In the most clarifying conversation James has had about the process of learning to be a writer, Sarah Ann Strickley discusses her story collection, FALL TOGETHER, as well as the dangers of the Muse, the joys of plot and structure, finding your voice, giving up your heroes, and being Superman’s neighbor. Plus, they nerd out over Marilynne Robinson’s HOUSEKEEPING. Then, past guests provide summer reading recommendations.
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Sarah Anne Strickley
Sarah and James discuss:
Ian Stansel
Raymond Carver
The Cure
Joy Division
The University of Iowa
Emerson College
Joseph Campbell
Darrell Spencer
COUNTRY DARK by Chris Offutt
HOUSEKEEPING by Marilynne Robinson
“Hover” by Nell Freudenberger
Karen Russell
Carmen Maria Machado
Laura van den Berg
Fortress of Solitude
Superman
Superman’s Neighbor
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Julia Fine, author of WHAT SHOULD BE WILD (ep. 58)
THE LUMINARIES by Eleanor Catton
THE WAKE by Paul Kingsnorth
INVITATION TO A BONFIRE by Adrienne Celt
Xhenet Aliu, author of BRASS (ep. 50)
WATCHMEN written by Alan Moore, art by David Gibbons, colorist John Higgins
A RIVER OF STARS by Vanessa Hua
THE INCENDIARIES by R.O. Kwon
Patrick Crerand, author of THE PAPER LIFE THEY LEAD (ep. 56)
PANORAMA by Steve Kistulentz
BRAZEN CREATURE by Anne Barngrover
BAD STORIES by Steve Almond
PRIEST DADDY by Patricia Lockwood
THE INFORMATION by James Gleick
Mark Powell, author of SMALL TREASONS (ep. 11)
FLORIDA by Lauren Groff
WARLIGHT by Michael Ondaatje
OUTLINE by Rachel Cusk
MY LIFE AS A RUSSIAN NOVEL by Emmanuel Carrere
KINGDOM by Emmanuel Carrere
BLUETS by Maggie Nelson
THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA by Philip Roth
Kirstin Chen, author of BURY WHAT WE CANNOT TAKE (ep. 55)
MOTHER OF INVENTION by Caeli Wolfson Widger
SUICIDE CLUB by Rachel Heng
AN OCEAN OF MINUTES by Thea Lim
WHITE DANCING ELEPHANTS by Chaya Bhuvaneswar
Aja Gabel, author of THE ENSEMBLE (ep. 59)
CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS by Sally Rooney
A SEPARATION by Katie Kitamura
Michael Nye, author of ALL THE CASTLES BURNED (ep. 52)
ASYMMETRY by Lisa Halliday
SWEET & LOW by Nick White
INDIAN HORSE by Richard Wagamese
REMEMBERING POETS by Donald Hall
Annie Hartnett, author of RABBIT CAKE (ep. 30)
THERE, THERE by Tommy Orange
WHO IS VERA KELLY? by Rosalie Knecht
THE LITTLE STRANGER by Sarah Waters
THE WORLD OF TOMORROW by Brendan Matthews
LESS by Andrew Sean Greer
THE MARS ROOM by Rachel Kushner