In our morning reading: remembrances of Peter Straub, thoughts on Cookie Mueller’s writings, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Hanif Abdurraqib Interviewed, Thomas Pynchon, National Book Award Nominees, Sharon Van Etten, and More
In our afternoon reading: interviews with Hanif Abdurraqib and Sharon Van Etten, reading this year’s National Book Award nominees, and more.
Morning Bites: Saeed Jones Interviewed, “Inherent Vice” Trailer, Shawn Vestal, New Krasznahorkai Fiction, and More
A pair of interviews with Saeed Jones, the trailer for Inherent Vice, new fiction from László Krasznahorkai, notable literary Twitter feeds, and more.
Weekend Bites: Catherine Lacey Interviewed, Teju Cole on Wangechi Mutu, NY Art Book Fair, Hiss Golden Messenger, and More
Talking with Catherine Lacey, Teju Cole on art, thoughts on the new album from Hiss Golden Messenger, anticipating the film of Inherent Vice, and more.
Morning Bites: The “Inherent Vice” Movie, Roxane Gay, Elena Ferrante Interviewed, Wells Tower’s Nonfiction, and More
News of the Inherent Vice film, interviews with Roxane Gay and Elena Ferrante, Wells Tower’s nonfiction, NYC’s own floating library, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Jonathan Lethem Interviewed, Warren Ellis on “Against the Day,” Kronos Quartet, Raymond Pettibon’s Surfer Art, and More
This afternoon: Warren Ellis makes the case for Against the Day, interviews with Jonathan Lethem and Wendy Lotterman, the art of Raymond Pettibon, and more.
#tobyreads: Unlikely Journeys and Unexpected Connections
Last week’s column looked at isolation and solitude. This week’s goes in a different direction: finding literature that brings together unexpected elements in deeply effective ways. This can include everything from science fiction incorporating elements of folklore to surreal fiction inspired by the lives of animals to an elusive, digressive take on the detective novel.
Midnight Pynchon Party (With Bonus Knock-Knock Joke)
I started reading Thomas Pynchon at an age long before I was prepared for the density of his prose, his images, and the connections he makes between disparate aspects of life. Does it matter? No — I was hooked. I was, in my early teens, a pretty dedicated reader of Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine. (Fun fact: also the first place I encountered the fiction of one Jonathan Lethem.) In one of his regular columns on books — this one […]