I Cheerfully Refuse, by Leif Enger, is a dystopian novel set in a future America where a soft-spoken narrator navigates a world unraveling under the weight of despair and fractured human connections. While the novel offers a chilling glimpse into a familiar dystopia, I found myself struggling with its episodic nature and predictable emotional arcs. Read my full review to find out more about what worked for me—and what didn’t.
Great Granny Webster by Caroline Blackwood is a haunting exploration of family dynamics and the lingering effects of unresolved histories. With its subtle, elusive narrative, the book leaves much to the imagination, creating a lasting sense of mystery and intrigue. Read my full review to delve deeper into the complexities of Blackwood’s storytelling.
Andrew Krivak’s The Bear is a quiet, elegiac novel about the last two humans on earth—and what endures when everything else is gone. A tender story of survival, grief, and reverence for the natural world. Here are some of my thoughts.
Eowyn Ivey’s debut novel blends myth and harsh reality in the Alaskan frontier, telling a story that’s both tender and haunting. Here is my reflection on my first encounter with The Snow Child—a book long recommended to me by my wife.
This week's New Yorker story is "From, To," by David Bezmozgis.
This week's New Yorker story is "Marseille," by Aysegül Savas.
This week's New Yorker story is Bryan Washington's "Hatagaya Lore."
Adam and Eve in Paradise, recently published by New Directions in a translation by the always great Margaret Jull Costa, reimagines the dawn of humanity with wit, humor, and surprising depth. Through a comic and naturalistic retelling, Eça de Queirós explores Adam's evolution from beast to man—and Eve’s crucial role in shaping civilization. A philosophical exploration of knowledge, survival, and the cost of progress. Check out my full review.
This week's New Yorker fiction is Joyce Carol Oates's "The Frenzy," which looks to be a disturbing look at an older man's weekend trip with the much younger Cassidy.
This week's New Yorker fiction is Yiyun Li's "Techniques and Idiosyncrasies." What begins as a routine checkup at the doctor's office for Lilian quickly becomes a poignant meditation on memory and grief, drawing us into the subtle ways in which personal history shapes even the most seemingly mundane interactions.
