carolyn kellogg

Mark’s house, that is. A new John Banville Q&A is live and sparkling at The Elegant Variation, including: The Elegant Variation: What is it about the German thinkers that has…

But reference books are, when Gwenda writes about them for PW. So are Houston stoners, who decided a skull-shaped bong wasn’t authentic enough. What exactly happened the night of August…

Mark Sarvas, who is a litblog friend, has published his first novel (Harry, Revised); it was reviewed in Sunday’s New York Times. Gawker characterized the review as “extraordinarily mean-spirited,” and…

In Salon, Rebecca Traister writes of Clinton fans growing weary of “Obama boys” bashing their candidate. I teach freshman composition, and I promise you, the “Obama boys” in my class…

Literary agent Colleen Lindsay has posted info on how to submit writing to her. She’s read 96 queries in 48 hours. Some of the worst query letters I’m seeing are,…

Leonard Lopate had George Saunders, Vendela Vida and Zadie Smith on his radio show this week, and luckily WNYC has put it online. Smith has edited a new anthology —…

The National Book Critics Circle has announced its awards finalists. The most entertaining read is Lizze Skurnick’s liveblogging. Most interesting/unsurprising news of the nominees? Joyce Carol Oates is up for…

Record-breaking heatwave here in Pittsburgh. It was 66 yesterday! Woohoo! Another record-breaker: AWP sold out. While last year I simply walked in and paid at the door, this year the…

David Kipen has Twain on the brain: Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry. 5 Chapters kicks off with…

The coolest thing I’ve read all day: Mark Sarvas’s first novel is funny and sad, rueful, wised-up and curiously moving. A remarkable debut. – John Banville, winner of the Man…