Scarlett Johannson Fails to Ban French Novel
A French novel by Grégoire Delacourt featuring a character who looks like Scarlett Johannson will be translated and published in the UK next month. In The First Thing You See, a…
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Ian MacAllen
1314 posts
Ian MacAllen is the author of Red Sauce: How Italian Food Became American (Rowman & Littlefield, April 2022). His writing has appeared in Chicago Review of Books, Southern Review of Books, The Offing, 45th Parallel Magazine, Little Fiction, Vol 1. Brooklyn, and elsewhere. Find him at IanMacAllen.com.
On Writing Too Much
The works of prolific writers are often viewed as less-than-literary, like the largely forgotten books of mystery novelist John Creasey, author of 564 books. Even serious novelists like Joyce Carol Oates,…
This Week in Indie Bookstores
Segwick, Maine claims to be home to the world’s smallest bookstore. Pushcart Press Bookstore resides in a 9′ x 12′ building selling used books and Pushcart Press titles. Australia’s capitol…
Amazon’s Antitrust Problems
Authors United, a trade guild representing 500 authors, submitted a formal request to the Department of Justice seeking an investigation into Amazon, accusing the online retailer of violating antitrust laws.…
Notable NYC: 8/29–9/4
Saturday 8/29: Ruby Brunton, Jasmine Gibson, Faith Heyliger, Stephon Lawrence, Melissa McDaniel, and Kayla Classy Morse celebrate Mellow Pages Library with Vapors Vol. 1. Silent Barn, 2 p.m., free. Sunday…
Bechdel Test Gets New Name
The Bechdel Test has a new name: the Bechdel-Wallace Test. Cartoonist Alison Bechdel popularized the test for assessing films on their portrayal of women. To pass, a film must contain…
Feminists Under Attack in Mexico
Feminist activists have become the targets of attacks in Mexico. At least 36 women’s rights activists have been killed in the last five years. Marie Claire points to a recent…
Universal Library Cards
In a plan to boost literacy rates, Scotland is testing a program to give all children automatic library memberships. The pilot program gives library cards out upon birth, reports BBC.
Macho Literary Culture
Kingsley Amis all but disappeared from the American literary consciousness after his death. Many of his novels were not even available stateside after their initial publication, although a new line…
Topless Bookclub
The Outdoor Co-ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society is a New York-based book club founded five years ago. The club, with dozens of members, meet bare-chested in public places around…
This Week in Indie Bookstores
Memphis-area Burke’s Book Store celebrated its 140th year of selling books. The current owners plan to use the milestone reintroduce the store, and that includes investing in a custom bicycle…
Bicycle Libraries Serve Book Deserts
Libraries on bicycles serve a practice purpose: getting books to places that don’t have any. GOOD Magazine explores some bicycle library projects that are bringing knowledge to book deserts around the…