Huxley had the nerve to write Orwell and claim that Brave New World trumped 1984.
The John D’Agata fact-checking brouhaha continues. Check out Ned Stuckey-French’s Dear John letter from the AWP lyric essay panel.
Granta is launching a one-sentence short story contest. Twitter-hater Jonathan Franzen is probably gritting his teeth over this one.
The shortlist for the oddest book title of the year includes books about Estonian sock patterns and chicken sexing, among other gems.
Ten Gabriel García Márquez quotes in honor of his 85th birthday this week. On writing: “The writing became so fluid that I sometimes felt as if I were writing for the sheer pleasure of telling a story, which may be the human condition that most resembles levitation.”
Watch “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore,” winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
Literary time travel: Which era would you most like to revisit?
Care to Make Love in That Gross Little Space Between Cars? is a new advice book from the Believer magazine that includes contributions from celebrities. “Have you ever wondered how to ‘take care’ of an unwanted hermit crab? Amy Sedaris has some good ideas. Lack health insurance, and need to know if what you’re dealing with is a good mole or a bad mole? Then Zach Galifianakis is (sort of) your guy….There’s also Nick Hornby with suggestions on two of the best songs for lovemaking, Weird Al with first-timer tips for a decorating man cave, and Bob Saget with an informative take on what ‘friends with benefits’ really means.”