A talk with writer Alexander Sorondo about his epic William T. Vollmann profile, the even longer new Mark Danielewski one, Substack, Miami, and more.
Krystle Ratticus
A talk with Krystle Ratticus about zines, art, writing, Chicago, and the rest of it.
Ben Tanzer
A talk with Chicago/New York writer Ben Tanzer about his After Hours book and a lot more.
Moby Dick book-release
A talk between publisher Mallory Smart and designer Dmitry Samarov on the occasion of the release of a new illustrated edition of Herman Melville’s classic by Maudlin House. The event took place at Tangible Books in Chicago on May 10th, 2025.
The Incognito Lounge by Denis Johnson
I read the title poem from a 1994 Denis Johnson collection.
Nathan Knapp
A talk with writer Nathan Knapp. Read my review of Daybook and listen to me read its first few pages and, most importantly, buy yourself a copy!
Daybook by Nathan Knapp
Avner Landes
A talk with writer Avner Landes about his forthcoming novel, The Delegation, and other matters.
Order the new book and read my review of his first one.
Cathedral by Raymond Carver
I read the title story from Carver’s great book.
Dmitry Samarov & Jasmon Drain at Tangible Books
A conversation between Dmitry Samarov and Jasmon Drain about Samarov’s Making Pictures is How I Talk to the World at Tangible Books in Chicago, 8/24/24.
Eugene Marten
A talk with writer Eugene Marten about the re-release of Layman’s Report and other matters.
Maggie Umber
A talk with artist/writer Maggie Umber about her nearly-wordless book, Chrysanthemum Under the Waves.
Truth Serum
A couple pages from Eugene Marten’s Layman’s Report.
Read my review of the book.
Background music by Emily Robb.
Bruce Wagner
A wide-ranging talk with novelist/screenwriter Bruce Wagner.
Order his new book and read my review of his previous one.
De Kooning on the Renaissance
I read an essay Willem De Kooning wrote in 1950 that is included in a tiny book I bought from the collection of Tom Verlaine.
Scott Schaaf
A talk with Scott Schaaf about growing up in the Quad Cities and ending up in Chicago to eventually open his great record store, Pinwheel Records, in Pilsen.
A Georges Perec list
A hundred-seventy-nine-line list from Georges Perec’s Life: A User’s Manual that is a kind of skeleton key or cheat sheet for the whole book.
Lucy Sante (2024)
A talk with Lucy Sante about her new memoir, a lifetime of writing, and her unexpected newfound fame.
Dmitry Samarov
Skyler Rowe interviews Dmitry Samarov about childhood, art, and the rest of it.
Katherine Eremia
A talk with artist Katherine Eremia about growing up in the South, coming up to Chicago, and a whole lot more.
Tyler Dempsey
A talk with writer/podcaster/lover of remote locales, Tyler Dempsey.
Read my review of his novel, Will We All Still See Each Other Afterward.
Bartlebooth learns to watercolor
A few more pages from Georges Perec’s Life: A User’s Manual.
Preamble to Life: A User’s Manual
I read the intro to Georges Perec’s 1978 novel.
Coyle & Bandini
I read the first few pages from George V. Higgins’ The Friends of Eddie Coyle and John Fante’s Wait Until Spring, Bandini.
It’s Because We’re So Poor
I read a story from Juan Rulfo’s The Plain in Flames.