call me ishmael

  • Starting Points

    Following his essay, “The Art of Epigraph,” Jonathan Russell Clark turns to analyzing opening sentences at The Millions. He explores what makes contemporary and canonical first lines effective, and he contemplates, through several examples, whether or not there are identifiable…

  • Ishmael’s Hot Line

    Step #1. Call Ishmael’s number: 774.325.0503. It goes straight to voicemail. Step #2. Listen to Ishmael’s short answering machine message. It changes weekly. Step #3. Leave a voicemail about a book you love and a story you have lived. Have a…