Comics fans will know that a new Marvel storyline may — just possibly — reunite Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. This has, understandably, produced a range of reactions, not least of which is this piece by Ta-Nehisi Coates, who argues that the two embody a healthy marriage. “[Their] marriage was a rejection of the macho ideal of romance—which reigns even among nerds—and it mirrored and confirmed my own budding sense of what love was at a very young age,” he writes. You could also read Paul Morton on the character of Peter Parker.
Friendly Neighborhood
All About the New
20 Under 40 alum and A Better Angel author Chris Adrian teamed up with Eli Horowitz to publish a digital novel with Atavist Books. The novel, titled The New World, employs new storytelling techniques made possible by Atavist software. It’s worth remembering here that the first book Atavist published was written by fellow 20-Under-40er Karen Russell.
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Salvaging the Unwritten
How do you write poems about a culture that has been erased from history and one you don't fit into? Tess Taylor delved into the complications of her Southern family's past for The Forage House and attempted to excavate the unwritten parts of their history. "The non-writing down of people is intensely violent," she told The Oxford American in a recent interview. Pair with: Our own Michael Bourne's essay on the collection and its implications.
Two Newly-Discovered Sappho Poems
A researcher unearthed two never-before-seen poems by Sappho. To fans of Classics and Greek poetry, this is bigger than the surprise release of Beyoncé’s secret album.
Les Mosquees
Recommended Reading: Adam Shatz on Michel Houellebecq’s novel Submission.
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Queens of the Short Story
It’s high time we acknowledge the mastery of the short story by some really fantastic American women. At LitHub, Bridget Read makes a compelling case for such writers as Lucia Berlin and Jamaica Kincaid as veritable dons of the genre. This piece pairs nicely with a recent Millions essay by Adam Boffa on terseness, Twitter, and Lydia Davis.
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William S. Burroughs Films
In case you're looking for something to read this Sunday, check out seven William S. Burroughs films and interviews.
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