A.S. Byatt admires the “American-style reportage” present in the work of Zadie Smith and Monica Ali, and argues that a renewed focus on storytelling since the 1970’s has left the British novel in good shape. Ali Smith and Toby Litt touched off a firestorm (ably summarized by Annie Reid) last week when critics branded their introduction to the New Writing . . .
Since last week’s Denis Johnson update (fourth item), I’ve learned that the first chapter of Tree of Smoke — the Jesus’ Son author’s novel-in-progress — will appear in McSweeney’s Issue 16, forthcoming in May or June.
The Smart Set is a weekly feature, compiled by Lauren Cerand, that appears Mondays and highlights the best of the week to come. Special favor is given to New York’s independent booksellers and venues, and low-cost and free events. Please submit details to lauren@maudnewton.com. MONDAY, 3.28: Perhaps aiming to give the Upper West Side a little much-needed edge, Columbia: A . . .
Sorry about the tumbleweeds, everybody. I’ll spare you the details of my latest family emergency, but the upshot is that my grandfather — my last surviving grandparent — has landed in the hospital with an uncertain prognosis. Next Monday’s excuse: a plague of locusts! Please stay tuned. Book news will follow.
This post was written by Friday blogger Annie Reid. That’s all for me. It’s been a helluva week, and I can’t wait to go drink heavily celebrate the holiday weekend. I’m going on a little roadtrip myself. I’m promised my fellow travellers four full hours of bitching. They can’t wait. Maud was last seen hopping about in a field of . . .