“I like a lot of things about being a woman, but there are times and ways it’s a prison, and sometimes I daydream about being out of that prison.” The Guardian has a crack Rebecca Solnit essay about clothing, gender, and of course, mansplaining. Pair with our review of Solnit’s The Faraway Nearby.
If I Were a Boy
The David Foster Wallace Conference
The Howling Fantods live-blogged last week’s DFW conference at CUNY.
The Literary Rumor Mill
From Flavorwire, a look at fascinating literary rumors, from Mark Twain‘s premature death to Stephen King‘s supposed blindness.
Reading by Halves
Over at Electric Literature, Lincoln Michel wonders “What’s Wrong with Only Reading Half a Book?” Pair with our own Sonya Chung‘s essay on her list of unfinished reads and the art of “breaking up with books.”
Zadie Smith wins The Moth Award
Last week Zadie Smith, acclaimed novelist and Year in Reading alum, was presented with The Moth Award for storytelling. She gave a charming acceptance speech, video of which can be found here, and we definitely recommend watching!
“Forsterian-by-way-of-the-Beatles”
Recommended Reading: Joanna Biggs on Zadie Smith and Swing Time, which we reviewed.
Jonathan Lethem’s Brooklyn
Jonathan Lethem gives The Guardian a tour of his Brooklyn neighborhood.