Edgar Allan Poe Reimagined

I wouldn't dream of calling contemporary fiction boring -- especially since there are plenty of gems (read: Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad or Díaz's Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao). But I will say that Mat Johnson's Pym, a hilarious and clever reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe's only (and unfinished) novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym will make most novelistic options seem comparatively dull.

From the drama of chapter one in which Chris Jaynes, the only black male professor at a small liberal arts college, is denied tenure for refusing to sit on the diversity committee, to said professor's seafaring adventure through the South Seas, to his discovery of the only-ever uncolonized species—primitive natives so dark that even their teeth are black, Pym offers no shortage of entertainment and surprise.

I saw Mat give a reading from this novel a few weeks ago at SoHo's McNally-Jackson, where he discussed the challenges that dragged the writing of Pym on for a decade. Among them: How could he imbed literary criticism in a novel without sacrificing the story's enjoyability? His solution, in part, seems to be through humor and narrative drama. In fact, one of the successes of Pym is that it can be understood and appreciated on multiple levels—even for those of us who've never read Poe's Pym.

Toni Morrison in Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination, says that “no early American writer is more important to the concept of American Africanism than Poe.” Mat Johnson ensures that this piece of Poe's reputation will be as well canonized as his beguiling "Raven."

Republication

My short story "Lunch in the Labyrinth," which initially appeared in Washington Square, was just reprinted in all of the Weston Magazine Group's tri-state quarterlies, including Rye, Westport, Greenwich, New Canaan, and The Upper East Side.

The layout is lovely! Peep it here (pg. 116).

Open publication - Free publishing - More affluent

Bankrupt Borders

Hurry up and use your gift card (if you have one)...

Filing For Bankruptcy, Borders Hits Troubled Times

Go Goon Squad

The 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award fiction finalists were announced at the end of January. Winner will be announced on March 10th. The contenders include:

Jennifer Egan, A Visit From the Goon Squad

Jonathan Franzen, Freedom

David Grossman, To the End of the Land

Hans Keilson, Comedy in a Minor Key

Paul Murray, Skippy Dies

My vote is for Goon Squad, despite how much I enjoyed Freedom, and despite how much I admire David Grossman. My pick is mostly informed by admiration for Egen's playful and contemporary text ... but partially informed by this new data. Can you believe these pie charts?!

I'm Only Really Happy When I'm Writing, Or When I'm Having Lots Of Fun With My Friends And Family

Dear Onion,

Thanks for outting me.

xo,

Courtney

Readings in Brooklyn

I recently gave a reading at the inimitable BookCourt in Brooklyn, furnished by the Brooklyn Writers Space annex. Check out the 2010-2011 line-up!

Reading: apexart gallery

apexart, a nonprofit arts org and gallery in SoHo, hosts workshops, exhibition talks, performances, and reading series. I'll be helping to kick off the 2010 Summer Reading Series, on July 14th. Swing by!

Wednesday, July 14th @ 6:30 pm

291 Church Street
New York, NY 10013 USA
tel. +212 431 5270

—>free admission to all programs and events

Directions: Several MTA trains stop at the Canal Street Station (6, A, C, E, J, M, Z, N, R, Q, W). The gallery is located on Church Street between Walker and White Streets, just two blocks south of Canal Street. The 1 train stops at Franklin Station and the gallery is two blocks east.