Who’s zoomin’ who theatlantic.com/books/archive/…

theatlantic.com/books/archive/…

Jenny B and Rami Younis, 100% genius. His film AYD, a documentary/science fiction story about the Nakba, premieres in NYC tonight.

“It is not often you meet someone who is both a good writer and a good friend.” Rami is both.

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I am spending this day with my friend Rami Younis, Palestinian filmmaker, whose new movie, LYD, opens at the firehouse theatre in NYC tonight.

It is both a documentary & a fantasy, about the current world, and another in which the nakba never occurred.

youtu.be/EIWH0lH1BkM?si…

An author's prayer:
May I never be famous
May I never be the subject of discourse. Free those who love me from debates with those who do not.
Let me remain a cutie on the sidelines.
Let my deals always be 'nice.'

Three girl novelists at Claudette’s, Fifth Avenue at 9th.

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Stand back, Homer's Odyssey. My Martini tour of New York begins now. Featuring a cast of millions! Well, mostly J. Smith-Cameron💙, amor towles and Adam Platt
newyorker.com/culture/annals…

A few photos of the fabulous prepublication party for Colm Tóibín's new novel, LONG ISLAND. Sean Kelly hosted, in a glorious chamber high above Hudson Yards.

The event benefitted PEN America. We spoke of Joyce, and Thomas Mann, and the burdens of plot.

ON WITH THE STORY!

With others, I salute #HelenVendler , her rare mind for poetry, esp. #JohnAshbery , & her good heart. I have story or two, but nothing to match this, from #RitaDove :

'Ivy League institutions have attracted the most attention for outbursts of Jew hatred even as scores of civilian hostages from Israel are subject to torture,rape, &brutal isolation. But rejecting the vicious tactics of the war in Gaza, doesn’t make one a supporter of terrorists'

On the off chance you should ever doubt that Gary Shteyngart is a national treasure.

newyorker.com/culture/annals…

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It’s been awhile since I posted poems here—very busy semester!—but I think we could all use one. This poem by Shane McCrae speaks to the ways we are dependent on language for mutual understanding ( . . . uh oh . . .). 🫤✊🏽💜
poems.com/poem/race-in-l…

Percival Everett's JAMES is one of the best books I’ve read in years. Full stop.

nytimes.com/2024/03/11/boo…

Knife by Salman Rushdie is a true miracle. Yes, it describes in painful detail the horror of what happened, but it’s also a mediation on happiness and love. Surviving the attack took strength, but this kind of writing takes wisdom.

The $75,000 prize accompanying the PEN/Stein award will be donated, this year, to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund at the direction of the Literary Estate of Jean Stein.
PEN America

publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/in…

'I never said goodbye.' nytimes.com/2024/02/14/boo…