Baldwin’s Paris
James Baldwin on Paris of the late ’40s: “One soon ceased expecting to be warm in one’s hotel room, and read and worked in the cafes.” See also Giovanni’s Room.
James Baldwin on Paris of the late ’40s: “One soon ceased expecting to be warm in one’s hotel room, and read and worked in the cafes.” See also Giovanni’s Room.
A nice walking tour of New York’s indie booksellers inspires hope that Gotham Book Mart didn’t really shut down for good. Three Lives & Shakespeare are also worth visiting.
Laila Lalami, who’ll be in town this week for three PEN events, was admiring Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist before she left Morocco.
Meet Rindia Bruce, my mom’s paternal grandmother and a woman to whom I owe an apology. I mistakenly believed she was the ancestor who killed her last baby by beating its head against the doorstep. My mother recently clarified: You are mixed up with my grandmothers. Gran Rindia was a Pentecostal holy roller!! It was Rebecca Johnston (“Mammy” Johnston), Zone’s . . .
I once picked up Heavenly Days at Balk’s suggestion, but ultimately found it a little broad. Writing persuasively for the NYTBR, Mark Sarvas makes me want to give Wilcox another shot.