Uncovered Updike
Guernica features John Updike in a previously unpublished interview. He discusses his admiration of Nabokov, his writing and reading habits, and why he wrote a book from the point of view of a terrorist.
...morePosts by: Nidya Sarria
Wired and Women
Wired featured a pair of breasts on the cover of its November issue to promote an article on tissue engineering.
In an open letter to the magazine, Cindy Royal argues that this cover, like many covers in Wired‘s past, is sexist.
...more“My son finally hit this jerk in the face.”
As a single mother living in a majority-Republican town, Alana Noel Voth is determined to raise an open-minded son against all odds.
She talks to her son frankly about sex and sexuality, despite the sometimes overwhelming negativity she encounters from people with different value systems.
...morePick Up the Phone
Jeanne Leiby, editor of The Southern Review, calls writers when she accepts their work for publication. Since rejection is a major aspect of her line of work, she considers acceptances a special occasion. By calling writers who have had their work accepted by the magazine, Leiby establishes relationships with her contributors.
...moreAuthors’ Lost Libraries
What happens to an author’s personal library after his death? A reader discovered the answer to this question when she found a used copy of Don DeLillo’s book White Noise in notable Manhattan independent bookstore, The Strand. Once owned by David Markson, this book was one of many of his books floating around the store.
...moreDoes Your Language Shape How You Think?
The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis theorizes that if a language has no word for a certain concept, then the speakers of that language cannot understand that concept. Though this has been disproved, it’s still pretty interesting. How do words shape our behavior given the inherent differences between different languages?
...moreBeing a Good Literary Loser
Rick Gekoswki, shortlisted for the PEN/Ackerley prize, discusses literary award ceremonies and being a good loser. Joining Julian Barnes and Colm Tóibín as would-be prizewinners, he illustrates the pain of losing in public–nervous chatter, camera closeups, post-ceremony personal judgments, and all.
...moreA Week Without Technology
Their goal was to understand how a nature retreat would change their behavior. How do people react when they can’t answer their cellphones, access their email, or use their computers?
...moreNidya Sarria: The Last Book I Loved, The Unbearable Lightness of Being
I’m a horrible gift-giver. I’m the person who gave you a gift certificate on your birthday, didn’t realize you’d expect a gift on our anniversary, and cooked “Christmas dinner” in lieu of a wrapped present. In short, you shouldn’t expect much from me.