Well, that’s one way to get the youth involved in politics. According to this piece over at The Daily Beast, “Before Tinder, before shopping malls, drive-ins, or speak-easies, young people searched for a place to meet and flirt. In 19th century America, wild political rallies offered the perfect opportunity.”
Rock the Vote
A GIF Search Engine
Last weekend marked the debut of Giphy, a new search engine for animated GIFs. Of course, I’m not willing to give a verdict on its utility just yet – the database doesn’t seem to list my three favorite GIFs of all time: therapist lion, slow motion corgis, and Kermit meets Christian.
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And the Pulitzer, What’s Up with That?
At Slate, Katy Waldman asks a simple question: what the heck is the point of the National Book Awards, anyway?
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The Best of the Best
Authors, including Jennifer Egan, George Saunders, Ali Smith, and our own Chigozie Obioma, chose their Best Books of 2017 in a two-part series for The Guardian. If you enjoyed that list, make sure to check out our Year in Reading: 2017 series all throughout December.
I’m Not Dead Yet!
Some corners of the literary world were confused last week when news hit about the passing of Beatles producer George Martin, forcing Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin to make this statement: “While it is strangely moving to realize that so many people around the world care so deeply about my life and death, I have to go with Mark Twain and insist that the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. It was Sir George Martin, of Beatles fame, who has passed away. Not me.”
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Dispatch from Brazil
Recommended Reading: Selections from the forthcoming Women Writing Brazil issue of PEN America’s Glossolalia.
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Partying Tomorrow
David Naimon interviews Rob Spillman, editor of Tin House and author of All Tomorrow’s Parties. Spillman discusses his favorite issue of Tin House with Nick Ripatrazone at The Millions.
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