction from Howard Fast, revisiting Ralph Ellison’s letters, and more.
Morning Bites: Rumaan Alam, Brooks Headley Interviewed, Rachel Cusk, Sam Pink’s Latest, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on new books by Rumaan Alam and Sam Pink, an interview with Brooks Headley, and more.
Morning Bites: Ralph Ellison and Gordon Parks, Eve Ewing Interviewed, Lisa Locascio, and More
In our morning reading: revisiting a Ralph Ellison/Gordon Parks collaboration, new writing by Lisa Locascio, and more.