In our weekend reading: thoughts on books by Sara Gallardo and Max Porter, notable 2023 music, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Paula Bomer Nonfiction, Christopher Beha on Jon Fosse, Thurston Moore Interviewed, and More
In our afternoon reading: new writing by Paula Bomer, Christopher Beha on Jon Fosse, and more.
Adrian Van Young on the Uncanny Origins of “Midnight Self”
I’ve long admired the writings of Adrian Van Young, and I’m happy to report that his new collection Midnight Self continues his trademark blend of visceral imagery, contemplative plotting, and occasional forays deep into the uncanny. This is a collection in which historical figures encounter bizarre figures and where a thrift-store find becomes something both truly alien and truly alienating. I caught up with Van Young to learn more about the book’s origins and to get to the bottom of some of the nightmare fuel that emerged from these tales.
Morning Bites: Christine Lai’s Novel, Nate Powell Returns, Great 2023 Novels, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on books by Christine Lai and Samantha Harvey, museums and literature, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Jon Fosse’s Writing, Science Fiction Architecture, Books on Comedy, and More
In our afternoon reading: the writings of Jon Fosse, architecture in science fiction, and more.
“I Hope People Keep Pushing Boundaries More and More”: An Interview With Jami Nakamura Lin
Jami Nakamura Lin‘s speculative memoir, The Night Parade, breaks genre barriers by illuminating the author’s mental health narrative with Japanese ghost stories that parallel the horrors of her bipolar diagnosis. Lin uses this hybrid template to demonstrate how brain illnesses, thought to be aberrant, are connected to a shared storytelling practice. Lin and I met over Zoom, where we talked about mental health stigma, the media’s influence on mental illness, and her exciting contribution to the speculative nonfiction subgenre. Lin even shared an impromptu craft lesson with me—Hint: it involves colored markers, a table-sized sheet of paper, and plenty of floor space.
Morning Bites: Sunwatchers’ Latest, Amal El-Mohtar Nonfiction, Tournament of Books Shortlist, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on Sunwatchers’ new album, nonfiction by Kiese Laymon and Amal El-Mohtar, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Colin Dickey Nonfiction, Orchid Returns, Sam Wasson Interviewed, and More
In our afternoon reading: new writing by Colin Dickey, the return of Orchid, and more.