The Swamp of the Non-Reader

“It’s funny how as an author, I rarely notice what seems so obvious to other people: that I have obsessions and will write about them endlessly. Sad, lonely, self-loathing guy? Mid-20th and 21st century literature loves to write about that guy, and so do I. Reckless, self-aggrandizing, narcissist man? I like to write about him, too, though of course they are the same person. A person whose energy compels people to orbit him—family, friends, underlings, women.” The Rumpus talks with Woke Up Lonely author Fiona Maazel (who’s written for The Millions).

"Maybe everything is an organized mess at high speed": in one of the more deeply buried leads in history, Brad Listi announces The Nervous Breakdown's new publishing imprint. And yes, I could just send you to the official press release, but I loved this piece.

Nicholas Sparks is working on a Broadway musical adaptation of The Notebook. The question this raises, of course, is whether or not current internet meme-célèbre Ryan Gosling will reprise his starring role.

Over at Public Books, Katie Fitzpatrick writes that Dana Spiotta's Innocents and Others is a novel on women’s artistic genius. Pair with Jason Arthur’s review of the novel.