Spark bio(s)
Muriel Spark finally gets an entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. In anticipation of Stannard’s bio, I’m reading all of her books, in order.
Muriel Spark finally gets an entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. In anticipation of Stannard’s bio, I’m reading all of her books, in order.
The latest in Fictionaut’s Line Breaks series is Frederick Barthelme’s first published short story, “Shopgirls.” See also my review of Waveland.
Jonathan Lethem converses with Tom McCarthy tonight (1/7) at the London Review Bookshop. Leave time for some cake.
I’ve been thinking about Saul Bellow’s notion that “art has something to do with the achievement of stillness in the midst of chaos.” Coincidentally, Colson Whitehead has declared this ShThFuUpAnWoOnYrNo (Shut the fuck up and work on your novel) Month. And why not? It’s winter, you’re going to be miserable anyway. What better things do you have going on? I’m . . .
The novelist Tash Aw tells Chris Lehmann that he knew he had to quit his day job when he realized he’d started thinking of himself as an attorney.