I still rent DVDs through the mail. There’s usually a lag time of six-to-eight months between the time I add a movie to my queue and its arrival. I always forget what I’ve requested by that point and get a kick out of the small-scale time travel, the reminder of what I was thinking months prior. This took a wrong turn back in March. The first three movies to arrive during the onset of the Covid quarantine were Soylent Green, The Omega Man, and The Andromeda Strain.
In our morning reading: interviews with Raven Leilani and Joe Sacco, thoughts on Ether Kinsky’s newly-translated book, and more.
In our afternoon reading: exploring the work of N.K. Jemisin and Laura van den Berg, an interview with Isabel Wilkerson, and more.
In our morning reading, thoughts on Kate Zambreno’s new novel, Laaraji recommends music, and more.
In our afternoon reading: interviews with Alisson Wood and Aimee Nezhukumatathil, thoughts on Toni Morrison’s legacy, and more.
In our morning reading: thoughts on Laura van den Berg’s new novel, thoughts on fiction from Raven Leilani, and more.
In our afternoon reading: an interview with Blake Butler, thoughts on Isabel Wilkerson’s new book, and more.
Apparently it’s August now. Apparently summer has turned the corner and is beginning its slow approach into autumn. Nominally these things are happening, but the passage of time has gotten a bit strange lately. Still, there are plenty of books, and that’s an excellent thing. Do you like powerful, resonant nonfiction? August has that covered. What about surreal, high-concept fiction? Also around. Here are a few of the books we’re most excited about that are due out this month.