books

Marginal Literary Scenes

Imagine a writerly clique whose members have, so far, failed to achieve mainstream literary success.

Jul 14 •

The haters and the losers

Three young men, all aspiring concert pianists and all near the top of their class, study together under the great pianist Vladimir Horowitz.

May 26 •

A Traditional Marriage

Natalia Ginzburg, The Dry Heart

Jan 13 •

Some passages from books I read this year

Every year, I like to close out this newsletter with a roundup of passages from the books I read during the year that made an impression on me.

Dec 17, 2024 •

Okay, fine, All Fours

And Rabbit, Run

Oct 14, 2024 •

Gambling Stories: The Queen of Spades

There's a mini-genre of 19th-century fiction I particularly enjoy: gambling narratives.

Aug 26, 2024 •

Book: Treatise on Elegant Living

A rip is a misfortune, a stain is a vice.

Jul 29, 2024 •

Notes on my reading habits

Vanity and Shame

Jul 8, 2024 •

What Has Cecily Been Doing?

Books, Piano, Ceramics

May 13, 2024 •

What History Is Made Of

Nicola Chiaromonte's The Paradox of History

Mar 4, 2024 •

The Ideal Fascist: The Conformist, Alberto Moravia

Alberto Moravia’s protagonists, in the novels of his I’ve read, are almost self-consciously off-putting: narcissistic, self-loathing, compulsive, and…

Jan 8, 2024 •

Twelve passages from books I read this year

As I did last year and the year before, I’ll wrap up this year in newsletter writing by sharing some favorite passages from the books I read in 2023.

Dec 18, 2023 •

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