Recommended Listening: David Naimon interviews Valeria Luiselli about her novel The Story of my Teeth, literary tradition, and the writing process. Pair with Lily Meyer’s Millions review of the novel.
Dispatch from the Jumex Factory
Not Another Trauma Memoir
What I didn’t want was for my book to become a trauma narrative or a healing narrative that would be touted as merely a testament to love. It’s not meant to be only an uplifting and inspirational piece of literature. I’m tired of the type of memoir that just shows you its scars and wants you to feel sympathy for it. This is not that kind of memoir." Garrard Conley interviewed over at Electric Literature in conjunction with the release of his new memoir, Boy Erased.
Tuesday New Release Day
Andrew O'Hagan, whose books have gotten some Booker Prize notice over the years, has a new one out (it's been out in the UK for a while now) called The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe, which, as the title perhaps suggests, is told in the voice of Monroe's Scottish maltese poodle called Maf. Also out this week is Tom Clancy's first new "Jack Ryan" thriller in quite some time, Dead or Alive.
●
●
Was Milton a Bard of Smut?
An Oxford lecturer finds a “filthy, innuendo-laden... smutty... coarse, and frankly misogynistic” poem supposedly by John Milton - a far cry from the lofty Christian sentiments of Paradise Lost.
HP in London
Ben Brantley reviews Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’s London debut.
More Homework
A while back, I wrote about Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher, which may be the first novel in history written entirely in the form of recommendation letters. Now, at The Rumpus, Anjali Enteti sits down with Schumacher, who talks about writing by hand, the adjunct crisis, and why it’s okay that so many people are getting MFAs. You could also read our own Nick Ripatrazone on why MFA grads should teach high school.
DFW’s Nonfiction
Leveling the kind of accusation that perhaps only such an esteemed writer can, Jonathan Franzen intimates that David Foster Wallace's nonfiction (such as "Shipping Out") wasn't exactly honest.
●
●
Just In Time For Valentine’s Weekend
Katia Grubisic reviews The Poetry of Sex, which is Penguin’s new “carnal compilation” covering everything “from love-making to hay-rolling to cuckolding.”
●
●