Whether you admire the work of e.e. cummings or think of him mainly as the inspiration for your high school’s worst poet, you’ll enjoy this excerpt of Susan Cheever’s new biography, which touches on the poet’s later years and his relationship with Cheever’s father. The two (contrasting) money quotes here are Malcolm Cowley’s claim that cummings was “the most brilliant monologuist I have known” and this exasperated question posed by Helen Vendler: “What is wrong with a man who writes this?
Their Etceteras
A Generation of Writers Influenced by Octavia Butler
Hillel Italie speaks to writers like N.K. Jemisin and Nnedi Okarafor about Octavia Butler's undeniable influence on a generation of thinkers and artists.
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“Vista as vortex”
Mike McCormack delves into the view from his house in Galway.
Reading Lists Amended
Remember when Esquire released their not-so-great list of eighty books every man should read? Well, they have amended their list to eighty books every person should read, asking advice from “eight female literary powerhouses” including Roxane Gay, Michiko Kakutani and Lauren Groff. Our own Janet Potter recommends twenty-eight books you should read if you want to.
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With Help from Nicky
Recommended Reading: Joel Landmine’s Nervous Breakdown self-interview.
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Beware of the Gravedigger
Recommended Reading: On the literary tradition of objectifying and consuming women’s corpses.