Certain themes keep popping up in the fiction that impressed us most this year: the potential horrors of ambiguity, the nature of immigration, the threat of state violence, mysteries that can’t be solved, and the malleability of memory. That’s not too surprising, given the year we’ve had. Here’s a look at some of our favorite fiction from the year that was.
Afternoon Bites: Kobo Abe, Luke B. Goebel Fiction, Renee Gladman’s Latest, Jac Jemc, and More
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on books by Kobo Abe and Renee Gladman, fiction by Luke B. Goebel, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Karen Tei Yamashita, Kirkus Prize Finalists, Jac Jemc, Robert Coover Revisited, and More
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on books by Karen Tei Yamashita and Robert Coover, an interview with Cold Beat, and more.
Weekend Bites: Jac Jemc Interviewed, Colin Dickey Nonfiction, Literary Family Sagas, Jesmyn Ward’s Latest, and More
In our weekend reading: interviews with Jac Jemc and Brandon Stosuy, the appeal of literary family sagas, and much more.
Morning Bites: Samantha Irby Interviewed, Jac Jemc and Amber Sparks, Indie Rock Board Games, and More
In our morning reading: an interview with Samantha Irby, Jac Jemc and Amber Sparks in conversation, and more.
Morning Bites: EMA’s Latest, N.J. Campbell Interviewed, Jac Jemc on Ceramics, and More
In our morning reading: Ann Powers on the new album from EMA, a look at the current state of The Believer, and more.
Morning Bites: Revisiting “The Book of Disquiet,” Morgan Parker’s Latest, Lindsay Hunter Nonfiction, Jesse Ball, and More
In our morning reading: talking “The Book of Disquiet,” essays by Lindsay Hunter and Jason Diamond, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Jac Jemc’s Latest, Teju Cole Interviewed, Garth Greenwell Fiction, Zaire 74, and More
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on Jac Jemc’s new novel, interviews with Teju Cole and Scott McClanahan, and more.