Tessa Hadley: “Valentine”

Click here to read the abstract of the story on The New Yorker webpage (this week’s story is available only for subscribers). Tessa Hadley’s “Valentine” was originally published in the April 8, 2013 issue of The New Yorker. Trevor As a fan of Tessa Hadley, I’m excited that she is the first author to have … Read more

Elfriede Jelinek: Her Not All Her

When it comes to Robert Walser, I’m only a novitiate. The first thing I read by him was The Tanners back in 2009 when it was released by New Directions (see my thoughts here). Though new to the fold, I easily understand why Walser’s work and life holds so many readers and writers in thrall. There’s a polite yet … Read more

Sarah Braunstein: “Marjorie Lemke”

Click here to read the abstract of the story on The New Yorker webpage (this week’s story is available only for subscribers). Sarah Braunstein’s “Marjorie Lemke” was originally published in the April 1, 2013 issue of The New Yorker. Trevor Marjorie Lemke, the titular character, is twenty years old and she feels like a loser. For me … Read more

Karen Russell: “Proving Up”

“Proving Up” is the fourth story in Karen Russell’s second short story collection, Vampires in the Lemon Grove. For an overview with links to reviews of the other stories in this collection, please click here. “Proving Up” was originally published in Zoetrope, Vol. 15, No. 3 as “The Hox River Window.” After not particularly liking the prior two … Read more

PEN/Faulkner Winner

Yesterday, the 2013 winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction was announced (click here for their announcement). Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Finalists were: Threats, by Amelia Gray Kind One, by Laird Hunt Hold It ‘Till It Hurts, by T. Geronimo Johnson Watergate, by Thomas Mallon