In our Wednesday afternoon reading: new writing from Toni Morrison, an interview with Nick Kroll, a playlist from Nicole Haroutunian, and much more.
Morning Bites: Toni Morrison, Blake Butler on Sound, Broken Water Interviewed, and More
In our Monday morning reading: notes on writing from Toni Morrison, Damon Krukowski on music and copyright, Blake Butler on sound and fiction, and more.
When Pulitzer Prize Winners Converse
If you’re in New York right now, you’ve probably noticed that it’s a particularly cold day outside, and the weekend promises to bring with it equally unenticing weather. Why not spend some time listening to two outstanding writers discuss a host of topics–by which we mean this conversation between Toni Morrison and Junot Díaz that took place a few years ago at the New York Public Library. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to edit Muhammad Ali, all your questions will be answered.
A Whole Lot of Amazing Writers Were Born on February 18th
The other day, we were looking at Library Booklists’ invaluable list of authors’ birthdays, and we noticed something: over a roughly 75-year period, a whole lot of critically important writers were born on the 18th of February. Here are some names: Toni Morrison. Sholem Aleichem. Audre Lorde. Wallace Stegner. Helen Gurley Brown. Nikos Kazantzakis. There are winners of major literary awards and groundbreaking figures in there–essential writers all. So, if you’re a writer and your birthday’s today: consider that there’s a pretty solid precedent going on.
Morning Bites: Wayne Koestenbaum on D.H. Lawrence, Ex Hex’s Latest, Hilton Als & Toni Morrison, Deafheaven Interviewed, and More
Wayne Koestenbaum on Sons and Lovers, Hilton Als interviewed Toni Morrison, new music from Ex Hex, India’s best-sellers, Ali Liebegott on writing for Transparent, and more.
Bites: Kim Kardashian vs. the Countess of Grantham, 2012 books, Tin House picks,The Men, and more
At Grantland: Downton Abbey vs. The Kardashian’s John Irving, Toni Morrison, and Michael Chabon all have books on The Atlantic’s books to look forward to in 2012 list. Scott McClanahan talks to 3:AM Magazine. On reading Jennifer Egan in Africa. (Not the same as reading Jennifer Egan while listening to “Africa“) Tin House picks their favorite books of 2011. At Salon: Stumbling upon a treasure trove of Yiddish theatre posters. One person isn’t as excited about forthcoming album by The […]
Aleksandar Hemon is My Favorite Writer I’ve Never Read*
This is true first because he inhabits Chicago, a city where some of my fondest memories are held. Second because of this, and finally this. Now, a video of Hemon along with Stuart Dybek hangin’ out on a porch in Chicago, discussing Chicago, is up at Granta Mag, in light of their summer 2009 issue which honors the city. *For a few months The Lazarus Project has been sitting on my nightstand–next to A Mercy, which I bought at the […]