“Guilt and a feeling of never being satisfied with what you’ve done. And a sense that you are inadequate and a big phony. All useful for a writer. I’m always being edited by my inner nun.” An interview with the inimitable George Saunders, author of Tenth of December, on his approach to humor. Pair with: our own reviews of his stories.
Saunders on Humor
Tuesday New Release Day: Adrian, Prose, Doyle, Boyd, Grant
It’s a big week for literary new releases. Chris Adrian’s much anticipated new novel The Great Night is now out, as is Francine Prose’s My New American Life. Also new this week are Roddy Doyle’s latest collection of stories, Bullfighting, and the reissue of William Boyd’s impish prank of a book, Nat Tate: An American Artist. Finally, past Booker shortlister Linda Grant has a new novel out called We Had It So Good.
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The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance
(Reluctantly) Recommended Reading: On the surprising racism of children’s books.
Literary Threads
Literary-minded t-shirt purveyor Kafkacotton has a new t-shirt out. This one is a clever nod to Kerouac’s On the Road.
Reading Lists for Fall
The editors at Poetry have compiled a reading list from their contributors’ suggestions, and the result is a healthy mix of poetry books new and old. Pair their suggestions with Tom Nissley‘s “September Books: A Reading List for Beginnings.”
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Language is Power
Recommended Reading: Writers are signing a petition in opposition to Donald Trump.
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Lacking Lacks
Henrietta Lacks is finally getting some credit for her genome’s contribution to science. The subject of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was formally recognized by the US National Institutes of Health for her HeLa cells.
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Gay Goth Look
“JUST STRAIGHT UP STANDING ON THE EDGE OF A CLIFF YELLING AT THE NIGHT,” and other portraits of the inimitable Greek poet Sappho, ranked in order of how bummed out she looks.
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