In our afternoon reading: fiction by Usman T. Malik, the music of John Lurie, and more.
Weekend Bites: Vanessa Veselka’s Playlist, Joe McPhee, John Langan Interviewed, Henry Hoke, and More
In our weekend reading: a playlist from Vanessa Veselka, an interview with John Langan, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Caroline Leavitt on Writing, Lavie Tidhar, John Langan’s Latest, Matthew Salesses, and More
In our afternoon reading: Caroline Leavitt on writing, a playlist from Matthew Salesses, and more.
Vol.1 Brooklyn’s August 2020 Book Preview
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.
Afternoon Bites: Michael J. Seidlinger Interviewed, John Langan, Dennis Cooper’s Biography, Candice Carty-Williams, and More
In our afternoon reading: an interview with Michael J. Seidlinger, thoughts on John Langan’s forthcoming collection, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Hilary Leichter, Amina Cain Interviewed, Gayle Brandeis, John Langan’s Recommendations, and More
In our afternoon reading: thoughts on Hilary Leichter’s new novel, an interview with Amina Cain, and more.
Morning Bites: John Langan Interviewed, Meng Jin, Hailu Mergia’s New Album, Rick Paulus, and More
In our morning reading: an interview with John Langan, reviews of books by Meng Jin and Rick Paulus, and more.
Bodies Haunted by Stories, Bodies Remade: A Review of John Langan’s “Sefira and Other Betrayals”
John Langan’s fiction brings together two seemingly disparate strengths: his way of structuring narratives is often revelatory, and his stories and novels themselves are frequently unnerving. Langan writes horror fiction, but his isn’t so much about jump-scares as it is about being in the presence of the inexplicable. There are uncanny hauntings and bizarre fatalities in it, to be sure, but Langan’s horror takes a very different form from many writers in the genre, past or present.