Continuing our conversation on book covers: a look at rejected designs for Denis Johnson‘s The Laughing Monsters.
Designing ‘The Laughing Monsters’
Read Yourself Saintly
Though the world may never know whether reading the greats makes you a better person, according to a recent study, those who take an active interest in the arts are more likely to be altruistic.
●
●
The Annotated Frank Sinatra
We didn't think it was possible to make Gay Talese's famous Esquire profile "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" any better, but Talese recently annotated the article for Nieman Story Board.
●
●
The Toast & The Butter
The Toast announced their first vertical this week, and even better than its name (The Butter, of course) is its editor - Roxane Gay, darling of the literary internet and author of Bad Feminist and An Untamed State. In answer to the question "What will this particular vertical be like?" Toast editor Mallory Ortberg said "WHATEVER ROXANE WANTS IT TO BE," so we have a lot to look forward to. Pair with The Millions's review of An Untamed State and Gay's 2013 "A Year in Reading."
The Beating of Rodney King, Take Two
Rodney King, possibly the nation's best-known victim of police brutality, will fight former Pennsylvania police officer Simon Aouad in a celebrity boxing match in Philadelphia on September 12. "I know some people will see the irony here," King said. I'm not sure irony's the word, but it's something alright.
●
●
Steve Almond on Editors, Ambition, and Angry Dependence
Steve Almond at The Rumpus provides a “meditation on editors, ambition, and angry dependence” in reaction to the media's coverage of the suicide of Kevin Morrissey, managing editor of The Virginia Quarterly Review.
●
●
Defense Against Detractors
Recommended reading: Adele Waldman defends the purpose and form of the novel and balances David Shield's Reality Hunger against Anna Karenina.
●
●
Active Inspiration
Seeking inspiration? Saint Heron has compiled a list of art that inspires activist DeRay Mckesson.