In our weekend reading: interviews with Brandon Taylor and Sean Michaels, thoughts on how best to support musicians, and more.
Vol.1 Brooklyn’s January 2020 Book Preview
New year, new books. January offers plenty of new titles to choose from, ranging from unsettling dystopias to thought-provoking works of nonfiction to boldly experimental literary works. Some of the books we’re most excited to read this month are from old favorites of ours; others are from writers whose work we’re eager to read for the first time. Here’s a selection of some of the January books we’re looking forward to.
#tobyreads: Fragmentary Lives, Transmitted Over the Air
In our latest week-in-reading column, we look at new novels from Ottessa Moshfegh, Sean Michaels, and Lynn Lurie.
Morning Bites: Bedhead Retrospective, John Darnielle Interviewed, Mira Gonzalez, Sean Michaels and Carey Mercer, and More
A look back at the music of Bedhead, Sean Michaels interviewed Carey Mercer, poetry from Mira Gonzalez, an interview with John Darnielle, and more.
Morning Bites: Atticus Lish, Sarah Gerard’s Latest, A Charles D’Ambrosio Essay, Girlpool Interviewed, and More
Reviews of Atticus Lish’s new novel and Cult of Youth’s new album; an excerpt from Sarah Gerard’s forthcoming Binary Star; Sean Michaels and Sofia Samatar on winning awards; and more.
Weekend Bites: “Belzhar” Reviewed, Elif Batuman on “Gone Girl,” Sean Michaels Interviewed, New Alexander Chee Fiction, and More
Thoughts on new fiction from Meg Wolitzer and a new album from Ex Hex, short stories from some excellent NYC-based writers, Elif Batuman on marriage and Gone Girl, and more.
Lessons in Collaboration and Inspiration: Notes on “You Are the Friction”
You Are the Friction foreword by Sean Michaels Sing Statistics; 216 p. The process of inspiration is something that never fails to grab my attention. By which I mean: wear your influences on your sleeve and it’s liable to pique my interest. Years ago, I fell hard for Chris Eaton’s novel The Grammar Architect, which he’s described as a cover of Thomas Hardy’s A Pair of Blue Eyes. More recently, John Darnielle’s book in the 33 1/3 series took Black Sabbath’s Master of […]
Weekend Bites: Rivka Galchen, Debut Novelists, Ariel Schrag’s Latest, Julianna Barwick’s Brewery Collaboration, and More
An interview with Rivka Galchen, and a review of her latest; thoughts on Julianna Barwick’s new EP and Ariel Schrag’s new novel; talking with debut novelists, a profile of Sean Michaels, and more.